Chapter 145: Chapter 39

COLE

“Open this cell,” I demand for the fifth time.

The wolf growls and tries to fight, but my alpha vibes are enough to put him on his knees. I take his head, separate his wolf from his human soul, and the guy drops to the ground in front of me.

“That was the last of them. You feeling all right, Cole?” Blaine asks as he closes the cell behind me.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m getting used to this. Lexi and I are heading to the Ramirez pack now. Thanks for allowing us to stay,” I tell Blaine as we head back to our mates.

Kenneth and Xavier walk past us to start gathering the bodies.

“You guys want to stay for lunch?” Blaine offers.

“Nah, I want to see my sister, but thanks.”

I haven’t seen Ang in months and I miss her. I used to bug both her and Ellie as often as possible. A lot has changed since that last mates ball.

“That’s understandable. I hardly ever see Bristol. You guys have a safe trip. I’m being summoned to the pack house. A pup is getting his wolf.”

We hug then head our separate ways.

I find Lexi chatting with Aunt Realta and Jane. Aunt Realta gives me a coffee then some healing energy.

“Thanks. Blaine is welcoming a new pup. Lexi, we can go whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m ready. I know you want to see your sister.”

“Do you really have to leave already?” Jane asks.

Lexi smiles at her cousin as she stands from the table. “We’ll see each other again.”

She kisses the girl’s head then offers a hug to Aunt Realta. I follow behind then we head out.

Lexi and I chat the duration of the drive to the Ramirez pack, but mostly it’s me answering her questions.

As soon as I’m close enough, I link Ang.

~Ang. You ready to meet my mate?~

~Your Mate? It’s about time!! Woo!~

I laugh and Lexi looks curiously at me.

“Angie is excited to meet you,” I say.

Lexi smiles then begins to wring her hands.

“Don’t be nervous. She’s a pretty laid-back person. She’s a lot like my mom, except for the whole Oracle thing. She’s been dying to meet you since we turned eighteen. Actually, Ellie has too, but we can visit her later.”

~I’m getting all kinds of company today. Dara just pulled in with… is that? I think it’s Kya’s cousin Ian in Dad’s old truck.~

~That would be Ian. What are they doing?~

~I’m not sure. Natalie and Damon are greeting them now... Huh. Dara says she was instructed to come here by the Goddess. She is not sure as to why.~

Ang says that last part the way Dara speaks. I can’t help but laugh.

Lexi squeezes my hand.

“Sorry. Ang was just telling me that Dara and Ian are also there, but she’s not sure why.”

“Are you going to be all right around them?” Lexi’s hold on my hand gets tighter.

I kiss her fingers and she relaxes a little.

“I’ll be fine. I understand why he did what he did. I’m healed. I could get a good shot in for burning me though. I have more important things to worry about. Like introducing my mate to my sister.”

“How much longer until we’re there?”

“Not long. About twenty minutes or so.”

Lexi gets quiet, so I ask her questions the rest of the drive.

Ang and Derrick are all smiles when I stop my truck at their house. Angie rushes to Lexi’s side of the truck to pull her out and into a pregnant hug.

“I’m so glad to finally meet you! I’m Angela, but everyone calls me Angie.”

Lexi looks at Angie’s belly.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. How far along are you?”

“Almost six months. I’m having a boy this time around. Which shouldn’t happen, but I am mates with an alpha so we do need an heir.”

Ang stops talking at Lexi’s confused face.

“Oh, Cole has a lot to fill you in on. Are you hungry? Lou’s diner is just up the road or we can cook. Natalie and Damon are inside with Dara and Ian. They’re a really cute couple. Did you know they’re together?”

Lexi looks to me for help on that one.

“Ang. Let Lexi breathe. We just got here. We know about them, but there’s a lot to fill you in on.”

Ang takes Lexi’s hand and pulls her along the road.

“You can fill me in over lunch. I’m craving green apples and chicken wings with thousand island dressing. Cole, we’ll be at Lou’s.”

She calls out, leaving me with Derrick.

“So what’s been going on, Cole? My mom told me a little about what happened while you were in California.”

“I guess I’ll just explain everything.” I offer as we walk up the road to Lou’s for some lunch.

Derrick hums and scratches his chin. He looks just like his dad with Natalie’s eyes.

“We only have one prisoner. She’s been locked up since before we were even born. She went mad like a decade ago. Honestly, I think she was always crazy based on what my dad told me.”

I haven’t dealt with a crazy wolf so I don’t know what to think of this situation. I guess it’s up to the Goddess anyway.

“What happened? Why is she locked up?”

“It’s Beta Chase’s sister-in-law, Sarah. She helped bring rogues into the Redd territory. Then she helped with my mom being kidnapped. That’s why she’s locked up. She’s… wild. She’s always naked no matter what we give her to wear. She throws herself at anyone and everyone she sees. Sometimes she touches herself. She has a daughter that cut all ties to her. That, I think, pushed her over the edge.”

“Right. Jessica. She’s up in Vermont with Bristol’s pack. Bristol likes her and says she’s a pretty good tracker.”

“Yeah. Well, Chase did help raise her.”

I blow out a breath. “Well, we might as well get this over with. Lexi, I won’t be long.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll watch over her. You have a nut to go crack,” Ang volunteers.

I kiss Lexi then drop a peck to my sister’s head. She still has hot sauce all over her fingers.

We head to the dungeon.

Dara is standing in front of the entrance to the dungeon with Ian holding her hand. She looks up at me and any desire I had for her is completely gone. Now she’s just Dara.

I give her a nod of respect. I look up to Ian.

“I owe you one for setting me on fire.”

Derrick stops in his tracks to look between us.

Ian flips his hair out of his face. “Yeah, I got a little carried away.”

My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline. “A little?”

“Yeah, uh… sorry about that. At least you still had clothing.”

I snort a laugh. I wondered how my clothes were still intact. I guess he didn’t want me naked in front of Dara. He was more in control than I thought.

“So what are you two doing here?”

Ian shrugs, and Dara just looks at me with those bright eyes. “We were instructed to be here. Natalie told me that you were coming here also, so I figured it has something to do with you and the prisoners.”

“Prisoner. There is only one and she’s crazy,” Derrick replies and opens the gate to the stairs.

“Shall we?”

Ian rushes inside as soon as the inside gate is open. “My mate!”

Dara stops in her tracks with her mouth hung open.

“Dara?” I ask. She covers her mouth then closes her eyes. A tear slips down her cheek.

“Dara.” I touch her shoulder. “The Goddess wouldn’t bring you here to punish you. There has to be something more going on.”

Dara looks up to me and nods but doesn’t seem very relieved.

The naked woman is on the floor rolling around in some furs. Her black hair is wildly splayed out.

Derrick and I approach the cell on either side of Ian.

“Ian,” I whisper. “Dara is pretty upset.”

Ian closes his eyes and turns his head back to look at Dara. “Dara,” he repeats over and over again then forces himself to her side.

“Da-mon,” Sarah sings out. “Damon. You brought me a friend to play with. How generous of you.”

She seductively crawls to the bars, if you can call it that. She reaches out to touch us, and we both step back out of reach.

“Awe, Damon. I can take you both at once.” She looks me over and hums. “An alpha. I love alphas.”

I want to puke. She’s not only despicable, but disgusting. She smells like she hasn’t bathed in years.

“Does she forget to wash herself?”

Derrick shakes his head.

“She does it on purpose. Mom comes in here to douse her in water for that reason and to calm her down when she’s acting worse. She’s also obsessed with my dad so he never comes in here. I’ve never corrected her by telling her my name.”

“Allow me,” Dara says. Then water showers over the woman. She cringes to the back corner of the cell. The water stops.

“Much better. Well, as far as that rotten smell goes. Will you be judging her now, Colton?”

I look for her wolf. She’s frightened and whimpers. Her wolf is not crazy, nor is she feral.

My palms begin to glow of their own accord and the woman sinks to her knees. The wolf is ripped from the human then the woman falls to the ground.

“No!” Ian screams. Then he rushes to the cell.

I look to Dara.

“What the hell was that? Her wolf was still good.”

Dara shakes her head.

“That was not you. It is not up to us, remember? The Goddess judged her.” She steps forward. “My mother has called me home. Please look after Ian. I will return as quickly as possible.”

Ian looks to Dara.

“No. Don’t leave me. Please, don’t leave.” He drops to his knees before her. “Dara. I love you. I’m sorry the mate bond distracted me. Please forgive me.”

She holds his face then places a gentle kiss on his lips.

“There is nothing to forgive. You behaved as you should have. I will return, Ian. You have my word.”