The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

- ENRIQUE -

The next was a devastated mate who had felt the pack-link break and had gone into labour earlier than she should have. The worst time for someone to learn they have lost their mate. She had already known he was gone.

I won't forget the look in her eyes as she clutched her baby daughter, asking me why he died.

I hit send, sending the plans I want put in place to secure any future attacks on the power lines to Jose, who would get me the supplies needed to create a barrier around them with some parts that needed to be made to keep them accessible when needed and ready for me. I will have to work with the electrician on that as soon as they are ready and the current wiring is all fixed.

'Elena, how is she?'

'Same as she was twenty minutes ago, Alpha.

'I get it, I answer through gritted teeth.

'Sorry, Alpha. I know you're worried, but we are doing what we can and I spoke to her sister. Her mother will be flying out soon. She is the blessed wolf. She is a healer!'

I see...

'As long as that helps her. Rhea, has she woken?'

'No, Alpha, she hasn't.

'Make sure security is around her. She has been poisoned and we don't know the purpose of what he did to her is and what it could mean!

'Understood, Alpha,' Doctor Elena answers.

I can do nothing but f**k up... My emotions are strangling me and this fucking car suddenly feels too tight.

"Stop the car," I say to Diego, my eyes blazing.

Diego brings the car to a sudden stop and I get out, running my fingers through my hair. Once again, I haven't been able to do anything for her. Once again, it is her family who can help her, not me.

I twist my hands in my hair, yanking at the roots as I crouch on the ground, trying not to scream in rage.

When will I fulfil my vow to be a good alpha?

I touch my neck, the mark tender, yet I can feel it's healed almost fully, but I still haven't looked at it and I won't until she awakens.

An image of my hands buried inside of her, covered in blood, flashes before my eyes, and I let out a roar of rage and anguish. My power surging around me, my head pounding. I failed her too.

My eyes blaze as my roar rings through the air. I hang my hand, feeling guilty and empty. Her mother will be able to help her. Then if I'm not needed there, I will make myself useful elsewhere.

Or am I simply being a coward? My wolf stirs almost as if agreeing with that, and I scoff, looking around. I should be in mind- linking range.

'Carlos, we're getting guests. Kataleya's mother is on her way and I'm not sure who else, but make sure they are comfortable when they arrive!'

'Yes, Alpha, won't you return by then?'

'I have things to do. I don't know, I reply, clenching my jaw.

'Ok...

'Don't fuck this shit up.' I cut the mind-link and direct Diego to my next destination.

"Alpha, are you sure?"

"Yeah, I am. How many have we had come through?" I ask. I had been on my way elsewhere when I was alerted that more chupacabras had tried to come through.

"Two have tried. We killed them and we had help to move the pillars for the barrier underwater already."

The waves are restless tonight too, crashing the shore as if angry. For a moment, I'm distracted by them before I turn back towards the man.

"How?"

"Today, actually. During the ceremony, the boy who came with the foreigners, he can... teleport or something of the sort. He would touch the pillars and then they were gone. One of our divers confirmed he's taken them all to the tear." Ahren Rossi...

"Impressive." I glance at the ones that lay to the side. "He must have reached his limit."

"I don't think so. He suddenly had to go somewhere and promised he'd return, but he's not here..."

"Doesn't matter. I'll deal with this first thing in the morning," I say, looking at the design for the barriers. "Have the team here at dawn, I will overlook and help with assembling the barrier. "Yes, Alpha!"

We head out again and I mind-link Antonio. 'Did the crawler speak after I left?'

'No, Mi Rey, no matter what the witch tried!'

"They can speak... I will try something myself. What are you doing?"

'Keeping watch over the crawler, Mi Rey!'

'Alright. And Haala, has she been brought in for questioning?'

'Yes, but she has not been questioned yet. The foreign witch and the Deimos Alpha are arguing. It became quite bad.'

I raise an eyebrow. 'Right... Then, if they are done, let the witches know I will be the one to question Haala. I will be there soon and if I am disobeyed...' I leave my threat hanging.

'Understood, Mi Rey!

'Benigno, watch Haala.

I am far out, but unlike the standard mind-link where I would be out of range to mind-link other pack members, the guardsmen can hear me regardless of distance.

I'm still fucking pissed they lied to me, and I will get to the bottom of that, but this is more important right now. 'Yes, Mi Rey!

"Back to the packhouse," I say to Diego, who instantly changes direction, heading back towards pack grounds. That's when a thought comes to me. "Diego." "Yes, Alpha?"

"That compass that can track magic. Where did you get it?"

"I won it, Alpha, I think I mentioned that."

"Yeah, but not where or from who, I don't f*****g care if the means were illegal. I want the answer." He's silent, and that only makes my irritation rise. "My patience is non-existent, Diego, don't fuck with me."

"Alpha, I won it at a bar in Fajardo where I have gone when on business sometimes. The man who I began a game of cards with had his face covered, but that's abnormal. Not everyone wants to be known. Well, he himself wagered the compass forward." "What else? Was he a human or maybe a fucking werewolf? You couldn't f*****g tell?" I ask, my aura surging as I force him to submit to my Alpha command.

"I can't remember, it's as if... I don't know. I do think magic was used to disguise or hide him, but I feel he would have been werewolf because I wouldn't play with anyone else..." he sounds truthful and he isn't trying to deny the answer despite sounding uncertain.

"I want the security footage from the club, the date and the name as well as all other fucking info on it, and you will have that shit for me by noon tomorrow. Am I f*****g clear?"

"Yes, Alpha,and I am sorry. I did not mean to hide anything from you."

"And I want that compass again. You will get it back when this shit is sorted."

"Y-yes..." he shuffles around in his pocket before he holds it out to me. I take it, turning it in my fingers.

He said this thing helps locate sources of magic... would the Ash Stone class as magic?

There's only one way to find out.

The moment we are on pack territory again I instantly head inside, torn between questioning Haala first or giving in and go see Mi Reina...

I settle on Haala and head to where she is being held in a cell, surrounded by a powerful barrier created by one of the witches, no doubt.

"Hello again," I say as I drop onto the chair that sits against the wall outside her cell.

"Mi Rey. Why am I held here?" she asks, her face pale and hostile.

"I think you fucking know why, so why don't you start speaking the full fucking truth?"

"I have never not spoken-"

I slam my foot against the bars, making the clanging sound of metal ring through the corridor, and the crawler begins shrieking again. "Enough lies! I came to you and asked you questions, and you lied!"

"I can't lie to you, you are the Rey Carmesi! I answered honestly!"

I stand up, my eyes burning as I advance towards the bars. "Did you? You said I need the Ash Stone to control them so that if I do not tame them, they can destroy my world."

"Correct and you do, but what I said was that without it, you are not as strong as you can be. They are not completely at your mercy until you are stronger than them. The Ash Stone brings you into your true self and that-" "I know how witches work. You fucking twist your words." I snarl.

She flinches and shakes her head. "I am not so foolish to do so. I know what you are capable of. I did not mislead you. When you find the Ash Stone, you will understand what I mean." She bows her head, and I frown. True... she didn't exactly say that. The one who said I will owe them a debt was Hugo...

... The first part is your oath as you step in as The Crimson King... but the latter was to unbind your guardsmen who could be the strongest of allies or the deadliest... You do not, and they are coming. You managed to awaken them without the Ash Stone, and you will be indebted to them until you find it.'

I look sharply at Haala, my heart racing. Hugo said it as clear as f*****g day that without it I'm indebted to them. Did he put that in my head to lead me wrongly? Raihana's words from earlier also replay in my mind.

I glance down the dark hall to where I can see the glow of the cell where we put the crawler. "Antonio, get me Hugo now."