Chapter 4 Sebastian
1730 Words
“Where’s Alex?” I asked his Beta, Carter, as we walked across the training grounds.
“Something about a meeting with a seller overseas. He sent me ahead of him.” Carter shrugged.
“Him and those books.” I grumbled, shaking my head.
“Exchange the word book for booze, make sense now?” Carter said in a mocking tone. I glared at him and Owen laughed hysterically.
“Something to add, Owen?” I snarled at him and he clamped his mouth shut.
“The patrol leader is over here.” Hudson said, breaking up our bickering. He nodded towards a tall, broad wolf with dark hair and green eyes.
“Eliot.” I nodded in greeting towards our veteran patrol leader.
“Sir.” Eliot bowed his head respectfully, “Let me show you what we found.” Eliot led us away from the training grounds and into the treeline which covered the security fence around the royal grounds.
“One of my guys was doing a standard patrol of the fence when he saw this.” Eliot said, pulling back a large branch and revealing a purposefully cut hole in the metal fence.
“How much time between the last patrol and this one?” I asked.
“Thirty minutes, as is standard.” Eliot answered.
“Have the trackers picked up on anything?” I asked while walking up to the hole.
“Yes, they found an unfamiliar scent and are still following it. But, the scent goes out of the grounds, not in.” Eliot explained and I felt my eyes widen slightly.
“Really?” I said, sounding surprised.
“How do they know the intruder didn’t come and go?” Owen asked.
“The trackers can pick up on multiple different scent trails from the same person along with how old each trial is. They only found one.” Eliot replied,
“Looks like they’re back.” Carter said, nodding behind me. I turned and saw a group of wolves running up towards the fence. Eliot pulled the fence back further so they could slip through. The leader shifted and bowed his head towards me,
“Your highness. We followed the trail into the Golden Woods. We lost it in the Camps.” The leader, Michaels, said.
The Camps were small cabins, cottages, and huts grouped together in small numbers inside the Golden Woods. They lived off the grid, usually without electricity or modern plumbing. The Camps were inhabited by other species who took refuge in our realm, members of the Redemption pack who preferred isolation, and older members of the royal pack enjoying their quiet retirement.
“Lost it?” I asked, sounding irritated.
“More like it was too clouded by other scents to be distinguished.” Michaels clarified.
“Did you try and pick it back up on the other side of the Camp?” I asked and Michaels nodded,
“Of course, the trail went cold. It could be that the person had help or that they live there.” Michaels theorized.
“But, I don’t understand why someone would cut their way out of the grounds instead of just using the gates?” Hudson mumbled, thinking aloud.
“He didn’t want to draw attention to himself?” Carter suggested.
“Maybe he stole something from the castle.” Owen said, looking at me.
“Maybe, it’s a good idea to consider, anyway. I’ll have the castle searched.” I nodded in agreement, “In the meantime, I want the fence secured and the patrols doubled. Everyone needs to be in sight of others to ensure the fence is completely covered, no blind spots.” I instructed Eliot who nodded,
“Right away, your highness.” He complied.
“Owen, get the guards to search the castle right away.” I said to my Beta who nodded and ran off quickly.
“Where’s Alex?” I asked Carter again, his eyes went black for a moment before he responded,
“He just got here.” I met Alex in front of the castle’s doors.
“Someone broke out?” Alex c****d an eyebrow at me.
“Seems so.”
“How does that make any sense?” Alex asked as we walked inside the castle together.
“Owen suggested that maybe they stole something.” I explained, “I’m having the guards search the castle now.”
“Good thinking. We should tell Mom and Dad, too. They know what’s inside the castle better than anyone.” Alex suggested and I agreed.
“We should check the royal jewels first.” Mother replied frantically after we filled her in. She stood up from her seat in the parlor room and rushed out of the room.
I followed after her as she hurried upstairs to the room that Alex and I will eventually share with our Luna. The royal jewels are already housed there, in a secured safe inside the closet. Only the current and past kings and queens know the combination. Mom tapped away at the screen and pressed her thumb into the fingerprint scanner. The safe door swung open and she confirmed that all of the jewels were still there.
“The jewels are all safe.” She said as we met Alex and Dad back in the parlor room.
“Information then?” Father asked, looking towards Alex and I.
“The only valuable information would be in our offices or the secured wing of the library.” Alex said,
“You should check anyway.” Father suggested.
After a thorough investigation, we concluded that nothing noticeable was taken. The search and extra patrols would continue until we found who was responsible and what their goal was.
“Did you tell Jazlyn about the Ball?” Alex asked me as we sat at the head of the table waiting for dinner.
“Should I have?” I asked, sipping at my beer.
“I haven’t told Bristol yet, either.” Alex went on like I hadn’t spoken.
“Are you going to?”
“It only seems right. Honestly, they should be attending the Ball, too.” Alex grunted, leaning back in his chair as the waiters brought out the food on silver trays.
“I can’t imagine that going well.” I snorted, eyeing up the plate I was served.
“We know they aren’t our mates. It would help out if they found theirs.” Alex shrugged.
“Help out?”
“Sure. If we find our mate and they find their mate, then no messy break up is required.” Alex said, picking up his knife and fork to cut the steak on his plate.
“Somehow I doubt it’ll be that simple.” I grumbled, sawing at my rare steak and watching as the bloody juices spilled out on the plate.
“The Ball is held here, it’s not like we can just lie to them, anyway.” Alex pointed out.
“We could try.” I grumbled.
“Sebastian Caspian Storm.” Our mother slapped me on the back of the head, sneaking into the dinning hallway unnoticed.
“Ouch!” I whined while Alex laughed at my expense.
“You will show more respect to that girl and to your future mate.” She chastised me while our dad pulled out a chair for her.
“Yes, mother.” I grumbled.
“Alexander is right, you two need to talk to those girls before the Ball and get them to attend as well. It’ll work out better for everyone.” Mom said,
“This is all going to come back to bite us in the ass, you know that, right?” I said in a low voice, stabbing at my food,
“Watch your mouth.” Mother snapped out her cloth napkin loudly as she scolds me.
“You’re really getting into it today, Ian.” Alex snorted at me, lazily eating his baked potato.
I groaned in frustration and shoved my chair away from the table, standing up.
“Not hungry?” Dad asked as I stomped away.
“Not anymore.” I snapped, pulling out my phone and punching Jazlyn’s contact.
“I’m here, baby.” Jazlyn's voice purred from the other side of my door.
I sighed and yanked it open, gulping as I saw her leaning sexily against the door jam. She was wearing a red crop top that exposed her flat stomach and pushed up her plump breasts, short jean shorts that hugged her round ass and hips, and black fishnet leggings that strained against her thick thighs. I licked my lips and motioned for her to come in, clearing away the lump in my throat and adjusting my pants.
“I’m glad you called.” She smiled, her high heeled pumps clicking against the hardwood floor of my bedroom.
“I have to tell you something.” I forced out.
“What’s that, my king?” She asked, leaning over the frame of my bed and giving me a perfect view of her breasts spilling out of her top.
“I’m attending the Ball this year and you shall as well.” I practically yelled at her, shouting it out as more of a demand than a request.
She nearly slipped off the bed frame, jolting upright at my order.
“Wh…what?” Her bottom lip quivered.
“My parents have requested that Alex and I look more persistently for our mate and the future Queen Luna. They’ve asked us to attend the Ball. Alex and I think it’ll be for the best if you and Bristol attend as well to search for your mates. It’ll just make things easier.” I regurgitated what my parents and brother said to me.
“What if we don’t find our mates?” She asked, walking towards me.
“Nothing then, I guess.” I shrugged.
“And until the Ball?” She pressed herself against me, running her hand through my hair.
“Business as usual.” I said, lowering my gaze to appreciate her body.
“I’ll just have to make sure you never forget me.” Jazlyn said in a low voice, shoving her hand down my sweatpants.
“Oh, baby.” I groaned and claimed her lips with mine.
- Writer
