Secrets of his Mate

Fifteen

Alessandro

    "I'm busy. Leave me alone!" I ordered Roman with my mind link before colliding my lips with Elana again.

    "I'm sorry, Alpha. It's very urgent," he responded causing me to stop again.

    "Roman again?" Elana asked bringing me back to the moment.

    I nodded. "He says its urgent."

    "Oh. What is it?" she asked curiously.

    I turned my attention to Roman who did not stop talking. "We need you right away. Three pack members are dead in the sitting room!"

    I was shocked and furious at the news. "Shut down the house! Bring more guards to secure the area! I'll be right there." I looked back at Elana. "We need to lockdown the pack house. I'll send a few guards to watch your room."

    "A few? For how long?" She was annoyed, but I couldn't protect her feelings at a time like this. I needed to act as an Alpha now more than ever.

    "I don't know. It's not safe right now. I'll check on you again as soon as I can, okay? I need to go." With that said, I pecked her lips and flew out of the door locking it behind me. The last thing I wanted or needed was Elana getting hurt.

    How could this have happened? I already took care of the three rogues who wanted to attack Elana for no reason. I couldn't think of anyone who would think of attacking my pack unless the rogues had backup waiting and willing to strike. I just didn't understand why I wasn't the one they attacked. I didn't even know which three were dead, but I was already pained by the loss.

    I ran into the sitting room where I found Roman, Eric, and Tony standing over the dead bodies. I couldn't believe this had happened under my own roof on my watch. "Who are they?" I almost shouted.

    They all turned to my direction. Looking at the ground, I found Olivia, one of the maids, on floor in front of a chair. In front of the window, Amy's body was laid out. Natasha was dead in her wolf form in front of the love seat. She must have tried to fight the assailant. It brought a tear to my eye. She was so young and brave to defend her friends. None of them deserved to be killed.

    "Who did this?" I growled.

    "We don't know. They were already dead when I got here," Eric stated. "We have guards searching the perimeter."

    I wanted to unleash a rage. I wanted the wolf responsible to die a slow and painful death. These three were no threat to anybody. They had been friends for years. I was determined to bring them justice.

    The medic and his trainee walked in at that moment. The poor, old man was getting to his last leg, but he was one of the very best in the field. The trainee was his young and bright son. I had no doubt he would carry on his legacy serving this pack.

    After examining the bodies, the medic spoke. "There is no blood, wounds, or scratches on any of the victims. There doesn't look to be any signs of struggle either. They do, however, all have blue lips, yet no signs of strangulation. I'd say they passed away about an hour ago. The cause of death being asphyxiation by choking."

    "What?" I roared. "That can't be possible! How can a all three die the same way? Someone did this to them. Natasha was ready to fight! Why else would she have shifted in here?"

    "I can run some tests to check for poisoning, but there is no physical harm to any of them," he said shakily.

    "You do that and whatever it takes! I want to know who did this and how!"

    "Yes, Alpha."

    I stormed out of the room and entered my office slamming the door. I was ready for bloodshed even without knowing who the culprit was. It was making me believe I was failing as an Alpha although I knew deep down I wasn't, but it didn't matter. Someone attacking my pack was a personal attack to me. Whoever did this was going to pay.

    "Everyone to the pack house now!" I yelled out using my mind link. Each member needed to be accounted for and protected. They also needed to know the heartbreaking news. They had to be safe and alert.

    Roman knocked and entered my office. "Tony is helping medic bring the bodies to the infirmary. They'll be in the auditorium right afterwards."

    "Have the medic and his son continue to work." I instructed him. "They already know what's going on and I need answers now!"

    He nodded. "I'll let them know. What about the Luna? Should I tell her to-"

    "My mate is none of your concern!" I let out a low, aggressive growl. My wolf became heated instantly. He was not in a position to talk about her. Ever. Especially if he wanted my forgiveness. "Now get out."

    He didn't dare challenge me. It was most definitely not the time to bring up our situation. I wanted to get passed it, but it would take time. "Yes, Alpha," he said between gritted teeth. It was concealed, but I caught it. I knew he was frustrated and tired of pleading his case. He had every right to be.

    "Roman," I called to him before he stepped out of the door. "Regardless of whatever is going on between us, I need my Beta by my side."

    "I know how to do my job." It was a short and dry statement I completely deserve.

    "I never said you didn't," I defended. With a sigh, I let out, "I want to keep my best friend too. Maybe we can keep the friendship at bay at least until my wolf's jealousy is more under control."

    His eyes widened at my words. "We can do that."

    "Thank you." After that, he departed to meet with the medic. I still wasn't sold on his story of not hearing my mind link while I was with Elana, but with what just happened I didn't want to lose yet another person that same day.

    I brought myself onto my feet and made my way to the auditorium. All the murmurs were piercing through my ears. No one knew what was going on. They were all nervous as to why everyone was gathered. I never yell at all the pack members at once unless we were under attack. Although that was the case, I never had to announce any member had died in my own pack house.

    Taking a deep breath, I walked in front of the podium. Instantly I spotted Mary, Amy's mother looking around for her daughter. I could hear her say to another lady, "I swear if Amy and Natasha went out yet again, I'm going to lose it!"

    It was no use to prolong this. I collected myself to break the news. "Everybody sit down and be quiet. What I have to say is not going to be easy." I looked at all their faces. "It was brought to my attention we may be under attack."

    The chattering picked up. Mary's face filled with worry. She turned to me. "Amy and Natasha are not here. Can one of you call them and pick them up so they're not alone out there?"

    A pin shot through my heart. All eyes were on me then. I slowly shook my head. "Amy, Natasha, and Olivia were just found dead."

    Gasps and cries were heard throughout, but Mary's stood out. "What?" She became mortified. "No!" She shouted as she cried painfully. "No! No! No!"

    I held back the tears that wanted to run down from my eyes. My heart was torn for her and with her. I needed to remain strong at a time like this. My pack couldn't see me as a weak, emotional leader no matter the situation.

    "How?" Mary exclaimed. "How did this happen?"

    I cleared my throat. "All three died of asphyxiation. We don't know exactly what caused it yet. The doctor is running tests-"

    "Where is she?" she sobbed. "I want to see my daughter!"

    "Mary, that's not the best idea," I tried to explain.

    "Take me to her now!" I motioned to Eric who was standing near the stage to escort her to her daughter.

    After a moment, I continued. "Everyone will be staying here until we know for sure someone didn't do this to them. Until then, you are all to be vigilant. No one leaves unless approved by me. Even then, no one leaves alone. Assume the worst, hope for the best. Do you understand me?"

    "Yes, Alpha," they answered.

    "We'll schedule their burials once we have the cause of death. If any of you see anything odd, please let me know."

    I walked away holding back tears. Seeing Roman behind the curtain made me think of earlier. I pulled him into my office along with Tony who was standing near him. "Someone needs to pay for this."

    "As soon as we find who it is we'll-" Tony began before I cut him off.

    "We already know who it was," I said turning to Roman. "Who did we see earlier tonight walk past this door?"

    It was as if a light switch was turned on in his head. "Ethan!"

    Tony's head snapped up. "Alpha Ethan was was walking in the hall?"

"We thought he was," Roman answered. He thought for a moment. "He was still chained when we got down there. How could he possibly escape and why would he go back down there?"

    "That's what we're about to find out," I spoke up taking charge and leading them into the library. As we entered the dungeon, my anger grew.

    We stopped in front of Ethan's cell. The smug bastard was asleep. His eyes fluttered open as he realized we were staring at him. He shook himself awake and tried taking a step back. "What do you want?"

    "I know you were out walking around earlier. Tell me what you did and I might have mercy on you," I ordered.

    "I don't know what you're talking about," he shrugged off.

    I looked at Tony and Roman. "Take him down and hold him still."

    He looked back and forth to both of them. "What are you doing? Let me go!"

    My blood was boiling. I was ready to let my rage explode. I looked at him closely as he struggled to break free. I swung my fist across his jaw causing him to spit out blood and a tooth. "Who helped you escape?" I roared.

    "What?" he asked turning pale. "Escape? I've been here since-"

    "Don't speak to me like I'm stupid. I know you were out. Don't make me ask you again!" He held his lips shut tight while eyeballing me. My patience was wearing thin. I grabbed a cleaver and smashed it on his foot crushing his toes underneath. His screams echoed through the dungeon. I raised my arm again preparing to swing when he began to babble.

    "Okay, okay, okay! Please not again."

    "Speak now!"

    "It was Lu-" He sniffled and tried catching his breath. "Lu-"

    "Spit it out or I'll cut off your tongue!" I yelled yanking his hair back to make him look at me.

    "It was your Luna," he cried.

    My body froze. "What did you just say? How do you know about her?" I nearly shouted.

    "Your mate, the really pretty human with long hair," he started. "She came down here and made me an offer," he said shakily.

    "What the hell are you talking about? She's never been down here before."

    Ethan shook his head. "She was here earlier today. She came here once before when Lucas-" He swallowed hard remembering his Beta.

    "You're lying!"

    "No, I swear! She came down on here own. She wanted me to walk past you to make you think you're going crazy and seeing things. She unchained me and told me to run straight back here to fool you. It was all her idea!"

    "You expect us to believe that?" Roman scoffed rolling his eyes. "Why would you even listen if that were true?"

    "It's the truth! I asked her why she wanted to take you down," he said turning to me. "She said she had her own reasons. Then she promised me this whole pack and pack house if I did what she said. I don't know why I agreed, but I couldn't refuse. It was like I wasn't even able to."

    "No real Alpha is stupid enough to think I'd believe something like that. You'd be even dumber to actually do it, but to even think of using my mate as an excuse then murdering three of our she wolves? You must have lost your damn mind!

    "What?" Ethan was shocked. "I didn't kill anybody! All I did was spook you and ran back down here. I don't know anything about murdered she wolves!"

    "Enough!" I hollered. "No one gets away with killing my pack members." With that said, I swung the cleaver across his face again and again as he screamed out in pain until there was nothing but blood and brain matter splattered on the floor. Roman and Tony stood quietly watching as I stretched my full length and breathed heavily.

    After a moment, Tony spoke up. "Do you think there's any possibility he might've been telling the truth?" Both Roman and I looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Just hear me out before you chew me out. Something just doesn't add up with Elana. Between being untraceable with no history, those rogues coming after her, and now this. Maybe she's not really who we think she is."

    "There is no way. I would've noticed something by now," I stated matter of factly.

    "No offense, Alpha, but she's your mate. You're probably the last person who'd notice anything off about her."

    I sighed deeply trying to gather my thoughts. I had no doubts about Elana, but he brought up some good points that I couldn't deny. "What do you think, Roman?"

    "I'm not buying that for a second. She's a human being for crying out loud. She wouldn't be able to put anything past us. It's just not possible."

    I nodded. He made sense as well. It was too much for my brain to process after the day I just had. I desperately wanted to refuse to believe anything negative about Elana. I just wanted to be with her at that moment to bury my sorrow. "Get the guards to clean this up. We'll talk more about this later."