Page 38

The door opens and in walks Cameron. He steps to the side and Brooke comes into view. Anger takes over my body. How could somebody Jade trusted and cared for betray her in such a way? Brooke stands in the middle of the room, arms by her side, looking down at the floor.

I walk out from behind my desk and stand two feet in front of her. "Close the door." I hear the door close, but I don't take my eyes off of Brooke. Silence ensues for another moment, no one dares says a word. "Do you know why you are here, Ms. James?"

Brooke takes a quick glance up at me, but doesn't meet my eyes before she is back to looking at the intricately woven pattern of the carpet below. "No, Alpha." Her voice shakes as she answers me.

I nod to myself and take a few small steps closer. "Are you aware of what happened to the Luna Queen, Ms. James?" I question.

This time Brooke gives a slight nod of her head, "She was taken from the hospital, Alpha."

What she says sends a pain through my chest, but I just nod to myself again and take a few more steps closer. "That is correct. Guess what the funny thing about that is?"

Now that I'm closer, I can see that Brooke is shaking. "What, Alpha?" she whispers. I take a few more steps closer, so that I stand right before her.

I bend down until I'm her height and for the first time she looks at me, but still not directly in the eyes.

"You are the only one who keeps coming up when looking into who could have been on the inside.

You live in the Castle. You were close to Jade, to the files.

You could have been easily overlooked because no one, including myself, would've believed that a child would have turned against us. "

Brooke frowns and drops her eyebrows, she frantically starts looking around the room. "Alpha, I don't know what you are saying. Turned who against who?"

I smile small, "Sure you do, Brooke. So, what did they offer you, money? Or did they threaten you?" Brooke's eyes start watering, "Alpha, I have no idea what you mea-" I cut her off.

"What are their names? Where are they based? Huh?" I wait for a second with no response except Brooke breathing faster and faster. My volume starts to grow, "Come on, Brooke! Where did they take her?!"

Brooke's eyes flicker around the room, seeking help and empathy from the people scattered in my office. I growl and her eyes snap back to me, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" I roar, but this time Dalton leaks in, our power taking control of the room.

Brooke instantly falls down to here knees, showing her neck in submission. Dalton smirks in satisfaction. Brooke's body starts shaking violently and then the sobs echo in the silent room.

"Ryder." I look over to my father, who has an arm wound tightly around my mother. Mother glances up at him and then at my silver eyes. "Ryder, she's a child."

"This child is the reason Jade is gone, going through what we can only imagine.

Jade is missing the first days of her children's lives.

This child betrayed her pack and for what?

" I turn back to Brooke's shape on the floor, towering over her with my tall frame.

My eyes burn silver and the flames lick my skin from inside my body of pure rage and hatred.

I feel myself loosing control to Dalton. His thoughts becoming mine.

She did this. She hurt mate. She must pay.

Ryder, baby, can you hear me? It's Jade?'

I freeze dead in my tracks. All feelings rush out of me and I'm left there standing in disbelief.

'Ryder, please. Please hear me. Please, mi amor, please.'

I quickly jump back into a sane state of mind.

'Jade?! Oh my god! Are you okay? Where are you?

I love you!' Oh thank you, Goddess. She's alive.

Tears well up in my eyes and a smile spreads across my face.

'I love you too! I'm okay. I don't have long, they are drugging me.

I'm 250 miles North of the pack, that's all I know. I'm so sorry, Ryd-'

I think of how we were just now completing our 225 mile radius search. 'Don't apologize baby. That's more than enough. I'm coming for you. I love you. I'll see you soon.' I hear nothing else and call out for her. I hear nothing and I instantly deflate.

"What just happened?" Krista asks. "Jade. She mind-linked me. She's okay." Relieved faces and sighs are heard and saw all throughout the room. I can see that they want to ask more questions, but they refrain for the moment.

I look down and Brooke is still on the floor, except now she is down silently sobbing to herself.

I think about my mate. What she would say if she were here, what she would do.

I think of what she did with Tyler. As I stare at Brooke, I clench my jaw and take a deep breath. "Everyone, but Brooke, out. Now."

There is slight hesitation, but when I give them a look they are quick to continue out the door.

I stand in front of Brooke once again, "Stand up, now.

" She quickly scrambles to her feet and keeps her eyes on her feet.

"Look at me." She hesitates, but she slowly lifts her gaze to meet mine.

"Answer my questions honestly and I can help you.

Lie to me, things will be worse for you. "

I stare into her eyes to make sure the information sunk in, "Do you understand what I am saying?" She nods her head. I raise an eyebrow. Brooke's quick to clear her throat, "Yes, Alpha."

"Are you the person who has been leaking information to the rogue pack, Red Howlers?" Brooke stands still for a moment with her eyes closed tight, but then slowly nods her head. I clench my jaw.

"You told them about patrol, pack secrets, and about your Luna being in the hospital?" She repeats the same thing. I smother the anger building up inside of me and think of the light of my mate.

"Do you know where they are based?" She shakes her head no. "Then how did you talk to them?" Brooke wrings her fingers, "I was told to meet at a certain location every two weeks at the border."

As I look over this young girl, only one more question comes to my mind. I walk closer to her and she tilts her head back to look at me. "Brooke, tell me something. Why did you do this to us?"

Brooke looks down immediately, her mouth shut tightly, and her body starts shaking.

She's terrified. I look around, but no one is coming to my aide on this one.

I walk up to her and take the girl in my arms, embracing her.

She freezes at first, but then hugs me back and starts to cry.

I stroke her hair softly, "You can tell me. "

I hear her sniffle and she squeezes me tighter. "They kidnapped my parents and said they would kill them if I didn't help them."

I swing my pack over my shoulder, fastening the straps tightly. I look among the chosen pack members who I have trusted with the mission of saving the Queen of Werewolves, my mate. Everyone here is my family, my pack. A few faces stand out more so than others.

Jason.

Cameron.

Evan.

Sean.

Aaron.

Krista. Even though Jason and I strongly protested against it, she told us she was going to help save her sister.

Jason has also chosen select members from his pack to help us in the rescue of Jade.

I turn to my mother and father, who are standing in the front doorway of the castle, each carrying one of my children in their arms. I look them both in the eyes, the weight of the situation flowing from me to them.

They both nod, no words needed. They knew what was needed of them. Protect our pack, protect our family.

I walk closer and place gentle kisses on Mattathias and Atarah's foreheads.

"I'm going to bring her back Mimma, Mimmo.

" I look up to my mother who has tears in her eyes and offer her a half smile, which is all I can bring myself to do.

I lean forward and kiss her cheek. She sniffs and nods her head, "Be careful, my babies," and her eyes drift past me to, I assume, Krista.

I pat my father's shoulder and turn back around to the one's who have willingly risked their lives to save the love of my life.

I clear my throat, stand up straight, and pull back my shoulders.

"Thank you, everyone, who is here. Thank you, everyone, who is staying behind to keep the pack safe and running.

I am forever in your debt and will do my duty as your Alpha and King so long as I shall live to keep you safe and happy.

This has been an awful and unfortunate time for our family, our packs.

It's time we put an end to it. We are a pack! We are united! We are wolves!"

The whole crowd erupts into cheers and the ones who have shifted are howling.

I nod and walk through all the people who part a clear path for me. I stand at the front, raise my fist, and shout, "LET'S GO GET OUR QUEEN BACK!"