Chapter 6

I watch the guards escort the witch out of the mansion and off the premises with thoughts going round and round in my mind.

"Kill the witch and live."

Easier said than done.

If I could have killed her all these years ago, wouldn't I?

She is impossible to find.

"Well, this sucks," Lucas states.

"Well done, Captain Obvious."

"Oh don't start with me," he snaps at Maya.

"Enough you two. This isn't the time for that," I scold.

"Sorry Alpha."

"So, what's the plan?" Maya asks.

I turn to stare at her, taking note of how tightly wound she is.

"We find the witch."

"Yeah, we got that. But how?" Lucas asks.

"I… I don't know," I say before heading up the stairs to my study. "Bring me all the records of our past searches."

I walk into my study and collapse on the chair.

I have heard of how a person's life can change in an instant, but I never really understood it.

In record time, both Lucas and Maya walk in carrying decades-old files in their hands.

"There is no point to this," Maya says as she drops her share on the desk. "We have been searching for this bitch for years, how does looking through old past records help us find her now?" she demands.

"By marking off the places we have searched and looking at new areas," Lucas answers as he joins her with his own load. "Besides, who says that she can't go back to one of those places again?"

"That is unlikely," I respond. "Everyone knows we have still been searching for her, call me paranoid but I don't think she is that stupid to go to those places."

"We are all missing a very obvious resource. Or maybe, you are intentionally ignoring said resource," May announces.

"What resource is that?" I ask, my eyebrow quirked in confusion.

She takes a deep, steadying breath before answering. "Your mate."

Ah. Right.

My mate.

My very own mate.

"What does she have to do with this?" Lucas asks.

"She escaped from the witch didn't she?" Maya asks. "The same one who cursed you?"

"What?! Are you serious?! Lucas exclaims. "How do you figure that?"

"You told me she was kidnapped by a witch, right?"

"Yeah, I did. Where did I say that it was the same witch?"

Simple deduction, really," she answers. "A witch cursed you, she escaped from a witch. What better way to ensure a curse like that holds firm if not by taking a few actions yourself?"

"Ohh. Right, that makes sense."

"Honestly, Damien, why is he your Beta again? He is so dumb."

"Hey! Watch it, I still outran you," Lucas snaps.

"Whatever."

"You-"

"Enough, both of you. We have work to do," I cut them off.

Dividing the files into three, I push two shares to them. "You guys handle those. Highlight anything that stands out, any place that might have changed or bears looking into again, and any contact or source we can reach out to. We finish all these by today," I order.

"Yes, Alpha."

"Yes, Alpha."

They both take their share and walk out, leaving me with mine and a whole bunch of chaotic and messy thoughts.

I can't believe it is still the same day, I was supposed to be mated today.

"You still can be," my wolf snickers. "Our mate is here."

"Oh, do me a favor and shut up."

He fades into the background with a wolf's equivalent of a snicker.

The asshole.

MAYA.

This is pointless.

What good will it do to go through decades-old, stuffy, smelly files, when we have a verifiable source right here?

Nothing.

Men, so stubborn and prideful.

It looks like I am going to have to do this myself.

I walk out of my office and head to the pack clinic, running straight into Elias.

"Oh," he exclaims. "I didn't see you there, Maya."

"No worries, Elias. I was actually hoping to see you," I assure him.

"Okay. What can I do for you."

"The she-wolf that was brought in early this morning. What can you tell me about her?"

"There is really nothing much to tell. Her case is… interesting."

"Interesting? How?"

"Her physiology. She is not starved, just barely fed enough to be okay. Her wounds should be healing faster but it isn't. Almost like a human, but she is not. She definitely has a wolf but it is… subdued? I don't know, something is definitely up with her. Something not medical."

"I see. Thank you for your time, Elias. If you could be so kind as to show me to her room."

"Of course, this way." He begins leading me to an elevator and clicking a floor button.

The reserved floor. Meant only for The Aloha, Beta, and their family or close friends.

When had she been moved?

When she first got here or when Damien had talked to her?

"Maya," his voice breaks my thoughts. "If I may ask, who is she?"

"Just some wolf that broke into the grounds this morning."

"Right."

"What is the tone??"

"It's just… both the Alpha and Beta have visited her. You are visiting her now. That is the three most important people visiting some wolf. It is just strange that's all."

"Strange? I don't see how. The pack has never been breached before. Yet, she had managed to do so. I would think that is enough reason to be anxious about her?"

"True, but shouldn't she be in the dungeons, being watched over, not in the Hightower suit?"

I stop in my tracks. "The Hightower suit?"

"Yes. The Alpha had her moved there later on."

"I see."

That suit was built by the previous Alpha for his Luna, Damien's mother. He had wanted her to always have the best of everything.

No one, not even Damien had used that suit. And now…

This is a mess.

"Thank you, Elias," I say as we reach the room. "I will take it from here."

He leaves with a bow and I, with a deep, fortifying breath, push open the door."

Let's get this over with.