Chapter 5: I have always been ruthless

"Take the hunters and wait for me at the border." Dylan said when he and Jordan reached the edge of the pack's territory.

"Where are you going?" Jordan asked.

"I need to have a quick discussion with the wolf council."

Jordan raised his brows. "Is it about..."

"Yes." Dylan nodded, cutting him short. "The curse. The sooner I know how the human can break the curse, the better it will be for everyone involved."

"But you told her father that you'll wed her once you return." Jordan protested. "You said you'd even send the second payment."

Dylan gave him a disgusted look. "Did you really think I would marry some weak human?"

"Then what was the point?" Jordan exclaimed. "You said she would bear a son for you."

"You know, Jordan, I used to think you were the smartest man alive." Dylan muttered. "I'm not having that thing bear a son for me. It would be the ultimate insult. A human bearing a son for me?"

"Let me get this straight." Jordan held up his hand. "You have no plans to marry her, or have a child by her. You just brought her here to what? Die?"

"No one said she's dying." Dylan retorted.

"What if a blood sacrifice is needed to break the curse?"

"Then she'll die." Dylan replied heartlessly. "It's why I brought her here anyway, to break the curse. Her father knew what he was getting her into, yet he blindly gave her to me for a pile of gold coins."

"That's because he thought you would actually marry her." Jordan said exasperatedly. "That man doesn't know the danger surrounding his daughter. He doesn't know you plan to use her to break a curse. Come on, Dylan, when did you become so ruthless?"

Dylan pulled out a dagger from the belt attached to his waist and shoved it into Jordan's hand.

"I've always been ruthless." He said coldly. "I guess it just took you this long to realize it. Go join the hunters. Now!"

Jordan wanted to refuse, but he had never been able to resist Dylan's Alpha voice. No one could.

"You know I'm not just your beta." He said softly. "I'm your best friend too, so I wouldn't want you to do something you would regret."

"It's not in your place to tell me what to do." Dylan replied. "Even though we're indeed best friends, do not forget that I'm your Alpha."

Jordan straightened and nodded once. "Of course, Alpha."

Dylan watched him walk away, and something shifted inside him. Jordan was a good friend, but he had to remember his limits.

He turned and stormed in the other direction, heading towards the temple where the wolf council met for meetings.

Out of the blue, the image of the redhead with fierce emerald eyes pushed into his memory.

He stopped short, jaws clenching, hands fisted. Why was he thinking about her? Why did he suddenly conjure up her face?

Cursing under his breath, he shoved the image of Scarlett's face aside and continued down the path. The moment the curse was broken, he was kicking her out.

The temple was half opened, and the wolf council, also known as the pack's elders, were already seated within, murmuring amongst themselves.

Helgar, the leader of the council, a buff woman with shaved head and scathing brown eyes, sat at the head of the round table, her massive hands folded before her.

Beside her was Beowulf, her mate. Then Agravain, Mather and Greta who had short blonde hair and a thick scar slashed across her left eye.

The moment they felt Dylan's presence, the murmurs stopped and they scrambled to their feet.

"Welcome back, Alpha." Helgar said with a low bow and moved away from the head of the table.

Completely ignoring her, Dylan settled into the seat where she had just been sitting.

"Helgar," he said. "The next time I find you on this seat, I'll kill you."

The words were delivered icily, and the elders understood the message passed across.

Helgar swallowed and nodded. "Yes, Alpha. Forgive..."

"Let's get this meeting over with." Dylan continued, brutally cutting her off. "You all said a human of royal blood was needed to break the curse. That has been done. What next?"

Helgar took the seat beside Beowulf and exchanged glances with the rest of the elders. No one wanted to speak out for fear of angering Dylan.

When the silence lengthened, Dylan grew furious. "Have you all gone deaf?!" He snarled.

"A–alpha... we're still searching for answers." Helgar ventured out.

For a moment, Dylan didn't speak. He turned slowly, and his golden eyes zeroed in on Helgar.

"What'd you say?" He asked in a low tone.

As the leader of the elders, Helgar had to break the news to him. She rose to her feet and clasped her hands before her. The rest of the elders looked on in fear of what would happen.

"We did say a human of royal blood can break the curse." She began. "But... we don't know how."

Dylan stood up so fast his chair toppled over. His palms lay flat on the table, twitching occasionally, like he was holding himself back.

"Let me get this straight." He snarled. "The human has the ability to break the curse, but you don't know how?"

Helgar hesitated before answering. "She doesn't technically have the ability to break the curse. It has to do with her blood."

"Then kill her." Dylan ordered. "What else are you waiting for?"

"It wouldn't work that way, Alpha." Beowulf spoke, coming to the aid of his mate. "She would just die for nothing and we would have to find you another human girl with royal blood."

"Then why did I have to bring a human into my pack if you hadn't found a solution?" Dylan snapped. The intensity of his voice shook the temple, making sand and debris clatter from the ceiling.

"You gave us a week to find a solution, Alpha." Helgar protested. "You threatened to end us if we didn't. We had to journey to the Dark Caves in that limited time to consult the oracles."

"And we were lucky to find answers." Agravain cut in. "Remember the oracles have been silent for years, which is why we haven't found a way to end the curse ever since."

"Enough!" Dylan held a hand out to silence them. "So what exactly are you saying now?"

"You'll have to go through with the wedding." Helgar continued. "Keep the human girl beside you until we find a way she can break the curse."

Dylan resisted the urge to lash out. Keeping a human in his pack was the last thing he wanted. He couldn't trust himself not to kill her.

"How long until you find a way?" He asked finally.

"We have no idea." Helgar shook her head. "But we're doing all we can. Since we have a human now, the first hurdle has been crossed. Just give us a little more time."

"Very well." Dylan nodded. "Do everything you can to find a way. Until then, the human will remain in the pack. Make sure she's untouched."

Just then, a panicked Jordan spoke through the mind link.

[Alpha, you need to return to the pack.]

Dylan frowned at the urgency in his voice. [What happened?]

[It's the girl. She tried to escape. She's badly hurt.]

Dylan didn't waste another second to reply. He shut the link and stormed out of the temple in anger, leaving the elders staring after him in confusion.