Chapter 5

Sean

I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I stared at the motionless figure on the hospital bed. I desperately wanted her to open her eyes and assure me that she was okay. But fate had been unkind, and I felt helpless seeing my mate in that state.

Everything about this day felt like a nightmare.  The scent of herbs and medicine filled the air, a constant reminder of the medical care we continued to give her.

I approached the doctor, hoping he had the answers I needed. "Why isn't she waking up?" I asked, my voice filled with concern. "Is there something wrong? Will she be alright?"

The doctor, a calm and composed middle-aged man with kind eyes, placed a comforting smile on his face. "I  understand your worries, Alpha, but please try to remain calm. Your mate's condition is stable. Sometimes, it just takes time for a human to regain consciousness after a traumatic event. We will continue to monitor her closely. But for now, let her body adjust at its own pace.”

Remembering her ordeal, a mild groan escaped my throat. I could never forgive those wolves who laid their hands on my mate. I would make sure they will regret messing with her.

Desperate for information, I turned to Clark.  "Tell me more about those wolves. Have you found out anything?"

Clark's expression hardened as he recalled the incident. "They were being tortured as we speak,” he started. “They're being held in the dungeon where we found out that they were rogue hires, hired assailants. Some of our warriors recognized them.”

I balled my fist as I listened to him. “Have you found out who’s behind this?”

“They're not talking, Alpha,” Clark said with disappointment evident on his face. “We've been trying to extract information, but they refuse to reveal who hired them to harm your mate."

“Then try harder.” A surge of anger welled up within me. “If you have to cut them limb by limb just so they will talk, do it.”

Clark nodded, a resolute look in his eyes. "I'm on it, Alpha. I won't stop until we uncover the truth.”

Gratitude washed over me. I turned to my brother, putting one of my hands on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Clark," I uttered, my voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for saving her. I don't know what I would have done if..." My words trailed off, unable to express the depth of gratitude to him as I looked at my mate once again.

With a nod, Clark acknowledged what I was trying to say. “You're welcome, Alpha. It's my duty to protect our future Luna." He then bowed his head and strode out of the room.

Sensing my need for solitude, the doctor checked his patient one last time before he left the room as well. Alone with my unconscious mate, I sat down by her side, gently caressing her hand.

Time seemed to stand still as I studied her features, tracing the delicate lines of her face with my gaze. She was breathtaking, even in her current state of vulnerability. My heart ached at the thought of her pain.

I didn’t even know her name and yet, we were already in this situation. How stupid am I to be her mate?

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Sean. It’s not your fault,” my wolf Lucian, uttered inside my head. “You did your best to protect her. She’s safe because of your quick thinking.”

I appreciated my wolf’s word but I still couldn't help but feel guilty. But it was too late to dwell on that now. She was here in Silverpaw and that is what matters.

With a heavy heart, I turned my gaze away, knowing there was nothing more I could do at that moment. However, I couldn't let myself give in to despair during this vulnerable time. I needed to stay strong, for her and for us.

Then, I remembered those roguehires again.

"They will pay for what they did. I will fucking kill them all!" I exclaimed, feeling my eyes grow warm, a sign that my wolf, Lucian, was taking control.

"Take me to them, Sean. I want their blood on my snout for what they did to our mate," Lucian conveyed his intense desire for revenge, and I had no intention of restraining him.

I stood up from my seat and left the room, but I didn't abandon my watch. I made a promise to myself to return and continue my vigil by her side until the day she finally opened her eyes.

Then, I let my feet guide me to the left wing going to the dungeon.

The humidity of the walled prison, mixed with the rustic smell of blood, permeated the air. I let out a terrifying growl, the scent surely awakening my primal instinct.

"Did they start singing?" I inquired upon my arrival, addressing my men. They lowered their heads and performed a curtsey as a display of respect before responding. "The Beta ordered us to inflict more pain upon them, Alpha, but these rogues are tough."

"You will not break us," one of the rogues taunted. The five of them burst into maniacal laughter, provoking growls of irritation from my warriors. However, I raised my hand to silence them. It was time to take matters into my own hands.

"Release him," I commanded. My warriors were undoubtedly surprised but knew better than to question me. Therefore, they complied with my request.

"So, you're quitting, huh?" the rogue taunted, his eye half-closed and swollen from a beating. Some of his teeth, missing. "I told your warriors they're wasting their time. But they won't listen."

"I'll give you one last chance, rogue," I calmly stated. "Who hired you to attack and kill the human?"

"No one," he smirked. "We just want to have fun. So we decided to play with that hum—"

In a swift motion, I had already seized him by the neck. With a tight grip, I slowly raised my hand, causing the rogue's face to redden as his lungs struggled for air.

"Wrong answer," I declared before ripping his head off using both of my hands, showing no hint of hesitation. My warriors growled softly, exhilarated by my display of power. Meanwhile, the remaining four looked terrified.

"Untie another one," I instructed my warriors. I offered each of them a chance to speak, but they were as stubborn as the first rogue.

At last, we had reached the final rogue. The dungeon floor was drenched in the blood of the prisoners. Taking off my stained shirt, I wiped my messy, crimson face before confronting the last captive.

"Please, alpha. Have mercy!" he pleaded as my warriors untied him. Afterward, I posed the same question to him.

"Who hired you to attack and kill the human?"

The rogue knelt on the ground, trembling with fear. Just as I was about to make my move, he uttered something that made me pause.

"I don't know his name! He approached our leader wearing a mask and a cloak, so we couldn't see his face. All I noticed was a peculiar tattoo on the back of his right hand when he handed us the money. The mark was a wolf sitting under a crescent moon. I swear to the goddess, that's all I know!"

The rogue trembled and wept uncontrollably, baring his raw emotions. It was evident to me in that moment that his confession was genuine. With a subtle gesture of my head, I signaled one of my warriors. In the aftermath, all I could hear was the rogue's agonized cry as my warrior thrust a knife into his heart.

"Dispose of the bodies," I commanded, before departing from the scene. Lucian, satisfied by the lives we had taken earlier, retreated at the back of my mind without saying anything.

"Who is that man?" I pondered to myself, seeking refuge in my room and finding solace beneath the cascading water of the shower. I vowed to utilize all my power to uncover his identity and deliver justice for the harm he inflicted upon my mate.