CHAPTER 4 – THE BAXTER SECRET
1393 Words
RHYS’S POV
We kept on walking for what seemed like a couple of minutes my mind kept replaying the conversation from before.
her rejection had made my wolf way more restless than it was.
and i still had so many questions.
why did her mother warn her about my family.
what would happen now.
we came to a stop in front of another tree with a significantly smaller mark which was almost completely invisible at first glance.
nyra noticed and stepped closer to investigate.
She managed to make out the words
"The First."
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"I don't know yet."
Just then, she showed me a section of the journal that read,
"Five territories, five symbols, one message. The council believes the symbols mark ownership. They are wrong, completely wrong. They were never meant to divide us."
But the next page is ripped out.
"So your mother believed the packs were supposed to be separated?" I asked.
"She believed there was more to the story than they let on."
"And your father?"
She immediately shut down.
That's odd.
Why did she want to talk about her father?
"What's your mother's name then?"
“Eleanor Windsor” she said.
"Alright."
We kept on searching the area for whatever clue we could find, but we didn't get any further because the sun was starting to set making it hard for us to see.
We set out for a plan to come back to investigate more when we can, while I find out more from my father as she asked me to.
when i got back to the estate, it seemed like the questions i had had doubled in my mind but somehow i couldn’t ask while standing in the forest.
kruz appeared from nowhere as i approached the gates.
“you’re thinking out loud” he said
“it’s not my fault, there’s a lot of things I don’t know and I don’t appreciate that”
“you’ll never know everything” more steps before he spoke again
“Was that attempt to comfort me?”
I glanced at him
“Did i succeed?”
I ignored him
We walked for a few minutes before he spoke again
“Nyra Windsor”
my jaw clenched at the sound of her name
“What about Nyra Windsor?”
“Nothing just wanted to confirm a hunch”
“What hunch”
“she’s your mate, isn’t she?”
I didn’t give him an answer, not because he was wrong but because I wasn’t sure if she wanted to be addressed as that.
He gave me a knowing look
“don’t worry, you don’t have to say anything”
I despised that look especially because I knew what he was thinking and I wished he was right.
We entered the foyer where the guards stood waiting for us.
one out the three stepped forward, “Alpha”
I gave me a nod of acknowledgment in response.
“The council appointed us to pass a message”
“What?”
“They wanted a report back in the investigation by morning”
“Let them know that they’ll receive it”
He nodded and left with the others.
“Why can’t you just let them handle this”
“I would’ve but I realized that it’s much more personal and something is not adding up”
“elaborate”
“The symbol we found is a part of an ancient message and apparently Nyras mother was investigating it before she died”
he crossed his arms, “that’s interesting but how do you know they’re connected”
“She has her old journal but someone tore out the important pieces. so now, I’m helping Nyra find what she needs to conclude what her mother was researching, and my father also might have been involved.”
“Are you going to ask your father?”
i looked at him, “I’m going to do that now”
“Let me know how it ends” he squeezed my shoulder as a form of support before walking the other way.
“Kruz” i called out
“Yeah?”
“Find out everything you can about Eleanor Windsor”
he nodded, “alright be careful”
I wasted no time in the main hall and made a beeline to the study where my father usually stayed in.
the door was opened when I got to the study so i let myself in.
I decided to look through the shelves to pass the time.
not looking for anything in particular, till I stumbled upon a journal, one that looked almost identical to Nyra's mother's journal.
but it wasn't hers, it was ours.
The Stormhawl archives had records of nearly every major event involving the other territories.
Every conflict, every decision, every alliance, every council.
If Eleanor Windsor had been involved with my family years ago, there should be something here.
There had to be something here.
I pulled the book from the shelves, it wasn't labeled like the rest so I opened it as I sat on my father’s chair.
A few pages were nothing more than dates and names.
Then I saw hers.
Eleanor Windsor.
My eyes moved across the pages, trying to make out the faded writing.
Silverpine representative.
She had called for a meeting with the Stormhawl Alpha.
My father.
I read the next line.
meeting denied.
Turned the page, there was nothing.
There was no torn out page.
It was just blank.
I leaned back in the chair I was sitting on.
“You have to be kidding me.”
A sound came from the doorway.
I got up to find my father standing by the door, his face unreadable.
“Where did you find that?”
I shut the book and placed it on the desk, “It was right here.”
His eyes narrowed at me.
“Give it to me.”
“why should I?”
His expression became cold.
“Rhys” he warned
“Why was Eleanor Windsor requesting to meet you and why was it denied?”
Silence was what met with my question.
That was the first answer I got.
“Why?” I asked again.
“It was many years ago, it is simply irrelevant”
“That's not an answer.”
“It had nothing to do with you.”
“But it does now.”
“Whatever Nyra told you— “
I interrupted, “She didn't tell me anything. What was Eleanor asking you for?”
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“Then why are you being so defensive?”
“I'm not being defensive.”
“You clearly are.”
He turned away, and I followed behind.
“Did you know my mate's mother?”
He stopped.
The room went silent.
Even my wolf seemed to be quiet.
Then he turned slowly.
“Your what?” he asked.
Suddenly I realized my mistake.
His expression changed again, but not by surprise.
Something else.
“You found her”
My face fell flat.
“Found who?”
He didn't give me an answer.
“You knew.”
“Rhys.”
“You knew she was my mate.”
“I said nothing of the sort.”
“But you're not surprised.”
He looked away and I walked closer.
“so, you know her mother and you had something to do with what happened to her years ago?”
He glared at me.
“Be careful”
“That's not a denial.”
“You have no idea of what you're talking about.”
“I will find out, I’m just giving you a chance to tell me
“Some things are left better buried.”
His words lingered in the air.
I stared at him.
He clearly knew something.
I wasn't sure what, but I knew he knew something.
“Stay away from her.”
“That is not your call to make. I will not stay away from her.”
“You will do as I say. The Windsors have always been trouble.”
I laughed without humor.
He opened the door, then exited completely.
I stood there, staring at the empty doorway.
For the first time, I wasn't sure whether my father was trying to protect me or himself.
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