Alpha's Abused Mate.

Explosion.

"One second is enough to bring the upside down."

~too early next morning, palace~

Noah’s pov

I look behind me and take some deep breaths to get sure that Camilla is not following me and after I wait for some more seconds I turn and walk quickly to my father’s room which is thankfully on the floor under me.

The corridors and the stairs are empty, there is no one out here as it’s too early and most of them are still sleeping or getting ready for breakfast, like the b***h I call my ‘Luna’ for example. At least she is not bothering me because she is mad at me and is ignoring me nonstop from last that when we had that fight.

Like I care you know!

The only thing that matters me is my child because either I like it or not it’s mine as well and I have already taken some decisions, I am going to break up with her once she gives birth and I will raise it on my own or hopefully Cora is going to accept me back in the end and we will make it together!

I am done with Camilla, I hate her, I never needed her to need her now!

From now on I am going to change not only my ways but my life as well! This is the only thing that can bring Cora back and I am not planning to fail!

I am done with the stairs already and I turn left where my father’s room in at the end of the corridor. The closer I get the more nervous I become as he mind linked me lots of hours after midnight in the middle of the night and asked from me to go and meet him the sooner I could today.

I was ready to come to him that moment but he stopped me saying that I had to act casually in front of Camilla and after I thought about it I agreed as he is right. I don’t want her to get suspicious or curious, I have managed to get rid of her for now and I don’t want this to change so quickly.

Anyway, the only thing for sure is that my dad has something important to tell me, from his tone I understood that it is urgent and I am dying in agony.

After some seconds I am standing right in front of his door and I knock quickly not wanting to waste more time!

The door opens almost immediately and when my eyes land on my father’s I freeze.

His expression is dark yet terrifying, I have years to see him like this and this is horrifying!

“Come in!” he whispers through his teeth and opens the door widely leaving me space.

I get in and he closes the door behind me sighing heavily. I turn to him confused and he points the couch, his jaw his clenching, he has black circles under his eyes and I do as he wants without protesting, I just want to know what is happening.

I sit in agony and he joins me with his head lowered. I take his hand in mine for the first time after all these years and surprisingly he doesn’t pull it back, he allows me to hold him and…

This is like oxygen for me, he is…

Accept me?

Me?

After all these things I have done?

He had told me that he wants nothing to do with me, only the basics and this happened after I thought that Cora was dead. We always had our problems because I was a difficult boy, after we lost my mom I changed, I became cold, distant, easy to lose my temper and he needed me but I never allowed him to come close to me. He always had Leo on his side and me right opposite especially once I met Cora and I was behaving in the well known for all of us way.

And now this…

“Are you alright? What is wrong?” I ask him worried and he lifts his head up and looks at me in the eyes.

My heart stops beating for a second and Natan moves in my mind nervously, I think he is communicating with his wolf but he tells me nothing.

“Are you? What happened?” I ask again and he squeezes my hand forcing a weak smile.

“You are scaring me, do you know that?” I continue and he nods sadly.

“I am sorry but I had a difficult night, well, the last two days were a living hell and things got worse some hours ago…” he says and I narrow my eyes confused.

“About the note?” I ask shortly and he nods but not quite agreeing with me.

There is something else here…

“I want to talk to you and I want you to listen to me carefully even now, even for once! Deal?” he says and I sign in agreement.

“Good… So, what Cora told me about the note frustrated me very much, this is true and also remembering that night is killing me but what is terrifying me the most is that whoever is hiding behind the note has taken it way too far and what happened last night is the proof…”

“Is Cora alright? Did anything happen to her?” I cut him ready to jump up but he places his other free hand on my shoulder and stops me.

He is looking at me with pain and fear and I am more than certain that this has to do with Cora, my heart is aching in pain and I start shaking.

“Talk to me father! What happened?” I ask demandingly and he takes a deep breath tightening his hold around my hand.

“Cora is fine but she was very lucky. Someone tried to poison her but instead he managed to poison Natalie and Ivan!” he states and I gasp shocked.

I look right into his eyes trying to read his mind and get sure if he means it or not but the more I do the more I feel that he is saying the truth and this is…

My biggest nightmare!

Cora?!

Why would someone try to poison Cora?

She has done nothing to anyone and there is no need for proof about it!

“Excuse me… Do you mean it? Are you kidding me? Is she really alright?” I ask standing up and getting ready to go and find her but he grabs my elbow and makes me turn and look at him.

“I could have never lied about it and you know it! Sit down and listen to me because we are not done! There are more!” he says firmly and I nod defeated.

We sit down again and I sign for him to continue, I can’t wait anymore, I just want to go and see her with my own eyes!

“As I told you Ivan and Natalie got poisoned and Natalie’s incident happened the night Cora found the note. I don’t find it a coincidence and I know you understand what I mean. Someone managed to break in her and Ivan’s room and put poison in the already opened drinks hoping that Cora would drink from them! Ivan almost died yesterday and Natalie could have lost her pup, things are serious and this note was planned! I don’t know what is happening but she is in great danger, she took the right measures so you don’t have to worry about her but I have a bad feeling and so does Cora. You need to be careful as well and she told me to ask from you to go and take the file about Miles. She needs it the sooner and we both know that she is right for worrying so much! Go and bring the file here now, I have a bad feeling, it’s not safe to have it at the pack when we are missing. Bring it, give it to Cora, make sure she gets a copy of it and then both of you ask from Adrian to lock it in his coffers. Do you understand?”

I open my mouth widely thinking of his words and I nod immediately realizing that he has a big point here. I hadn’t thought of it since last day when I met Cora.

The file is not safe, he is right but at least the pack is about two hours away from here and I will be there quickly!

“Okay, I am leaving right now but what am I going to do with Camilla? She is going to notice that my car is missing and she will be stuck on me again.” I say running one hand on my hair and he narrows his eyes thinking of it for a while.

“Look what we are going to do…” he murmurs and I snap my head to him.

“Take my car and leave right now. I will take yours in a while and I will leave as well. If she notices that I ‘left first’ and you ‘came after me’ she won’t get so suspicious. I will tell Leo to know and lie to her about it, okay?” he says and I nod but when I stand up the next second an idea pops in my mind and I give him one last meaningful look.

“What is it?” he asks confused.

“Stay away from the palace for as long as I will be gone. Go at the city and once I am near I will call you to inform Cora, meet me and change the cars. I will take mine and I will come back first, you can come some time later…” I explain and he shakes his head pleased.

“Go and be careful as I told you. I am going to wait for a while and once Camilla goes for breakfast and she notices that my car is missing your brother will tell me to leave! Take my car’s keys and give me yours.” He says handing me the keys from the table next to us and I take mine from my pocket giving them to him.

“Thank you father! You have no idea what this means for me.” I say before I turn to leave and he taps my arm with a sympathetic smile.

“Don’t mention it… I am your father, I love you no matter what and this is never going to change…”

~about five hours later, palace, hospital~

Cora’s pov

“The results were more than clear Your Majesty! Only the drinks in your rooms were poisoned! The rests’ were clear!” one of the specialists tells me and hands me some papers with lists from all the results.

I stiffen next to Ivan and move them between us so he can have a look and the first list is for the drinks in my aunt’s room. Everything is clear and moreover she doesn’t have lots of bottles open…

Next is Rosana’s but for once more everything is normal and the same goes for Natalie and Mischa, my father, Owen and Chloe but…

Not for my previous room, the one I was alone before I move in with Ivan!

“f**k my life!” Ivan roars and the specialist, my aunt and Mischa jump up surprised.

“What is it?” my aunt asks and rushes to us from her seat.

“The drinks in my previous room were poisoned… It wasn’t only in our room!” I reply and she takes the papers from me speechless.

“I have already informed His Royal Highness about it and he has a copy of the lists. He needs to make a very careful research about it, this is way too serious. We removed the drinks from everyone’s rooms and we put new closed. You can drink from them only for once and then you will have to throw them away. Also, His Royal Highness is going to have you with him in all the meals as always and you will eat everything that has been carefully cooked from his private chefs. All this food is already tested as you know and you will have no problem.” The specialist says and I nod with my hands turning into fists.

The only thing that was missing was to be worried and in alert all the f*****g time because a bastard decided to mess with me and my family but right now my hands are tied up as I have no clue to who this person is.

“Wait until we find out!” Cynthia murmurs through her teeth furious and I groan in agreement.

“I won’t stop you from torturing him till death before we decide to kill him!” I state and she smirks devilishly.

“Alright, thank you very much! For anything new please inform us!” my aunt says turning to the specialist that bows smiling and gets out leaving us alone.

“And now how can we be so sure that it wasn’t only Cora the target but Ivan as well?” Mischa asks nervously and Ivan sighs in frustration.

“Maybe I was a target but not the first one. Cora was the number one and I was the second or just the collateral damage.” Ivan says angrily and I bite my lower lip in order not to talk as he is right and I have the same opinion with him.

“Or whoever did it wanted to harm Ivan in order to hurt and weaken Cora! Don’t forget that this happened after Cora left her room to be with him and the gossips about them and their relationship had already begun!” my aunt says and Mischa sighs worried while Ivan wraps his arms around me and kisses my cheek.

“Anyway, we’ll see… How is Natalie? Is she still overwhelmed?” I ask Mischa and he shakes his head in frustration.

She left hospital last night but she was way too worried and the doctors asked from her to stay in bed for two more days. I feel awful knowing that I am the reason she is suffering, she was poisoned because of me, she nearly lost her baby and now she is worried about Ivan and me. This is how caring she is and how much she loves us, she doesn’t think of herself but of us.

“She is better but she slept for only two hours and she woke up about three times in the meantime. Rosana and Jose are with her now.” He replies and Ivan tightens his hold around me in understanding.

He also feels guilty for Natalie. He wants to see her but right now neither of them can get up and from what the doctors told us Ivan will be able to leave hospital tomorrow morning so he is going to be able to visit her sooner than she would be.

“Bro, go and stay with her for a while. She needs you more than we do. In a while Sebastian, Cora, Chloe and Owen are going to come and see us, we won’t be alone!” Ivan says and I nod turning to my aunt.

“And you my Queen! You didn’t sleep all night and I know it! Go and take some rest or meet with Amanda to cheer you up a bit!” I say and she gets ready to protest but I growl and she rolls her eyes turning to Mischa defeated.

“Fine, you two won but I will come again in two hours from now to check on you and Cora come with me outside, I want us to talk about the guards and their program!” she says firmly not really giving me opportunity to deny and Ivan frees me smirking.

Mischa and my aunt kiss him as a goodbye and the three of us get out. Mischa leaves after one serious meaningful gaze from my aunt and I narrow my eyes suspiciously.

“Split it! You don’t want us to talk about the guards, right?” I ask in a low tone and the two guards behind me chuckle.

“Thanks guys! Great support…” I murmurs turning to them and they smile innocently.

This is the good thing between us. We know each other very well and we are a big family, I have no problem with them knowing and they want to know the more in order to help me in any case! 

Back to our topic now because Alena is not a very good actor and I know that something is bothering her…

“Yes?” I say impatiently and she clears her throat awkwardly.

NO!

I know this look!

“I have a very bad feeling and I want you to be careful! I feel it, something is going to happen and if anything happens to you I won’t bear it! I am going to ask from Ronald to put two more guards in the program and you will never stay alone for any reason! Am I clear?” she says and I blink my eyes shocked.

“Are you…” I start yelling but she places one hand on my mouth and the guys from behind clear their throats nervously.

I remove her hand and turn on my left, my father with Chloe, Owen and Cora are walking to us worried from the way they are watching us and I take a deep breath and turn again to my aunt that seems pleased now that I can’t say a thing with them present.

“…Kidding me?!” I end my phrase and she smirks caressing my cheek.

“Alena, don’t you think that you are pushing it? I am not a prisoner here!” I say through my teeth and she raises her eyebrows annoyed.

Pff…

Perfect, now she is mad at me for calling her Alena and not aunt!

“Cora Petrov Bowman close your mouth and don’t call me Alena again because I will kick your ass!” she whispers not really angry and I roll my eyes.

“And now I am a Bowman, right? I wasn’t one last time I checked on it, for you I was only a Petrov!” I speak back smirking and she slaps my arm playfully.

Alright, it’s a positive sign that she accepts that I am my father’s daughter now but her behavior is not helping me because in this way she helps me make sure that she and my father have a feeling and I am freaking out!

“Aunt!” Cora yells running to us and I kneel and take her in my arms while she is kissing my cheek.

“How are you baby?” I ask and my aunt kisses her next with my dad, brother and Chloe joining us.

“I am fine but I got sad… Is my uncle alright now? I want to see him!” she says with complaint and my aunt smiles pecking her cheek.

“We have a very caring yet sensitive princess here!” I murmur and Cora blushes shyly.

“Go to see your uncle with your parents sweetheart and we will be right there!” my dad says and I hand Cora to Owen with Chloe already walking to Ivan’s door and greeting the guards.

Owen follows her close behind and one of the guards close the door for him and I snap my head to my dad when he clears his throat and takes my aunt’s side obviously frustrated.

See?

I am right, these two are together but I can’t talk to them about it because they are going to kill me, not to mention that I will put them in a difficult position and this is the last thing I want right now.

“Are you two okay with each other?” he asks with meaning and I cross my hands in front of my chest staring at my aunt challengingly.

“Alena?” he says turning to her and she nods slowly with her eyes locked on mine.

Thanks God there is still some brain inside her head!

“We are perfectly fine Sebastian, we are just in tension about the whole situation, you know…” she states and he shakes his head in understanding.

“Good then… I am going in and we will be waiting for you baby!” my dad says, kisses my forehead and gets inside Ivan’s room leaving us ‘alone’.

“I think you should also go…” I murmur once the door is closed again and she growls but soon smirks teasingly and takes a step back.

“Alright, be a good girl and wait for your guards, they will here in some minutes!” she says playfully, turns and walks away.

I stay on my place observing her opening our distance and after she is ready to disappear from my view I get ready to get in Ivan’s room but my phone starts ringing and I take it off my jeans’ pocket.

Shit!

A message from Caleb!

He told me that Noah left some hours ago to go and take the file and he would leave as well!

I unlock the screen in hurry, then open the message and read it immediately.

‘Noah has the file and he is almost here. He wants to meet you next the lake some kilometers west of the city. I will be there with him!’

Yes! Thanks Goddess!

I put the phone back to my pocket and bite my lower lip thoughtfully.

I can’t go in Ivan’s room because then I will have to give explanations for leaving immediately so the best thing I have to do is leave right now without telling them. The lake is not that far anyway and I will take my car to go, I won’t be missing for too long and I will tell them later once I have the file!

“Guys, I will come back in a while, okay?” I say turning to the guards that nod smiling.

Alright, let’s go!

~some time later, somewhere close to the lake~

I slow down the car and I look around me inquisitively.

The small path I took is leading me close to the lake but it is in the forest and I can listen to no car or any other noise.

What on earth?

Did I drive so fast?

I stop the car at the right side of the small road and take my phone from the passenger’s seat.

I have been driving for about twenty minutes and no message or call from Caleb.

I deal his number quickly and start the call but he doesn’t reply no matter how many seconds I am waiting and I start getting worried.

“Maybe he is driving but why can’t he answer the call?” Cynthia murmurs in frustration and I get out of the car looking around me and trying to smell or listen to something but…

NOTHING!

What on earth is happening?

And I don’t even have Noah’s number to call him as Caleb is not answering!

I call him again and put the phone close to my ear while I am staring at the woods but for once more no answer from him and I get ready to get in the car to wait but I freeze when I think I catch a noise and I turn around.

I end the call and try to listen again and after a while I manage to listen to it while I spot some movement behind some trees about two hundred meters away from me.

It’s a car and…

It has to be in the same path with me but it is coming from the opposite direction.

I take some steps forward with my eyes never leaving the car and the closer it gets the more it reminds me of something, it’s…

Caleb’s!

I smile relieved and sigh.

This is why he wasn’t answering my call, because he was already close!

I take some more steps in enthusiasm and Cynthia murmurs something stiffening in my mind but I have no mind to show her any sign of interest.

The car stops suddenly after some meters and I narrow my eyes confused, there are still lots of trees between us as the car needs one more bend to come right in front of me and I start walking quickly in the middle of the sandy path.

What is wrong?

“Caleb?” I shout worried watching that the car has stopped and it is still on but I take no response.

“What the hell?” I whisper and stop turning on my right when I listen to a discreet noise from behind some bushes.

I get ready to walk closer to the bushes and check it out when I listen to an explosion and jump up terrified.

“CALEB!” I scream breathless and start running to the car watching its front on fire.

I think I am going to collapse, my heart is ready to explode in my chest and Cynthia is howling so loudly that it’s almost echoing. I am scared more than ever in my life and the more I get closer the more I feel the ground under my feet disappearing.

The driver’s door is open and there is a man’s figure lying unconscious on the ground with its clothes covered with blood but…

I freeze like a statue once I manage to distinguish it more clearly and I fall on my knees realizing that it’s not Caleb, it’s…

“NOAH!”

****************************

Hello dear friends!

I am back with the 20th chapter and I am getting sure that the chapters in this book are never going to end smoothly!

First of all please follow me if you want because in this way you will see some announcements I make (it is not easy to write notes in here all the time)...And moreover if you want you can go and find me in w*****d with the same name and photo.

I has also decided to give you my i********: so my name there is ria_kyriakidou. I have the same picture I have here! I guess it will be easier to communicate from there so think about it!

And now I am waiting for you comments about this chapter! I need to know your opinions!

What do you thing about it? What is going to happen next? What happened? What did just Caleb do? What do you think is happening?

And as always at this point I would like to thank you very much for your love, support, commends and impatience in order to read the chapters. I am trying my best so continue showing me how much you want more and commend and tell me your opinions and thoughts, or share the story.

This is it for now, see you again in the next chapter. Be safe and happy until next time! 

I love you all,

                                             Marie...