Chapter 74

Sebastian

The drive to my office is silent. Miranda sits in the spot next to me, gazing out the window. She can’t bring herself to meet my gaze. I don’t blame her, though. The last twenty four hours has been a hellscape for her.

The company she has been made CEO of just had one of its privatized manufacturing factories burn to the ground with many of her employees dying from the blast. Not to mention that her son, who she just reconnected with, was snatched from her arms yet again and she couldn’t do anything to save him.

My heart and body ache for her. Miranda has been through so much and yet she perseveres every time. She’s honestly my North Star in all of this. I wish there was something that I could say to help calm her nerves.

As the country’s Alpha King, I am able to give a speech that can help put the country’s people at ease. With only a few simple words and my credibility behind me, the country knows that I can conquer any problem that comes our way.

When it comes to Miranda, though, I am unable to form a coherent sentence, to weave words together that can help her feel better. I fail in that aspect of our newfound relationship. I open my mouth to speak but no words come out. I sigh and turn away, glancing outside my car window.

“Sebastian?” Miranda’s voice lulls me back to her. I turn and put a soft smile on my face, my hand squeezing hers. “Can you promise me something?”

“Of course, my love, what is it?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.

“You need to be smart when playing with the Rogue King,” her tone is as serious as her expression. My nerves calm at the sight of her and I have to suppress any positive expression that itches my face so I don’t annoy her.

“I will,” I sigh in response.

“He’s playing some kind of sick game. You need to be smart and think ten moves ahead,” she turns her face away. I lean over and cup her cheek, bringing her eyes back to mine. Her expression softens. She pushes her cheek into my hand, shoulders relaxing as all of her pent up nerves leave her body.

“Miranda,” my voice is soft and soothing, “I will think twenty steps ahead for your sake.”

She nods and smiles, moving to kiss the palm of my hand. I look past her and out of the window.

Gamma patrol lines up along my building’s street. Guns and rifles are strapped to their bodies, masks pulled halfway up their face. The Gamma soldiers walk up and down the sidewalk, eyes scanning the busy streets.

“We don’t know who can trust,” I add, my gaze turning back to Miranda’s. Her posture straightens. My hand falls back to my lap. “A lot of the Rogue King’s messages have managed to slip through the border patrol as well as my own personal militia. We have a mole on the inside. Someone’s working for him…so be careful with what you do and say. You need to be smart as well, Miranda.”

Miranda nods and the car dips below the surface, descending into the dim lighting of the parking garage. I glance at my Beta through the rear view mirror, Miranda and I’s bodies gently moving forward and back into our seats when the car stops.

I get out and walk around the car, opening up the door for Miranda. She takes my hand and our fingers lace together. My Beta leans backward, heading poking into the back seat area.

“Sir, you have a security meeting with Deltas and Gammas in your office.”

“Right. I’ll see you up there after you park,” I close the door and guide Miranda to the elevator.

We step inside and I lean down, lips brushing against the tip of her ear.

“Stay close to me today. We need to be on high alert,” I pull away and look down at her. She nods and I snake my arm around her waist, attaching our hips.

We enter my office. Employees stand and bow their heads. Some of their eyes land on Miranda, sympathetic expressions overtaking their faces.

The Moonlit Labs explosion has been all over the news despite our best attempts to stop it from reaching the news. The public is in a panic. The revelation has made our lives so much more difficult.

I open my office door for Miranda and she slips through. I follow close behind and lock the door, turning to the officers that wait for us in the office.

“Good morning, sir,” one of the Delta officers says with a salute. I wave their salutes away and they sit down. I approach my desk and pull out my chair, sitting down. Miranda sits in the chair next to mine, an addition I added last night, and look at the officers.

“Last night, the Rogue King sent me a message. He has kidnapped my heir, Evan, through the help of Lily. Consider the ex-Silvertail leaders and Lily enemies of the state. Do not shoot on sight but capture instead,” I clear my throat and lean my elbows against the desk. “He also sent a message saying that he wants to see with me to give Evan back. I do not know what he wants in exchange for our son, but I cannot pass up this opportunity to get him back.”

“What if it’s a trap, sir?” One officer speaks up. My eyes move to him. “You can go, but let us put a tracker on you!”

“I agree. We need to take more precaution, though. You can have a weapon on your person just in case things go south.”

“Are we really entertaining the idea of sending our Alpha King alone to meet with him?” The highest ranking officer in the room speaks out. Everyone’s attention turns to him. “We can put a tracker on him, yes. We can send him with a weapon, yes. But we also need to send a special ops team with him! The best of the best!”

“No,” I shake my head. “That will only provoke the Rogue King more. We can’t risk that. He might end up killing both Evan and I in one go.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Miranda’s head snap to mine. Her brows are knitted together and she leans forward in her seat.

“You can’t go alone, Sebastian,” Miranda says, fully turning to me. “It’s a death sentence if you do. You need to be—”

“Smart?” I finish her sentence and look at her, frown on my face. “What do you think will happen if the Rogue King or any of his men spot the squad? Do you think he’ll drop Evan and run?”

“No,” Miranda’s face flushes. Her gaze flickers between me and the officers, “You can play both smart and safe. You can’t go in alone!”

“Miranda,” I groan, “I am the Alpha King. Whatever I say, goes. It is my call. Nobody else’s.”

Miranda pushes from her chair. She shakes her head at me, scoffing. Without saying another word, she heads towards the officer door. I stand and watch, unable to say a word as she vanishes from my sight.