5| Mountain Whisper.

ALPHA KIERAN

Yesterday, I visited Jaxon’s pack for business purposes. Never in a million years did I expect to see Elara there, let alone witness her being put on trial and tortured. I didn’t even think twice before stepping in to save her and her supposed children.

Six years ago, on the night of my coronation, I was anonymously sent heart breaking pictures of Elara who was my mate then, having sexual interactions with Alpha Ryder of Night Shade pack—the very pack that had murdered my father. Ryder’s father and my own father had engaged in a fatal fight that lead to the death of both of them. Ever since, both packs have been sworn enemies.

So, Elara sleeping with him didn’t just betray the mate bond, she also betrayed the pack. And I could never forgive her for that.

When I realized she had betrayed me, I was deeply hurt, and in the heat of the moment, I rejected and banished her. Without thinking twice.

It was after she was gone that it was prophesied to me that I needed to keep her close for whatever reason, else I would lose my Alpha title in the future. I didn’t know how a betrayer like that will be of any use, but I decided to not take any chances and went looking for her. Hell, I searched for Elara in every way I could, but it was all to no avail.

Until... I found her here—to my dread, with two kids. What’s worse is that she wouldn’t say who the father of those kids are. Not even when she needs him to recover from whatever strange weakness she has.

She says he is dead, but I don’t believe that. I will find him wherever he is. And if it is Ryder, I will kill him.

Elara keeps slipping in and out of consciousness, and I’m deeply worried about her condition. I’ve decided to take her back to the Mountain Shadow Pack to recover. That’s the only way I can keep her safe and close, until she decides to reveal the father of those kids.

I’m sitting by her bedside when she stirs, slowly opening her eyes after yet another fainting episode when she tried to run away.

“You are awake.” I state, my gaze pinning on her.

She turns her head slightly and winces. “Please let me go,” she says weakly.

“Are you dense?” I growl with annoyance. “Do you think you’d survive a day out there with those kids?”

“I will fight to protect them.” She breathes, tears welling up in her eyes. “It is better than been here.”

A dark chuckle escapes my throat. “Sometimes you over estimate your strength. You are nothing but an Omega. You would’ve been gone now if I hadn’t saved you.”

“I’ll--” She tries to sit up, but I grab her shoulder, pinning her to the bed.

“You are going nowhere!” I snarl, her stubbornness annoying me.

“I need to leave this place.” She breathes again.

“Yes, you are leaving anytime from now.” I tell her.

She snaps her gaze at me, looking at me with hopeful eyes. “Will you help me escape?”

“I am taking you back to the Mountain Whisper Pack with me.” I declare.

Her eyes widen, panic settling in her features. “No. No. I am not going back there with you.”

“You are.” I say without blinking.

“Please.” She chokes as she tries to stand up again, tears pouring down her eyes. “Please I beg you. I can’t go back there. With you.”

I know how stubborn Elara is, and I had suspected that she would protest, but a pang of hurt pulls on my chest at how repulsive she is being. She is talking as though the Mountain Shadow Pack is the worst place on earth.

I sigh deeply, pressing my lips together. “I had hoped that you will make this easier.”

“What do you mean?” She asks curiously.

“Not to worry.” I tell her before standing up and leaving her room.

I make sure there are two guards at her door post to stop her from trying to escape again because I know that that is the only thing on her mind.

I make my way to Jaxon’s place to make immediate arrangements to move her back to the Mountain Whisper Pack.

Jaxon is sitting in his office, a bottle of whisky on his table. He is drinking by this time of the day when he is supposed to be leading his pack. He is the most irresponsible Alpha I know and will surely lead his pack to ruin someday.

“Alpha Kieran.” He slurs as he picks up the bottle and takes a gulp.

“I am taking Elara back to my pack.” I cut straight to the chase, not wasting time.

He is suddenly alerted at my words, a deep frown masking his face. “No!” He groans without hesitation.

He seems so repulsive about that, and for a second, I consider if he is the father of those kids, but I shake it off. No father would allow his children to be treated that way.

“I am not asking.” I groan, my eyes dark as I venture further into his office and sit on the chair. “I am telling you.”

“I said, no!” He growls, banging the table with his fist.

“I can destroy this pack without breaking a sweat. My army are larger and much stronger than yours.” I remind him with a menacing growl. “And I don’t even need an entire army to take you and your entire pack on.”

A mix of rage and fear blazes through his eyes. “If you take her, consider our deal done!”

“Okay.” I simply reply.

I hear his teeth gnashing as I stand up and leave his office. He growls so loudly and smash his bottle against the wall the second I’m out. What a waste of an Alpha.

One of my men, whom I instructed to get me a tranquilizer, meets me in front of the hospital.

“Did you get it?” I ask him.

“Yes.” He nods, opening a box for me to see. There’s a loaded syringe inside. “What do you want to use it for?” He asks curiously.

“You’ll see.” I simply tell him as I walk inside the hospital and head to Elara’s ward, with him following closely behind.

I’m met by an unexpected scene. Elara is raging and screaming like a crazy woman, trying to fight the guards I had posted, while they continuously block her.

Relief floods their faces the moment they see me, and they step aside for me to handle her. Immediately, Elara tries to run off, but I catch her with one hand, holding her in place.

“Let me go, please.” She shrieks.

I nod toward the man holding the box, and he understands immediately, bringing out the syringe.

Elara’s eyes widen with horror when she sees it, but before she can say anything, I inject her with it and she falls limp in my arms.

She is transferred to the hospital in the Mountain Shadows Pack afterwards. I make sure her children are by her side so that she won’t be worried when she wakes up. But they are so annoying and won’t stop wailing.

I am by her bedside, waiting for her to wake up and having to deal with the annoying kids, whatever their names are.

“You said our mommy will wake up soon. But she is not waking up.” The boy cries, snort running from his nose.

“Please wake her up.” The girl adds, also crying with snort running down her nose.

I inhale sharply, trying so hard to contain my annoyance. “She will wake up.” I simply say, because anymore words that comes out of my lips will be me cussing them out.

“When?” Comes the boy’s annoying voice again.

Before I can reply, Elara suddenly whimpers and stirs on the bed. And I become at alert, mind linking the pack doctor to get here immediately.

My gaze is fixed on her, and as she opens her eyes, our eyes meet. The rage and hatred that radiates through her eyes as she looks at me is immeasurable.

“Mommy!” The annoying creatures beam in unison, and she immediately tears her eyes away from me, a small smile touching her lips as she looks at them.

“You are awake!” They beam again in unison.

“Yes, I am—“ She trails off, immediately glancing around the room.

A dreadful look saturates her features as she yanks her gaze back at me. “Where is this?” She seethes.

Before I can reply, the door suddenly yanks open and Vivianne marches into the room, darkness saturating her features as she glares at Elara.

“So, it is true that she is back!” She snarls, baring her canine.