Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Chapter 119

Kael’s POV

Finally, he stepped aside. "Fine. Go and deal with the trespasser," he said. "But I will keep the witnesses safe, and I’ll make sure the castle remains quiet. Nobody needs to know what is happening until we understand the situation."

I gave him a brief nod. "Keep the Council’s letter secure. I don’t want anyone tampering with it."

"I will."

I pushed the door open and strode into the corridor.

The moment I stepped outside, I spotted Kieren approaching from the opposite end.

Behind him were several warriors, all dressed and prepared for the journey I had ordered earlier. Their horses were already waiting in the courtyard.

Kieren stopped when he saw me. "Alpha. The men are ready."

"Plans have changed."

His expression tightened. "What happened?"

"An enemy Alpha is inside our pack."

The warriors exchanged glances.

"Who?" Kieren asked.

"Alpha William of Nightbane."

That was all I needed to say.

Kieren’s posture changed, and he looked toward the courtyard. "Are we taking the main road?"

"We’re heading for Kavanagh Manor. I want to know exactly why he has entered my territory without permission."

"Understood."

I descended the steps, and one of the warriors immediately brought my horse forward.

I mounted without waiting for assistance, gripping the reins as the others climbed onto their own horses.

The sun was already sinking behind the distant hills, spreading a deep orange glow across the courtyard.

"Move out!" I ordered.

The gates opened, and we rode through them together.

The sound of hooves filled the road as we left the castle behind. I kept my attention fixed ahead, my thoughts moving between William’s unexpected arrival and the possibility that he had already discovered where Selena was being held.

I had no intention of allowing him to take her again.

Kieran rode close to my right. "If Alpha William is travelling with House Kavanagh, it means the two of them have been communicating."

"Obviously."

"Do you think he knows about the investigation?"

"He may know something. That doesn’t mean he knows everything."

"And if he does?"

"Then he’ll have to explain why he’s moving through my territory with a nobleman’s guards."

Kieren nodded.

We continued along the road, leaving the open countryside behind as the path narrowed into a forest.

The trees stood close together on either side, their branches casting long shadows across the ground.

I was beginning to calculate how long it would take us to reach the manor when something caught my attention.

A light. It was faint, floating somewhere between the trees ahead of us.

I raised my hand. "Stop."

The warriors immediately slowed their horses and came to a halt.

Kieren turned toward me. "What is it?"

I kept my eyes on the distant light. "Someone is coming."

The light moved slightly, disappearing behind a cluster of trees before reappearing farther along the path.

We waited.

At first, there was only the sound of the horses shifting beneath us. Then I heard something else.

A struggle... A muffled cry followed by the sound of something dragging across the ground.

My eyes narrowed as the noise grew louder. Then came the barking.

Several hounds were approaching, their snarls echoing through the forest. The warriors around me immediately reached for their weapons, preparing for whatever was about to emerge.

I remained where I was.

There was no reason to react before understanding what we were facing.

The lantern light grew brighter, and the first of the hounds came into view. Its head was lowered, and its teeth were exposed as it pulled against the leash.

Another followed. Then another.

The man holding them was enormous, with broad shoulders and a thick build.

He walked confidently along the path, controlling the animals with several ropes gathered in one hand.

But it was the person in front of him who caught my attention.

A smaller figure was trapped against his chest. His arm was wrapped tightly around the person’s neck, while his other hand held a knife against their throat.

My body went rigid. For one terrible moment, I thought it was Selena.

The shape of the figure, the way the head was lowered, and the man’s arm around her neck were enough to make my heart slam against my ribs.

My wolf lunged forward inside me. Selena...

I tightened my grip on the reins, fighting the sudden urge to charge straight at the man and tear him apart.

"Alpha?" Kieren’s voice came from beside me.

I didn’t answer.

The man continued walking until he noticed our group blocking the path. He slowed, then raised the head of the person he was holding, turning their face toward us.

It wasn’t Selena.

I stared at the unfamiliar face of a young woman.

For a moment, I couldn’t place her, although something about her features seemed familiar.

I was certain I had seen her before, perhaps somewhere in the castle or among the people who had gathered around Selena.

I studied her more carefully, trying to remember.

Then she saw me. Her eyes widened, and she struggled against the man’s grip.

"Alpha!" Her voice was strained, almost desperate.

I leaned forward slightly. "Who is she?" I demanded.

The man tightened his arm around her neck, making her wince. "One of mine," he answered.

"One of yours?"

He gave a humourless smile. "She was. But she’s Lord Hawthorne’s property now."

The knife shifted closer to her throat. "Stay where you are, Alpha. You and your men can pass without trouble, provided you don’t interfere. Otherwise, I’ll bleed her out right here."

A low growl escaped one of the warriors behind me.

Kieren moved closer, his eyes fixed on the woman. "Alpha," he whispered.

I glanced at him as he added, "I’ve seen her before."

"Where?"

"With Selena. She’s one of her friends."

My attention returned to the woman.

Kieren continued quietly, "She’s been missing for some time. I believe she’s the second in command of that revolution group."

I looked at her again.

The familiar face, the desperate call, and the fact that she had been missing all this while suddenly came together.

I knew who she was now.

She was the revolution group’s second in command.