Chapter 131 Unpleasant Visitors
1067words
My men and I raced toward Midnight Moon territory, my gut churning as we approached my pack borders. I knew something was wrong. I could feel it. There was no other reason why my Beta, Don, would abandon communication otherwise. The patrol guards began to line the territory lines, and all it took was one growl to have them recognize me as their Alpha and retreat back to their patrol units. I mind-linked my men at the border, "Where is Beta Don?" I demanded in my Alpha voice.
None of them had the strength to make eye contact with me; their gazes were all downcast toward the forest floor. "Holding cells," one of them finally answered, and now I was even more confused. Why would Beta Don be in the holding cells willingly? This confirmed that something was indeed very wrong. Fuck, I grumbled as I began to race toward the dungeon.
"DON!" I yelled as I shifted into my human form and took long strides down the steps into the cold, dark hallway of the dungeon. I could hear the silver chains attached to the wall clinking together as I passed by. I saw my enforcers at the end of the hall. "Where the fuck is he?" I said, venom lacing my voice. Fury began to boil within me. This was my pack, and I needed answers. If there was a looming threat, I was still the Alpha of this pack.
My Beta, Don, stepped out of the cell and in front of the crowd of enforcers, crossing his arms over his wide chest. The closer I got, the more I noticed the blood trickling out of his split bottom lip. "Who did this?" I questioned in a low, irritated voice as I approached closer and whipped my head to see Alpha Blake sitting in the cell on the cold concrete floor. Alpha Blake let out a sinister laugh. "Oh, now you're in for it, aren't you, second-in-command? What's your Alpha going to say about his allied Alpha now locked in his cells?"
I watched as Beta Don's eyes started to flicker to pure onyx. I wasn't sure what had happened between the two of them, but I knew Beta Don's patience was dangerously thin right now. I also knew that if I didn't interfere, Beta Don, though incredibly skilled and strong, still wouldn't be able to take on the strength of an Alpha.
"Don't tempt me," I scowled at Alpha Blake, who now seemed more shocked. "I'm the Alpha of—" he began. Before he could finish that thought, I felt my wolf pressing to the surface, acknowledging Alpha Blake as a threat to our pack. I felt my sharp canines begin to protrude, and I growled back at the entitled man sitting in my cell. "I don't give a fuck who you are. You're on my pack territory, and until I know why my Beta has a split lip, you're nothing but a prisoner."
Alpha Blake lowered his gaze like the coward I knew he was, and I turned to return down the hallway toward the staircase. "Outside. Now," I mind-linked Beta Don. After a few seconds, I could hear his heavy footsteps following me behind. Neither of us said anything, as if we were both deep in thought. I climbed the concrete stairs and pushed the heavy door open, feeling the fresh forest air hit me in the face.
"I-I called you. Multiple times. I had no other choice," Beta Don started to explain, his words falling off his lips like word vomit. "His men set off the patrol guards; their scents were everywhere. It was an ambush. Blake won't admit it, but I'm sure it was an ambush."
I ran my hand through my hair, irritation spewing through me. I didn't blame Beta Don; he acted like any second-in-command would. He kept Midnight Moon safe when faced with potential danger. I kept fighting my wolf for control; he knew there was an easy solution to solve this mess we'd found ourselves in. A threat is a threat, Alpha or not, and my wolf wanted to end it. That was precisely what Alpha Blake did when he decided to enter Midnight Moon territory without permission—it was a direct threat.
I nodded to Beta Don and started making my way back inside the large white building until I was staring face to face with Alpha Blake. "You have five seconds to tell me why you and your men were trespassing on my land," I demanded as I opened the cell door and closed it behind me. Alpha Blake's eyes trailed up until they locked with mine, but I saw little fear in them.
"I told you I'd be back. I told you it was critical to run the patrol lines before we could solidify an alliance. This was not trespassing," he explained as he struggled to stand up. "I don't appreciate being locked up either. Maybe I should rethink this alliance of ours."
I growled, "I'm in no mood to play games, Alpha Blake. Might I remind you, Midnight Moon doesn't need any more alliances. We've managed just fine without one with your pack for this long," I explained. "I would also suggest you rethink your definition of trespassing. If my men were caught lingering near your borders, you'd be quick to call it the same."
Alpha Blake raised his hands as if in surrender. "Cooler heads prevail, Alpha Jaxon. Remember that. You haven't even bothered to ask why I'm actually here. I think we both know I have other things to entertain my time with," he said, and I noticed the muscle in his jaw beginning to twitch.
"I won't be releasing you," I began to say before being cut off by Alpha Blake. "Alpha Christian... he plans to overtake your pack. He's been informing all the Alphas from the Alpha's meeting. He says you're too preoccupied with your mate."
I couldn't stop the scowl from staining my face, and I crossed my arms across my chest. "Oh really? And if Alpha Christian wished to overtake my pack... why wouldn't he just challenge me?" I asked and heaved a sigh. This man was testing my last shred of patience. I knew I had the upper hand though because I knew Alpha Blake wasn't aware that Sophia was fated mates with Alpha Christian.
