Evelyn POV
I had been avoiding Reuben. The sparks between us in the office were playing on my mind and I felt it best I kept my distance from him. I found him irritating, arrogant and…he made me restless.
He and his warriors had packed light which means they didn’t plan to be here long. Which meant once they found Vicky, or she made her move first, he would be gone.
But then what? What would I do? I almost felt cheated that the last four years I had been acting on revenge, my heart darkening. I had shut myself off only leaving a warm spot in my heart for Elspeth and Rex.
Could I go back to living like that? Do I want to go back to that? That all consuming level of hatred. Wasn’t it soul destroying?
He had left early this morning, I heard Donnie come for him at 6am. I had been laying in my bed, waiting for him to leave, listening to his movements downstairs. It was safe to go down until he had left. Suddenly I felt like a prisoner in my own home. Being careful of where I went just so I wasn’t caught off guard.
My level of anger in the office was so intense that all I could see was red. My breathing was heavy and if he hadn’t of calmed me down….
That’s another thing, how did he manage to calm me down. He said he wasn’t going to stop until she was caught and I wanted to believe him but that didn’t mean I couldn’t also put measures in place. Measures of my own requirements.
Breakfast was ready and as the kids ate on the kitchen table, I decided to at least be courteous enough to tell Reuben and Nate.
I knew they were still at training, which seemed to have over run this morning. No doubt the warriors were keen to meet the notorious Alpha King.
Walking down to the training grounds I could hear a sparring match still taking place. I hope Donnie wasn’t working them too hard, I’d have to up their rotas again and make sure all parts of the borders were patrolled.
As I enter onto the training grounds I see one of the younger warriors sparring with Reuben. My pace quickens as I worry for the warrior when I realise that Reuben is blocking and not attacking. His head whips in my direction before he blocks again, without even looking at his component. His eyes now concentrating on mine. He was a born warrior king.
As he trips my warrior’s back leg, who falls to the ground, my eyes notice his bare back. An involuntary gasp escapes me as I see three wounds remain with the slight greenish tinge of poison. He hadn’t even waited to heal, I know this now. He’s such a fool.
He turns to me, hearing my thundering footsteps which slow up thanks to his chiselled muscular body. He has a six pack, with an adonis belt that ran down into his sport shorts. Why was my throat dry all of a sudden. A smirk from him tells me how. Arrogant prick.
“What is going on?” I finish marching over, releasing my alpha aura. The younger warrior panics at my sudden temper, stepping back amongst his fellow pack members.
“I was just checking on your warriors techniques, they are good.”
“Of course they are good. They’ve been trained by the best. I mean what is that on your back?” My eyes open wide as my jaw tenses. How could he be so reckless.
“That’s where I was shot.” He answers with no tone placing his T-shirt back on. The sweat from his sparring match now transferring onto his top and leaving marks.
He was struggling more than he was letting on. He struggled before and that was with just one bullet, but this time he was shot with three. The cold bitch, she quickly turned on him.
“Donnie, training is over!” I command.
“Yes Alpha.” Donnie says apologetically. “That’s not necessary I was looking forward to a rematch.” Reuben chuckles, trying to brush aside my order.
“Alpha Reuben, here I am in charge. Here I am responsible for your well being, here I am Alpha!” I firmly state, reminding him that he is under my pack’s welfare and that he is on my lands. That I am in charge.
“I’m sorry Alpha I didn’t think.” Donnie’s voice enters my mind.
“It’s fine but I do need to speak to you alone. I’ll find you later.”
I cut the mind-link only to grab Reuben’s wrist. As I touch him, sparks erupt in my hand forcing me to drop it as if it burnt me. I can’t touch him, it’s too much.
“Do you need me to go somewhere with you?” He quirks an eyebrow at me looking down at my hand that is now clasped tightly into a fist.
“We are going to the hospital…” I had a feeling if I said to get him checked over by Noah, he’d decline. “…to finish the tour.”
“You fibber!” Reuben scowls at me as Noah gesture for him to sit on the hospital bed. “Surely you’re used to a female lying to you now Reuben…” I retort before I can stop myself. “Ouch!” He mocks placing his hand on his heart.
“You should have had more fluids Alpha.” Noah says, inspecting his wounds. “I didn’t have time to waste. I was out for a few days, I needed to get into action.”
He was out for a few days? That’s unlikely for an alpha as strong and high in status as him. I was growing more concerned about these poisoned bullets. If Reuben struggled with them, then we were all in real trouble.
Yet a week has past and there’s been nothing, no signs of danger. Security was high, and I was going to increase it again especially now we had visitors. Maybe the extra measures were for nothing but it was best to be prepared.
She could have skipped the country for all we know. I know what I need to do. I couldn’t put all my eggs in one basket. She was responsible for the death of my parents and pack members, for the destruction of the pack, for kidnapping my own son and poisoning Reuben against me. For leaving him for dead.
“I need to go do something.” I announce out of the blue as my mind returns to the present. I’m trying my best to keep my anger hidden, my aura at bay. Both men look at me, both holding a frown on their face.
“Okay, I’ll let you know how we get on.” Noah responds, his eyes flickering back to Reuben’s wounds.
“Thanks Noah.”
I don’t look back but I know his eyes are on me, I can feel them boring into my back. I’m a woman on a mission as I head back to the training ground to find Donnie conversing with both Silver Moon and Red Stone warriors.
“Donnie, a word when ready.” I gesture for him to meet me in my office when he has completed. In my office I check my morning emails briefly.
“Alpha?” Donnie knocks on the door before he closes it and sits down. “What can I do for you?” He asks as I remain silent, contemplating my plan.
“I need someone who can discreetly track down Vicky for me.” I appreciate that Reuben is the best tracker around but they have history. When the time comes can he truly believe that he would end her life. I didn’t think so. I need to have a back up plan, to find out where she is and what she is planning.
“I’d be honoured for the duty Alpha.”
“No, I couldn’t ask that of you. Beatrice is pregnant and Harry is too young.” There had to be someone else.
“I wouldn’t offer if I couldn’t do it Alpha. I’ll keep my distance and report back as much as I can.”
If I wasn’t Alpha, a mother I’d go. See for myself what she has planned. What excuse she is giving for being pack-less once again.
“Very well. This is top secret, you can’t even inform Noah. All updates of any possible sightings or information come to me directly. Do you understand?” “Yes alpha, I understand.”
