Chapter 86
Chapter 86
DECKARD
Q
I step out of the cell, curious yet annoyed by the so–called visitor requesting to see me. As I approach, I recognize him immediately–none other than Dane, Amica’s ex–husband, pacing restlessly.
“Dane? What are you doing here?” I snap, irritation rising at the sight of him
“Alpha, I’m sorry to show up unannounced like this, but you can blame me for being worried about my mate. I’ve heard all the crap she’s been dealing with, and it’s eating at me. May I see her?”
His words make my skin crawl.
“Ex–mate,” I growl lowly, correcting him.
“Oh, my mistake, Alpha Deckard,” he says quickly, though the apology feels hollow. “But you can’t really blame me. It just seems like Amica’s safety has been a joke since she joined the Blood Bane pack. One problem after another-”
“Get to the point, Dane. What the hell are you driving at?” I cut him off, ass my patiencence was thiner than a spider cob “I want to see Amica. For starters,” he says boldly, looking me straight in the eye. His audacity catches me off guard, and I wonder what on earth gave him the guts to demand this
I sniff, letting my disdain show. “It’s clear that my Luna doesn’t want to see you. And even if she did, I would never allow it,” I snicker, watching his composure falter.
“Why? Are you just another overbearing alpha who wouldn’t even grant his own Luna her freedom?” he counters, his tone daring.
I chuckle darkly, stepping closer. “What gives you the right to speak to me like that, Dane? Do you think you’re someone important? My voice drips with menace.
“You 1 pause, My jaw tightening before Ispits, “worthless insect Do you think I don’t know about your pathetic little tricks! How you somehow managed to sneak your name into the Apex Circle?”
Ah, so we’re going there. He laugh, slow. “Ah, the Apex Circle. You mean the same one you’ve done everything in your power to keep me out of?”
“Yes, that one!” I snaps. “The one a wolf as pathetic as you will never belong to, no matter how many sly games you play!” “Ever wondered how my name made it onto that list?” he smirks suddenly, his confidence grating.
I narrow my eyes, reading between the lines. He’s insinuating something, something to do with Amica.
“Tell me, Dane,” I say with a slow, dangerous smile. “How?”
“We both happen to have a mutual acquaintance. She got my name in there,” Dane says with a smug laugh, his arrogance testing against my already fragile patience.
The anger inside me ignites, Before I realize it, I swing at him, my fist connecting with his gut. He doubles over, gasping, the smirk wiped clean off his face.
Get out!” I command,
Dane stumbles hack, clutching his stomach and staggers away a fast as his legs could carry him.
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Chapter 86
I storm back into my office, the d
mming shut behind me. My thoughts race as the pieces refuse to fit together.
Amica swears she knows nothing about Dane’s name making it onto the list. She insists she had no hand in it. But she’s the only even knows Dane. It makes no sense.
one
Then there’s Mary–always by my side, loyal to a fault. But Mary doesn’t even know who Dane is.
Who else could possibly have access to my computer? Who else close enough to tamper with something so important?
Amica Amica and no one else.
I want to unleash my anger, to confront her and make her understand that she’ll pay for this betrayal. But then the memory of her shattered face, her broken spirit, flashes throughmy mind. She’s paid enough already.
She did pay.
I clench my fists, struggling against the urge to bring it all up again. But it eats me alive, gnawing at me from the inside. She’s in a delicate condition now–I can’t drag this out again. Not now. Not yet.
If Amica is still in love with her ex, I need to know. I need to watch her every move, to stay a step ahead, and understand what she’s up to at all times.
Without hesitation, I grab my phone and call Leonard, my Beta. He picks up instantly.
“Leonard, I’m assigning you a task,” I say, my tone sharp and final “Keep an eye on Amica. I want updates on her
ment, who she speaks to, where she goes–everything. Effective immediately.
“Yes, Alpha,” Leonard replies without question.
I hang up.
I should’ve done this sooner. The moment she ran back to Dane after fleeing from here, I should have put someone on her trail.
“What did Dale want from her during that meeting? What did he say to her?
And more importantly, why would she have anything to do with that weak, pathetic excuse for a wolf? Dane hit her once- he raised a hand against her. A coward like him wouldn’t hesitate to do it again if given the chance.
The audacity of that fool to even show his face here.
As much as Dane infuriates me, there’s another shadow lurking the edge of my mind- the scar–faced man.
He’s out there somewhere, always vanishing before I can get close. Who is he? What does he want?
It’s impossible that he and his crew has gotten out of town. My en are everywhere–eyes on every exit, every hidden path. I’m so close to finding him, him. And when I do, this will all end
No one rests until he’s found.
What I don’t understand is the control the scarface man has over these rogues. Nota single one of them is willing to talk what can I expect from a pack of desperate animals with nothing to lose? You can’t hold anything over their heads- they’re dogs, reckless and aimless.
Or maybe it’s something deeper
Something about the scar–faced man keeps them loyal and silent even in the face of death. What is it? What gives him that power?
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Chapter 86.
A few days later, I notice that Amica is doin, ter. She’s back on her feet, though still shaken.
Because of that, I warn everyone to tread carefully around her. Especially Mary.
Bria had taken it upon herself to call Martha, insisting she’s a beer healer for Amica than Mary. And honestly, I agree.
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But that doesn’t make it any easier to stand the look of disappointment on Martha’s face. It’s not just disapproval–it’s the kind of look that feels like a mother chastising her son for repeatedly failing or like a mother–in–law scolding her daughter’s husband for not treating her right.
I can’t stand it
As strong and powerful as I am, Martha terrifies me.
“Alpha Deckard, I warned against stressing her. I told you how delicate her situation is, and yet, here we are!”
Her words stings, but I don’t flinch.
“Did you know she was kidnapped?” I shoot back, my voice firm defensive. “Or do you plan to keep blaming me for every misfortune that happens to her?”
“Yes, I blame you,” Martha fires, “You are her protector. It’s your responsibility to ensure her safety, and yet you’ve failed- again. You refuse to protect her and your unborn child!”
My jaw tightens, but she doesn’t stop.
“Tell me, how can someone as strong and controlling as you claim to be fail to manage his own home? How can you rule an entire territory when you can’t even handle what’s under your own roof?”
I want to argue, to yell, to defend myself, but a part of me knows she has a point.
“Careful, Marthal I bite!” I growl, my voice low and dangerous.
“Then why don’t you use those teeth on the fingers of your enemies? “Are you too naieve to see that your Luna is facing all of this because of you? If she weren’t with you, no one would know her–no one would have a reason to come after her. But you can’t see that the greatest enemies of your Luna aren’t outside these walls. They’re inside your castle!”
Her words sting like venom, but I refuse to back down.
“Are you trying to say something, Martha? Say it then!” I bark, stepping forward, but she doesn’t flinch.
“Why would you let someone who’s in love with you be in charge of the life of your Luna?” she hisses, her voice trembling with anger. “Are you so naïve that you think all intentions towards her are good? You’ve left her vulnerable, Alpha!”
she continues.
“The loss of your heir wasn’t just some traumatic experience–it clear your Luna was drugged!”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I demand,
“She was drugged!” Martha repeats, her voice firm. “She told me herself, according to her symptoms–she started feeling pain In her pelvic region hours before she was kidnapped. That wasn’t just random. Someone inside this place, someone with access to her, set this in motion. And you let it happen!”
freeze, her words bouncing in my mind. Drugged. My heir. My Luna. Someone inside.
“You are ridiculous, Martha!” I say with disbelief. “Mary didn’t even know Amica was pregnant. Why would she do something like that?
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Chapter 86
Martha crosses her arms. “Of course, Alpha,”
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s with biling sarcasm. The doctor who checked on her earlier that day- the one with all the advanced instruments–had no idea she was pregnant. But what do I know? I’m just a local healer with herbs and potions.”
Her words hit me like a slap. My mouth opens, but nothing comes out as I try to make sense of what she’s implying
“What?” I whisper, barely audible, the weight of her accusations king in. Could this really be true?
Martha lets out a bitter laugh, “Don’t worry, Alpha. Here’s the good news, if you can call it that. Your Luna is alive, and this was only her first pregnancy. Hopefully, the next one will be better–if she survives her enemies, and if your protection actually means something next time.”
Martha places a small vial of potion on the table,
“This will help with her recovery,” she says curtly, She gives brief instructions on how to use the potion, her voice sharp and to the point, then turns to leave.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Martha’s words, though speculative, carried some hidden truth. Could Mary really be so heartless? Could jealousy drive her to such an extent?
Had I made a grave mistake in trusting Mary too much, assuming she would accept all of this without retaliation?
Martha’s accusations might seem ridiculous, but one thing she sad struck a nerve: I hadn’t done enough to protect Amica. That truth made me feel powerless–weak.
I can control and protect packs, businesses, and entire territories yet when it comes to the one person who matters most, I’ve failed. My own woman. My Luna. I let everything slip away, time and time again.
The thought twists inside me like a knife.
No more. I can’t let anything like this happen again. I won’t.
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