Chapter 2

Dante POV:

The man lay bloody and beaten on the floor beneath me, the crimson liquid dripping from my fists as they hang on either side of me. I wasn’t able to get anymore information out of him but it sure did make me feel a hell of a lot better beating him to a bloody pulp. He will heal and we will do it again and again and again until he tells me the information I need to know. “You will tell me which one of you rogue bastards killed my mate.” I said icily.

August, my beta hands me a towel to wipe my hands on and follows me out of the dark cell, locking it behind us. I walk swiftly down the corridor leading up to the main building. “How much time do we have?” I ask August. “We need to leave in approximately 1 hour.” He replies. I sneer. Perfect. I don’t know why my father insists I go to this stupid indoctrination ceremony. Some bratty little teenager is getting handed the keys to the kingdom. So what! Some of us have real work to do. “I’m going to shower and change, meet you out front in 45.” I say without looking back. I make my way up to my suite and hop in the shower, letting the steamy liquid clean the blood off my body. I hang my head under the shower nozzle and let the water run through my chocolate brown locks. Wishing it would also cleans my mind. Images of that night flash through my head like a virus there is no cure for. *30 minutes Alpha* Augusts voice flits through my head. Annoyed but also glad to be pulled from my thoughts I turn the shower off and wrap a towel around my waist. I stand in the mirror examining myself. My light blue eyes that once held so much hope we’re now dull with sadness. But there was something else much more dangerous underneath that sadness. Rage.

I put on my black long sleeve button up and black slacks. My black dress shoes, and blazer to match. These days black seems to be my favorite color. I run my hands through my locks and put on my Rolex then head downstairs. I check the time, 3:45pm. Perfect. I go out front and August is waiting there tentatively. He was a damned good beta and an even better friend. Though I hadn’t been much of one as of late. “You look nice, trying to impress someone?” I smirk. “Not so bad looking yourself Alpha” I roll my eyes at him, You know you don’t have to call me that when we’re not handling business. He nods his head in silence. I get in the drivers seat of my black suv and August hops in the passenger seat. It would be about a 4 hour drive from our pack lands in Nevada but I could make it in 3. I put the car into drive and take off, the ceremony would start at 8:00. The entire way there August played annoying 80’s hairband music. I entertained his poor taste in music because it was rare we got to spend this time together. “How have things been Dante?” He asked me lowering the music. I knew what he was asking but like any other time he asked I didn’t want to have the conversation. “You know how things have been August, why do you keep asking?” There was silence for a moment as the wind from the cracked passenger side window blew through his golden brown locks. “I’m going to keep asking until you give me a real answer. I don’t ask because I’m obligated, I ask because I care.” He thought out his response meticulously. I stared straight ahead out to the open asphalt for a few moments “it’s not good August. I try to hold it together every day. Romulus is so close to going rogue, keeping him at bay has been the most difficult task. He will not rest until we’ve found her killer” I spill my guts to my beta. Half expecting him to be disappointed at my weakness, I felt his hand on my shoulder “I’m glad to hear you finally speak about it. I’m always here for you Dante. You don’t have to do this alone. Neither does Romulus.” He gives me a small smile and I return it. How did I get so lucky to have such an amazing friend and loyal Beta. “Alright, enough of the mushy shit” I laugh shrugging his hand off my shoulder. He laughed and turned his awful music back up. I almost wished for the awkward silence again. Oh well, only an hour and a half left.