Word Count: 1828

~Kaan    

I pace back and forth, digging my hands into my hair until it hurts.

I'm murderous. I think I'm so highly strung I could slaughter anyone who gets in my way, which is dangerous, since now I need my wits about me more than ever.

My mate is gone. I'm practically in ruins.

"You must consider your options," a voice insists near me.

It takes a physical toll on me to zone back into the conversation. My parents are making the same claim to me as they did last night. I've only been back from being left on the side of the road, drugged, for a day at this point.

But there is no time to waste.

"I have," I grind out. "And my decision is final."

"This is a dangerous game," my father warns.

He's stressed for entirely different reasons to me. He leans back in his chair, smoking. Mother has too much on her own plate to scold him for the habit.

"I did not break the law. I never have," I say, cutting my pacing short to look at him. "Hunter came to my Pack on her own volition, and she married me...well, I would like to think on her own volition. The moment we married, she became a member of my Pack, absolving her of any crimes she may have committed elsewhere."

My parents have made it clear they want Hunter gone. They wanted me to marry her to settle issues at the border, and now that those issues have been resolved, they want the problem dealt with.

And to them, Hunter is a problem.

"You took a daughter away from her father. Who knows what he will do to get her back," father reminds me.

The sunlight comes in through the conservatory windows behind him, casting shadows over his face. I always thought he looked sinister, but now he looks pure evil.

"It's worth it. I haven't broken a law, he will have no support from his Pack." I realise I'm shouting, but I don't care.

No one takes my mate away from me. Not even her own family.

"It will not be worth the loss of life," mother adds.

"I will not annul this marriage. I will not give up on Hunter." My hands roll up into fists.

I don't think I would hit them. It's not like I they don't deserve it, but there is too much on the line. I just wish I had somewhere to take my anger out.

On Hunter's father's face would be preferrable.

"You're making a mistake, son."

"So be it." I throw my hands up. "I need her returned to me immediately. If they do not respond to my letter in three days, I'm going past their borders on a diplomatic trip, and I will not be leaving without her."

I cast my gaze to the glass table near me. The letter on it will be going into the fire at the earliest convenience. It is downright offensive, practically a declaration of war.

How dare Vinn demand I annul my marriage.

My mother stands. "I forbid it."

"You have no power. You haven't, for a long time," I snap back. I haven't spoken to my parents like this before, but consider what they have done recently, I don't feel like adhering to pleasantries.

"That is not true-"

I stand over my mother, glaring down at her. "I should kill you both for poisoning my wife, my mate."

My mothers eyes widen and my father starts coughing. I don't care any longer that I've given them enough information to destroy me, to destroy Hunter. Soon enough, none of it will matter.

"Mate?" Mother whispers.

"Oh...wow," Tay murmurs from behind me. She's been watching this interaction since I recieved the letter from Vinn and Hunter's father. There's so much she wants to say, but can't.

I know it's tearing her up having Hunter away like this.

Father stands now also, rage digging into his expression. "We haven't poisoned anyone. What a ridiculous notion."

"You've made it clear you want her gone, dead," I growl. "I'm sparing you this time, but next time, I will not be so generous."

Any protest coming from them is lost on me as I storm out the hallway. Tay follows closely on my heels, not wanting to stuck around to witnesses our parents wrath.

"Well done, brother. You did the right thing," Tay exclaims the moment we are out of earshot.

I turn to her, sweeping a hand through my hair. "You friend will be home soon."

Her amused smile dims at the reminder of Hunter and her predicament. She was furious when we woke after being drugged. She woke first, and I found her storming around the road, searching everywhere for Hunter despite knowing she had been taken.

"I hope so...I just hope they don't do anything horrible to her while she is there." Tay's fingers wind together anxiously as she rocks back and forth on her heels.

"If they do, terrible things will befall them," I mutter.

I'm trying not to think about what they are doing to her there. I'm trying not to think about Vinn, and how happy he must be to have him in his clutches.

I need to concentrate on getting her back. That's what matters now.

Movement up the hallway catches my attention. Azura stands, peeking around the door, blinking at me.

"Oh, Azura, you should go back to your room," Tay says abruptly.

Her dark eyes sweep to me, her brows drawing together. I have no doubt she overheard the commotion and is concerned for me. She wouldn't be down on the first floor, so close to my parents, if she wasn't.

"I'll be there in a moment," I assure her gently.

She nods once before she pads away, dead silent.

Tay folds her arms, glaring at her sister as she walks away. "You shouldn't be so nice to her."

"Isolating her only makes things worse," I mutter.

"She doesn't deserve your forgiveness," Tay insists. "She escaped normal punishment. She deserves to repent somehow."

I shake my head. "Tay..."

I understand why Tay feels the way she does. After what Azura did, a lot of forgiving was necessary, and she didn't find it as easy as I did.

"What if she is the one who has been poisoning-"

"Stop that thought, that's not fair," I cut her off, looking back to ensure my parents aren't listening in.

"It's just a theory." Tay backs away, giving me a sharp look. "Think about it."

***

~Hunter    

I stare out the window, my breaths fogging up the glass.

I forgot how miserable and barren this place is. The forests aren't lush, like in Kaan's Pack. Instead, the tree's are bare and the ground is hard.

Maybe that's why everyone here is so cold and resentful.

The door to the room opens slightly, a tentative head popping around to look at me.

"What do you want?" I snap, narrowing my eyes upon my brother.

My father unceremoniously threw me into this room over four hours ago. I used to be put here for punishment. It's just some dark, dingy room in the bowels of the estate. There's no furniture, just a single flat cushion for me to sit on.

Levi slides into the room, closing the door gently behind him.

"I've come to warn you."

"I know how this place works. I don't need warnings anymore," I mutter, turning my head away as I rest it on the window sill.

Levi sighs, stepping closer.

"I know you hate me, and there is nothing I can do about that now." He clears his throat. "But I ask you, please, cooperate."

I'm not sure why he insist on caring. He stands by all father's punishments for me, and then suffers from immense guilt after the fact. I've learnt not to rely on him...you can't rely on anyone who has had everything given to them their entire life.

"Or what?"

"Vinn has made it clear that he would rather kill you then let you go again." Levi crouches low, so we are on the same level.

I turn to face him, wondering what his true intentions are. "Then get me out of here. You have the power to."

"I can't go behind father's back like that?"

"Why not?" I ask. "Why not, when your inaction could cause my death?"

He runs a hand down his face, letting out a rough sigh. Despite being an Alpha in his own right, he shows no strength in both his constitution and physique.

"My Pack is small. As you know, it was once part of father's, and so I rely on him for everything," he exclaims desperately. "He can take from me what he has given."

"He doesn't have to know it was you that got me out of here. We can stage an escape."

He stands, backing off a step. "I...it's too risky."

"Can't you do one thing for me? Just this once." I scramble up. I want him to see me, to see how badly I need to get out of here.

But it will all be for nothing. I know my brother far too well.

"Let me think about it, alright." He backs away, his face contorting into different expressions every moment. Mostly, he looks indecisive, which is exactly who he is to the core.

I practically chase him across the room. "Vinn is going to marry me in three days. Three."

"He can't legally marry you until Kaan annuls your current union," Levi reminds me, looking back over his shoulder like someone else might be in the room with us.

Even if father caught us in here, he would blame me for distracting my brother, for turning him away from his true purpose as Alpha.

"Do you think father is telling the truth about Kaan? That he's picking his own Pack over me?" I ask softly, my stomach churning at the thought.

I don't believe Kaan would willingly annul our marriage, but what if he has no choice? What if he has to leave me behind for the greater good?

I mean, do I really want him to sacrifice his Pack for me?

Levi shakes his head, loosening a breath. "No, I suspect he's lying. Nothing has come from Kaan yet, and I doubt anything will."

"I need to get back to him," I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself.

If Kaan hasn't sent word back yet, maybe he is thinking this through properly.

"Give me some time, okay?" Levi heads to the door, pointing his finger at me. "Don't run yet. If you're caught, they will kill you."

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