Chapter 52
CARSON For the next few hours, I have been busy making sure we are secure within the pack. For the last ten minutes, I sent out a pack link telling all pack members we were in lockdown until we learned more about the attack. Some were relieved, but a few had questions that wanted answers I couldn’t give them. “I will announce when I know more,” I said through the link. “I don’t expect anyone to work or train for the next few days.” “Alpha,” someone spoke up through the link. “We understand. If there is anything any of us can do to help, we will. People lost loved ones and experienced pain. Many want revenge for what happened.” I felt for them. I truly did. But revenge wasn’t the answer, not until we learned more. “I understand,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “Once we learn more, Beta Zain and I will tell you. I know you all want revenge, but that is not the answer. We need to figure out why we were targeted, and if they come back, we will be prepared and waiting. More patrols will follow, but that will be for the guards.” I took a breath and let it out. I wanted it to sink in what I said before continuing. “Now, be with your loved ones,” I said. “In a few days, I will announce to everyone and let you know what I find.” Before anyone could say anything, I closed the link and looked toward the door just as it opened. Zain looked around the corner and walked in. He closed the door and walked over to me. “I got the footage from the cells,” he said, giving me a hard look. “You’re not going to like what’s on it.” I had guessed as much. Knowing that Paul and the old gamma were up to something and vanished without a trace tells me more. Zain sat down and looked at me while he handed me the tape. “Jenny and you will have to see it,” he said. Keeping my eyes on him, I held the tape in my hand. “You watched it?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. Zain nodded at me. “I did,” he said, taking the seat and leaning back in his chair. “I wanted to make sure the tape wasn’t ruined, and it wasn’t. I wasn’t going to watch anymore until I saw what happened. I knew you needed to see it.” I gave him a nod, knowing there was no point in arguing with him. “We will wait for Jenny,” I said, sighing. “She shouldn’t be long.” Zain nodded but moved his head to the side. His eyes were on me. “Any news on Leah?” he asked. “Has Josh arrived yet?” “Lucian mind linked me before the pack link went out,” I said. “He told me she is resting. He will explain everything to her about our kind when she wakes and when Josh arrives.” Zain nodded, but I continued. “Josh hasn’t arrived yet,” I said. “But should be with them soon. He has been keeping me updated on his journey. He has taken the long way around, making sure no one is following him. He wants to know what is going on. I mentioned the tape from the cells, and he wants to see it, even Lucian.” “I don’t blame them,” Zain murmured. “All this because of what?” “That is the billion-dollar question,” I said, shrugging. “Paul’s views about Leah being here and what the old gamma has been sprouting since my father passed away make me wonder if they have been planning something for a long time.” 1 Zain frowned. “What do you mean?” he asked. “Nothing,” I said, making Lynx come closer. He had been quiet for the last few hours. I know he is missing and wants Leah, but he also wants to know what the hell is going on, like we all do. But the way he perked up when I told Zain that they could plan something, he seemed to change, which made him angrier. “Carson, spill,” Zain said, making me look at him. I let out a sigh and went to open my mouth, but the door opened, and Jenny walked in. I closed my mouth and looked at her. Her eyes met mine, and she looked defeated. “Sorry about that and for making you wait for so long,” she said. “It took me much longer to get the boys to settle.” I gave her a nod. I didn’t blame the boys for her being late. I had a hunch that they would be scared, especially knowing that their father wasn’t around. “It’s fine,” I said, looking toward Zain, who glared at me. A mind link opened from him. “We are not done,” he said. “We will discuss this when she goes. We can at least make a plan.” I said nothing but looked at him. I gave him a slight nod in agreement. “Shall we look at the tape?” I said, looking at them. Jenny nodded and walked over to me. I placed the tape in the TV behind me, which went straight to it. I pressed play while Jenny and Zain stood on either side of me. Lynx came closer and stared. I knew he would want to know what had happened. The video was mainly of Paul sitting and staring ahead. No one came to visit him. I fast forward to when the attack started and watched in slow motion as his face changed. His eyes move to the window and stare for a moment. Then, when he looked back, a sinister smile appeared. I felt my stomach churn and my anger rise. The way he looked, it was clear he knew about it happening. Lynx growled but said nothing. A few seconds later, two people run in, and we instantly know who it is—Jenny’s mum and the old gamma. They unlock the door. I watched Paul hug each of them. When they pulled back, you could tell they were talking. “Can we hear what they are saying?” Jenny whispered, her voice filled with anger. “There’s no sound,” Zain gritted out. I said nothing and kept watching. “I know what they said,” Lynx gritted out. “The old gamma told him they were after her. She will be dead soon.” My stomach dropped, knowing that they were on about Leah. They were still talking when someone came into view. My eyes widened. “A rogue,” I growled. “They are working with the rogues,” Jenny murmured, sounding like she was trying to let it sink in. My eyes stayed on the screen, watching their interaction, when a loud growl erupted through my head. “They are dead,” Lynx gritted out. “What did they say?” I growled. Lynx started pacing until he stopped. “They are not only after Leah,” he gritted out. “They are after our position.” What the hell? A loud growl erupted through me, making me stand up and make the chair fall back. Jenny and Zain moved back. We had difficulty controlling what was happening to us, and I knew it was happening to them too. I let out my alpha aura, making them bare their necks to me. “Alpha,” Jenny whimpered. “What is wrong?” Looking between them, I said nothing. I needed to calm down before I told them what was going on. Closing my eyes, I stared at Lynx. He was pissed, and so was I. They are not only after my mate but after my position. We will kill them. There is no coming back from what we saw and what Lynx could read from what they saying on the TV screen. The punishment for treason was death, and I was happily willing to do it. No one will come after what is mine, whether it’s my alpha title or mate. No one is above me. I’m the alpha.