The Alpha's Slave

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: The unsettling feeling

"Kael, who found Amelia at the lighthouse?" Jaxon's voice was sharp, cutting through the usual banter that filled their training grounds. He'd arrived, his usual easy gait replaced by a grim determination.

Kael shifted uneasily, his gaze flitting around the familiar training area. "It was Jade. We were searching the area systematically, you know, covering every inch. Then Jade shouted, saying he saw someone lying unconscious. We ran over, and… it was Amelia. I recognized her immediately. I told the others to look for clues, to see what happened, while some of us called for backup to get her to the clinic. We searched, but… we found nothing. Absolutely nothing. So, I ran to your house to tell you, but you were with your parents. Aurora was there, so I brought her with me." He paused, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

"It was… unsettling, Alpha. Very unsettling."

Jaxon's eyes narrowed. He felt a prickle of unease, a nagging sense that something wasn't right. Kael's account, while detailed, felt… incomplete. Too neat. Too convenient. "Unsettling how, Kael? Be specific." His voice was low, laced with an unspoken threat.

Kael swallowed hard, avoiding Jaxon's gaze. "It's hard to explain, Alpha. It was just… the way she was lying there. Like she'd been… placed. Not like she'd fallen or been attacked." He hesitated, then added, almost as an afterthought, "And Jade… he seemed… he saw something strange, he was shocked, considering what he'd seen."

Jaxon's mind raced. Placed? strange? These were not the words he'd expect from a scene of a sudden collapse. He felt a cold dread creeping into his heart, a feeling far more profound than simple worry. This wasn't an accident. This was something far more sinister.

"We need to talk to Jade," he said, his voice hard.

"And then we revisit the scene. Something isn't right here, Kael. Something isn't right at all." The weight of suspicion hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension that mirrored the storm brewing within Jaxon.

Aurora, her usually bright eyes clouded with worry, approached cautiously. She carried a steaming mug, the aroma of chamomile tea cutting through the salty air.

"Alpha," she began softly, "You look exhausted. Please, drink this. You need to rest."

He took the mug, the warmth and small comfort against the icy dread that had settled in his heart. He looked at Aurora, her concern genuine, and a wave of guilt washed over him. He hadn't been a good friend to her lately, consumed by his own anxieties.

"Thank you, Aurora," he murmured, taking a sip. The chamomile calms his nerves, if only slightly.

"I know things haven't been easy, Alpha. But please, try not to push yourself too hard. You need to rest." Aurora's voice was soft, laced with genuine concern.

She reached out, her slender fingers gently brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead, a small, almost hesitant touch that spoke volumes. Her hand then rested lightly on his arm, a comforting weight against the turmoil within him.

"We'll figure this out together, not just me but also the pack that you lead. You can't just do it alone. You need to take care of yourself, too. Because the people need you. We need you, Alpha." She squeezed his arm lightly, her eyes filled with a quiet strength that mirrored her unwavering support. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she spoke, betraying her own anxieties.

"There's no shame in needing help, Jaxon. We're a team. Let us help you carry this burden." Her words were a balm to his frayed nerves, a gentle reminder that he wasn't alone in this fight.

"Please," she added softly, her voice barely a whisper, her gaze unwavering, "For me, for us, for everyone around you, for the Dawnsville people.”

Jaxon, the Alpha, felt the comforting weight of Aurora's words settle over him like a warm blanket. Her gentle touch and unwavering support eased the tension that had been knotting his muscles for days. He nodded, a small, tired smile gracing his lips. "Thank you, Aurora," he murmured, his voice

rough with emotion.

*****

The next day, two of them walked towards the lighthouse, a heavy silence hanging between them, broken only by the relentless rhythm of the waves. As they walked, Jaxon replayed Kael's words in his head, searching for inconsistencies, for hidden meanings.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that something was terribly wrong. This wasn't just a simple accident; it was a carefully constructed deception. And he was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. The lighthouse loomed before them, a stark silhouette against the stormy sky, a silent witness to a mystery that was only just beginning to unravel. The wind howled, a mournful cry echoing Jaxon's own growing unease.

Jaxon, and Kael returned to the spot where Amelia had been found. Jaxon didn't let Aurora come with them.

The wind had shifted, carrying the scent of seaweed and something else… something metallic. Jaxon knelt, examining the ground closely. He found a small, almost imperceptible scratch on a rock, barely visible to the naked eye.

"Kael," he said, his voice barely a whisper, "Did you see this before?"

Kael shook his head, his eyes wide with surprise. "No, I didn't see this, where is this coming from?"

Jaxon, ever observant, pointed to a faint trail of disturbed sand leading away from the rock. “Look,” he whispered, “It’s almost invisible, but it’s there.”

Jaxon followed the trail, his heart pounding in his chest. The trail led towards a cluster of rocks, partially hidden by the encroaching tide. He parted the seaweed, revealing a small, bloodstained cloth. It was a piece of Amelia's shirt.

"This wasn't an accident," Jaxon said, his voice grim. "Someone hurt her." He looked at Kael and Aurora, his gaze intense. "We need to find out who." The weight of responsibility settled heavily on his shoulders. He had to protect Amelia, even if it meant facing whatever darkness lay ahead. The sea roared its approval, a symphony of impending danger.

Amelia is Aurora's best friend and only remaining family. This is precisely why Jaxon is so determined to find Amelia's attacker, he can't bear the thought of Aurora losing someone so vital to her well-being, someone who fills the irreplaceable role of best friend and family member.

He fiercely wants to prevent Aurora from facing such profound loneliness, even though he acknowledges she still has her parents. The bond between Amelia and Aurora is clearly so deep and significant that losing Amelia would leave a devastating void in Aurora's life, a void that Jaxon is determined to help her avoid.