Chapter 39 TRAITORS GALORE
Logan's hands wrap around my wrists and hold them for a moment before he moves his face to kiss each of my palms. His lips linger on them for longer than I like and I fight my repulsion every second. When he finally releases me I drop my hands from his face and take a step back, suddenly needing much more space than before. To my surprise Logan looks much more resolved in his decision.
"Okay. I'll discuss it with him. If he approves then you can take the girl after you've earned our trust."
Relief washes through me. I don't bother hiding it. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."
"No. I think I do. And this is just the beginning. You'll like it here and soon you'll start to see that for yourself and you won't want to leave."
I force a smile, and if I don't hate him so much right now, I would have pitied him. He is brainwashed and under the same false beliefs as the rest of pack. He can't even see it. They have his complete loyalty now and there is no way I can sway him back to the side of good. He is lost forever in the sea of evildoers that surround him.
He walks me back to my cell after the tour of the grounds is complete and there are two trays of food waiting on the table for us. I glance at him in confusion.
"Two plates?" I know I have been gone for a while, but not enough time to miss two meals.
"I'm eating with you," he says. "I thought it might be good for us to have some downtime together. I know you must still have a lot of questions and I'm willing to answer them over dinner."
I don't object. Though being in his company isn't exactly ideal, at least he is willing to be open up with me. If I could just figure out what their plans are and relay the information back to Samuel maybe I'd have a way to get out of here.
"Okay," I say, taking my seat at the table opposite of him.
I peer down at my food and notice the protein filled selection for the day waiting to be consumed. It is important we consume a lot of red meat to sustain our health and give us our nutrients and Grog is making sure we are in top shape.
Logan lifts his brow to me when I don't make any movement to eat. I am not hungry for food. I am hungry for information.
"Does Samuel know I'm here? Has anyone from this pack talked to him?" I can't keep the words from flowing out of my mouth. It has been days since I last saw or heard from Samuel or anyone from my pack. I am growing anxious.
By the look on his face I can see he isn't pleased by my question. I don't care. He hasn't given me limits on what I can ask and Samuel is more pressing on my mind than anything else at the moment.
"He knows, but he'd be stupid to come here. This pack outnumbers his pack by hundreds. We've grown since he last encountered us. Besides, we'd much rather have him join us than fight against us."
"And you think that Alpha's are just willing to give up their position to eliminate packs everywhere? They're natural born leaders; you of all people should know that."
He cuts through his bloody stake as he answers me. "It's better this way. If there are no packs, there are no outcasts. No rogues. No conflict. Everyone is in charge of themselves."
"That sounds like a pretty picture, but you can't believe that would ever work. With no rule there would be chaos everywhere. No one to answer to when a wolf got out of control. No one to enforce rules."
"We're animals Grace, we're meant to roam free and not be repressed. That's not what nature intended for us," he says with a slight irritation in his voice.
I shake my head. He is making no sense. "Well, you're wrong there. If it wasn't supposed to be the way nature intended then it wouldn't be. Everything is the way it is for a reason."
He places his silverware down and leans back in his metal chair crossing his arms. I an not giving a moment's peace between questions and he is starting to see that. Eating is pointless until I get my answers.
"We have a vision where everything will be better in our world. You just have to trust us."
I nearly laugh, but fight to keep myself in check. Making him mad would only hinder my chance at getting out of him what I want to know.
"Is that what you're doing with Grog, trusting him? How can you do that, trusting him? How can you do that so blindly?" I ask in sincere curiosity. "How do you know he's not leading everyone to their deaths? This whole thing started out as his fight and now he's brought the whole world in on it. Can't you see there are no promises? There is just Grog and his word. You aren't fighting for freedom. You're fighting his battle."
He is luring everyone into the fight under false pretenses and promises that will never be fulfilled. Grog is nothing more than an angry wolf who wants the entire world to suffer along with him. He is in pain and miserable and misery loves company. He won't rest until the whole world is under destruction and chaos. I don't trust him and never will.
"I don't expect you to see things our way. You've not been here long enough. But with enough time I know we can sway you to our side." He has an air of confidence around him that I do not share.
His father taking over the role as Alpha has taken its toll on him. That on top of everything else he has to endure, he is no longer the same person. He has been changed by loss and his sense of betrayal. What he doesn't seem to understand is that this is his own doing. Everything that has led us to this moment is because of him. Either he doesn't care or he is denying the truth.
"How often do you do the raids?" 1 ask him. It is time to change the subject. I want to be in the know. "How often are new people brought in?"
He stares at me for a moment contemplating my angle when finally his expression turns more resolved. "We target the smaller lesser known packs first collecting as many new members as we can. With our growing pack we're nearly ready to invade some of the larger packs. We'll hit them slowly, one at a time until we are seen as unstoppable. Word spreads fast when there is new threat on the loose."
I remain silent trying to process everything.
"Our next target is Samuel's pack," he continues. "We were going to collect you next week when we take your pack by surprise, but now you'll get to go with us."
I clench my fists, squeezing them so tight my nails begin to break the skin. It is the only way I know to vent my anger without actually taking action.
"And how do you suppose you're going to take them down? Samuel's pack may be smaller than your pack now, but he won't be unprepared. He'll be expecting you."
"Perhaps," Logan says as if he'd already anticipated that. "But a betrayal from the inside will throw him off his game. It's only a matter of time. Soon Noah will be free and two of Samuel's own will be with us."
Betrayal. The words cause my heart to sink. How can this be? Everyone in Samuel's pack seems so loyal. They're a family. No one would dare betray Samuel. Would they?
Anger at the unknown person courses through my veins. "Who?" I demand, slamming my fist on the table. "Who is the betrayer?"
Logan doesn't bat an eye and only shakes his head at me. "Are you sure you really want to know? What's learned can never be undone."
"I don't care. Tell me who?"
Whoever they are, they deserve to be brought to justice. And if it's the last thing I do, I'll see to it that it happens.
"See for yourself. They'll be here next week with Noah and then you'll know." He reaches out his hand and tucks a loose strand of blonde hair behind my ear and offers his best pity smile. "You should be careful who you trust."
"I could say the same to you," I sneer. I don't have to explain what I mean. He knows.
The newest information has taken me more than off guard. Samuel isn't the only one being thrown off his game. So am I.
Logan drops his hand and stands up from his chair as the guard that left earlier today resumes his duty. "I'll let you finish your meal. It seems I've only upset you. That wasn't what I wanted."
The you shouldn't have said anything, I snap at him in my mind.
"I thought being open with you was the best course of action, but I was wrong," he adds.
That wasn't what I wanted to happen.
"You've dropped a major bomb on me today. I've handled it just like any other person would," I argue. I can't let him think he can't tell me things. Getting information is the only thing I have going for me right now. His fingers gently trace my jaw line as he towers above me. His eyes show admiration for me. "But you're not just any other person, you're my mate." He takes a slow breath, his face changing, letting his disappointment seep in. "I need to know you're on my side."
I feel a bile rise in my throat from his touch and the tenderness of his words. No matter what I have to force myself through it.
"I am on your side. I just-I need to process this. Everything has changed for me and I need to cope with it."
"Then train with me," he offers. "It will be a good way to channel your anger and for us to show you what we're all about. I'll come get you at sunrise in the morning. We start early here and work through most of the day. It will be good for you."
He is right. It will be good for me. It will get me out of my cell and the training will help to strengthen me. I need to know how to fight back and defend myself. And more importantly I need to get back in touch with my wolf, now more than ever.
I nod. "Yes. I'd like that. I want to start as early as possible."
A full smile lights up on his face. "That's good to hear. I'm looking forward to spending the day with you tomorrow. Give me a chance and I'll show you all you can be."
I am surprised to hear the words from him. When I lived at home with my parents, our pack didn't believe in the females fighting or taking any part in a war. But now, things are different. He wants me to fight. He sees that I have it in me and has somehow come to appreciate it. It can't have worked out more perfectly for me.
If he is willing to teach me, I am willing to learn. And it will be even more gratifying when everything he teaches me comes back t
o bite him. I'll be the traitor in the midst.
"Tomorrow," I agree with a smile of my own. "I'll be waiting.