ALMOST THERE

ALPHA WAYLON

I can't stop blaming myself for being so careless not to check into the CCTV footage earlier.

I remember quite well that when my mate, daughter, two guards and driver died in that grisly road accident, I did everything I could to investigate the cause of the accident.

Even though it was evident that a trailer driver rammed into their car while on their way to the airport, I couldn't bring myself to accept their death as natural. I thought someone had pre-planned it, paying the high-end investigators to look into the accident. Nothing was found, not even a clue that someone had a hand in it. I had to Iive with the fact that I had lost my beloved ones through someone's negligence.

The trailer driver who left unscathed was found guilty of careless and drunk driving, and he was convicted to death my a shooting squad. Even though he's also dead, I can't stop cursing him for taking my mate and daughter away! What a painful and nasty experience for one to go through!

"The date, Alpha. Have you found it?" Trevor asks, snapping me from my not-so-pleasant reverie.

Since I've already found the date, I read it out to Trevor who has his desktop ready so as to key it in.

"Fifteenth October..." I repeat the date and then wait for him to do his job.

All this while, I'm crossing my fingers hoping to hear positive results from him. I can't even dare do anything else because I'm eager to hear what he has to say about the fire incident.

"Not yet?" I ask while fidgeting. Trevor has been working on the computer for over seven minutes now, trying to unravel the mystery about that date.

"I'm almost there." He replies as he continues working on it.

To distract myself, I fish out my phone from my pocket and start scrolling through it. Even though I have nothing to check in there, I just make myself busy so as to distract myself. I don't want to hurry him up because that might tamper with the results.

"Wait a minute!" Trevor says in shock as he clicks on a button on the computer.

"What is it, Trevor?" I ask curiously as I fix my eyes on the computer. In return, he turns it to face my direction.

"See for yourself, Alpha. I've restarted the video and then paused it for you to see it from the beginning." He replies then clicks on a button for it to start playing.

I watch in disbelief as two masked men walk suspiciously from the road, get into the residential area of the Pack members and then head straight to Maxwell's residence as if it's the most normal thing to do. The time on the CCTV footage is 11:50PM.

There's no any sign of activity or outside, nor any movement from the Pack members. I watch in utter disbelief as they lock the couple's door from outside with an extra padlock and then pour something that looks like petrol all over the house. At the door, at the sides even behind it. I can see everything since the CCTV cameras can capture the whole Pack.

My heart almost drops to the floor when I see them igniting the fire using a lighter.

The inferno starts consuming the whole house as if it's just a piece of firewood. I can't continue watching but before I tell Trevor to end the footage since I've already seen enough, something catches my attention.

One of the goons makes a very terrible and expensive mistake.

He removes his face mask and starts wiping sweat from his face using it and while at it, he's facing one of the CCTV cameras and his whole face gets captured. All of it!

"Duncan?" I almost scream but I keep my composure. I know him quite well. How can't I, yet he's one of my trusted guards at the Pack border? Damn! He's in deep shit.

The other guy realizes that his accomplice is about to put both of them in trouble therefore he pulls him away, probably reprimanding him. He finally puts his mask on. The CCTV couldn't capture the sound but only the actions and ongoing activities.

"I've seen enough!" I say as I cup my face in my hands. "Duncan? Seriously? How dare he?" I'm shocked. I didn't expect such a thing from him.

I hit the table with my fist such that I almost injure my knuckles. I'm such a failure as an Alpha!

I should have protected my Pack as promised in my vows during my coronation as the Pack's Alpha!

I should have prevented all these before it even happened.

I should have ensured I trusted the right people with the right duties at the Pack House and the Pack as a whole.

I should-

"It's okay Alpha, please take it easy on yourself. This is not good for your health, sir!" Trevor says to me. He's still keeping his distance probably because he doesn't want to get hurt in the process. I've already stood up and I'm hitting the wall, hard. I can't feel my knuckles any more and I'm sure I've incurred a fracture or two, but there's nothing to worry about. My wolf will heal me later.

The self blame and guilt in me is too much such that I can't stop hitting the wall even though I know I can't harm it.

"Sir, please!" Trevor begs me as he stands up and tries to pull me away from the wall. "You don't have to blame yourself for something which has already happened. All we need to do right now is to rise up and do our investigations so as to bring justice to Mr Maxwell and his mate!" He adds.

"Let go of me, you're all the same!" I shout at him as I try to push him away from me. Goddess knows I'm already weak to even fight a fly!

"I'm sorry Alpha, but I do my job diligently and I can't be compared to Duncan. I can't stoop that low as to betray you or my Pack!" He defends himself. "Remember I was born in this Pack and my parents, all my siblings, uncles, cousins, make them, are residents of this Pack! I can't betray my home!"

As much as I understand him, I can't help but see every guard in this Pack as a betrayer. Until I lay my hands on the face of the second goon, my heart won't be at rest, but as for Duncan, he'll face my wrath before this day ends!

"What should we do, Trevor" I ask him as he leads me to a nearby couch and makes me sit on it. I'm helpless as it is but I have to look for a solution. Being betrayed by someone you trust the whole Pack with hurts.... so much!

A Pack border guard has the life of the whole Pack in his hands. He can decide to make us all perish if he so wishes! Well, this case isn't different and that's why I need advice from Trevor..... even though I've lost trust in everyone in this Pack already!

"Summon Duncan and let us hear the truth from him. It seems to be more complicated than we think, Alpha!" He suggests.

"What if he denies it?" I ask curiously.

"Torture.... torture is the only answer, Alpha. We have experts for that. They'll milk the truth out of him without blinking an eyelid!"

"Okay then, make sure he is in my presence before four in the afternoon. Don't say a word to anyone, only when you bring him to me, shall we involve the dungeon guards for them to be on standby in case we need them." I instruct.

"My lips are sealed, Alpha. I'll be as discreet as possible." He assures me.

"Okay Trevor, I trust you. Just get to work and bring me results at the agreed time." I instruct him and he nods then leaves, but not before assuring me of his loyalty.

"At your service, Alpha Waylon."

*****

This is the third block of ice which I'm using to nurse my injuries but nothing seems to heal. They hurt as hell and I don't want to visit the Pack clinic for treatment. I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention yet all the nurses at the clinic are chronic gossipers.

I couldn't bring myself to ask Debra for the ice cubes therefore I headed upstairs to my apartment so as to nurse myself with the ones in my drinks freezer.

"Damn, this hurts!" I scream as some pain courses through my knuckles. "Bran, where are you, bastard, come and heal me!" I curse and cuss at my wolf. Why is he silent when all this is happening to me?

"Alpha, what is happening to you and why are you holding ice blocks on your fists?" My mate asks from the doorway while coming from her room.

"I- I -" I suddenly panic, wondering what I'm supposed to say to her. How am I going to tell my mate that I hit the wall in anger after realizing that I let her down? After realizing that I neglected her parents case only to make it resurface because she's now important to me? Because she's now my mate? Oh no!

Adeline walks closer to me and check out my knuckles. I can see doubt plastered all over her face.

"This doesn't look good at all!" She says. "What really happened?" She repeats.

"I fell and hurt myself at the stairs." I lie to her.

"No dear, it seems you hit something or someone... hard!" She exclaims as she checks further. "Let's head to the clinic."

"No need for that. I'm already healing well and-" I'm cut short by Trevor's mind link, informing me that he's already in my office with my worst nightmare, Duncan. I inform him that I'm on my way and I keep the bowl full of ice cubes away.

"Someone is calling me to the office, I'll see you soon dear." I say to her and she nods, though she doesn't seem satisfied with my excuses. Either way, I just stand up and take a step towards the stairs. I have more hitting to do! I'll kill that bastard today!

"Tell Debra to bring me some food, I'm starving." She says behind me and I assure her that her request will be granted.

I just mind link Debra and instruct her, then rush all the way towards my office.

My only goal is to strangle the daylights out of Duncan!