Chapter 5

“Go clean that mess up.” I ordered the guards. They nodded, as that is their usual duties unless I assign someone to do it for them as a punishment. 

“I will tell you under one condition.” 

“That is?” I was starting to get really pissed off at him. 

“Take me with you.”

“Excuse me?” 

“Take me with you. I want to go on this… manhunt.” 

I looked at Jason for his input, but he was just pitching the bridge of his nose. He was exhausted and lacked caring. 

“Why the fuck would I take you?” 

“I have knowledge of witches.”

“So does my mother.” Everyone knew of her story was it wasn’t really a secret.

“Yes, but I KNOW them. They own me favors.” 

“Ah, so you slept with them and now they are at your beck-in call for whatever you need in exchange for your… services.” I said pointedly as I looked down at his dick and back up into his eyes. 

“I don’t apologize for my methods. They got me what I needed.”

“I bet they did…” turning I left without a second look. Fuck men. 

I walked back by myself to the palace and to the conference room, where people had already gathered. All noticed the blood that had splattered on my pants and the hint of burned flesh on me. “I see we got started.” What is with people and not waiting for me to give the go ahead?

Jason and Alpha Dax walked in, and I just glared at them. Jason signaled him to stand back, which really pissed me off. “We are going to be doing a massive manhunt for the man that killed my Molly.” Jason started.

“We know two things for sure. First, we are all familiar with my mother’s story…” I paused, and they all nodded at me. “She said he is the spinning image of Grant.” I watch the older ones realize this and it was like a light bulb went off in their heads. “Second, I just found out that he is working with witches in Texas. I am leading a team to head down there and see what we can find out.” 

“I will be going with her as well as Alpha Dax, Samuel and Ben.” Jason spoke for me. They could feel the anger that radiated from me throughout the whole room. It took me a minute to relax myself and not yell at Jason for stepping outside of his authority. “Everyone else will be on standby for instruction as needed. We leave tonight.” 

Everyone looked at me to be dismissed. Although they respected Jason, I was the person in charge and they knew it. “Dismissed.” 

Everyone left but Jason and Dax as they knew they were in for an ass chewing. “Listen, princess…”

“Don’t fucking princess me. You crossed a line, Jason. You don’t make discissions like that!”

“No, you listen. Molly was my mate that fucking died! Mine! I know that Alpha Dax doesn’t want you and part of me wants to care, but damnit it I don’t right now. I need you to suck up your contempt for him and make it work for my sake. At least until we catch him, then I will personally help you with him.” Jason had slammed his fist through the wooden table. Wood went flying and the smell of fresh blood filled the room as wood was sticking out from between his knuckles. 

“Go get cleaned up.” I dismissed him. Even though he was right, my feelings still mattered here. 

“You should get cleaned up too.” Alpha Dax said quietly from the corner of the room.

“Don’t act like you care about me. Besides, I’ve had much worse than a little cut and besides, I’m already healed.” I waved off his concern. 

“It happened like five minutes ago. You can’t be healed already over something that looked pretty deep.”

Spitting in my hand, I scrubbed away the dried blood to reveal completely healed over skin with no scar. “See? Now leave me alone.” I said as I walked out. Going straight to my office just felt right, but it wasn’t like I was in the headspace to get any work done. 

A soft knock sounded on the door before the handle turned. My mom popped her head in and smiled at me before coming all the way in with a box in her hands. “How are you, dear?” 

“Peachy.” 

“Listen, I know what you are about to do and I wanted to give you something.” 

She laid a box on my desk in front of me. Opening it, there was a necklace and ring sitting on a stand in the middle. It was her jewelry that she never took off. Looking up, I didn’t see the necklace or the ring, which shocked me to my core. “Mom?” 

“You know, a witch gave these to me. It keeps silver from hurting me and makes it so no potion will take away my wolf. Or whoever wears it, I guess. I feel like you need this now that you are going on this manhunt. You need this protection more than me right now. The witch that made these, well, her daughter lives in Dallas, Texas. Maybe if she sees these, she will recognize them and help you more.” 

“What about the witch that made them?” 

“She died before I even got the necklace, but I knew her daughter. She is a Luna herself or was before her mate died a few years back. Since then, she moved back to her mother’s roots and picked up witch craft since then, or last I heard.”

“I… um… mom tha-… but.” 

“We have nicknamed you the warrior princess for a reason. You are my daughter and in this line of work, danger will always follow you. You need to do what you can to protect yourself. Alpha Dax going along isn’t a bad thing. He wasn’t wrong when he said he knew witches. Plus, even if he doesn’t want to accept you as his mate, he won’t let anything bad happen to you, either.” 

“How do you know this stuff?” It completely threw me off my guard.

“I have my ways. Maybe I’ll tell you in due time.” she smirked at me. 

She got up and walked out the door. My shaking hands almost dropped the necklace as I picked it up to put it on. I’m not sure what I expected as I put on the ring, but there weren’t any flashy lights or warm feeling. Almost a letdown, as I was expecting some show that it was working. I guess I will find out in time… 

All too soon, it was time to leave. We were taking an SUV to the outskirts of Texas and then hoofing it the rest of the way. Stealth is our best defense, but either way might not matter when dealing with witches. No one really knew what to expect, so I was on edge the whole ride. 

“What’s the plan, Princess?” Samuel asked.

“Dude, she is fucking Queen now!” Ben hit Samuel upside the head. Samuel was a younger kid at 19. Sand color hair matched his freckles but he was built like a fucking tank. Ben was the polar opposite of Samuel with espresso colored skin, buzzed hair and blue eyes. Both of them grew up together, bouncing between houses like brothers do. 

“Fuck! Sorry! It will be hard to get used to Queen instead of Princess.” Samuel looked sheepishly at me. I had taken over the driving and just shook my head at them through the review mirror. Jason was sitting next to me and Dax was in the far back spread out, taking up the whole back seat to himself. 

“Princess is fine. I haven’t fully taken over the throne, so I will still allow that.” It really didn’t bother me what they called me. 

“Address her accordingly.” Dax threatened anyone and everyone in the car. My body betrayed me as it responded to his protectiveness of me.

“Alpha Dax, why don’t you let me handle my own men?” I addressed him professionally, but my tone was anything but. I wasn’t sure if Ben or Samuel knew about Alpha Dax being my mate or not. 

He did not like that at all. Our bond wasn’t that strong and I could feel how angry that statement made him. His eyes darkened as I could feel his gaze try to kill me through the rear-view mirror. I had to actively avoid looking at it. Ben and Samuel were looking between me and Alpha Dax, trying to figure out what was going on. 

The rest of the car ride was silent as I drove down the interstate. My fingers weaved through my hair as I plaid with it. Something I do when I’m bored, but it was comforting to do so. We had just reached Texas when I heard a stomach rumble. 

“Hungry?” I asked to Samuel. His emotions were all over the place, but being hungry was taking a toll on him.

“Yes, I am.” 

“It is getting pretty late. We should find a hotel and get something to eat. We can start fresh in the morning.” Jason said to me.

“Alright. I think I saw a motel up ahead.” Right on cue, a sign for America’s Best was plastered in yellow. 

“Perfect. There is a McDonalds just next to it.” Ben said happily as I got off the intersate and made my way to McDonalds. 

“Welcome to McDonalds, may I take your order?” the lady over the intercom spoke. 

“What does everyone want?” I asked. 

“#1c for me with a Dr. Pepper.” Samuel said So I relayed it to the lady. 

“#5 please.” Jason said next. “Pepsi”

“I’ll take a #1c too with a Pepsi.” Ben said.

“Alpha Dax?” 

“#4 please with a Dr. Pepper.” 

“Anything else, dear?” the lady asked.

“No, thank you.” 

“Total will be 64.33 at the first window. Please pull forward.” 

“Are you not getting food?” Jason whispered low to me. I just glanced at him quickly before ignoring him. 

“64.33” 

I handed the lady my MasterCard Black card as it is my go to card. I get points back on gas, so I like it more than the rest. 

“Thank you.” The lady said before she shut the window. Something just felt off. I couldn’t place it, just it just felt weird. Not dangerous, but not quite right. Pulling up, the man at the window looked at me weirdly as he handed me my food. His shaggy black hair got in his eyes, so he whipped his head to the left to get it out so he could see. It was then that I noticed the half shaped moon tattoo on his next. 

He too quickly shut the window as I finished handing the food to Jason. He was passing the food out as I pulled into the motel. “I’ll be back.” Not even waiting for an answer, I headed in to see what rooms they have open. 

“Good Evening, how may I help you?” The older woman behind the desk was a pudgy looking thing with wild, curly hair that stuck out in every direction. She was sweating profusely, like she just got done running a mile. 

“I need a couple of rooms, please.” 

“I’m sorry ma’am, but we only have one room left, and it only has two queen-size beds.”

“I guess that will do.” I said, frowning. This will be fun. She ran my card and had me sign a few spots, saying I wouldn’t smoke in the room or damage it in any way. I couldn’t promise that. As she handed me my key, I noticed a tattoo on her thumb of the same moon as the young man at McDonalds. Interesting.

“I’m sorry, but can you tell me what your tattoo means? Is it a symbol for something?” I asked, faking innocence.