Page 88 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

Chapter 44

Alpha Brax was already waiting at the edge of the clearing where they had set up their camp when Jackson walked up to it. Being too far from Layla was already messing with him, but he steeled himself against it despite Cain’s objections. He had to be strong enough to do what needed to be done.

Brax’s gaze lowered to his leg and widened when he looked back up at him. Brax was never one to look him in the eye. Out of all the Alphas, he was the least interested in breaking the rules.

“I’d heard you were already back on your feet but I didn’t really believe them,” Brax said.

“It’s been a crazy few days,” he answered.

Brax was an ally, but they had no interactions except the official ones.

“What happened, Brax?”

“To be honest, I’m still not sure. I woke up one night, and this witch was in my room. I still don’t know if she was real because she passed all my safeguards without triggering any alerts.”

“She was real,” he answered as he looked over the camp.

Most of the wolves were probably sleeping on pallets under the stars, but a few tents had been set up, probably for the wounded. They could have helped them all at the hospital if he could trust that the witch wouldn’t take control of them again.

“She’s powerful, Your Highness,” Brax started. “How could she control all of us so easily?”

Revenge was a powerful motivator, but he didn’t say that to Brax.

“I’m going to find her, and we’ll find out. Did she say anything to you?”

“When I woke up, I was in a dark room and already bound. She waited until the silver had weakened me to start her spell. She didn’t bother telling me why she was doing this to us.”

There was a weak groan from one of the tents and a lot of pain in the air. His pack had been lucky that Layla had been around, or they would all have been in the same situation. Even Brax seemed weaker than he usually was.

“Are they recovering?” he asked.

“Not as well as you, but they’re hanging in there. Your doctors were kind enough to give us some healing potions. We might be out of your hair in a day or two.”

“I’d say take as long as you need, but it’s dangerous to be out here. It was a big spell, so I’m hoping the witch is too weak to attack again now, but I don’t want you to risk it.”

She seemed to be getting desperate, and that wouldn’t stop until she took Layla and the baby from him. He’d had enough people die in the crossfire.

“I’ve had to ask the Circle to help me with the wards around my territory, but we’re going to head somewhere else.”

Maybe the wards wouldn’t work. But again, he kept that information to himself. All he had were assumptions that the wards had failed because of him, but he prayed to the Goddess that it was true. He hoped Brax would be safe wherever he went, but anywhere else was much safer than in the forest.

He hoped they wouldn’t have to be away from their home for too long. If he got things right, the witch would die before she was strong enough to attack anyone else.

He was ready to head out when he saw Micah and some of his warriors walking back into the camp with Brax’s men. They all lowered their heads before Micah spoke.

“We didn’t find any tracks or scents to follow,” Micah reported.

Brax growled and turned away. His frustration was evident.

“If I had been the only one to see it, I would have assumed the witch had messed with my mind and I was seeing things,” Brax said. “But a red wolf was standing right in this spot.”

“Did it threaten you?”

He had no idea why Rebecca would show herself in the first place when she was a master at staying hidden. She had to have a plan.

“No. It seemed to be just observing. I didn’t sense any danger, but I wish it had stuck around to help us. Do you know how rare red wolves are?”

“How would it have helped you?” he asked.

---