Against the Black

Chapter 13

My smile faltered, and my heart rate sped up. My body was very much conflicted by his presence. Hell, all of me was conflicted. The mate bond wanted me to run to him. But every other part of me wanted to run in any other direction. I forced my smile back to its former glory and bowed respectfully.

“Welcome to the Obsidian Falls pack.” I spoke to the Beta directly when I returned to full standing.

“I am Beta Mark.” He introduced himself. Roman stood by the still open door to the SUV as if he was unsure he was going to jump back in the car or not. He looked frozen like a deer in headlights, and part of me wished he did jump back in the car and leave. But I never turned my attention to him fully and spoke to Beta Mark.

“Thank you for coming. I trust you’ve been briefed on the issue of Alpha Brian’s mate?” I asked, as a formality. Though I knew Babs would have taken care of all the details.

“I have, however, since it is normally my role to handle these things, I will be overseeing the investigation. But you will be dealing directly with Prince Roman, who will be handling the majority of the investigation. I will simply be here in a…” He paused, looking for the right word. “Supervisor role. Making sure things get done properly, but not the one actually handling them.” My face froze in that welcoming smile I’d been wearing and my brain shut down completely.

Roman was going to handle the investigation? But… why? And why now? And why me?

Before I could spiral too far into the never-ending questions, I rebooted and turned to my mate.

“I look forward to working with you, Prince Woods.” I bowed respectfully. If I thought he was rigid before, he became a statue in that moment. Tense and unmoving. I stood straight again and flashed my smile. His eyes were the only thing that moved. He watched me with uncertainty and something else. Something that almost seemed like… fear. Then he simply nodded once, and I heard him speak for the first time.

“I look forward to it as well, Roxanne.” His voice had a deep rumble to it that reminded me of dark chocolate. It was smooth and inviting. His voice shot a tremor through my body, and I wasn’t sure which direction was up anymore. The man was handsome in every way, and that made him dangerous. But I liked danger, didn’t I? I struggled to remember my own name for a moment and when I finally realized I was drooling, I briskly turned and walked toward the gate. I could hear Beta Mark snicker behind me.

“I’ll send an escort with you. They’ll take you to the pack house. I will fetch Michelle, the mate in question, and meet you in my office at the pack house.” I turned to one of my warriors. “Please escort the royal envoy to my office. Make sure the kitchen takes good care of them until I arrive.” After that, with every ounce of dignity I had left, I ran into the woods and shifted. After tracking down Michelle in the sewing room, we returned to my office, where the men waited for us.

The whole way back to my office, my palms were sweating. I felt like I was going to vibrate out of my skin from all the nerves dancing in my bloodstream. I wasn’t even this jittery after a pot of coffee, but my mate being in my office sent me into a mental tailspin. He had only said a handful of words to me. I’d only heard him speak once, and it was about business. Before I could think myself into a knot about his lack of vocabulary, we entered my office and I put my game face back in place.

“Beta Mark, Prince Roman,” I was cut off.

“Roman… is fine.” I was flustered, both from being interrupted but also by how his eyes seemed to bore into me. It felt as though, if he looked long enough, I’d bare my soul to him. I stammered as I tried getting back on track.

“R… right. This is Michelle. She is Alpha Brian’s mate who came to find sanctuary within my pack.” I turned to Michelle and gently placed my hands on her arms. I spoke quietly, only to her. Though I was sure their wolf hearing picked up on what I was saying.

“They need to ask you some questions about why you came to be here and why you left your old pack. I know this is a difficult topic, but he needs to be punished for what he’s done.” She nodded and I could see tears beginning to form. I hugged her gently.

“If you need anything, I’ll be right outside. The room is soundproof, so I won’t be able to hear what you talk about. But if you need me, knock on the door and I’ll come right in. I promise.”

I squeezed her arm gently, and she just nodded again. I could tell this was hard for her and I felt bad leaving her in a room with men she didn’t know. But I also understood the job they were doing and how this would benefit her in the long run. I just hoped she would open up and answer their questions so we could get her life back for her.

I stepped out of the room and shut the door behind me. Beta Marc and Roman stayed in the room with her. Along with a female guard they had brought along, who I assumed was there to help Michelle feel more comfortable.

I stood guard outside the office door for the better part of an hour while they spoke. I linked the kitchen to bring me a bottle of water and a box of tissues, and after they arrived, I waited some more. As soon as the door opened, I dashed in to find Michelle, handing her the water bottle and box of tissues. She had been crying, and I folded her into my arms. I shushed her and ran my fingers through her dark hair, assuring her she was safe. Then I looked up, hoping to get some reassurance from Mark or Roman that she was indeed safe here and could stay.

Roman looked at me, watching me console her, and when I looked at him for confirmation, he simply nodded. I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding, and she seemed to cry harder.

“Alright hun, let’s get you cleaned up. You don’t need to return to your post today, so please go home and get some rest. Would you like me to walk you?” I offered. She shook her head. She held my hand, squeezing it and thanking me, before walking out the pack house doors. I turned to Mark and Roman.

“What next?” I asked, exhausted. I hadn’t realized I’d been so tense about their visit until now.

“Luckily, it’s a pretty straightforward case since she was cooperative,” Mark started. But he didn’t get to finish before one of my warriors mind linked me.

Alpha! There’s been an attack on our western border. I held my hand up, cutting Mark off. Which would normally be a big no-no. But a pack attack required all of my attention and he could execute me for it later.

Do we know who’s attacking?

It looks to be the Pine Claw pack.

Alpha Brian. Kalua snarled, and I immediately ran to the pack house doors in search of Michelle.

Beta Mark and Roman were hot on my heels, calling for an explanation, but I didn’t have time to give them one. I dashed to grab Michelle’s hand and spun her back toward the pack house.

“Michelle, I need you to take Beta Mark and Prince Roman to the bunker.” Fear lit her face, followed closely by realization.

“Brian.” She whispered, and I nodded.

“Take them to the bunker and make sure you three stay there until either myself or Valerie comes to get you. Do not let anyone in other than me or Valerie.” She nodded, shaking.

“Please, follow Michelle, she will take you to our bunker.” Roman responded first.

“Bunker? Is something happening?”

“We're under attack, and I will not have royal blood spilt on my pack’s lands if I can help it. So please take this with all the respect I could possibly offer, but get in the f*****g bunker.” I turned to race to the western border before pausing. I turned back to add a small bow and, “Your highness.” Then I sprinted down the pack house steps and shifted.