113

113

MAGNUS

Last night after Ariadne had been rushed to the hospital, I knew the perpetrators had seen it all, and they would surely start looking for ways to escape the Pack now that their plan had failed. 

So I ordered a complete lockdown of every border. 

I instructed every single boundary guard through the Pack generals to make sure they watched the boundary every second of the day and report back to me the moment they saw anything, anything as little as a fly escaping the Pack. Nothing moved in or out of the Pack without my permission. And I guess I was right because when the report came in that one of my chief guards, the man that I had trusted to watch my back last night at the ceremony, was caught trying to leave the Pack with a bag, I wasn't surprised. I knew it could be anybody. 

I had been betrayed a lot so I wasn't shocked, not even a little. I had already known a long time before now, probably decades ago, that I should always expect those I trusted, those who were close to me to be the ones who would betray me. And it was happening. 

Few minutes later, the iron doors of the torture cell groaned open and four guards walked into the room, dragging him forward. Rob was his name. He stumbled as they pushed him forward, his hiking boots scraping across the floor. The guards had already bound his wrist and I could see how pale and tense his face was as if he already knew what awaited him. 

But I told myself that I wasn't going to be all serious with him immediately. I wanted to play a little game and give him a hit of hope that he could get out of this. I flashed a smile once he was close enough and reached out to touch his shoulder. It was not a kind smile. It was a sharp one. So sharp my lips barely curved, but it was just enough to make his eyes flicker. 

He knew that look, and so did the guards. Rob straightened his back like a soldier trying to keep his pride, but I knew he already suspected his luck had run out when I saw that small flicker of fear cross his eyes. I could also hear how hard his heart was pounding but he was doing everything in his power to appear confident on the outside. I tilted my head and let out a soft chuckle. 

"What is this? Why are my men treating my chief guard like a criminal?" I asked, somewhat sarcastically. "Surely this has got to be some kind of mistake. What is going on here?" 

The guards behind him grinned, catching one the joke. One of them, a man with an average build, dropped a heavy bag onto the stone floor and stood, crossing his arms behind him as he said to me. "Alpha, this was found with him." 

I didn't look at the bag yet. Instead, I kept my eyes on Rob. "Oh."

That's when Rob raised his face to me. He was carrying that sharp look of defiance all over his face and then he replied in a defensive tone. "I have no idea what you think you have found, but I demand to be released immediately. I was just going for a hike." 

I shook my head and pretended like I was considering it. 

"Demand?" I asked. "That's a strong word to use down here. But I don't think it's your fault. I asked the guards to have the boundary locked down and grant nobody permission. You didn't hear that, so I wouldn't say it's your fault. But the fact that you were dragged in here tells me some sort of altercation happened back there." 

The guards smiled again. And the average guy explained that they had ordered to search his bag but he refused. I nodded and asked if they searched the bag but he said, "No. Of course we can't search a chief's belongings without a written permit from you." 

I nodded and finally crouched down to open the bag. Inside the bag were maps that had been folded nearly. There were food supplies, dried meat, water pouches and medical supplies too. There were some daggers and clothes rolled tightly for travel. Everything in there was enough to last a week outside these borders. I clicked my tongue. 

"Oh-oh," I said, drawing out the sound before turning my eyes back to my chief guard. "Well this is awkward. How long were you planning on going for the hike? A few days? A week?" 

Then I stood up and dusted my hands. "I don't remember approving any hiking or vacation plans, Rob. If you wanted to go somewhere you should have written to me. And certainly not for you, Rob. You are supposed to be the one keeping others from slipping away. So why is it that you were leaving the Pack... at such an important time. We are battling with an enemy that wants me dead, but you are acting like you don't care. Don't you know I need you now?" 

He said nothing, probably realising that he has been caught. A long, heavy silence followed. And the only thing that could be heard was just the crackle of fire on the walls and the faint drip of water from the ceiling. His lips were pressed tight and his jaw was locked now, shoulders going rigid too. 

He thought he was going to end this by keeping his mouth shut, but he was in for a very big surprise. I'd dealt with people like him, and if that was his plan, then he had to get ready. Shaking my head slowly, I decided to stop being sarcastic and get straight to business. 

I turned back to Mira who was staring at us, particularly at Rob who was looking down at the floor. 

"Mira," I called her before stepping away from Rob. 

She responded, still chained to the wall. 

"Is this the man?" I asked her. "The one you told me about? The one that blackmailed you into poisoning me?" She nodded once. "Yes. He's the one, Alpha." 

That was all I needed. I turned back to Rob. "Do you hear that? Mira says you are the one she worked with. She says you're the one who thought they could play games under my Pack." 

I stepped closer until we were a hair's breadth apart, until my shadow covered him. "You know what I think? I think it's time that you told me the truth. You know, defend yourself because she could be lying. She could be setting you up." 

His lips peeled back in a menacing growl and then he yelled. "Fuck you!" 

He immediately tried to get out of the hold of the guards by shoving one of them hard on the shoulder, and then like a rabid dog that had suddenly gone mad, he lunged forward, eyes burning with rage. But I had already read his movements long before then and had stepped back. He wasn't fast enough, so before he could do anything else, one of the guards had already grabbed him. He struggled but at that point, four or more hands were already holding him in place. Before he could make another move, he was slammed back on the ground. One of the guards drove his fist into the side of Rob’s head with a sickening crack. His body folded in pain and then a howl of agony erupted from his throat. 

"Aargh!

They grabbed him again, pinning him down as he writhed. Blood was now trickling down his temple, staining the partially soiled and torn white shirt he was putting on. He looked up at me, and his face was twisted with so much anger and pain. I shook my head again and walked back, crossing my arms behind my back, already feeling like I needed a drink. I didn't want to stay here for too long but it seemed like that was going to be the case now. Things had just gotten a lot more interesting. 

"You didn't have to do that, Rob. Now I'm going to have no option but to punish you for trying to attack your Alpha. Not smart of you, especially for someone whose position requires being smart and making the right decisions despite being under pressure." 

My tone was smug and sarcastic again. That's when he shook, trying to force himself out of the grasp of the guards but they held him back, one of them warning to kill him if he did anything silly. Then he yelled at me. "I'm not telling you shit! You can go fuck yourself!! Torture me all you want. I know that's what you're going to do, but I have made up my mind. You're not getting anything from me." 

The sound of his yell shook the air, but I didn't let it get to me. I just stared at him like he hadn't just said something.