Rescued By The Beta

Chapter 17

CLAIRE

When I returned home from the meeting, I didn’t think Jet and Hunter would have gotten back. They probably returned so soon because they couldn’t find anything— as I expected. But It was crucial to my plans that they go because how else would I have gotten Alpha Jordan as an alley.

However, my thoughts were still stuck on Alpha Drekonia and the fact that she addressed me as Flaire, she’s a white wolf as well. If anyone could provide me an answer to all the questions I have, I believe it was her. I just have to find a way of getting it without letting the others know.

My steps faltered just a few walking distance from the entrance at the scene I came across. I immediately recognized the guards kneeling down in front of Jet and Hunter as the guards from the institute because they had on their uniform.

Frozen on the spot, I couldn’t move as past memories of the hell I went through at the institution course through me. Suddenly, I was no longer in Rosewood Pack but the institution, begging and bargaining with the guards to let me go.

I jerked back to the presence when a hand came to rest on my shoulder. Looking around my environment nervously to make sure I was in Rosewood and not that hell-hole. I didn’t realize how heavily I was panting until I met Hunter’s concerned face.

“Claire…, are you alright? You scared me.” He whispered, shielding me from the guards.

Jet glanced over at us, then motioned for his men to escort the guards to the dungeon. Entangling myself out of Hunter’s grasp, I force a smile to my face, before making my way into the house.

One of the promises I made to myself after being rescued is never to show a moment of weakness. Despite how much I tried to act strong, I wasn’t pleased to learn that seeing the guards again would have me frozen up in fear. If I’m like that with the guards, will I be able to confront Gianna? Heather or even the council?

Ashamed of myself, I turned away from the door as it opened without a single knock to reveal Hunter stepping into the room. Being another weakness I didn’t want to deal with, he was the last person I wished to see at that moment.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked, putting both his hands behind him.

Without turning to look at him, I knew his calmness was a facade. I could sense both his anger and helplessness, although most of the anger was directed at himself. Blaming himself for not doing more to protect me from the council in the first place, or rescuing me sooner.

This made me feel worse, like a fragile flower that constantly needed protecting. I’m not Freya! I don’t need him, or anyone constantly running to my rescue.

“Stop it.” I sneered, poking his chest. “I’m not some fragile little flower or a little human you need to worry about. I’m a werewolf Hunter, in case you have spent too much time around humans to forget that.”

Surprised flickered across his face at my response, probably not expecting me to say that. “I don’t think you are weak at all. I worry about you because I care, it has nothing to do with how strong you are.”

I glared at him, hating his response more. “What happened out there was pathetic. Hunter, I saw the guards and froze up.”

Still maintaining some distance because he figured out by now that I don’t want him touching me. “Do you remember something?”

Realizing the fact that I slipped, caused me to straighten up. “No.”

“Look at me,” he instructed, tilting my face toward his. “You are the strongest woman I know Claire, I mean who beat up those bullies in high school because they were picking on a weird mute guy? Who threatened to cut Jet’s hands off in his sleep if he punched me again when he found out you were dating the same weird guy?”

“Who took a bullet for a friend? It’s you Claire, give yourself a break.” Looking lovingly at me, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

Eyes burning with unshed tears, I playfully elbowed him by his side. “I didn’t beat up the bullies alone, Jet and Morgana helped.”

He laughed, clutching his side as he feigned pain. “But you were badass, you’ve always been bad ass.” He remarks, his voice turning serious.

“Does that mean you are open to training me? I haven’t picked up a sword in a long time and to be honest, I’m not an experienced fighter.”

“Anything for you…” he agreed.

Hunter left after our conversation ended and I felt so much better, reinforcing my decision to keep our mating bond. As much as the bond poses to be a weakness, it also serves as a source of comfort, strength and a safe space. Looking at the telephone by the bedside, I dialed the servant quarters and waited.

At least, a servant that wasn’t quivering at the sight of me showed up. “How may I help you Nova?” He asked, avoiding eye contact.

My gaze moved past him to Killian walking by. As if aware of my eyes on him, he stopped and tilted his head. I didn’t look away, realizing it was now or never, I approached him.

“Killian, are you as good as everyone around here says?” I inquired right away because I didn’t have the time to waste.

His lips moved but not in a smile. “I found your mate, tracked down the location of the institute you were held in. Shall I add the fact that I worked for the council for a year before I escaped?”

“Say no more.” I looked over at the servant, suddenly aware he could hear our conversations. While the servants gossip, I didn’t think he would say anything to anyone but gossip spread and it could get to the wrong ears.

“Find someone to help you, I want my things moved back in the old bedroom with Hunter.” I instructed him, refocusing my attention back on Killian as the servant immediately left to do as he was told.

“I want to hire you independently, away from whatever contact you have with Hunter and Jet. I want you to track down Gianna and bring her to me… alive, I will pay you whatever amount you want.”

“Careful Nova, I might take advantage of you.”

“As long as you deliver Gianna to me alive, that’s all I care about. I want you to work on this alone, without your partner. Also, no one must know about this deal between us.”

“Noted. I will start as soon as you make the down payment.” He pulled out a pen from his pocket along with a small card, he wrote something on it and handed it to me. “Where to find me once you have the down payment.”

“I will see you in a bit then.” I dismissed, hiding the note inside my pants as the servants came to view. I left the room so they could do what I asked them to as I figured how to get the down payment.

While we each have a key to the safe I couldn’t take such a huge amount of money from it without the next person finding out. And I don’t want to go through the accountants because at the end of the month, he’s going to report to either Jet, Hunter or Kale.

A huge amount like that will raise questions, and I certainly don’t want to take it out of my personal account since I planned to leave when everything is said and done.

Letting out a delightful gasp as it occurred to me that I have some valuable items I could sell. Items that were gifted to me by Lady Muna! They wanted to adopt a baby girl after Jet, but later didn’t due to the fact that I came to live with them.

I became her baby girl. “Give me a few minutes.” I told the servants, who were moving things back into Hunter and I’s old bedroom.

Walking to my dressing table, I reached under to dragged out the jewelry box. Lady Muna loves jewellery, from the usual traditional gold colour, to white gold, diamonds, rubies, which she has gifted me on several occasions.

I close the box, unable to bring myself to sell any of it. They hold so many memories and remind me of a woman who treated me like a child. Even considering them to sell out felt like a betrayal to her.

Putting it back under the table, I exit the room, waving the servants to continue with their task. Left with no other choice but to go through the accountant with the intention of ordering him not to report it at the end of the month.

Trisha cuts in front of me before I could take another step. “Just the person I was looking for, I wanted to report back to you about the Nadia issue and I bumped into the messenger. You have a message.”

I took the envelope from her like it was nothing. “Probably Lady Caroline, she’s hosting a welcome home party in my honor.”

“Except that it isn’t, it’s from Alpha Jordan. You must have met him at the meeting, why the hell is he writing to you? He’s shady as hell.” Trisha replied in a skeptical tone.

“Shady?” I frowned, confused.

She lowers her voice, “Rumors has it that he killed his mate…”