CHAPTER 84

Collins watched the Crier stare back at him accusingly and he had to stop himself from changing and going after her. He imagined ripping the growing cub from her alive.
But instead, he kept his smile in place.
He had to treat her well, he reminded himself.
She was his last card, if what he was beginning to suspect lately was true.
Elise, had gone missing in action. The bitch!
They had a plan, a perfect, smooth and easy to execute plan, if everyone played their role well.
But no, it seemed the bitch had stabbed him in the back but what had he expected from a sentimental fool blinded and hungry for revenge because of a useless emotion called love?
She had just one job; go back to the pack, convince Asher his mate was the mastermind of his doom, had killed his grandmother and was having an affair with his enemy. Everything was supposed to pan out after that.
Asher would have become devastated, knowing his mate carried a child but he couldn't ascertain if he was the father. The thought alone would have made weak any wolf.
But following what had happened, security around the pack would have tightened and there was no way Collins was going in blindfolded. That was were he needed the frigging bitch.
She was supposed to correspond with him as often as possible, tell him what was going on and when it was appropriate to kill Asher.
But she had gone off and refused every attempt to make contact.
If he didn't know better, he would think she finally found redemption and was doing what was right by siding with Asher but he knew her more than that.
She was too vindictive.
"Hello Luna," he called to Shana tauntingly.
Calling her 'Luna' triggered a form of sad reaction from her which he loved to see. It was about the only thing he could say to her these days that made any difference. Other times, she just stared like she wasn't really there.
"The air smells so fresh and clean. It's a good weather for the baby. Would you take a walk with me?," he asked with his smile in place.
"The air became polluted as soon as you showed yourself," Shana thought to herself.
She hated the way the words rolled off his tongue, like they were best friends or lovers in the eighteenth century who were courting.
She hated Collins so much. Her baby kicked in agreement.
"No thank you. I've a bit of the morning sickness. Maybe some other time."
"A shame. Maybe I would invite my Luna to tag along," he said and turned away.
"My condolences to her," Shana said.
Collins heard her but refrained from giving a comeback, it was what she wanted.
He was so angry and lost in his thoughts of retributions against the Crier and her plaguing mate that he didn't notice the wolf until she almost knocked him off his feet.
And as soon as he regained his balance, he sent her a slap that sent her sprawling to the ground before him.
"How dare you!"
"I'm sorry Alpha," she whispered through her bloodied lips, her head lowered. He couldn't see much of her face, and her head was covered.
She was probably one of the Omegas working the gardens, as her nails were encrusted with dirt. But he could not remember ever seeing her before.
Maybe he was too blinded by his hatred and he needed an outlet, or just maybe it was him just being himself, but Collins felt a need to punish the little wolf.
He beckoned to the nearest guard with a move of his head.
"I want her....,"
"Just like they say, all cruelty springs from weakness," Shana interrupted before he could finish giving his order.
He clenched his fists, stopping himself from leaping up the window to throttle her.
"What did you say Luna?," he asked turning and walking back to her.
"I stated an observation. I see I've spiked your interests.The strong wants to protect but the weak ones only prey on those defenseless. I've observed it helps to bolster their fragile ego," she replied with a sweet smile.
Collins' eyes darkened in rage but he released a mirthless laugh. It was either that or blood would flow. "You have any more observation where that came from?"
"No Alpha," she said the 'Alpha' like it was a curse. "I'm afraid I don't make it a habit of socializing with the weak, not to talk of knowing all about how they think or behave. The little I know is from spending time with you here."
"I must admit, you are prickly today Luna. It's not like you've ever been the best company but you usually are not so rude."
"Forgive me Alpha. I wouldn't say rude, just direct," she replied in a dry tone.
"All is forgiven Luna. It must be the hormones and I can't hold against you what the unclaimed and fatherless thing you carry in your womb is doing to you."
On hearing those words, the wolf who had pumped into Collin head jerked up to look at Shana. But no one noticed her reaction.
Shana had paled. Her lips trembled, betraying her hurt.
Collins had twisted a hot knife into her heart with those words and he knew it. His eyes lit up triumphantly as he watched her struggle to hold in her emotions.
Good.
The Crier should know her place.
"No comebacks?," he asked with glee.
Then he left, his moment of victory making him forget all about the wolf he was ready to punish just moments ago.
Shana had achieved what she set out to do; rescue the wolf. Something about her had called out to Shana. But she had done it at her own detriment.
Collins had opened up a wound which she knew would never heal. But at least, she had tried to cover it with her numbness.
"You are not fatherless," she said holding her hand over her stomach, her head bowed and she failed to see the wolf staring at her with interest.
And relief.
★★★★★★★★★★
Just like he had done everyday for the past few weeks, Mark forced himself to step over the threshold of Asher's house.
He took deep, calming breathes. The quietness around him made him want to turn and just leave-afterall, he had not made any progress so far- but he forced himself to take one step after another as he tried to locate his housekeeper.
Just like Armando had told him, he had done all he could to make Elise believe he was on her side and that whatever she was up to,she could confide in him. He was yet to have any luck so far as the woman was as hard as nail. She was not convinced and God knew he was trying his best.
"You can continue to stay on here as long as you like but I won't have you barge in here and dictate to me how I run my pack!"
The bellowing was followed by a heavy clap, like palm hitting a hard surface.
Mark could guess the surface receiving the battering was Asher's oak desk but he didn't understand what had pissed him off so bad.
In the past weeks, he had moved on like nothing happened. He devoted himself to harnessing more and more money than he would ever need and for the first time in his life, more of the pack had taken an interest in him and he was reciprocating. By helping them.
One could say some believed he had paid for his mother's sins by going through the same crimes she committed. All in all, he was no longer hated among his people and the pack Council finally think he was worthy for the first time.
There were still a few that would remain loyal to the memory of the late Alpha and would never like him but their opinions no longer made much of a difference.
But the fascinating thing about it all was how Asher tolerated them.
Mark had expected him to be happy about the whole development. At least, it was what he always wanted-to be accepted-even if he never admitted it. Instead, he indulged them with the tolerance a mother had for her toddler and his actions showed them all he knew they were just putting him on a pedestal.
It wasn't the best reaction the Council wanted but who were they to say anything against him?
Despite his dark moods, no one would fault his leadership so far. Asher was making changes, a lot of them.
And he had started by getting involved in the lives of those on the territory. Before, they were just a group of wolves that chose to remain within the territory. It was just about the land but now, he saw more, and he knew them more. And they were getting to realize he was more than just a bastard and the Moon goddess had chosen him well.
Just the week before, he had disbanded the high and mighty 'Council'.
There had been outrage and uproar and the temporary love which they had showed Asher-it had been pity in Mark's opinion- had turned to hate but Asher wasn't fazed.
He had told them all he cared about was the people, not some old men trying so hard to feel relevant.
They had called his bluff, daring him to carry off leading the pack without their 'faultless' counsel and he had told them to go to hell. And he had thrown it in their face how one of them had betrayed the pack.
The Alpha had then declared that if there was ever going to be another Council, it was going to be of men that merited it.
It was all a worthy course.
It should have brought Asher peace and some degree of happiness but if Mark knew anything about the friend he had lost, it was that Asher had lost the ability to be happy.
And nothing could make him whole again.
"You can't tell me you are so cynical and insensitive not to care about one of your own," Mark heard the answering bellow to Asher's statement.
It was Cole, the wolf out for vengeance but could not get it without help, help which Asher wasn't ready to give.
"At least I care more than someone I know who is here lazing around with a woman while his people need him," Asher yelled back.
Mark heard a humorless laugh follow the statement before Cole's reply. "You don't think I know that? I would cut my limbs to get all the help I need for my people's freedom. I'm their hope and I'm not going into the lion's den without help in a stupid act of heroism. But you know what's really stupid? It's you 'lazing' around while your woman is out there, going through whatever hell Collins has designed for her because your stupid ass is too pompous to think."
"Uh-oh! Now, he's done it," Mark muttered to himself and simultaneously, he heard Asher's howl, followed by a crashing sound.
Then more crashing followed.
Mark prayed they won't end up crashing the drinks cabinet. It was his favourite thing about Asher's study.
He opened the door and went in, knowing fully well there was no hope of separating them without him breaking a bone or two, maybe even miss a teeth.
The drinks cabinet was safe-thank God- but the whole room was a mess already and they both had death in their eyes.
Now, there was no way in hell he was even going to try to separate them.
So he stood back and watched them pound away at each other.
He had seen Asher fight before and he was a pretty mean fighter. But he was well matched with the other big and angry wolf.
"Let me know when you are done," he said as he went to the drinks cabinet and poured himself a drink.
When they finally noticed his presence in the room, the fight gradually died down.
"To friendship," he said raising his glass in a mocking toast as they both stared at him angrily but they said nothing, only moving far away from each other like the other person was a plague.
"Care to talk about what is going on here?," he asked with his gaze directed at Cole. He still found it difficult to hold Asher's gaze. Call it guilt or whatever.
"Mila is gone. Been gone for days," Cole said feelingly. "And this prick here says she's a grown woman who can come and go as she likes."