Chapter 4

Arlan's POV

She wants out even if it means death? The image of her lying almost lifeless on the floor made me feel dizzy with anger.

The door to my study swung open with one pound of my fist, and I walked in with Leonard, my Beta and best friend, shutting the door behind us.

“How dare she?” I bit out, the chair shrieked under my weight and cracked lightly.

“She publicly denounced you,” Leonard poured two shots of ale, “that's one option short of bringing their entire pack to their knees”

My throat bobbed as the rum burned down and I set the glass harder than I probably should've.

“Did you two get into a lovers fight?” He pushed, earning himself a deathly glare from me.

Oh, how I wish he could let me have this peace so I can think without clouds in my head.

“I mean,” he stirred his drink with one hand without spilling, “with such display of affection today, one would believe she caught you with another woman in the act. Does she know about your agreement with the Dark Knight Pack?”

My focus strayed to the sealed envelope on top the stacked up papers on my desk begging for my attention for three days now. “We'd be done with the Blood Moon Pack by the time that happens.”

“Which is soon, I believe, if we don't make haste. Leverage the insult today and push a narrative they can't escape from; this is an opening!” His eyes sparked with thirst for blood.

“It is not.” I said, barely controlling the irritation inside.

Leonard narrowed predatory eyes at me, his nose wrinkled at the bridge.

“They’re still a pack with strong ties to the crown, a miscalculated attack would lead us to our deaths, our ambition and thirst buried with us.” I added firmly, staring him down.

“Is that why you risked your life for a gift, knowing fully well you're the heart of THIS pack? One would think you've been smitten by the damsel,” he sniffed in the air, “hell, you're starting to smell like it.”

I clamped my claws around his throat and pinned him with a slam against an empty wall in a twinkle, the loud crack of his bones, together with the desk smashing on the floor, rippled off the walls

“Do you dare to question your Alpha now?” I scowled, my eyes turning red without delay.

Leonard doesn't flinch, he also doesn't dare to shift as much as a claw out. “I merely want to keep you on the right path”

“And what part am I walking now?” My fist closed tighter around his neck. “I want more than anyone to see them crawl and bleed to their deaths. To have them scattered helplessly, seeking mercy like breath, and that old fool's heart beating in my very hand!” I seethed.

“And Ezora?”

My pulse kicked fiercely against my throat.

“She'd get a fate even death can't give.”

The door jerked open and Nyx stood in the doorway.

“Arlan!” She cried and ran towards me with arms spread wide, only to halt few inches away. “Gracious! What happened to you?”

Her tear laced eyes moved from my chest to my face as her hands worked their way in an attempt to take off my coat, pretending not to see I'm in the middle of Pack business.

Many times she'd boss around the Pack as if she were my woman, and I must take blame for letting it. But all that is past and I won't allow a repeat.

“What do you want, Nyx?” I asked, letting go of Leonard and shrugged my coat back on my shoulders. “Why are you still here?”

“W-well, I-I heard you were hurt so I came to tend to your wounds”

I arched an eyebrow. Words spread faster than uncontained disease these days.

“Are you a healer?”

“No”

“Have you any knowledge of medicine?”

“A little, but—”

“Then get out.”

She pressed her lips together till a fine line formed, her eyes were already summoning the tears as though she was preparing for a solo opera.

I crossed my arms. As much as the act only fueled my irritation, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

How did she grow to become such a pity?

“I said to get out,” I said flatly. “You've delivered the letter that brought you here this time, so why are you still here?”

Color flushed from her neck to her cheeks. “Why are you being so cruel to me? Only you have been the kindest to me, it's unfair to cast me away out of the blue. I only wish to care for your wounds like you've cared for me all these years”

“Nyx!” My fist slammed into the wall once. She flinched and took a few steps away from me.

Good. If it weren't for our childhood bond, that would've been her skull and not the wall.

“Alpha,” Leonard called. I glanced swiftly in his direction as he bowed. “The young recruits might need my help with the training, I'll see to—”

“STAY.” goddess forbid Leonard leaves me alone with her and I risk a scandal here…or murder.

The Moon Shadow Pack just officially claimed these lands and haven't fully settled in. It'd be bad if trouble stirred this soon. And by trouble, Nyx was first on my least, I have to get rid of her by every means.

I moved to the split desk and pulled the drawer, taking out five satchels of well stacked gold coins.

“Here,” I tossed the bags to her feet, “That should clear the debts I owe you, enough to start a new better life even” “Board her on the next ship heading to the southern harbor.” I instructed Leonard who seemed even more eager to get rid of her than I was.

“Wait?! What?!” She threw herself unto me, wrapping her hands tight. “You can't do this to me, I don't want to return to Dark Knight Pack, Arlan, let me stay by your side please!”

“Guards!” Leonard's voice rang into the corridor.

In a matter of seconds, two of my gammas appeared in the study and peeled her off.

Leonard trailed behind them with the bags of coins.

Finally, a moment of quiet. Outwardly, of course. My mind busied itself with images of Ezora still on that floor almost dying. My steps grew heavier against the steps of stone as I made my way to my room.

Had I lost her I would've…

“Brother!” The pale form of my brother, Aiden, stuck in his five years old translucent body, greets me as soon as I closed the door behind me

“When will you marry her?” a wide, eager grin stretched across his face.

Ignoring the question and tossing my coat on the iron stand, I had my back to him.

“Did she change her mind?” His figure loomed over my face, old rage smoldering in his eyes,

“I moved it to another day?”

“Why?!”

Why? My tongue rolled as if the cat got it. How does one explain the affairs of adults to a child? I exhaled deeply.

“Why, brother?” Aiden's presence followed my every turn, “I'm starting to disappear. Like smoke!. You said you'll fix me. You have to get her wolf spirit —the other half—please.”

“You'll live. I'll make sure of it.”