CHAPTER 3: YOU FOOL

Vincent's POV

Execution morning...

My traitorous brother, Lincoln and his whore, McKenna strolled in with puffy eyes and chapped lips.

"You've surely seen better days," I teased. "SHUT UP!" Lincoln boomed. "Tisk! Tisk, big brother. Are we angry?" I laughed. "We both know what he's trying to do. The rodent isn't worth it," Mckenna waved dismissively turning to talk to one of the warriors. "You better listen to your lady. After all, she's yours now, thanks to me," I reminded him.

McKenna was now the one who charged my cell. Imagine my surprise when the guard unlocked my cage and allowed her to come inside.

She kicked me so hard in the guy my soul left my body. It got worse when Lincoln followed by punching me across the face. I fell to my knees huffing from a lack of oxygen. I became dizzy but eventually gained my voice.

"This is no fair, brother. UNCHAIN ME!" I demanded. "You are a prisoner here! You have no stolen valor you call power here!" My brother said stepping aside allowing McKenna to take her frustration out on me. "It's time you felt what all your victims did. They had no power. You craved them at a disadvantage," McKenna said slashing me across the chest followed by blow after blow,

I laughed through bloodied lips to further antagonize the poor she-wolf.

“I pity you," I said spitting at her earning a blow across the face, then my abdomen, and one of my knees kicked out of place.

No matter how hard I tried to stay strong, I felt my human body and flesh giving in to the beating she so strongly delivered.

The rage coursing from her aura was enough to keep me on my ass. Blow after blow my brother proudly looked upon the she-wolf I delivered to him on a silver platter. He could pretend like he wasn't grateful that I killed her mate, Jubilee when I knew better.

Hours later...

I lay in the darkness of my cell barely breathing and anger swelling even more in my mind.

"My lord, it's time. We must move quickly. The she-wolf sent someone in her place to help you escape. There's little time. We must go!" One of my trusted guards urged me.

I silently looked around at the other three guards whose throats had been slashed. I was amazed, yet not surprised.

"Help me!" I shouted barely able to stand.

The wolfsbane that filled my veins were slowing my healing, but I felt it wearing off.

"This way!" The guard said carrying me through the shitty pond of Tirado.

The irony....

I was free! I was fucking free to roam the earth once more and I'm not going to waste it. It's only right that I behead the traitors who sided with the enemy the moment she made them retreat into forfeit. I'm going to make them regret ever crossing me.

"My lord, I think we heard something in the distance. Should we go check it out?" One of my loyal rogue subjects asked. "Yes, I will flee west. I have some unsettled debts with someone there," I hissed seeing flashes of Antionette's face.

My wolf was fully present now and the wolfsbane out of my system. I shifted and my wolf quickly began to heal me from the inside out. With my mouth opened wide and paws sprinting across the cold surface, I hadn't felt so free in a long time until I wasn't.

"Did you actually think I would allow you to escape?" Antionette said appearing in front of me.

I shifted back only to he hit in the back of the head with something, HARD!

"The guard you entrusted to free you has always been loyal to me, you fucking idiot," she said leering over me. "I wanted to kill you myself!" She growled throwing her hands over my neck to strangle me.

I felt paralyzed, but my hands reached out and grabbed fist fulls of her hair. I was struck again!

Who the fuck is that? With my sight blurry and my limbs weak, I turned to look at my assailant.

"I should've known!" I growled earning a kick to the face by Antionette. "Sleep little wolf. When you wake, you'll be dead," she said placing her foot on my neck. "Anti, you cannot be here! If they catch you here you'll be hung!" Phillip finally spoke up. "Help me put him on the horse! I will kill the son of a bitch!" She squealed. "No! Let them have him. It's not worth it. I'll stay behind and explain. Go, please," Phillip urged her placing his hand on her abdomen.

I looked up in disbelief of the scene unfolding before me. I couldn’t help the words that escaped me.

“You've got to be kidding me," I croaked. "Shut up!" Phillip snapped kicking me across the face until I met darkness.

I woke up back in the shit hole I had just escaped.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I shouted. "THERE HE IS!" I heard someone yell. "Rest up, little brother. That challenge you've sought for so long is now yours," Lincoln said through clenched teeth. "I'll give you time to heal. I would hate for you to say you had an unfair advantage. I know the wolfsbane is out of your system," he said leaving me in silence. "Feed and hydrate him well. I don't want any excuses when I put him on his ass," he said finally leaving the dungeon.

Alpha King Lincoln's POV

McKenna hadn't said much to me since her ordeal with Vincent. His words pierced her heart and not in a good way. He kept going on about him making a way for us to be together. I'd hope she didn't think so low of me. She just lost her mate. Jubilee's send off was tomorrow for Goddess sakes.

"You're going to survive this," I said grabbing her arm. "I...just need space," she said turning to walk away. "Don't let what Vincent said get to you," I called out. "It was almost as if you both planned to kill Jubilee but I know that not to be true. I know that sick coward wanted to pin us against another," She reasonably replied. "If you know that, why are you angry at me? Do you wish it were me Vincent killed that night?" I asked hurt. "Goddess no! I never wanted anyone to die other than the obvious. I miss him and it feels like the other piece of my heart has been set adrift. It is still unreal to me," McKenna cried. "I don't know that I would ever feel whole again," she added trembling in my arms.

For a moment, I wish I had taken Jubilee's place in death. My mind was reeling from thoughts of US that may NEVER happen regardless of the bond we once shared.

"I must get cleaned up for supper. I for one cannot wait to watch you rip that son of a bitch apart," she said hanging her head in sadness. "I'll always be here to offer friendship and comfort," I said grabbing her hand. "Nothing more," I added to prove my sincerity. "I must go check on my youngest, Jonah. Losing his father so soon is weighing heavily on the both of us. Oliver and Tavi aren't in any better shape, but they each have their mates to lean on. They are committed to their duty only as a distraction," she said wiping away a stray tear. "You and Jonah will always have me to lean on. Don't ever forget that. I'm not his father, but I would happily keep him in the safety of the palace with my son, Lance if you need to breathe in the country side," I offered.

She sadly smiled and kissed my cheek, but didn't utter a word. I watched her walk away drowning in depression.

"McKenna is strong. She will beat her sadness," Beta Felius said strolling up with Carol on his arm. "It's not what you think," he said privately linking me.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise hearing the fact that he wanted to clear up any misunderstandings.

“How's Adelina?" I asked out loud to shake up the awkwardness. "Oh, my lord. She's resting. I cannot believe she survived Lawrence's attack, but she is a strong she-wolf," Carol interjected. "Her pup?" I asked and they both hung their head. "I'm guessing Romeo is devastated?" I sighed. "He hasn't left her side much, but we prepared him. Adelina may not choose to be with him," Carol explained. "Yeah, that's unfortunate," I said remembering my own situation. "Hopefully the Goddess places her on a path to redemption and blesses her with a second chance," Felius sighed before parting my shoulder and walking away.

My mind was still reeling from the fact that we had imposters amongst us. Phillip said he was on his way to our territory when he stumbled across a fleeing Vincent, but I recognized a familiar scent on him.

"Phillip!" I called across the courtyard. "Your grace," he bowed. "You're playing a dangerous game helping her," I bluntly said. "My lord?" He asked knowingly. "She will devour you, chew you up, and spit you out. Don't be stupid. You have a loving mate that adores you," I said leaving him dumbfounded. "She's with child," he shouted stopping me in my tracks.

I looked at him like the dumbass he was.

“Yours?" I asked rubbing my temples. "Yes, my lord. I did this. I am weak for her. Now, I'm holding this secret from my true mate, Marlene. She doesn't deserve this betrayal, but I cannot leave her. We are expecting a pup any day now. How could I have been so stupid?" He asked defeated. "You fool. Yeah, how could you be?" I asked shaking my head in disappointment. “It’s your mess. Clean the shit up,” I growled in disappointment.

I had no time to continue entertaining Phillip’s stupidity. If Marlo found out what he had done to his mother he would kill him.

Either way, there are traitors in our midst and we needed to take care of them sooner or later.

We march for Klaus after the resting ceremony for Jubilee and our other fallen hero's in the morning.

Duke Sayid and Alpha Santak is still out there. We are bound to run into them at Klaus. Their numbers are great, but we received word that Elder Adalwolf who delivered the decree of forfeiture this morning to Klaus was possibly killed because he hasn't been seen sense. Some say he never made it there, but how are we to know?

Bad enough Lawrence was still missing. Reality of the matter includes me strangling that little disappointment until his eyes popped from their sockets.

"Father?" I heard Tavi call out. "Yes, my dear. Sorry, my mind has been completely overcome with death and deceit," I confessed. "I know. It'll all be over soon. Could you help Essex? He's surely over his head with the thought of being crowned Alpha King," she sadly chuckled. "Of course. Please check on your mother. She's not well," I said kissing her forehead. “How are you?” I asked. “I cannot…I cannot afford to fall apart right now,” she sighed before turning to walk away.

If anyone could help McKenna continue in this life, it would be her pups who weren't so little anymore. I just hoped they held up themselves. Jubilee was the father I could never be to them.