Chapter 65

(**Irina’s POV**)

After being introduced to the three female guards that were assigned to me by Sebastion, I step into the basement. One guard, Melissa, stayed at the top of the stairs. While the other two, Jodi and Frankie, followed closely behind me.

During the introductions were make I got the feeling that I will come to like all three women. Melissa is a short brunette with striking blue-green eyes. Her gentle smile is infectious. Jodi is a lanky blonde who I learned is Finn’s mate. She is a joker and has a way with words. Frankie is still a mystery to me. Her jet-black hair is cut short in a pixie cut with fiery red tips. I like her style.

I have low expectations for this meeting. Fiona is still in the grip of the spell that was put on her. I fear that nothing I say to her will get through. Monroe suggested I wait to have this little heart to heart until after we talk to the witches.

What if they don’t come? What if they come but can’t break the spell? There are too many what-ifs here.

I must try anyway.

Knowing that Fiona is the only person down here helps a little. The look of pure hatred she gives me when I step closer to her cell makes me sad. I know that the woman she used to be is still in there somewhere. What did Victor do to her?

“Why are you here, whore?” She growls at me.

“How long were you his captive?”

Fiona frowns at me. It is like she is confused by my words. I am showing no outward signs of aggression. She wants confrontation and I am not giving it to her.

“Why does someone like you want to know about my past? You gonna try to use it against me during your fight for MY mate?”

“Sebastion is his name.”

Her eyebrows drew together with another confused frown. “What are you talking about? His name is Sineen. He is my mate, not yours!”

Understanding dawns on me when she says this. She is seeing her true mate when she looks at mine. She isn’t seeing Sebastion at all. What about his scent?

“Does he smell the same as the last time you saw him?”

Again, with the confused frown. Then she growls at me and rushes the bars of the cell. Her long, thin arms reaching through the bars as she frantically tries to attack me. When she does this, Jodi and Frankie take a step forward. I wave them back as I step out of Fiona’s reach.

“How long were you in one of Vicktor’s cages?”

The second I say his name, a flash of recognition flashes through her beautiful eyes. She flinches as if I slapped her, then retreats further into the cell. All fight drained from her.

“How to you know that name?”

Without saying a word, I stick out my arm, then pull up the sleeve of my shirt. On my upper right arm, branded into my skin with silver, are the letters VT. Vicktor brands all his captives with his initials. Like a little boy would do to all his toys.

When Fiona sees this, her eyes go wide. Then a keening cry escapes her lips. Her eyes dart all around the room as if she is looking for Vicktor to step out from his hiding place. I can smell her fear. Which makes me feel horrible for her.

“He isn’t here, Fiona. You are safe here. He doesn’t know you are free yet.”

“You are one of his too?”

“I was until a few months ago. My mate saved me.”

“Where is Sineen? What did that monster do to my mate?”

Tears stream down her face as she looks around the room again. Her eyes flicker to Jodi and Frankie, then back to me. The pain in her eyes makes me want to hold her in my arms and tell her it will all be ok. I know that is a lie, but at the same time it can bring her comfort.

Before I can say anything more, Fiona turns her back on me to walk to the small cot in the cell. She lays down, then curls into the fetal position. The way she rocks herself lets me know that this conversation is over. She has retreated into her mind to avoid reality.

I have done that many times before when I was in my darkest depression. Between what Vicktor did, the separation from Sineen, and this spell, Fiona will have a long road ahead of her. One thing is certain to me now. Even after this spell is broken, I want to be there to support her in her recovery.

One survivor to another.

As I turn to leave the cells, she speaks again. “You better keep your filthy wolf's paws away from my mate. You are a whore, and I will kill you if I smell you on him again. This cage is only temporary, but your death will be final.”

I turn back to her as she finishes her rant. That glassy look is back in her eyes. Fiona has receded, and the spell is back in the forefront. Knowing it is a spell makes me less inclined to reach into the cell and rip her throat out.

“One day soon you will regret those words. I will not hurt you in any way, but you will realize that I am not your enemy.” I tell her, then I calmly turn on my heel and leave the basement. There is nothing more I can do for her now.

“Why does she want to kill you?” Frankie asks me as we reach the top of the basement stairs.

I can see by the look on Jodi’s face that she is curious as well. Unsure of what Sebastion has told his people, I hesitate to answer them. Deciding that the three of them deserve to know, I motion for Melissia to join us as I walk towards to mansion.

“She is under a spell, one that makes her see her mate when she looks at Sebastion.”

“Is that kind of thing really possible?” Jodi asks as we walk.

“It is with magic. I am learning more about witches all the time.”

“Why? Why would someone do that to her? What do they get out of it?” Frankie demands.

“That is a long story and I think it is time that Sebastion and I tell it.”

I say nothing more as we reach the mansion. When we get inside, I direct the three women to the study to wait for me. I need to talk to Sebastion before I tell them the full story of why someone would do this to Fiona. It isn’t about her at all. It is about me and Sebastion.

Vicktor surprised me this time.

He was never one to get in bed with a witch. He always told me that magic was a joke and not to be believed in. Now he is using it against Sebastion. The spell on Fiona must have been his fail-safe plan in case I turned against him.

Guess he isn’t as single-minded as I once thought he was. Yet, in a way, he still is. His goal to get Sebastion in a cage hasn’t changed it seems. That doesn’t surprise me at all. What makes me curious is who did he find to do the spell?

As far as I know Vicktor hasn’t been in contact with any witches. He must have had this planned since before he sent me on this mission. After all that I have learned over the last few months, I can’t say that I blame him for having a contingency plan in case something went wrong.

Fiona is that plan.

Now all I need to do is speak to Sebastion about what I learned from her. I also have a suspicion that Sineen is also a captive of Vicktor’s. He is most likely in the compound in France. The one he is at now. Is the witch who performed the spell on Fiona there with him, or is he still here in Oregon?

Would the witches that Monroe knows be able to track the spell back to the one who cast it? That is a good question to ask them if they come to help us. If they come at all.

(**Sebastion’s POV**)

While Irina is talking to Fiona, I give Monroe a tour of pack lands. We are standing by the lake as the sun sinks in the sky. Monroe lets out a low whistle, which makes me look over at him. He has his head tilted up to the sky with his eyes closed.

I have stood like that many times over the years just taking in the surrounding scenery. The way the fading sun casts rays of light through the trees around the lake. The sounds the birds make as they call out to each other. Then the sense of peace that settles over me as the day fades to night.

There is no place I would rather live than right here.

“Living in the city makes me long for what you have right here.”

“I can’t imagine living anywhere but here. I thought you and your rogues lived in the woods where I first met you.”

“Not at all, but we spend quite a lot of time there.”

“How many rogues follow you? There were so many there that night, but I have a feeling that many more follow you than what I saw.”

Monroe chuckles but says nothing. His silence tells me I am correct. We stand together in silence for a few more minutes before I look over my shoulder in the mansion's direction. Jace and Zasha are with Arianna and Callie, but I still want to go back.

“I never asked this question, but I am going to ask now. Why did Rayne reject you?”

His question takes me by surprise. It was random and unexpected. “When we first met, I was extremely determined to not find my mate. I was in love with my best friend, Gia. However, I went to the Mate Ball because my pack needed a Luna. My mother wanted to give more time to the council. She was already spread too thin with her Luna duties and those of the council.”

“You put your foot in your mouth after you met Rayne, didn’t you?”

His assessment of what happened that night is accurate. “Yes, I did. When I found her that day five years later, all I wanted to do was make her see I had changed. Then I realized I hadn’t really changed at all. I was still the same selfish man I was when I first met her. One that never deserved her in the first place.”

“What made you change your mind? Why did you decide to let her go?”

“I died.”

That got his attention. He turned to me with a surprised expression. “Well, now this story just got more interesting. Tell me more.”

I motion for him to join me at a nearby bench. Once we were seated, I heaved out a sigh. This was not a story I am proud of, but I tell him everything that happened. From the time I walked in on Gia to the day I died. When I was done telling him the story, I waited for his response.

And waited.

He made me wait so long that I thought he had nothing to say. I stood up to leave him alone when he reached out to stop me. When I turn to look at him, the look on his face surprises me. It looks like respect.

“You gave up your mate so she could have a life of her choosing. That takes balls.”

“I didn’t love her but wanted her for selfish reasons. I only went looking for her after I learned what my lover was really like. So, I walked away. The Moon Goddess knew we were never meant to be. I believe she put Rayne in my life to test me.”

“A test you failed.”

“Yes, but in a way, it was one I passed. My reward was Irina. She is everything I have ever wanted in my life. With her I can see my future.”

Monroe’s eyes clouded with emotion, but just as quickly, it faded. He cleared his throat, then stood up. “Treasure what you have. Now, let’s get back to your place so I can make those calls. Then if it is alright with you, I would like to stay until they arrive.”

“Do you only have your Beta and Gamma with you?”

“No, there are another ten outside your walls waiting for me. I will send them back to California.”

“As long as they abide by my pack rules, they can stay with you. There are two other empty houses that you and your group can use.”

“Will you pack get nervous with rogues living within their territory?”

“Not if I don’t tell them that is what you all are. You are their leader so I will just tell them that you are a visiting Alpha from an allied pack.”

Monroe nods his head, then walks off towards the mansion. I follow him after linking Finn, telling him that we will have more guests soon. I tell him to meet me in my study in an hour to go over what is happening.

My curiosity is getting to me, which makes me walk faster towards the house. I want to know what Irina found out when she talked to Fiona. Nothing bad happened during their meeting, or one of the guards would have notified me.

What kind of spell is Fiona under that makes her think I am her mate? I cling to the hope that Monroe can convince his witch friends to come help us. This will be the second time in a matter of months that I have required magical intervention.

I am not sure I enjoy relying on witches to solve problems I face. It is also the idea of owing other people favors for helping me. Rayne never asked for something in return for her help. Monroe hasn’t either. Yet. I will do whatever they ask if the occasion comes up.

That is what allies do for each other.

All I can hope for is the best in the end. Maybe this alliance with Monroe and his rogues will continue to be useful. One thing is still bothering me though. The council. What do they want with Monroe? My suspicions are that they want him for his power level.

He is the true Alpha King.