My Mark Is His Posion

14

Chapter 14

JULIAN'S POV

I spat out threats to them in a cold, tone, and although I hated the look of fear on their faces, I did not have time to spare apologizing for being bossy and commanding.

"She... I swear I still don't know what you're talking about, Beta," Finnley responded, still trying to stand by his obvious lie. I had spent two days carefully following his scents and footprint whenever I saw them. Now, I had finally tracked him down.

I silently applauded him for his nerve. He feigned ignorance, pretending not to understand, but I had no time for any silly little back and forths.

I knew she was here. The pale look on their faces gave me all the proof I needed.

"So what's it going to be, Finnley?" I passed him a wicked smile. "You have only ten seconds left to make a decision."

I waited for them to finally give in while we engaged in what seemed to be a tense stare-off.

I held no ill intentions for Freya but they did not have to know that. All I was desperate for was to get a solution for the Alpha's illness. And if it meant asking for help from a banished wolf, I was more than eager to do it than helplessly watch my Alpha die.

"Three seconds now..."

"I'm here!" A scared voice shrieked and my head snapped in the direction of the sound to see the girl I had banished from the pack myself.

"Freya!" Finnley snapped in a warning tone and it almost made me laugh that he thought he had this situation under control.

If it took me to turn the cabin upside down to find her, I would have done so without a second thought.

"It's a good thing you know better than to remain in hiding," I said to her, noticing how her jaw clenched tightly, tension lining her features.

"I don't care if you think you must report that I've returned despite everything," she began, trying too hard to mask her shaky voice.

"I'm not..."

"But I only agreed to come back because the Alph...wait, what?" She blinked, taken aback by my response. "You're...not?"

"I need to get to the Alpha's side as soon as possible but Reginald is deliberately keeping me out for some reason I do not understand. I had no idea he had been feeding me with false updates on the Alpha's health or I would have returned immediately!"

"Well, that has absolutely nothing to do with me. I am a banished wolf."

"And he mentioned your name in his semi-conscious state!" I cut her off sharply. "Why do you think that is?"

I heard Finnley suck in a gasp, surprised that I knew of it. Silly of him to think I did not have my own sources.

"Are you asking me to help you then?" Freya asked, the confusion clear in her voice.

"I'm glad we're getting somewhere," I responded, my voice dripping with sarcasm while my gaze shifted to the mate mark on the exposed skin of her neck.

I hated that it matched the same mark I had glimpsed on the Alpha's chest when he had been examined weeks ago to figure out what exactly was wrong. It confirmed the suspicions I had desperately hoped were wrong.

Before any of us could get another word out, someone stepped out from behind the sofa and my fingers reflexively grasped the dagger at my back, ready for defense.

My eyes narrowed at the man.

"Sorry to startle you, I'm Doctor Owen Carver," he extended his palm for a handshake but I kept my gaze on him, wondering who the f**k he was.

"Beta Julian," Finnley stepped closer to me. "There's more you need to know about what's going on."

While I felt relieved that he was now convinced I was on their side, I dreaded what he was about to say.

He moved to the other side of the room, picked a vial from where they had probably hidden it when I knocked, and then went on to narrate what he had been told.

Anger simmered under my skin as he finished speaking and I fought the urge to force my way into the pack house to tear every single person involved in this madness apart.

"I have a proposition," I said, staring directly at Freya.

"Since you are our only hope to helping the Alpha, I could find a way to get you into the isolation wing disguised as the healer. You will see to it that the Alpha is better and find out as much as you can about what's going on. I will be waiting for you in the same spot when you're all done and we will return."

Even though she stood nearly five feet from me, I could hear the sound of her heart beating fearfully.

"I do not promise that it would not be risky," I added and waited for her to agree or decline. It was the only way I could think of that seemed possible at that moment.

Letting out a deep exhale, she finally nodded, agreeing to my plan.

We sprung into action without hesitation. She followed closely behind me with a scarf over her head, hiding most part of her face while I led her through the back passage of the pack house.

I'd been here long enough to know that this part of the house was not accessible as the evening neared, but as we approached the back garden, I stopped abruptly, causing Freya to bump right into me.

"Hold," I warned quietly, noticing a light suddenly flicker on in through one of the windows of the upper rooms.

The silhouette of a woman appeared at the window, standing still by the glass. I could easily make out the features to be Cassandra.

"Is there a problem?" Freya whispered behind me but I hushed her softly.

I could not tell if Cassandra could see us through the window at this distance in the dark, but I did not want to take any chances so I remained still, waiting for her shadow to move.

As soon as it did, I grabbed Freya's arm and made for the back door.