Chapter 49

Sebastian

Leaving Miranda’s lab fills me with dread. I don’t know when I’m going to see her again. There are the times I see her at school, other times when she picks the kids up from my house, or when I pick Evan up from hers, but I don’t like the uncertainty after she told me to leave.

Her admission was shocking, to say the least. It placed a weight on my chest, leaving it hard to breathe. How could her family treat her so cruelly? Did they not realize that they had the future Alpha King’s wife in their home?

Future wife, my wolf growls, I like the sound of that.

I sigh and walk down the hallway towards the elevator, my Beta traveling close behind. The elevator doors open and I step inside, pressing the button to my office floor.

“Sir, the Deltas and Gammas you’ve called are gathered in your office,” My Beta informs me. I nod, not bothering to vocally respond, my mind still on Miranda.

I can’t even begin to imagine what Lily has made her do in the past. Despite all of the torment she’s gone through, Miranda still manages to be a shining light in a world that wants to snuff her. It’s admirable.

“Sir,” the Beta’s voice echoes in my ear. I blink, looking at him. He extends a hand, gesturing for me to exit the elevator.

Once the doors to my office open, I look up and force my face to feign indifference. I can’t show weakness, not to the Deltas and Gammas who will aid me in taking down the Rogue King.

“You better have something good for me,” I growl, glaring at the men in neat uniforms. They rise from their seats on the office couches, bowing their heads at me as I pass. I take my place at my desk, sitting in my chair.

“Sir, we were unable to trace the walkie-talkie to the figure you mentioned,” a Delta officer speaks out. His eyes are a dark blue with gold specks. “We did find the individual from the CCTV footage we sent you. He was captured trying to leave the country two days ago. We cannot confirm or deny if it was the figure from your home. He…he committed suicide. Cyanide tablet under his tooth.”

I look among the high-ranking officers. Their Adam’s apples bob up and down, gulping. I hold back my anger, feeling my body heat up with firey intensity.

“Is there anything else?” I ask.

“The equipment used materials that you can only find outside of our borders. We can confirm that it is from the Rogue King.” A Gamma officer speaks up.

I slam my fists against the desk. Everyone in the room flinch. They look among each other, their gazes averting mine any chance they can get. I stand from my seat and face the window.

“Useless! All of you!” I howl. “You have your thumbs stuck up your asses, don’t you?”

“Sir, if I may—”

“No! You’ve had enough chances and time to find the Rogue King’s spies!” I spin on my heel, spit flying from my mouth. They lean away from me, eyes wide from fear. “They have infiltrated our country! They’ve made a fool of your soldiers at the border and have made our spies look like dumbasses!” I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to calm myself down.

The room is silent. No one dares to break it.

I finally look up after a few moments, staring at the pathetic werewolves in my office.

“Do I need to do your jobs for you? Hm?” I ask.

“No, sir! We can try—”

“Try?!” I grab a paperweight from my desk and throw it at the wall. It leaves a circular dent, lodging itself into the wall from the force of my throw. “They found their way to my home! They’ve seen my children!”

“Sir,” a Delta takes advantage of my pause, “we have plenty of spies in the Rogue King’s camp! We are being fed information every day! We will have the upper hand soon enough!”

“Soon enough?! Is that all you can do? My family is at risk! The future of my country is at risk! I will not let dumb fucks like you ruin that!” My throat grows sore from yelling.

I point my finger at one of the Gammas. He immediately moves in front of me, pushing his chest up and into the air.

“Increase security around my house and my children’s school. Fortify the border and I swear if another spy comes through, it will be your head on the chopping block!”

“Yes sir!” He salutes, turning around and exiting the office.

I turn my attention to a Delta, my breathing ragged and short. He gulps and makes his way in front of me. I stare down at him, a snarl on my face.

“You run the special forces division, yes?” I ask.

“I do, yes.”

“I want two officers at the school and my home to ensure that the Gammas don’t fuck it up more than they already have,” I tower over him, eyes narrowing.

“Yes sir. I will order it immediately.” He gulps, inching backward.

“I’m not finished yet,” a loud growl emits from my throat, escaping out of my mouth. He steps back in front of me, holding his hat to his side. “I want an additional set of Deltas in front of Healer M’s lab. Follow her wherever she goes.”

I grab him by the collar of his shirt, tugging him forward. My head dips down, my face hovering over his. He quietly whimpers. My claws tear holes into his uniform.

“If she turns up with a single scratch on her, or if she loses even a single strand of hair on your watch, I will kill you myself. Go.” I growl in a low tone. I shove him away. The Delta scrambles out of my office, leaving the remaining officers inside. “Get out.”

I wave my hand to dismiss them. Everyone leaves the room but my Beta stays behind. I sit in my chair, leaning into it, trying to get my breathing, and anger, under control.

“You care for her, don’t you?” My Beta asks. I shoot a glare at him. “Miranda. You lo—”

“If you say another word, I will strip you of your Beta status and send you to prison,” I warn.

He nods, pursing his lips, and exits the office without muttering another word. The doors close and I exhale deeply, letting go of a breath that I’ve been holding inside.

You…you love Miranda… My wolf’s voice shocks my brain, a dull sensation forming behind my eyes.

“Be quiet!” I yell into the empty room.

My wolf laughs at me. Its laugh is raspy, clicking with every bump of sound.

You’ve fallen for your mate…you aren’t the first that it’s happened to.

“Miranda and I are better off as partners. We both know it. There are no feelings between us. Don’t read into things.”

Yet you’ve stationed guards at her door? Not to mention at your children’s school.

“They’re my children too…and she’s their mother. They deserve to have a mother in their lives.” I shout. I sigh, “even if our destiny is to be fated mates, our choices have led us astray. There’s nothing we can do to be mates.”