Chapter 17 ~ Unfuckingbelievable!

Matthew’s POV ~

It took a couple days for Ella to start feeling comfortable and back to herself. That told me, more than anything, how badly I had hurt her. I hated myself for it.

She wanted to talk to the girls that had been meeting Tyler, and the man she caught at her house. Apparently, humans suffer greatly if they’re knocked out twice in a row.. He hasn’t been awake too much and the doctor said he needed a few days. Who knew?!

Ella came bouncing through the office door and I looked up sharply.. It startled me. She grins and asked “Should I knock?” I laughed shaking my head, I held my hand out to her. When she took it, I knew we are okay. She took my hand. It’s our thing.

I snuggled into her and asked “Are we going to the cells?” She nodded her adorable little head and told me “Yeah. I want to see how dark their hearts are. They may just be two girls crushing on a guy”

I smiled and said “Ooorrrr…. They are traitors and sharing pack information.” She laughed and repeated “Or they are traitors and sharing pack information.”

We got to the cells and Maverick says “We keep filling them up. We got the first four remaining traitors.. the two omegas and the new guy”

I said “Let’s see about sending the four to the Kingdom. Let them be Damien’s problem.” He laughed and nodded.. walking away, he replied “Yeah.. you get to ask.”

Ella and I had the girls in separate interrogation rooms.. with Cal and Maverick monitoring the interviews.

We walked in holding hands, and Beth’s eyes widened. She said “Are you mates?” I growled.. emitting Alpha dominance into the room. She hunched in on herself from the pressure.

Ella squeezed my hand, and I pulled it back.. saying “We ask the questions. You only speak when spoken to.” Ella said “Beth? Is it?” at her nod, Ella continued “What did you girls talk to Tyler about?”

Beth stuttered and stumbled “Nothing.. not really.. he talked about being a rogue.. How great it was.. the freedom of not answering to an Alpha.. or even the throne.”

Ella asked “That’s not all.. What kind of questions did he ask you?” She shrugged “Normal ones. How large is our pack.. Did we have many warriors. How many girls work in the pack house with us. I always thought they were more than mere curiosity. So, I fed him false information. Allie was a little more friendly with him, than I was”

Ella smiled and responded “Allie is crushing harder than you? Is he, by chance, her mate?” Beth was already shaking her head “No.. they didn’t act like mates.. none of the markers seemed present. But what do I know? I haven’t found my mate.. and I am already 22.”

I could see wheels turning in Ella’s head. Literally, little gears churning. Should I be worried? I think I should consider being concerned. She mind links me 🐺 We need to arrange something for the lower ranks. They need to be able to search for their mates. I will speak with Jolene.

And I realized she is already embracing the role of Luna, without realizing she is instinctively reacting to the pain of one of our Omegas. I also realized I had worried she wasn’t ready, needlessly.

As we stood to go question Allie, I told Beth “You will be released back to the kitchen staff. However, you are restricted from going into town for three months. You are allowed to traverse only the immediate territory. Beth, I am serious. Any violation of my order, will see you put to death for treason.” She murmured “Yes, Alpha” and we left her there, to be processed out.

Ella practically skipped into the room. “Allie, Allie, Allie! Let’s chat about Tyler, shall we?” Allie looked directly at me, pointedly ignoring Ella.. and said “I am not sure what I can tell you, Matthew. Tyler is just a guy I met. We shared a few dances.. drinks.. small talk. I don’t know where he lives. Or where he is from.”

I growled out “By what right do you address me by my given name? I am Alpha Landon to you. If you ever use my name again without my leave, you will be severely punished. That’s one! The second was disrespecting my mate.. your future Luna! The third was blatantly lying to me.”

Ella giggled “Damn girl! You’re already out and barely got up to bat! Let’s start over, shall we? Tell us, Allie.. what information did you freely give to Tyler?”

She practically sneered at Ella “I don’t care what Beth told you. She’s just jealous Tyler likes me better.” Ella immediately linked me 🐺 Dark heart. She is harboring resentment.. whether directly at Beth.. or you.. I can’t read yet. Keep her talking, please?

I said “Amazing. You automatically assume Beth would implicate you. She didn’t, by the way.. But, I am seeing you taking the opportunity to try and throw her under the bus. I thought she was your friend.”

Allie snarls “She’s always trolling. The only reason she goes with me at all is because she hopes her mate will appear. Like he’s going to pop in while she’s out wandering downtown.”

Ella laughs “It could happen. Happened to me.” Allie snarks “You don’t know. You’re birthday isn’t for four days. We should know.. we have all been forced to prepare for it.”

I responded “Forced is a harsh word, don’t you think? Forced. Implies no choice. Are you not employed by the pack? Do you not receive a generous paycheck every two weeks? If you are dissatisfied, I suggest you leave your position. I have stacks of applicants who would love the job you so casually denegrate.”

Ella asked “Allie, is your family originally from here, or did the take refuge here, from one of the other two packs incorporated twenty years ago?”

Allie looked directly at me again, ignoring Ella and said “My family is from River Run. It’s just mom and me now. But you wouldn’t know about that. My dad just walked off in the night a few months ago.”

I growled “You deliberately disrespected your Luna again. There will NOT be a third time! Best believe that! Did your mother report the absence of your father? Did he leave willingly? Why wouldn’t a search for him have been organized? You see, apparently, River Run refugees must not be following pack protocol. Without following rules, we can’t address your issues.”

She replied “My mother said it would do no good to report it. That it is best to keep it on the down low or you would brand my dad a traitor.. and kill us, by association.”

Ella said “Yet, you didn’t hesitate to tell Alpha Landon. Tell us, Allie.. are you unhappy here? Are you mistreated? You do know all that requires is a pack transfer requisition, right?”

Again, she looked at me.. and I started to growl low in my throat. Ella said “Ohh! I get it now. She’s been conditioned.. brainwashed to only respond to male authority. I believe you need to address all the River Run expack.”

I grinned at her “You’re so smart! The pack within my pack. That’s what you meant!” I slanted my eyes back to Allie and told her “You have left me with no choice. The amount of disrespect you have shown will no longer be tolerated. I command you to tell me what information you have divulged to that rogue.. and you will do it now!”

She quietly said “I didn’t tell him much. I’m an omega.. what do I know? I did get close to Brady, on border patrol.. I got patrol shift schedules from him. I stole them from his office when I tricked him to get me something to drink. I gave those to Tyler. I told him about you thinking she’s your mate. He asked about our warriors.. how many archers, marksmen, snipers.. all that. I could only tell him hundreds.. since I don’t know. He asked questions about her.. but I don’t know much.”

I told her “That may be the only thing that saves your life. Your ignorance.. My mate’s name is Ella! Remember it! This bullshit ends now! You will remain in custody.. until it is determined what shall be done!”

Unfuckingbelievable!