Haunted by the Mysterious Alpha

CHAPTER 15

Leia’s POV.

“...I won’t let history repeat itself. You’re not coming with us!”

Calix’s words cut through my heart like a two-edged sword.

I watched him take the men with him, and they left for the hamlet of Cathena, leaving me behind.

Crying has never been my thing, but as soon as they left, I hurried to my room, screamed my heart out and lashed out on a few furniture. And then panting, I realized I can actually take up matters in my hands.

My cousin, Calix, had instructed the few men left behind to keep an eye on me– but it is I who had my eyes on them few minutes later as I sneaked out of my room and tiptoed toward the underground of the castle.

Unlike Calix who was only five years old when this castle and Tyr were attacked by Alpha Thane’s men and we were relocated to Nirian, I was ten years old. I know this castle better than him and the lycans he has assigned to keep watch over me.

Panting, I glanced at the long passage at the two lycan guards approaching and ducked. As soon as they’d passed, I stepped out from my hiding and continued to the postern gates.

The postern gates is a small gate on the wall of Tyr castle with a hidden passage, it interconnects the castle directly to the outside world; somewhere around the forest of Tyr.

Although I know the castle of Tyr like the back of my hands, I do not know much about the forest before me. I regretted not coming with a map.

From walking to running, I navigated the forest and soon appeared at the mountain that bordered Tyr. Clutching tightly my bow, I paused to catch a breath and when I looked up the sun was scorching, heralding the approach of midday.

I bolted again and soon arrived at the Mugo forest; I could tell by the tall mahogany trees which towered over me as I ran past.

Soon, my throat burned from thirst and luckily my ears picked up the soft rushing sound of water. Keeping my breath steady, I walked to the overhanging foliage where the sound was coming from and my gaze settled on a brook.

Quickly, I drank to my heart’s content and washed my face. Refilled and refreshed, I set out to complete my journey. For a moment, all I could see as I ran through the forest was Calix’s face bleeding ; injured by Alpha Thane’s men. I know he wouldn’t admit it, but he still needed my help– I was his best archer– his third eye.

But the more I kept running, the more I felt I was drifting away from Cathena– or have I missed my way? Halting in my tracks, I glanced behind and studied the parameter of landscape I’d just passed, according to my calculations, I should be in Cathena’s hamlet by now.

Oh, sh*t...and the evening sun dipped over the horizon. Why do I regret leaving Tyr and the castle?

There’s no going back, the earlier I find Calix and the men, the earlier we can go back home. Taking a deep breath, I pressed on and what I saw next confirmed I arrived late– well late into the bloodshed which must have taken place in this hamlet hours ago.

There were lifeless mutilated bodies of werewolves and my cousin’s men(lycans) and there was a flood of crimson as Cathena’s hamlet stood in total desolation.

A howl filled the air. “Calix!” I quickly recognized that as my cousin’s voice. I bolted into the forest before me, veering through the trees and emerged on a riverbank. There’s no sign of Calix or the rest of our men, but my gaze settled on a shredded piece of cloth. I stepped closer, picked it up and quickly noted that was from Calix’s cloak.

Dread settled on the pits of my stomach. Fear crawled over my body and prickled my skin. “Calix?!” I called, but there was no response.

Cursing under my breath, I ran back into the forest and scouted over leaves and stones; that was when I heard it for the first time, the groans of a man.

Curiosity spilled over me and I halted in my tracks as I strived to find out where that was coming from. Could it be from one of my cousin’s men? I tried using the mindlink but it was not connecting.

I followed the groan but found no one. It seemed whosoever it is, has noticed of my presence and gone into hiding. My gaze settling on the blood on the floor, I lowered to a squat, touched it and , and smelled it.

It belongs to a werewolf!

Before I could react, he appeared behind me and snatched my bow from my hands– he was incredibly fast. And I stared into a pool of the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen, but he was bleeding profusely from a gash on his chest and his shoulders.

He snatched my bow from my hands and tossed it away, and then I realized he had a knife to my neck. Gasping, he stepped back, staggered and collapsed on the floor.

With unsure steps, I crossed over to him, checked and he was still breathing..but with the way he was bleeding, he would be dead in a matter of minutes. I glanced at the sky and it was full-blown nighttime.

I needed to get out of here.

Retrieving my bow, I straightened up from the floor and turned to leave, but my thoughts can’t get over the unconscious man behind me.

“Drat!” I flung around and darted to his side. I sought for a way to stop the bleeding.

* * * *

Calix’s POV.

“Has anyone seen Leia?” I asked and anxiety mirrored in the eyes of the men with me, especially my beta.

Han gasped. “But that’s true, I haven’t set my eyes on Leia ever since we returned from the Hamlet. It is very unlikely of her, Leia would always come out to welcome us whenever we’re back from an expedition,” he said and together, we glanced at the castle. “Do you think she's still upset with you?”

Dragging a breath, I moved and headed back inside the castle, footsteps echoed behind me and I knew it was my beta. Seconds later, I arrived at her room’s door, paused, and knocked.

“Hello, Leia. We’re back!” I voiced and waited. “Are you in there?” No response, I knocked again. “Leia?”

Panic bloomed in my chest as an icy cold calm washed through me. Cursing under my breath, I rammed myself into the door and it flung open.

I took in the broken and flipped over chairs and table, and her clothes littered about the place..but there was no sign of Leia.

“My lord?”

“Alert the guards. Summon the guards at the castle’s gates, I want to have a word with them!”

“Yes, my lord.”

Han left and I proceeded to her washroom and closet-–there was no sign of her. Uttering profanity, I headed to the throne room as the guards from the gates gathered.

“Did any of you see Leia leaving the castle?” I asked. The men glanced at each other and shook their heads.

“No, my lord,” one of them answered.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“We are sure, my lord,” the one who earlier answered replied again. “We haven't seen her approach the gates today.”

“Is anything the problem?” another asked.

“I can’t find Leia. She’s not in her room either,” I said and dragged a breath. “Meeting is dismissed. Return to your duty post and be on the lookout for her.”

As they dispersed, my gaze settled on Mr. Westley and my beta at the entrance of the room, they strode to meet me. “I have asked the servants and the guards, no one has seen Leia since morning. They believed she was asleep in her room hence, they didn't want to bother her,” Han explained.

“Have you alerted the guards?”

“Yes, they’re currently scouting the castle for her,” he replied.

My hands clenched into fists as I fought against the urge throwing a punch in the air. It’s all my fault, I should never have left her behind. I should have let her tag along with the men now she's missing!

Hours later, after the guards have turned over the castle and there’s still no sign of Leia, it dawned on me she was not behind the four walls of this castle. How possible is that since the guards at the gates didn't see her leaving?

Quickly, I hurried to the study room, brought out the architectural plan of the castle, and placed it on the table. Earnestly, I ran my fingers on the piece and found it. “Damn it!”

“What's it?” Han asked and I glanced up at him.

“I think she left the castle via the postern gates,” I replied.

We hurried to the underground segment of the castle, walked past the lonely passage and saw the gates open. “Drat! I knew it!” I cursed under my breath. “Gather the men, we leave now!”

Han stepped forward. “Allow me, my lord. Let me take the men and go after Leia. Your mate needs you, stay back and keep an eye on her.”

He made sense. I watched him and the men assemble in the courtyard, they shifted and proceeded out of the castle. I watched them from the rooftop and then retired inside the castle. To the sickbay, to the sight of my mate still unconscious.