Chapter 43 Punishment
ELIJAH
I stared out my window for the umpteenth time today. I could barely focus on any work. My mind was filled with so many issues and I didn’t know which to face first.
First, Adriana crying and not knowing what's wrong with her messed with my messed. And I had no idea what Donald was planning next. If he was going to make any move, it would be with those Antil Cult brothers of his. With their recent attacks on my packs, I didn’t want them to strike another before I made a counter move.
The only problem was I had no way to communicate or know what their plans were. The only person I knew who knew them was Donald and he was the one who started this entire issue.
But I couldn’t go to him. I’d been ordered to stay away from him after he accused me of kidnapping his daughter. I’d even been asked to return her to him but I told them I’d rather die.
I would only return her on one condition, Donald and I battled to the death.
If he wins, then he can come take her home. After what he’d done to her, I would be foolish to just give her up like that. The council could go to hell for all I cared. Adriana wasn’t going anywhere.
Hazel entered just then and I didn’t notice because my mind was far away. I’d smelled her but I wasn’t conscious enough to care.
“We don’t pay taxes so you can watch the sky.” Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked at her and sat forward.
“I’m not watching the sky. I’m thinking, something I’m sure you rarely ever do.”
She laughed and sat down.
“Lay it on me, what’s going on?”
I told her about it, how I needed to know what the cult was planning, how it drove me crazy that they’d been silent ever since. I mean, if I’m going to fight a war against them eventually, then I need to know who they are.
Or were they waiting for a response?
“They really are secretive, aren’t they? When was your first run-in with them?”
I thought back to that year, when I’d just taken over as Alpha. I was still very new to everything and looking to prove myself because I knew there were people who would rather I wasn’t in that position.
“Just two months after my coronation, I received reports that a pack just across the river had been attacked by something and they didn’t know what it was. That message scared me and I went over to the pack to see what they were talking about. The place was a wasteland, nothing remained. The bodies looked like they’d been torn open from the inside out and I wondered what kind of animals would do this. I knew it wasn’t the work of wolves—they weren’t that vicious. No other Lycan would do this unless they had a death wish. Rogues didn’t kill like this. I was left in confusion for weeks without being able to say a thing. The people demanded an explanation and I wasn’t able to give them any. That just fueled my opponents’ campaign against me.”
“You didn’t have me as Beta then. How scary that must have been.”
I agreed.
“You understand why I didn’t want a Beta at first. My father being killed by his Beta and all made me reluctant to trust anyone. When I realized I actually needed a Beta, I opted for you mostly because you were easier to work with. And you wouldn’t have crazy thoughts like wanting to kill me to take over.”
She smiled and stood up from her chair.
“What makes you think I haven’t thought about it?”
“Oh yeah, what are you waiting for then? You’ve had a million chances to kill me.”
She shrugged.
“Maybe I’m just waiting for the right time. Anyway, back to the issue, I could send some spies over to Donald’s pack to find out what’s going on.”
“Too risky. What if they’re caught?”
“Trust me, they won’t get caught. They’re the best I have. I’ll deal with it and report back to you.”
I agreed with her and she left.
It didn’t make me feel better but there was nothing to do but wait for Hazel to report back. We’ll make plans from there.
I was counting on Donald to do something stupid and make a mistake because I knew how arrogant and foolish he was. Those two traits didn’t usually go well together but it always worked out in my favor.
The door opened again and I thought it was Hazel who had forgotten something but whoever it was stayed oddly quiet.
“Hey, you.”
I immediately lost my cool.
“What the hell are you doing here, Hannah? Didn’t I warn you never to come close to me or step foot into this office again? You want to be punished, don’t you?”
“Yes please. Punish me.” She sounded like a dying bird.
What? That wasn’t what I meant.
“Get out and don’t come back. The next time I see you in my office, you will spend two nights in the cells and that’s a promise.”
Her smile fell when she realized I was serious.
“What did I do wrong? Why are you always so hard on me? I mean, it’s not very sexy but if this is your way of trying to come on to me, you have to try another method.”
“What? Come on to you?!” It was outrageous. Since talking wasn’t doing anything, maybe action would.
I stood up from my chair and walked over to her, stopping right in front of her and grabbing her hand. She placed her other hand on my chest, clearly enjoying where she thought this was leading.
Then I pulled her out of my office and threw her out. She stood there in shock while I turned to the guards.
“Under no circumstances should she enter my office again. If she does, you will be punished.”
And then I slammed the door.