Comeback of the Bruised Alpha

what

The way back home was a silent one. Hugo just couldn’t get the traitor thing out of his mind. He was so worried about it that he nearly drove the car right into the river. Luckily, Ryder was there and was quick of hand in turning the steering wheel and got their car back on the bumpy road. 

Ryder looked at him with disapproving eyes but didn’t say anything about it. He was always the silent one. Hugo, however, began to blame himself for being so useless. Just the information of possible traitors scared the s**t out of him. He wouldn’t get a third chance if he died on the second day upon his rebirth. And the scum Reed would still be there killing and experimenting on werewolves. He gathered himself up and focused on the driving.

The rest of the trip was smooth. He parked the car right in front of the pack house, a building of five stories high. Down in the basement was the hospital center of their pack, which was not often used due to their quick healing ability. But they had all the equipment ready just in case. The first floor had their gym center, and also sometimes used for their training besides their training ground in the center of the pack land. The third floor up to the fourth were all rooms for members who hadn’t found their mates. Once a member found his mate, they would move out to their own house to enjoy their private life. Usually circling around the pack house, with enough distance to enjoy the privacy but not too far away from the pack.

Hugo walked to his father’s office along with Ryder to the fifth floor, their steps on the spiraling steps resounding in the empty pack house. It was still early in the morning, most of the pack members were still in sound sleep. The death of the young wolf and his words still hunted Hugo. When they got to the fifth floor, they could get a good view of the forests from the window at the end of the corridor. But right now, neither of them was in the mood for that. Standing before the door of his father’s office, he knocked with a heavy heart.

“Come in,” his father said. Hugo wasn’t surprised that his father was up this early. Ever since his mother died, his father had been having sleeping issues. And since then, this office also became his father’s room where he would busy himself with pack business all day long. The sorrow of losing a mate had taken too much a toll on his father, physically and mentally, and on their father-son relationship as well.

Seeing the seriousness on his son’s face, Alpha Duke knew it was not going to be good. “What’s wrong? You are hurt?”

Alpha Duke asked when he noticed the blood on his son’s clothes, manifest worries coloring his tone. 

“No, father. I’m fine. It’s the blood from…” Not until then did Hugo realize that he didn’t even know his name. 

“From where?”

“From a dead werewolf, father. He was from the Red Frost Pack. We brought his body back because he wanted to be back to his pack land. He’s still in my car. Could you tell the Alpha of Red Frost Pack to take him back home?” 

“Sure thing. But why? The rogues did it?”

“No, it’s not the rogues. There is an experiment base in Riverside town where werewolves are being tortured. We need to do something.” Hugo could barely control his anger when he thought of the experiments, something he had been so familiar with in his last life and something he’d never want to experience again.

“Experiment base? Did you see it with your own eyes?”

“No, but Alpha Ryder did,” said Hugo, looking at Ryder, urging him to say something.

“Yes, Alpha Duke. They keep our kind in the basement and experiment on them in the castle of Riverside town. They spoke of some High Priests, which I believe is the mastermind behind all this.”

“The High Priests? It’s more complicated than it seems. Any clue what they are after?” Alpha Duke’s face looked grim. Werewolves had been leading secluded lives for a long time, why would the humans break the peace?

“No, I couldn’t find the chance to get into the basement. Only got a glimpse of it from above. All I know is they’re testing the effect of some liquid. There are still wolves being locked down there. We need to be quick, or those wolves will be in danger.”

“I see. Alpha Ryder, you must be tired now. Please get some rest and I’d appreciate it if you can stay here for a few more days. I’ll call the other alphas and we should work together as a team this time.” Alpha Duke said. 

Ryder gave a simple nod of his head and walked out. 

“Hugo, good job this time. We’ll take it from here. Now go get some rest. Don’t do anything on your own.” Alpha Duke walked to his son and patted on his shoulder after seeing Alpha Ryder out.

“Father, I want to help.” Hugo insisted.

“Hugo, it’s dangerous. I don’t want to see you hurt. I promised your mom that I’ll take good care of you but I didn’t. I failed her once. I can’t fail her again. I can’t put you in danger.”

“I know, father. I miss mom too. You didn’t fail her. I know it has been hard for you. But I can protect myself and you and our pack members. I’m about to turn 18 in a month. A grown-up wolf shouldn’t just stay in the glasshouse.” Hugo looked at his father, a firm look in his eyes. He wanted to tell his father that he can protect his family, his pack members. 

Alpha Duke remained silent for a while before giving in, “Fine. But promise me, be careful.” While deep in heart, he was planning to ask Alpha Ryder to look out for Hugo when he himself wasn’t able to. He knew that young Alpha, though not talkative, was someone trustable. Never would he know that his decision would bring him a son-in-law.

“Thanks, dad. I promise.” With that, Hugo hugged his father and exited the room, leaving his father dumbfounded on the spot. They had never had any conversations like this in their last life. He had thought his father never loved him but seemed his father had been tortured by guilt also. He didn’t want it, he wanted his father to be happy. There were countless times he had hoped his mother would be alive. But that wasn’t possible. He knew his mother would want his father and him to be happy. Now that he came back, he would change that. Everything would be different.

He had planned to tell his father about the traitor. But then on a second thought, he changed his mind. He still had no clue as to who the traitor might be so he didn’t want his father to worry. If it were true, then the traitor must have been good in hiding himself. Could even be someone close to father. He needed to do something to lure him out. This time, he swore he would protect all those he loved.