Wolf-less Omega Luna novel Chapter 64

Axel’s POV


When I couldn’t feel Alana’s heartbeat anymore, my brain went into overdrive. There was only one place where she could have been heading and if they had anything to do with this, or if even a single hair on her head went missing, they would all go down in flames.

My mind ran between Alistair and Derek, the Alpha of the pack Alana was heading to. We were not the best of friends so he would have been more than happy to have my mate in his pack and at his disposal.

I hated the fact that Alana was unconscious, in a vulnerable position, surrounded by strangers, and with me being so far away.

As soon as I crossed into the remains of what used to be MoonDay pack, I felt Alana’s consciousness back up but this time, she was in so much pain. Physical pain. So severe that even I could feel it.

Both Four and I lost it. It took over half of their guards on patrol to corner me and finally, the mention of Alana’s name to get me to put a temporary halt to my blood rage.

“We will take you to her but first we must make sure you aren’t a threat to us, understandably so,” the head guard gestured to his men lying left, right, and center from us with missing flesh and bones.

I growled a response and let them put a restriction on me only because Alana was involved.

“Your chains are not what’s holding me back right now. Just know that if anything starts to go south, I can easily snap out of these or I might choose to snap your necks with this same chain.” I revealed a grin when my message had gotten the full effect on the head guard and he looked like he was choking on his spit.

I let them lead the way, not putting up a fight anymore. The pain I felt from Alana through the mate bond was still there, but so was something else that made her relax. Happy? 

I didn’t know what it was but I muttered a silent plea to the Moon Goddess to let it remain. Prayed for it to distract her from the pain before I got to her, took her out of this place, and burnt what was left of it to the ground, for them as much as inflicting pain on Alana.

The head guard in front, two guards each forming a circle around me left, right, and back, motioned me through a huge double door that led to what I knew as their Alpha’s meeting room.

There he was, Derek, a snake in sheep’s clothing, smiling as though he just won a prize. He just did though, considering that he had me in chains in front of him and my mate in a cage somewhere within his pack, in pain.

Unbridled rage percolated from underneath me. Rage so thick and simmering that my skin was now a noticeable shade of red. I didn’t need to make my threats known. Derek knew what was coming for him.

“Where is she?” I asked as soon as he was within range. If I so wanted, I could strangle him before any of them would notice, but they still had Alana captive somewhere.

“Here I was, thinking you would say hi to an old friend. The first thing you ask about is something you happened to also steal from me?” He tsked and shook his head, a show of his disapproval.

Thing?  “Be careful what comes out of your mouth, Derek,” I warned.

He balanced himself more on what seemed to be his throne, reveling in the sight before him. Him having the upper hand to throw tantrums, me standing, looking helpless. 

What he must have missed was that the only helplessness I was in was being unable to break his windpipe at that very moment as I wished.

“Your bride,” he sneered. “Is safe. She’s only in a little pain,” he flicked his fingers like it was nothing. “But I think a reunion with a certain traitorous father should suffice for that. Don’t you think?”

“Let her go,” I said through gritted teeth.

He snapped his head to me, anger blinding his eyes, and in a second, he was right in front of me. I could count on one hand the number of people whom I had come to know who were taller than me. Only by a head was Derek not in that category.

If he was trying to be scary by standing toe-to-toe with me, it wasn’t fucking working.

“If you were in my position, Axel,” my name rolled off his tongue dipped in the venom he harbored for me for years. “Would you let her go?” His tone was serious.

“Why wouldn't I?”

His dark eyes squeezed shut and he clenched and unclenched his fists as if he was trying to hold himself back.

“You destroyed my pack. Left us in ruins. You see this,” he gestured around. “This is what we have become because of you and your monstrous father. Ridiculed to a mere south pack. We were the best, Axel, and you took that away from me in a twinkle of an eye.” He laughed a dry, humorless laugh. 

I stood unfazed. “Take the blame for what you did, Derek.”

“It’s. Alpha. Derek. To. You,” he spat.

“I didn’t take anything away from you,” I continued like I wasn’t just interrupted. “Your PLAN was what was destroyed. I didn't destroy your pack, you did. And trust me, I couldn’t even care less.”

He took a step back and looked me dead in the eye. “You’ve always talked too much. Maybe that was because you cared for no one other than yourself. But now, there is someone who will pay the price for your reckless actions.”

“Derek,” I warned. “Leave Alana out of this.” It came out as a growl.

He tipped his chin to me, proud that he for once had the upper hand in a situation. Something he was. Never. Ever. Lucky to experience when it came down to the both of us.

“Did you know she came to us?” He inhaled a lung full of air sharply, and he was fucking smiling. Obviously, this was the best thing that had happened to him in a very long while.

“Your puppet, Alistair, and his minions didn’t help?” I lifted an eyebrow.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He even made a show of it with his hands.

I didn’t have the time for games. Every second that passed with me being in here, Alana was being put through more pain and there was only so much either she or I could take.

“Let. Her. Go.”

“Not so easily,” he wiggled a finger in front of him.

I growled and locked eyes with him. If he wanted something, he was going to get it. Alana was more important than whatever squabble Derek wanted to hash out.

“What do you want in return for freeing Alana, Derek?” I finally asked.

His lips tilted into a mischievous smile. This was going to be a long talk. Derek always liked the sound of his own voice, and now I just gave him the floor to sing.