Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Ayla Kylee was sobbing against the bars of her prison.

“You were drugging Theo?” I pushed.

“I needed him to be pliable. I needed him to doubt himself.” Harry reached out and cupped my cheek. “I couldn’t have the transition go smoothly for him. He needed to be distracted enough to stay away from you.”

“You bastard,” I spat. “Too bad you failed.”

Harry’s jaw clenched. “Merely an unfortunate setback. But everything I did, I did for you, my love. They all would have held you back.

Coddled you. Kept you from learning your true strength. Especially your father.”

My heart pounded in my chest. Was he saying what I thought he was?

“Did... Did you kill my father?”

“Shh, it’s okay, Ayla,” he cooed. “I know it hurt, but it was necessary. He never would have let us be together. You never would have been strong enough to defy him had I kept him alive.”

Kylee sobbed louder.

“You son of a bitch,” I yelled, kicking out at him, fighting hard against my restraints. “I’ll kill you.”

He chuckled. “There’s that fire I love so much.”

The sudden burst of rage faded quickly, leaving me dizzy and lightheaded. My breathing became heavier. I had to remember the wolfsbane. I hadn’t had anything to eat or drink in days. It would put a bigger toll on my body.

But I had to keep him talking.

“So, are the Waar Pak even looking for me?” I asked. “Or is that just another one of your tricks?”

Harry shrugged. “They’re looking for you,” he said calmly. “Thanks to that stupid Sablemane Alpha. When he brought you to the Alphas‘ Gathering, I knew he was going to be a big problem.”

“And this is what you meant by doing what Kingston couldn’t with Alpha Conner?” I commented, remembering the message he had left about it. “You’re the reason he went missing.”

Harry had his back to me as he rummaged through a box.

“Of course,” he said proudly. “He was already planning on hunting you down. I couldn’t allow him to think for a moment he could ever have you. Do you like my work?” He waved a hand at the mutilated body still hanging before me, laughing. “I think he got the message.”

***

Theo The sun was setting when the helicopters touched down five miles from the ruins of the Onyxcrown packhouse. With the territory mostly taken over by the forest, this was the closest they could get us. We would have to run the rest of the way. We all helped kit our wolves out. Shifting and having one of the others attach a supply pack to our wolves so we could shift back and still have with we needed.

When we were ready, we took off through the woods. Kingston would be our guide as he was the only one who had been here before. Our wolves crossed the distance in no time, coming up to the structure as we lost the last rays of sunlight.

We would need the darkness as cover.

I immediately started searching for Ayla’s scent. I caught something when I heard Kingston’s voice start to bark out orders.

Like fucking hell I was letting him take over.

I shifted back.

“What the hell are you doing?” I yelled. “I told you, this isn’t mission, Amvorov. The only reason you’re here is as a guide.”

your “There’s no way we can find her inside in one group,” he snarled. “We need to split up.”

“Which we will do once we’ve found a trail.” I wasn’t going to tell him I had already found it. “But if you’re in such a hurry, be my guest. You take five and...”

“We’ll go this way,” he said, slipping pants on. “With all the structural damage, the best way in will be through the tunnels.”

“Fine,” I agreed. “But Briggs goes with you.”

“What?” he snapped. “Why the hell...”

“Because I don’t fucking trust you, that’s why,” I spat.

Kingston looked at me with disdain. “Fine, then Pierce is with you.”

“Not a problem with me.”

It wasn’t. I liked Pierce, and he was here for Ayla, not his Alpha. I felt this arrangement would be more of an issue for Kingston. But he agreed, and that’s all I cared about. I let them go off in their intended direction as I searched for our way in.

I tried contacting Ayla through the mind–link, but our connection was blocked again. I found the trail I had caught originally and started to follow it. Her scent became stronger as we went.

“You know, he really does just want to help,” Pierce said. “He cares about her too.”

“Forgive me if I have a hard time giving a shit about his feelings, Beta Pierce,” I replied. “I know who Kingston used to be. Maybe it’s time you saw he’s not that man anymore.

“I’m not there yet,” he said, but there was a touch of sadness in his voice.

“There or not, if he tries to take my mate, I will kill him,” I said firmly but not viciously.

It wasn’t a threat. I needed him to know that it was a possible outcome.

“I know,” he replied.

I stopped for a moment. I still had Ayla’s trail but something was off. The ruins were huge. The wing that jutted off at this side seemed mostly collapsed, while the main section was more sound.

“We’re on a false trail,” I said quietly.

Pierce sniffed. “Are you sure? Her scent is pretty strong here?”

I closed my eyes, breathing deeply. Yeah, something was off. Guilt twisted my gut. I had let my anger for Kingston cloud my judgment. Otherwise, I would have caught it sooner.

“It’s not hers,” I replied. “It’s pretty damn close, but it’s not real. Come on. We’re heading back.”