Cruel Alpha

Chapter 31

Robin laid on the bed, letting out a big breath as she heard the door close. Lucien’s voice haunted her wake hours and Robin was determined to reach some peace in her sleep. She closed her eyes, sleep would be her safe space, he wouldn’t be able to poison it. But the hum of power in her slithered into the depth of Robin’s dream. She dreamt of a forest that was full of pack members that bowed to her. It felt…. Good. It felt extremely good to be appreciated and respected. Robin jumped awake, her shirt clung to her and her pants filled the silent room. 

Robin checked the time. She was supposed to leave for River Banes in an hour. Lucien has given her very precise instructions, very strong orders that Robin was still battling with herself to not obey. She would make sure to do the exact opposite of everything he told her. Get to River Banes, you have 3 days to drive back with Wren. Lucien’s voice reminded her as Robin got ready. Pack members will be waiting for you, use their strength. Robin packed nearly everything in the room. She wasn’t sure if she was coming back. She wasn’t sure if she was going to River Banes. 

When Robin reached her car, she saw it circled by the pack members, it reminded her awfully of the haunting dream she had. “Beta Robin,” one spoke and the rest bowed. Robin stood taller, trying to do her best to fit that title. “What’s this about?” she asked as she dropped her bags on the back seat of her car. One of the members stepped forward. “Alpha informed us about the special mission, Beta. He wanted us to travel with you.” Robin nodded as if considering the offer and shook her head. 

“No, go back to your duties. The mission will take 3 days, the other pack might notice your presence if you linger there that long.” The man looked like he might protest so Robin added. “Come to the River Banes pack borders in 3 days, at night.” She spoke with a firm voice. They nodded, but the man in the front still looked reluctant. “But Alpha told us to...“ Robin growled. “I know what Alpha told you, but this is my mission and I am ordering you to step back.” Her voice had gotten deeper, growl made them step back. Robin felt stronger, she felt like she should push more but took in a deep breath and stepped towards her car. “Come to the border in 3 days. Then, we will carry out the mission.” She drove out of the pack faster, hoping to reach the highway faster than the news of the team being left behind reaches Lucien. 

Lucien wanted her to take them, but even if Robin obeyed it, where would she hide them? It would just make the war start sooner. Also, it wouldn’t reassure Axel of her loyalties if she arrived in River Banes with 20 fighters, ready to kidnap his sister. Robin shrugged those thoughts away; her loyalties were a problem territory. It didn’t matter where they lay, all mattered was for Robin to not let Lucien’s words get to her head. If she just found a way to be rid of him, maybe Oak Tails could be better. The power would be all ours then. her wolf purred and Robin growled. Power is the reason for all of her problems, she shouldn’t crave it. 

Robin reached the borders and felt anxious. Will the pack soldiers let her through? Do they know about the Oak Tails? Was Wilder the most reliable person to give all the information to? The soldiers nodded at Robin and motioned for her to keep driving. She returned their nod and drove in, her heart beating louder than necessary. Don’t trust them, Robin. They are the enemy. Lucien’s voice came back to haunt her once again. Robin let it play in her head like background noise. Ignore them, they are the past, we are the future, Robin. Focus only on Wren. 

Robin dropped her stuff in the room. Now what? Was she just supposed to knock on Axel’s front door and ask them to keep Wren far, far away from the pack? Should she just move to the city and never come back to any of the packs? Then there was a knock on her door. Robin opened it to find Wilder, he was trying to catch his breath. “They should really start installing elevators here,” Robin chuckled and stepped away, giving him space to enter. Wilder walked in and scanned her up and down. “You are alright,” he stated and Robin nodded, suddenly his arms were wrapped around her, hugging her so close that Robin smelled his cologne. Robin didn’t realize how much she needed a hug, her arms wrapped around him. “You weren’t back this Sunday. I got worried even started looking for the cupboard to lock you in.” he joked and Robin chuckled. “Well, you might still need the cupboard,” Robin said as they pulled away. 

Wilder looked at her with a question in his eyes. Robin looked down as she spoke, “He wants Wren.” Robin saw his hands curl into a fist. “Well, that won’t do.” He mumbled and took to pacing around the room. “What exactly is his plan? I mean, you could just stay here, and when he attacks we will defend.” He thought out loud and Robin stayed quiet. She had quite a lot of ideas of how she could act, none of them involved her staying there and facing Lucien in battle. His power over her was too strong, one slip-up could make Robin a weapon in his hand. 

“Take me to Axel,” Robin said suddenly and Wilder stopped. “What?” Robin walked towards the door. “Come on, he is the Alpha whatever you and I think of doing won’t matter until he knows the full situation.” Wilder agreed though Axel’s reluctance to accept Robin’s story was still fresh on his mind. 

Wilder was right to worry, as soon as they stood in the office, Axel’s eyes locked on Robin like she was a time bomb. “Axel, we have bad news.” Wilder started, he noticed how Robin was also looking at Axel. They both were fixated on each other as if this was a starring contest and the loser will have to do exercising or something. “Wilder, leave the room,” Axel spoke calmly and Wilder also joined the starring game. “Axel this wasn’t part of the plan. Robin is here to help us.” The brothers looked at each other angrily. 

“Wilder, you should leave.” Robin’s voice made them both turn to her. Robin turned to Wilder. “I appreciate your help, I really do. But you will just make this process lengthier.” She said and pointed between herself and Axel. Axel shot him a look as if saying, don’t let the wind hit you on your way out. Wilder sighed, “I will be waiting outside, as soon as you are done with… whatever is about to happen there, call me back in. This is my pack too.” 

Robin turned to Axel as the door closed. He was looking at her expectantly. They sat down without breaking eye contact. “Wilder told me a lot of things.” Axel started, “A lot of them have a soundproof behind them. Most of it though, I have been blissfully unaware of.” Robin raised her brow. “For one, you are a beta wolf of an old bloodline.” Robin nodded. “Yes, it was a private matter. It wasn’t really relevant.” Axel nodded, though he still looked sceptical. It explained the strength and speed that Robin possessed, “what advantages it gives you, then? Wilder spoke of it, but I need proof.” Axel looked at her with a stern expression.

“My wolf and I are more connected…. We can share the control.” The second half of her sentence was spoken with an echo of the wolf, one of her eyes had gone fully black. Axel hid his surprise well as he nodded, signalling for her to go on. “The silver doesn’t harm me as much. It heals away on its own but hurts all the same. There is nothing else I am aware of.” Axel looked at his papers. “This Alpha of yours, Lucien. Does he possess all the same powers then?” Axel asked and Robin’s hand curled to a fist. Lucien wasn’t her favourite topic of discussion. “Yes, but he is of Alpha bloodline, his powers are stronger, I suspect he knows more about the powers but isn’t telling me.” 

Axel sighed and leaned back on his chair. “You clearly know he is stronger than you and you found out about the Alpha Tone. You are smart, Robin. How did you not come to me with all this knowledge way sooner? This has clearly been going for more than 2 months by now.” Robin’s anger was clearly displayed on her face. “I have lost my home and family to the war. Now suddenly I discover that not everyone is dead and I can have my home again. I grew up there, I had friends a pretty happy life until your war ruined everything. Of course, I would take every chance of getting my home back.” 

Axel was surprised by the intensity of her tone, her eyes shone in a different shade of grey.  “Even at the price of war?” Axel asked with a growl. Robin sighed and closed her eyes, when she opened them again, she was calm again. “I would never want any harm to come to this pack. I hate war, it’s just a waste of life and strength, it makes everyone hurt and harms all the sides involved. I would never willingly participate in it.” There was a moment of silence before Robin spoke again. “Not even to get the Oak Tails back. One war ruined it, I don’t think a second war can fix it.” Axel spoke after he processed her words. “That’s why you kept refusing the offers to join the pack fighters rank?” 

Robin nodded, “I will not become a soldier, they destroyed my home. I wouldn’t want to cause anyone as much harm as that war caused me.” She spoke sincerely, Robin was laying her soul bare to make Axel believe her, to make sure that Axel won’t take the threat of Oak Tails lightly. That’s why she didn’t want Wilder in the room, Axel realized. 

He nodded and offered his hand to Robin. “I will trust your knowledge.” Robin took his hand, his grip got stronger. “But know that he has more trust in you than I ever will, if you turn out to be a traitor, he will be the one harmed.” Axel nodded towards the door. Robin winced at the word traitor. “There is nowhere else I can go. It's either here or I become a soldier in Lucien’s game.” It felt weird, Robin hated speaking her feelings out, she hated vulnerability, it was for the weak. Axel let go of her hand and nodded towards the door once more. “Go, open the door. Wilder is probably about to punch a wall and hurt himself.”