A Wolf's Duty (48 page)

She nodded. “So Travis was
the brother that died?”

“Yes and Tobias would have
died with him if all had gone to according to my father’s plan. But
things didn’t work out that way as you’re aware. I lured them and a
group of friends to a secluded place on the pretence of a hunting
trip and my father arranged for hunters to be waiting. Travis was
killed but Tobias managed to get away, his friends protected him
until they were back among the clans and safe and so Tobias is
alive and well to this day.”

“You want to kill my
Tobias?”

“I don’t want it to come
to that?”

So you don’t
think you could win against him in an honest fight
basically.
“What exactly do you think I can
do to take Tobias’ crown from him and give it to you? And what
exactly makes you think that I’m going to do it?”
When it could end up with you killing
him.

“You have an amazing
ability Alex, I saw what you did to Lucinda. I was there. You
forced her to submit to you against her will. I want you to do that
to other members of the clan. When enough members of the clans have
submitted to me, then I’ll be able to gain the throne.”

“Even if I agreed to do
that, which by the way I don’t, those people wouldn’t have wanted
to submit so that can’t count for anything.”

“You might not want to
submit in a fight but when faced with the prospect of death then
I’m sure you’ll do it. It’s how things work among my people, the
act itself is enough.”

“Fine, let’s
say that the act itself is enough, why would I do that? Tobias is
my mate and I think he’s going to make a great King, why would I do
anything that isn’t in his best interest?”
Not to mention that I can’t control that power unless I’m
genuinely scared for my life. There’s no need to tell you that
though,
she grinned,
don’t want you going all wolfie on me now do we?

“All people have a
price.”

“You think that you can
buy me? There’s not enough money in the world that can make me go
against Tobias, he’s done everything for me and I wouldn’t betray
his trust for anything.”

“I had a feeling you might
say something like that and that’s why I never had any intention of
offering you money to do this. What I meant by price was how much
you’re willing to suffer for him before you cave and agree to what
I want.”

“What are you talking
about?”

He stroked the
cheek that he had slapped in his rage, the action surprisingly
gentle before he struck again injuring the already sore cheek. The
pain washed over her, rippling outwards as it began to fade. A
stinging in her mouth told her she had accidentally bit down when
his hand had met her cheek.
Dumb Alex.
That was really dumb. You’d think you’d have learnt by now when
someone gets angry enough to resort to violence bite down hard
before the hand hits so you don’t cut your cheek.
She admonished before turning her head to the side
and spitting the blood in her mouth out onto the floor near his
feet.

“You took that hit
surprisingly well,” Elijah remarked, his curiosity piqued by her
calm reaction to a hit that would normally have gotten him swift
compliance.

“Been taking them for
years.” She grinned defiantly, anger overcoming the
self-preservation instinct she had spent years honing whilst living
with Fred. “I’d have to have gotten good by now.”

“So a few simple hits
aren’t going agreement from you then?”

“You’re going to have to
do a lot better than that if you want me to betray Tobias. He
wouldn’t hand me over that quickly.”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t, but
there’s something we need to take care of before we proceed any
further.” He withdrew a long syringe from his jacket pocket,
grabbing her arm hard, her frantic struggles barely registering.
“We don’t want those friends of yours coming to your aid now do
we?” The needle entered her arm easily, its contents emptied into
her body.

“Now I know that all
people have a certain tolerance for pain, yours seems to be a
little higher than I’d expected, but I’m sure that I’ll be able to
locate it soon enough. Now Alex, should we see how much your body
can tolerate before you give into what I want?”

Her eyes
widened at the fanatical grin now on his face, her body tense as it
awaited the blow. The anticipated hit never arrived as he threw her
body easily across the room. The air left her lungs in a single
breath as her back hit the wall.
Hurry
Tobias, please hurry, I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold out for
long if he’s going to be like this.

Chapter Forty
Three

“What’s going on here?”
Thomas’ booming voice filled the tense silence as he entered the
audience chamber, Yvonne not far behind. The presence of the King
seemed to temporarily abate the tense situation as everyone relaxed
slightly. “First I find that my estate has been gripped by some
sort of madness and then upon further investigation I discover that
my son looks as though he’s preparing to fight his Council.” His
eyes scanned the room again taking in the blood spattered on the
floor as it dripped from the injured guards. “Maybe he’s already
fought. I’d like an explanation. Any volunteers?”

“I’d also like to know
what exactly is going on here,” Yvonne inserted, her eyes wandering
over the bloody frame of her son.

“Your majesties, thank god
you’re here,” Samuel gushed, leaving the huddled crowd of council
members to make his way to the King’s side. “The Prince is being
unreasonable. There is no talking to him and he refuses to see
sense.”

“We’re only doing what we
think is in the best interests of our people,” Adam added, moving
to stand at Samuel’s side.

“Tobias what’s the meaning
of this?” Thomas demanded.

Watching the play of
emotions on her son’s face run from distant to pained and finally
to anger, Yvonne became increasingly concerned for his welfare. The
injuries on his body would easily heal, but she was sure there was
something more at hand. “Thomas,” she snapped. “Don’t be so hard on
him. Can’t you see that something is wrong? Look at his face. The
son we raised wouldn’t have started all this over nothing. Look at
him Thomas, something is very wrong.”

His father’s booming voice
and his mother’s astute observations were a distant concern as he
was finally able to reach his mate’s mind. The clear pain in the
few words she had spoke to him as she called for his help felt like
hot knives to his flesh, crippling in their intensity making him
want to howl in response to her pain. Pain blossomed in her body
spreading to his and any control he might have had vanished as rage
pounded through him. As anger pulsed through him his vision became
clouded with red, the desire to kill riding him hard and he did
roar then, loud and long to express his grief.

“Tobias what’s wrong?”
Yvonne demanded.

“My mate has been taken,
she’s being harmed at this very moment while idiots try to stop me
reaching her,” he snarled, glaring at Adam and Samuel as they stood
close to his father. “I’m going after her, don’t try to stand in my
way, things won’t end well for you,” he growled stepping
forward.

“Alexandria has been
taken?” Yvonne gasped, shocked at the reason for her son’s
anger.

Watching his cousin
cautiously as he moved closer to the door, Ryan nodded a response
to the Queen’s question.

“And you’ve stopped him
from leaving?” Thomas roared at the council members. “Move out of
the way, his mate is out there, he should be looking for
her!”

“But your majesty, our
people will suffer if something were to happen to the Prince. There
is no other heir, we can’t simply let him walk into the clutches of
the hunters. It’s our responsibility to all the clans to make sure
he lives to be King,” Adam responded, his tone adamant.

“My mate hasn’t been taken
by hunters,” he screamed, his wolf becoming increasingly agitated
with the lack of progress they were making.

We warned
them,
it snapped.
They were prepared and they chose not to listen, they brought
this upon themselves. Get rid of them.

“Who exactly has her
Tobias?” Yvonne inquired.

One last
chance,
he counselled himself. “The man who
attacked her when she was in England somehow managed to get into
the estate, he’s the one who has her. Now move out of the way, I’m
going to retrieve my mate.”

“He’s right, you shouldn’t
have held him up here when Alexandria was out there in harms way.
What would you have done if something were to happen to her? She’s
the Princess of our people now, her life is worth just as much as
the Prince’s, more even, what sort of King would he be with no
mate?” Thomas snapped, stepping closer to the council members as he
prepared himself to strike on his son’s behalf.

That’s exactly
what I thought father.

“Now you will move.” The
guards that filled the room looked anxiously between the council
members and Thomas. “I am your King and I gave you an order. Move!”
Bodies scattered out of the way as Thomas’ booming voice filled the
room.

“Thank you father.” Tobias
sped out of the room, his body transforming into its lupine form as
he sped down the corridors. His paws pounded against the stone
floor as he pushed his body harder needing the speed it could
provide. His sensitive nose was bombarded with a wealth of scents
in this form and he struggled to filter out the numerous smells
trying to focus on finding the one belonging to his
mate.

Her scent is
so faint. I can barely make it out,
he
groaned, struggling to follow the weak trail she had left
behind.
Don’t worry dearest, I’m coming. I
hunted across continents to find you, this will be simple in
comparison.

*****

The low sound
of whispers entering her mind pulled her from the fringes of
unconsciousness though, as she became aware of the pain in her
body, she wished they had chosen to stay silent. Her eyes remained
closed as she took stock of the injuries she had gained during
Elijah’s questioning.
Bastard,
she hissed.

Her fingers
curled slowly and pain bloomed in her.
Probably broke a few fingers.
She
groaned, remembering the malicious look on her tormentors face as
he had bent the digits backward until she had screamed in agony.
Her toes were next and she smiled as they curled easily without
harming her. Her ankles rotated slowly and the smile turned to a
grimace as pain returned.
Twisted.
Bending her legs as the knee she gritted her teeth
against the agonising pain that the simple movement brought before
letting her legs fall weakly back against the floor.
Smart bastard. Made sure I couldn’t run
away.
Her arms felt heavy as she lifted
them from the floor but aside from a slight throbbing they seemed
to be in working order and she used them to gently trail over her
ribs, wincing as pain again erupted within her.
Bruised ribs, maybe one or two cracked ones. I’ll
live,
her mind muttered defiantly before
she opened her eyes noting the red liquid coating her
fingers.
The blood probably isn’t such a
good thing though.

She found
herself staring intently at the ceiling before her mind was flooded
with the clambering of whispers trying to gain her
attention.
Could you guys be quiet for a
minute, I’m trying to think,
she groaned
before realisation dawned on her.
You’re
back. I can hear you again. I thought he drugged me again. What’s
going on?

You’re
hurt.

Yes, I ache
all over.

We couldn’t
hear you.

I know, I
couldn’t hear you either. I was drugged.
The image of Elijah tearing Sean’s heart from his chest
flitted though her mind and she fought the urge to throw up.
Can you help me?

Yes, yes,
we’ll take care of those who hurt you,
the
voices chanted.

No, I don’t
need him taken care of I just need to get out of here, the drugs
might just have worn off but if he manages to inject me again, I’ll
be defenceless. I know Tobias is on his way. I’ve just got to get
out of here. Preferably without being seen so it’ll be longer
before Elijah comes looking for me.

Do you want us
to heal you?

She pondered
the question remembering all the other occasions she had been
healed using her ability.
No, if you try
to heal me then I’ll have to be unconscious and that’ll mean I’m
vulnerable. If he comes back and sees it he could just inject me
again and he’ll probably keep a closer eye on me. This is our only
chance. I’ve got to get away before he comes back.

We understand.
Escape is the top priority.

Yes, now lets
see what we’ve got here.
Closing her eyes
she allowed the whispers to flood her mind, giving them full rein.
A moment passed before she could get a sense of her surroundings
with the plants that surrounded the large building. Though smaller
than the royal estate, her prison was still much bigger than the
houses she was used to.
Stupid bastard
brought me somewhere surrounded by trees. You have got to love that
these wolves like to be surrounded by forests, especially when
you’re trying to escape.
The ivy that grew
up the walls of the building told her that there were bars on her
window, while the grass that grew around the building whispered
that there was no one outside who would try to stop her
escape.