Chapter 3

Kalen

I rubbed my chest, but it did nothing to ease the constant pain in my chest. A warning from my mate bond with Alyssa. She was in definite trouble and I knew that. Careful not to make a sound, I got closer to Crimson Fang’s territory. Several patrols guarded the borders.

My nose pricked at a familiar scent and I suppressed a sigh. “Jack, didn’t I tell you to stay back with the pack?”

“You did, but respectfully, I don’t think you’re thinking clearly, Alpha,” my beta replied. I gave him a sharp look and he held up his hands. “I know you're worried about Alyssa, but your telepathy hasn't been working. Maybe she is clueless about your mate bond. Maybe your feeling has nothing to do with her”.”

I gave him an irritated glare. “No, something must have happened to her. I can't be wrong. Take soldiers back. We suffered a lot in that war. I can't risk the pack.”

“Obviously, I can’t. You tried so many times to contact her, but all failed due to the telepathy of the bond not connecting or Crimson Fang being on high alert. I can’t let you go,” my beta argued, but he turned his tone light with a hint of a smile soon “At least not alone. The soldiers and I will tag along.”

Logically, I knew he was right. Jack seemed to know exactly how I was feeling because he added, “I get you want to make up for your past mistakes, Alpha. I also know you feel guilty for not telling her the truth back then. But it’s dangerous for you to see her alone. Though it’s alpha was your friend, everything could change.”

A red hot pain stabbed at my chest and I sucked in a breath. My wolf growled, the sound echoing through my head. I felt Alyssa’s pain through our bond again. Something was wrong. She was… it felt like she was disappearing from our bond. Urgency slammed into me. “Fine, you are right. We move now,” I told Jack, “but don’t hurt people. This isn’t war. We’re just here for Alyssa.”.

We came into Crimson Fang territory. The people of the pack saw us and ran. Someone shouted to another “Go get the alpha!”  I shook my head at Jack. Let them tell the alpha. No one here was my enemy. I just wanted my mate and then we’d leave. 

We were nearing the center of the town when a large group of soldiers blocked our path. Walking to the front, I saw my old friend, Carl. Though, he looked a lot different than when I last saw him. His face was hard and a cruel, arrogant smirk spread across his lips. “As alpha of the Crimson Fang, I demand to know why you rogues have entered into our territory without permission!”

“I’m not here to cause trouble, Carl,” I told him with my hands up at my side. “I’m here for Alyssa. Where is she?”

Carl laughed coldly. “A rogue doesn’t want trouble?” He continued to laugh. “Alyssa isn’t your concern, rogue. She’s mine now.” He held up his hand, showing me a golden ring.

My heart stuttered to a stop and I couldn’t breathe. Alyssa married… I never imagined Alyssa would marry someone else, someone not me. Looking at that ring, I thought about all the letters I sent her that never got a reply. One mistake, and she ditched me like some garbage not worth even a minute of her time. Clearly, our relationship was something she could easily forsake, I thought bitterly. A sensible man probably would leave and never look back. I tried to brush aside those ugly thoughts. Now’s not the time. I needed to see her.  I needed her to explain to me in person. 

“Where is she?” I asked again.

“Leave now,” Carl continued. “And I will allow you time before I tell the Lycan King you were here.”

His ostentatious but indifferent tone ignited my anger, so did his disgusting face. I shoved them aside. Alyssa’s connection to me was getting weaker. She needed me now. I took a step towards Carl and his soldiers. Carl took a step back and two of his men stepped forward, warning me with a look that if I got closer violence would break out. I didn’t have time for this. Alyssa didn’t have time for this. 

“ I’m not leaving without seeing Alyssa,” I shouted to Carl.

Again, Carl laughed. “It’s just like a rogue to ignore the sanctity of marriage. Both of you are just the same - a pair of adulterers, cheaters, and liars.” His expression was cruel and goading.

It was obvious he was trying to instigate a fight between his men and mine, but I had to try one last time to avoid it. “Where is Alyssa and what have you done to her?”

Lifting his chin, Carl smirked at me. “None of your business and I can do whatever I want to her. She’s mine!”

I couldn’t stand it anymore. My wolf took over and I charged him and his soldiers in an instant. Carl made a strangled squeak, backing away from me and allowing his men to take the hits instead of him. However, after one or two punches most of them dropped off, realising I was stronger and more dominant than them. Carl, seeing this growled and tried to hit me from behind. I turned and punched him hard in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. I fell on top of him, my hands around his neck. My wolf insisted we kill him, but I reminded him of why we were here. “Where is she, Carl? Tell me!”

Still Carl managed a strangled chuckle as he pointed off to his right. “Dungeon…if you hurry you may get to see her one last time,” he said in a hoarse voice and laughed again.

“Men to me,” I shouted, letting him go and ran to the dungeons with fear in my heart. What did Carl do to her? Guilt followed quickly. I should’ve been here. I should’ve stopped whatever he’d done to Alyssa. 

No one tried to stop me as I rushed into the dungeon and followed Alyssa’s weak scent to the deepest levels. I followed the scent all the way to the end of a dark hallway and ripped open a cell down. I froze at the sight. My mind couldn’t comprehend that the crumpled form on the dirty, damp floor was Alyssa. She was full of bruises, cuts, and blood. Goddess, what had he done to her! My heart shattered with an intense wave of pain like I never felt before. Why didn’t she wait for me? Why did she let him do this to her?

I rushed to her side and picked her up in my arms.

“Alyssa…” She didn’t move. She was barely breathing. Alyssa was dying. “Jack, get the doctor!”

“Right away,” he said, then disappeared. I brushed Alyssa’s hair from her face, revealing more bruises. She had a cut across her face going from her eyebrow, over her nose and down to her jawline. The edges were blackened and blood seeped from it sluggishly. 

“Move aside,” an elderly voice demanded as the doctor pushed past my men. “Alpha, you too,” he insisted when he reached us. I didn’t want to let her go. Not again, but at the stern look from the doctor and a harsh breath from Alyssa, I realised I needed to let the doctor work. I set her carefully on the floor and took a step back. 

With quick, experienced movements, the doctor looked over at her. “Something’s wrong,” he said. “All these bruises and wounds, her wolf should’ve taken care of them.” His brow furrowed. “Nor is it fighting the poison coursing through her,” he added pointing to the blacked edges of her cuts. “She’ll need an antidote…” he started and I rushed out of the cell and back towards the upper levels. Carl. Carl had done this to my mate. 

I found him in the lobby and I body rushed him, slamming into the wall. “Where is the antidote?”

Confusion flitted across his face. He had no idea what I was talking about. “What antidote?”

“Alyssa was poisoned! Don’t play innocent with me. You did this to her, didn’t you?”

“I-I don’t know,” he admitted meekly, then as if remembering he was the alpha, Carl smirked at me smugly. “I just gave her a few punishments. If she was poisoned then it's what she had coming to her. Cheaters deserve that. Whoever did this, I have to thank him” he said then gave me a slow, cruel grin. He was enjoying this. “And there is nothing you can do, rogue. Nothing. Because if you kill me it’ll be war. Again.” 

His mocking face filled my vision. To hell with it. Let there be war!  I didn’t care. I was going to make him pay for hurting my mate. I hit him hard in the mouth, causing a tooth to fall to the floor. His eyes widened with surprise as I hit him again, and again, and again. My wolf and I would destroy this small pathetic man. 

“Stop,” I heard Jack yell but I couldn’t stop. “Help me! He’s out of himself,” Jack said to someone. Several people grabbed me and pulled me off Carl. I growled and tried to get them off of me. “Kalen, stop,” Jack said and stood in front of me. “We can’t kill him now. Alyssa needs you. She needs you to get her someplace safe. Alyssa, Kalen, she needs to be safe.”

The furious haze dissipated and I glared down at Carl. He held his face with a whimper, eyeing me fearfully. He would pay for what he did to Alyssa, but Jack was right.  I needed to get Alyssa home and safe first. 

The doctor joined us with two men carrying Alyssa on a gurney. “I’ve slowed the poison, but we need to get her back so I can identify what it is and give her the proper antidote,” he explained. 

“Let’s go,” I told them and glanced over at Carl. “This isn’t finished.”