Chapter 64

Sebastian

My house is in chaos. Strangers and employees fly by me, swerving away at the last second, their phones attached to their ears as they carry various items in their arms. A cart filled with white flowers darts by me, sending me stumbling backward. I catch myself and take a deep breath, heading towards the stairs.

I ascend the steps and stick to the side of the wall. The mansion is filled with the unfamiliar, and somewhat pungent, scent of lower level wolves with a few humans scattered in the mix. Their smell isn’t that repulsive, but it is simply nothing compared to Alphas, Betas, and Deltas.

I tilt my chin away, inhaling a deep breath of fresh air, when a voice catches my attention.

“My King!” I push through the last step of the staircase, rounding my way to the indoor balcony that overlooks the foyer. A Delta officer stands in the middle of the room, looking up at me with his formal cap tucked under his arm. I groan and wave my hand at him. I catch a glimpse of him scrambling towards the stairs before I turn away, aiming myself for my second floor study.

Initially, there wasn’t supposed to be access to the second floor of my home. I don’t use it much though, since Evan insists on sleeping on the first floor in the room next to mine, and offered it to be used as an extended area for people to place their bets.

Tables line up against the wall. They’re covered in black tablecloths and on top sit piles of papers, pens, and decorations. I swiftly make my entrance inside my office, in which I can find some semblance of solace, and sit at my desk. The Delta officer slips in behind me before the door can close. The noise from the outside world disappears.

“What is it?” I grunt, swiveling in my chair to face the officer.

He stands before me in his formal dress uniform, something that he is required to wear tonight and not during the day, his hat smushed between his bicep and chest. He shifts in his spot, eyes frenzied and focused on me. I raise an eyebrow, perplexed by his delay.

“Our office has received word that the Rogue King plans to make a move tonight,” his voice reeks of nervousness, his tone slightly faltering as if it’s about to collapse on itself. My back straightens. “We do not know what his move is, though, and are currently working towards figuring out what he plans on doing. We recommend cancelling tonight’s event, sir.”

Great. Just fucking great. This is exactly what I need tonight. The Rogue King has a knack for timing, truly a masterclass on ruining anything I plan to do for myself and Miranda.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and suck in a deep, ragged breath. My eyes close, enveloping my sight in darkness.

I can see the image of the Rogue King. He sits on his throne is made up of the bones of men and women he’s slaughtered. The environment is filled with animalistic screams and groans, people being treated as his slaves, and the air is filled with a low hanging smog. I’m knelt before him, guns aimed at my head, and he wears a wicked grin on his face. He tugs on a chain and Miranda spills out from behind his throne. A metal collar is locked around her neck, squeezing into her skin. My heart races. I tug against the chains of my own but cannot break free. The Rogue King brings Miranda onto his lap, bony fingers clasping her chin and bringing her in to a heated kiss.

I open my eyes and stare at the Delta officer. A hint of terror flashes across his eyes and I lean back into my seat.

No matter what, I cannot become him. I will not be known as an Alpha King who uses terror as a way to rule his people. I sit up and clear my throat, elbows set atop the wooden desk.

“The event has to go on,” my words cause his eyes to widen, but he says nothing. I continue, “place the event on high alert and double security here as well as Healer M’s home. We have to protect the children. Them, alongside Miranda, is top priority. Understood?”

The Delta nods. I nod in return, slowly exhaling. I gesture to the door, allowing him to leave, but just as he turns on his heel, a delivery man enters.

His face is obscured by a grand bouquet of flowers. The stems are black and its petals radiate a vibrant green color, fading into a saturated yellow the closer it is to the center of the flower. I lean to look around the bouquet, to see who is delivering the flowers, but the man’s face is covered by the brim of a black hat. He turn on his heel and escapes through the office door.

My attention tilts back to the flowers. Tucked inside the plant is a red card. I slowly reach inside, noticing thorns scattered along the black stems, and pluck the card from the flowers.

A thorn pierces into my skin and I wince. I stare at my finger, a single drop of blood oozing from the pricked hole. Goosebumps poke from my skin, covering my entire body. I flip the card over, opening it to a message scribbled in handwriting that is unmistakable as the Rogue King’s.

Good luck, Alpha King. Your event inspires us all.

The card crumbles underneath my touch. Unease settles into my bones. My heart pounds inside my chest and I instantly stand from the desk, my chair dropping to the floor with a bang. My gaze hardens into a glare. Swiping the sickly looking flowers from my desk, I storm out of my office.

“Stop that man!” I yell. Omegas and employees stop and stare at me, faces bewildered by my sudden demand. “Stop the delivery man this instance!”

The mansion erupts into a disorganized chaos. Employees drop whatever it is they hold in their hands and scurry around the space of the mansion. I spot the top of the Delta officer’s head from the indoor balcony, watching as he grabs two soldiers, sprinting towards the front door.

“Get him now!” I scream the words directly at him, watching as he escapes into the outside air.

“Sir!” My Beta appears at my side. I stare at him and shove the Rogue King’s bouquet of flowers into his arms. “What is this? What happened?!”

“The Rogue King sends his regards,” I spit the words out. I turn to the stairs and rush down, slicing the hoard in half with ease. Once I reach the bottom of the stairs, I bolt to the door and step into the unusually hot summer air.

From a distance, four figures tussle with each other, their screams and yells barely reaching my ears. I watch from the mansion entrance, hands on my hips. My Beta approaches my side, flowers still in his arms. I groan and snatch the bundle of nature from him, throwing the flowers to the ground and down the stairs.

“I want him isolated. I’ll question him tomorrow. This ends now.”