The Lost Queen

Chapter 16. First breath

Ace

When Kade eventually calmed down and we got back into the packhouse, I left him to rest and, as for myself, I went to my office and closed the door lightly. I looked through the window and felt warm inside my body. After a conversation with Kayla, I was in a better mood and wasn’t so lost anymore. When I heard about the unknown human wandering in the woods with a weird scent, I immediately thought about a black-haired nymph, but it could have been anyone. When one of the patrols described the girl’s appearance, I was sure it was her. It wouldn’t be the first time she wandered in the woods alone. The first time I saw her she wore only a thin nightgown, so I hoped that today she wore more than that.

After I told the patrols to retreat, I waited for a few minutes before calling to check up on her because I needed to know that she was safe and when I was sure, I could breathe a little easier. The loud knock on the door was a raw reminder that she was not here and I needed to stop thinking about her. I sat down and called whoever that was outside the door. Isaac strolled in with a folder and placed it on my table.

“From when people started going into the woods?” he sternly asked, not bothering with respect.

“Good evening to you too, Isaac.”

“Sorry Alpha, I’m a little bit on edge because of today’s events.”

“What happened?” I inquired, opening the folder. It was a report from today’s watch at school and I skimmed over the pages but when I didn’t get an answer, I raised my head and looked at a distressed gaze focused on me. My eyebrows shot up, but I waited silently for him to start talking.

“This girl had a very strange scent and it annoyed all of our wolves. She was trespassing and I don’t know why you didn’t let us deal with her.”

“We don’t kill humans.”

“But she wasn’t a human!” Isaac’s shout was agitated and Nor took it like an insult. A low growl slipped through my lips, and I stood up from the chair and set my hands against the hard wooden table.

“She stood proudly like she owned the place, Alpha!” he snarled, “even Max was triggered, and he was the softest person and wolf I know!”

“Isaac,” I warned him. My voice was thick with autorotative and Nor was pacing in my head without stopping. He also didn’t like it when the lone wolf insulted Kayla and we both stood more unified than ever, and Isaac didn’t have any other option than to submit.

“Kayla is new to the town. She doesn’t know our rules and my brother has hurt her enough already. I don’t want her to get hurt by our pack also. Do you understand?” I harshly asked and looked straight into the sable eyes.

“Yes Alpha.” Isaac lowered his head and I deeply exhaled.

“I will check the report and if I have some observations, I will let Ares know,” my voice was low, still leaking with domination, “You can go now.”

The man left my office in a full resignation and my patience has been wearing thin these last few days and everything revolves around Kayla. How could this one girl turn everything around in a short period of time? She didn’t even do anything drastic, but everything in my pack now spins around this beautiful nymph who is so secretive that my own patrols are triggered by her presence.

Isaac said she wasn’t a human and if I did have some presumptions on this matter, it didn’t feel like Kayla tried to do it on purpose. Even if she was something else, I think she didn’t know it herself and that somehow made me feel at ease. She just looked innocent, and I didn’t want to be mistaken, but I hope that everything will come out one way or another.

“Are you ready for that drink?” Zaven’s voice echoed in my mind.

“Sure. I’m in the office.” I agreed, thinking about the need to talk. Zaven has been my best friend since kindergarten. His dad was my father’s beta and now it’s the same with us. I couldn’t find a better man suited for that position than Zaven. He was very organized and always had a favour for others because he wasn’t the big bad alpha whom all other pack members were afraid of.

I wasn’t bad or aggressive, I just liked it when everything was in control and in the way it should be. If I give orders, I want them to be followed and the same things are valid to everyone in the pack or in the office, where, not only werewolves, but also humans from town work.

I snapped out of my thoughts when Zaven opened the door without knocking and I grinned, noticing a whiskey bottle in his hands and two glasses. My friend stood near the desk, put the glasses down and poured amber liquid on them. He pushed one toward me and I happily took it.

“So, what’s happening? I heard Kade tried to do some stupid shit.”

“Tell me one time when he didn’t try to do something stupid?” I rolled my eyes and gulped down the drink. A burning sensation spread through my body and warmth spread into my stomach. I closed my laptop and the report. Zaven was watching me intently, but I was not in a rush to talk.

“Kade was rejected by his mate.” I spat out the words in a forceful way and turned my head to the shelf full of books. My office was the same as it was my father’s, it was the last place where I saw him that night and, for that reason, I didn’t want to change anything and, instead, I restored some furniture and bought a new sofa in the corner of the room. Zaven sat across from me in the armchair and after my words he looked confused.

“Do you know who his mate is?” I shook my head and gulped one more glass of alcohol. I concentrated on the bottle and its golden brand name written across the black label.

“If I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here. That b***h doesn’t have a right to mess with my brother’s life,” I stated furiously. Anger was bubbling inside of me, and I wanted to smash this glass which was in my hand into a million pieces, but I tried to control my emotions and poured another drink.

“I couldn't even be angry at him for what he did to that poor girl because of all this mess,” Zaven’s eyes shot me a surprised look but didn’t interrupt me letting to speak in my own pace, “He attacked his classmate. She is new to the school and right away he started annoying her and today… well he acted like a total i***t and even hurt her.” Sigh left my lips and after a second of quietness my phone vibrated.

It was a message from Kayla and my heart leapt in my chest. I was surprised and worried at the same time, so I didn’t dare to read it. I took my phone from the desk and stared at her name plastered on the screen.

“Why do you have this look on your face?” Zaven wiggled his hand to my face, and I gazed at my friend who intently followed my facial expressions.

When I started talking I wasn’t sure how much I would reveal but, a few drinks gave me courage to talk about Kayla and the thoughts I had about her. About her looks and how her smile made my insides churn from the excitement. I didn’t forget to talk about my fears and Kade’s stupidness. Also, I revealed to Zaven about my father’s mistake and how we all suffered because of that. Every word merged into a long and very dramatic conversation but when I finished I was out of breath, spilling my heart out.

Zaven looked a little bit confused, and his fingers were trembling, so I poured him a drink and watched silently till he gulped it down with one sip.

“That’s intense, man,” his voice was quiet, and he avoided looking into my eyes, “I thought my life was hard because I was attacked in the middle of the day, but this…”

“And the worst part is that my father really slaughtered all those people. I don’t even know them but I’m sure they were innocent.” My friend just nodded, still trying to process everything. I was overwhelmed and my fingers touched phone screen one more time. I still didn’t check Kayla’s message and conscience was eating me alive. I inhaled deeply and unlocked the phone. After a few clicks, I could see the lonely message which was sent half an hour ago and my eyes slid through the words:

‘I know I said it before, but thanks again. For everything. It means a lot to me because when I was younger no one was looking after me and now… it’s a strange feeling and I try to get used to it, but… uh, I’m rambling. Sorry for that and thank you. I hope you have a good and restful night.’

My body ached from the need to see her, but I sat in my chair glued and didn’t move an inch. When I didn’t have enough words to gather into the text, I locked my phone and put it back on the desk. I looked up and found my friend’s eyes full of amusement and he was smirking at me.

“That’s it, Ace. You’re done.” Zaven's laugh filled an empty space in my office and I knew that his words held some truth but not in exactly the same meaning.

I wasn’t done. I felt like it was the first deep breath that I took in my life, and I felt f*****g amazing.