Legend of the Shadow Wolf

Chapter Fourteen

Aidoneus

I’ve been pacing in my office for what seems like hours ever since I left my little mate in the infirmary a couple days ago with our best doctor, I would be there still if he hadn’t kicked me out. Can you believe it? The prince getting kicked out of his mates hospital room, I guess I did deserve it though after I threatened his life. It was wrong of me to do since the doctor is family after all but I wanted… no I needed to be there. I needed answers, I needed to see if she was ok, hell, I don’t even know her damn name. I was so lost in my own head that I didn’t hear someone come in until they cleared their throat, catching my attention.

“Alexander, how is she?” I asked immediately, worried and anxious. “She’s still unconcious, she was having an neurological fit so Fabian put her into a medically induced coma to keep her calm but she’s ok.” He reported, walking up to me and putting a hand on my back reassuringly. “I should be there with her. I don’t even know her damn name or anything, Lucian is driving me nuts about going back to her but Fabian will just bar me from the infirmary all together.” I said reluctantly, finally taking a seat in the chair behind my desk. “She’s your mate isn’t she?” Alexander asked curiously, looking at me with a smirk.

“Yes, she is but you’ll do best to keep it to yourself. No one must know, not until she ready and for her safety until I figure out who is taking other wolves. She’s not safe, no one is.” I said firmly. “What did you get out of Thomas? Does he remember anything?” He asked, taking a seat in the chair across from me. “He didn’t give us much but I’ll brief you and Raiden together. Where is the bastard anyways? I haven’t seen him since I left to the infirmary.” I asked as I see his eyes glaze over in a mindlink. “He’s on his way, apparently he found his mate right after you left and he’s trying to get information about what happened to your mate.” He informed me just as Raiden walked through the door with two others following behind him.

“I’m sorry for the delay, Aidoneus.” He said bowing his head. These two have been my most loyal and best friends I could ever ask for, they’ve always had my back no matter what, I couldn’t ask for better confidantes. “It’s quite alright, who do you have here?” I asked him, looking at the two wolves in front of me curiously. “Your majesty, my name is Damien Valentine and this is Scarlett Connors.” The boy answered, bowing his head, looking at the she-wolf next to him whose eyes are locked on Alexander’s. I looked from Alexander to the she-wolf named Scarlett and back to Alexander. I raised my eyebrow at Alex and cleared my throat a little.

Is she your mate, Alex? I mind linked him.

Yes, she is.

Ok let’s get this over with and I’ll give you two time together.

Deal he cut the link and looked at me with a slight smile. “So Damien, you’re Ransley’s boy, from the Cresent pack, correct? What can I do for you?” I asked him curiously, wondering what the son of my fathers closest friend and ally could want. “I have some information that could be helpful for Layla.” He said, peaking some interest of mine, looking at Alex then Scarlett. He obviously linked her about the two of them already with the look she gave him.

“Layla? Who is Layla?” Alexander asked, looking between Damien and Scarlett. “Layla is my best friend and his sister, she was the one that you took to the infirmary.” The girl said, looking at me with curious eyes. Layla… so that’s her name. “I didn’t know Ransley had a daughter, did you?” Alexander asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. “He doesn’t, she was brought in and adopted by my parents when she was 3. I don’t know what happened to her original pack, only my parents know.” Damien stated, which peaks my interest more. “So, what information do you have about.. about Layla?” I asked, her name rolling off my tongue like sweet nectar. I catch the eye of the girl, Scarlett, who is looking at me curiously. They both then take a seat and Damien starts to tell us about an incident that happened the week prior to the competition and what his father told him about a particular legend. Some time went by as we sat and listened to what the boy has to say.

“Shadow wolf? That’s not possible, he was destroyed years ago.” Raiden spoke up finally, breaking the silence after Damien told us of the legend his father told him. “His body was destroyed but it might be possible he’s been lurking all this time as a spirit. I will have to talk to my grandfather about it, he would know the answers.” I answered, not liking the idea of our greatest enemy possibly coming back. “Why would your grandfather know? Is he a keeper of legends or something?” The little she-wolf finally spoke up and asked, eyes full of curiosity. “No, he was the one that destroyed him 500 years ago. If anyone knows more about this, it’s him.” I answered, Scarlett’s eyes going wide with shock. “Your grandfather is still alive?” She asked reluctantly, trying not to sound rude. I chuckled at her limited knowledge and answered back amused, “yes, lycans live a lot longer than werewolves. Unlike werewolves, lycan’s are immortal but we stop aging at the age of 30 whereas werewolves only slowly age after 30 and lycan’s have the ability to grant immortality only to our mates through the mating mark.”

She instantly looked at Alexander with hope and love in her eyes. “Raiden, why don’t you and Damien go check on the competitors, inform them that we will be making the final announcement to the winners at dinner.” I instructed as both wolves nodded and took their leave. “Scarlett, I would like to welcome you into the family as my beta’s mate and extend congratulations.” I said with a smile, happy that my best friend finally found his girl. Scarlett smiled back and then looked at me with the same curiosity from before burning in her eyes. “Layla is your mate isn’t she?” She asked, getting straight to the point.

I sighed, rubbing a hand behind my neck before responding, “yes she is, but I don’t want anyone but those needed to know.” She nodded in acknowledgment before looking towards Alexander then looked back at me. “She is my best friend, hurt her in any way, you might not survive.” “Threatening the future king? Seem pretty bold there huh?” Alexander chuckled at her words. “Oh I won’t be the one doing it, Layla is very capable of holding her own. But if anyone deserves love and to live happy, it’s her.” She responded back, the words coming out somber at the end. “I promise, I will do nothing to hurt her. I will give you two some privacy. I’m going to go check on Layla and get an update from the doctor before tonight’s announcement.” I said before exiting the room. I swiftly made my way to the infirmary without raising any suspicion and found the doctor waiting for me in Layla’s room already.

“Ah I had a feeling you were coming by,” doctor Fabian said amusingly. Old man knows too much for his own good, the castle has eyes and ears everyone and no doubt, he is amongst them. Always has my best interest at heart and cares for those deserving. “How is she doc?” I asked, walking to the side of her bed. “Well, she hasn’t woken up yet, her heart rate has been fluctuating but she is stable.” He replied just as the heart rate monitor started beeping crazily then after a couple minutes, it returned to normal. “Why, what’s wrong with her?” I asked softly and curiously, brushing my hand against hers slightly, tiny little sparks dancing where our skin touches.

“I believe she is having an internal battle but with who or what, I do not know. Her alpha was here earlier, asking if he could take her home until she wakes up.” Doctor Fabian stated, bracing himself for my outburst. But I felt no anger or excessive amount of possessiveness as I gazed at my mate laying unconscious before me. “I will speak with him, please let me know at once if anything changes. I will come check on her later,” I said softly, taking the doctor by surprise. He smiled slightly then nodded. “As you wish, your highness.” I mindlinked Alexander and Raiden as I made my way back to my office.

Alex, can you and Scarlett locate Alpha Ransley and meet me back in my office?

You got it boss.

Raiden, meet me there as well with my father please.

Already on our way, the King was headed there anyways Raiden responded.

I cut the mindlink and headed upstairs to my office where my father and Raiden were waiting already. I briefed them on Layla’s condition and the plans for the rest of the competitors. Alexander and Scarlett entered briefly with Alpha Ransley walking in behind them, taking a seat. “Good day, your Highness,” Ransley says with a bow as he took his seat next to Scarlett. “Thank you for coming at such short notice, but Fabian says you want to take Layla home. May I ask why?” I asked, getting straight to the point. Curious to know why he wants to take my mate away. “I do, I feel she will most comfortable at home, at least until she wakes up. I fear that if she comes to in a strange place she doesn’t know, she might freak out. She can be deadly if she’s freaked out, it’s her instincts that will kick in.” He explained calmly.

We all looked at him confused. “Deadly? What do you mean? What kind of instincts?” Alexander spoke up, narrowing his eyes with confusion and curiosity. Ransley sighed, rubbing his hand behind his neck. “Scarlett, can you link Damien please, he should be in on this conversation too. Tell him to come to the Prince’s office.” He asked Scarlett and she nodded, her eyes glazing over in a mindlink. Shortly after, a knock sounds on the door. Raiden opened the door and let him in, locking the door behind him. “Hey dad, what’s going on?” Damien asked his father.

“Take a seat son, I have something to say and since you will be alpha soon, you need to hear it. It’s about Layla. She doesn’t know this, so what I am about to tell you all cannot leave this room.” Ransley said, standing and walking to the big window by my desk. He has a faraway look in his eyes as he stared out the window, anticipation and curiosity eating me up inside. “It was several years ago when she was about 13 almost 14 years old, we were attacked by a small group of rogues. They caused a ruckus and went after small trivial things so we didn’t really think anything of it, killed the ones that we came into contact with but we didn’t know there were others. We didn’t know that it was just a diversion, that what they were after was the last living descendant of the Crystal Lake Pack.” He started his story, still looking out of the window then turned to look at me, then to my father. I looked at my father, confused as he stood up and walked towards me.

“Son, do you remember James and Alexandra Dorian?” He asked me, standing in front of me now, all eyes on us with perplexity and idiosyncrasy. “They were the last Lycan pack Alpha and Luna correct?” I stated questioningly, unsure what they had to do with my mate. “Do you remember when they came to visit, before their pack was attacked, and they had a little girl with them?” He asked me again. I thought about it for a moment, racking my brain for that memory then realization hit. “Wait, are you saying… that Layla is a lycan?” Damien spoke up, asking softly. “Yes son, Layla is the surviving daughter of the late alpha and luna of the Crystal Lake Pack, but that’s not the only thing.” Alpha Ransley stated then looked back out the window.

“The day the rogues attacked, she was taken. I had her set up in a small cottage at the end of town and had only left to go get her some food and water.” “Wait, why was she there? I thought she was off training?” Damien asked his father, slight anger present in his voice. “No that was what I told you all, to not raise suspicion. Layla was starting to shift, so I had to keep her hidden until she was done. No one can know she is still alive, whoever came after her pack doesn’t know she’s alive, at least that’s what we hope.

As I said, I left her long enough to get some provisions for her when I got the link that we were under attack. I fought my way back to the cottage to find the door broken open, the entire place was destroyed and Layla was no where in sight.” My heart clenched, anxious to find out the rest of the story. We all sat quiet you, listening intently as Ransley continued on. “I sent my beta and my best men out to track and find her, took about a couple weeks. They finally found her in an abandoned cabin in the middle of the forest on the other side of our east border. My beta, Marcus, linked me when he got back, he told me her condition and I had him meet me at my private cabin with the pack doctor.” He paused for a moment, a look of pain flashed over his features as he recalled the memory. He then looked at me, tears welling in his eyes as he tries to continue.

“How bad was she dad? How…” Damien stuttered as he walked towards his father, words failing him. Scarlett sucked in a pained breath, afraid of what her Alpha will say next about her friend. “She was bad… she was covered from head to toe in bruises, several ribs broken, legs crushed… she was starved.. it was bad. She was barely conscious when Marcus brought her back. I called in a favor to a witch I knew, I had him lock that memory away in her mind and bound her wolf until she turned 17. That’s as long as his magic could hold since she wasn’t a mere werewolf. She doesn’t remember anything before her shift or after just until she was back to perfect health. I don’t know if her memory will hold but I pray to the goddess every day that she keeps that away from Layla.” He said somberly, looking back towards the window.

“Did your beta say if they caught the rogues that kidnapped her?” I asked finally, anger and pain radiating through me. No one should be treated like that, especially my mate. He shook his head, “no, he said they were all dead by the time they got there. He said he found Layla about to collapse, eyes red and hair bellowing around her. He caught her just in time as she lost consciousness. I didn’t understand how she did it with how her condition was.” I looked him shocked, more prurient about my little mate now more than ever. “I will grant you permission to take her back with you on one condition. You must inform me as soon as she wakes up and if anything happens before then, I will come take her back here where she will be safe.” I stated firmly, seeing the look of confusion and curiosity flicker in the alpha’s eyes.

“She is my mate and I will not lose her but that also does not leave this room. The walls have eyes and ears, no one is safe with any of this information if it were to get to the wrong person.” I added, confirming his suspicion. He nodded then took his leave with Damien, Scarlett and Alexander following behind them. My father comes up to me after everyone leaves, Raiden closing the door behind him. “Son, she is your mate. You could keep her here if that is what you truly want.” He said to me softly, concerned about what the distance will do since the mate bond had clicked in.

“I do not like this plan, but I will keep a close eye on her. I do not want to force her to stay if she woke up and wanted to leave. I have confidence that she will come to me as soon as she wakes. We have some information we need to find out for the time being. Can you contact the elders and find out if they know anything about the attack on her pack?” I said to my father, determined to find out more about this little creature that has captured my heart already. “I will give them a call and let you know what they say, son.” He said and nodded before making his leave. I walked towards the window and thought about what the alpha has told us, wondering if the rogues that had taken her, had any connections to wolves that have been going missing. Something doesn’t add up and I will find out who threatens my kingdom and my mate.