chapter twenty three

“Find her and bring her to me,there's no way she could have gone far.” Kai yelled, his voice shaking the foundation of the pack house.

“But my lord…” the chief guard said, his head bowed, “we've checked the surrounding woods, there's no way she could have survived, especially with the houndras roaming.”

“Well I do not care!” Kai said fuming, “I want her here, dead or alive. There's no way some dumb human outsmarted you all.”

“Even if she's dead, bringe her carcass. There would be no stone left unturned, get her for me!” Kai ordered.

“I am sorry my lord, I won't disappoint you!”

“Well you better not, for your sake, you better not disappoint me, next time I won't be so lenient!”

The guard walked out the hall swiftly, his footsteps echoing I'm the large hall.

“Stupid stupid stupid!” Kai muttered whilst he struck his head severally.

“What troubles you my love?”came Mirabel's voice,soft and seductive.

“Nothing…” Kai answered as he paced to and fro.

“Don't be like that Kai,” Mirabel pressed, “it's obvious and very visible that there is something bothering you. What stops you from sharing whatever it is with me,your wife, mother of your child.”

Kai's stuff expression softened. She was right after all. He could confide in her.

“You're right!” He muttered, “I can trust you, you're the mother of my child.” He repeated, like one caught in a trance.

“That's right my dear,” Mirabel said as she wrapped him in her arms, “now tell me, what ails you this much?”

“The human prisoner.” Kai answered.

A mischievous smile slowly spread across Mirabel's face, “human prisoner you say? Isn't she something more than that? Let's say your mate?”

“No way!” Kai answered furiously, obviously offended by what mirabel said, “there is no way in hell that human is my mate”

“Well said, now tell me, what has that lowly human done this time around?” She asked.

“She escaped from her cell, she's going to ruin everything,she might harm you and our child!” Kai answered.

Mirabel chuckled, “I don't think she is going to be a problem Kai, you'll be safe with me and I know how to handle her, but there's a few people that I can't handle.”

“Who, tell me, I'll have their heads rolling under the moonlight immediately.”

“Relax, I do not know who they are for sure, but I find it a bit odd that a human is able to escape from the dungeon without a little help.”

Kai's eyes Widened with realization, “are you saying that we have traitors under our roof?” He asked.

“Exactly what I am saying.” Mirabel answered, “and I think that they are the problem here, not a human.”

“We need to find them and get rid of them, only then can your pack be safe.”

“And how do we find them? I want them dead before sunrise.” Kai yelled.

“You will just have to be patient my lord, it's not that easy to root out traitors and you can't do that in a day. I am sure that you do not want to make mistakes my lord.”

“You'll just have to trust me and hand it all over to me, there's a lot you need to be worried about.” Mirabel said.

“Sure, I trust you mirabel, I trust you to protect me!”

………….

“You summoned me my lord?” Orion asked as he walked in to find Kai stuffing his face with cake.

“Hmmm–yezz, I called for yo…u” Kai mumbled.

“I highly suggest that you be done with your….” Orion paused to assess the situation;the table that was covered with nothing but cake and cake crumbs, “your strange choice for dinner.”

Kai mumbled again with crumbs falling out his mouth as he pointed to an empty seat at the table.

Orion got the message and refused, “I would prefer to stand my lord,” he said as she looked at the chair that was already covered with cake crumbs.

“How did we get here?” He thought, his facial expression twisted with disgust.

Mirabel walked in holding another platter filled with cupcakes. “So glad you could join Orion.” She greeted as she placed the platter on the table along with the other cakes.

“I know right?” Orion answered, flashing a weak smile at her.

Kai mumbled again and pointed towards the cake covered chair as before except that this time, before Orion could politely refuse, a guard grabbed him and tried to force him to take his seat.

“Get your hands off me!” He roared, his eyes gleaming with danger.

The guard got the message and let him go.

“Alpha, like I said,I would prefer to stand.”

Kai cleaned his mouth and stopped chewing, “well I do not want to speak while hovering above me like some pigeon…”

“Well then, if I must sit, I would not do so at this table.” Orion responded firmly?

“Have you forgotten your place Orion?” Kai barked.

Orion swiftly retorted, “I have not! But have you, oh supreme alpha, forgotten your place? The last time you raised your hands against me I took it with good faith just as you took me by surprise,”

“But I would rather rot in the dungeon than let you touch me. I will only respect you as long as you respect me, you might be the supreme alpha,but I am the elder wolf. It's best you remember that And chose you next steps wisely.”

“Orion come on, I am sure that was a mistake and we can surely get over that now can't we?”

Orion knew better than Mirabel's weak attempts at patronising him.

He was still weary of them.

“Have a slice of cake while we talk things out, surely you must have heard that the pack is in a state of unrest as we have a prisoner loose.”

“No thank you, I am fine.” He answered as a clean chair was brought for him, “and I did hear the news of our prisoner escaping, the human girl.”

“Well you heard right,” Mirabel continued, “we would like to know if you have any idea on how she could have escaped?”

“I would like the alpha to speak to me himself, he's not dumb and last I checked you have no right to question me. Not in this house, not in this pack!”

Chuckling, Mirabel let out a slow sigh as she pointed to Kai who had returned back to stuffing his face with cake, “very well then,” she said, “there's your beloved alpha.”

“Orion…” Kai called, “you've heard all that my wife had to say.”

“Wife?”

“Yes, Orion, we're getting married in a few days,” Kai answered.

“There's no way that's happening,you have a mate, besides, it's been three weeks since Mirabel got back from the dead…” he said, the last sentence laced with sarcasm, “you can't get married to her just like that.”

“Well, permit me to interrupt you there elder wolf.” Mirabel chimed in, “I have his child, this is more important than any mate, especially a human one.”

Orion smiled, “let me have that cake.” He requested.

Mirabels smiled happily, “sure thing,” she said as she carefully cut a slice and handed it to Orion.

He took it and stood up to leave, “I will enjoy this…” he said and as he walked away he tripped, this sent the cake flying towards Mirabel.

“You clumsy…” she cursed

“Forgive me, let me help you with that.” Orion said as he grabbed a wet napkin and gently smeared Mirabel's neck.

“There, I'll have another slice to go.”

Mirabel reluctantly gave him another.

Akira was right, there was a mark just like she said there would be in the exact spot on her neck.

Mirabel was definitely a strigoi.