Wait! Werewolves Exist?
Chapter 57

DAVID STONE.

On my return to Lakeside, my son had asked me to join him in his office. I had stepped down from the Alpha position as soon as Jason had come of age to take it. I was disheartened with it. I had lost my love, the woman I’d imagined ruling beside me as my Luna. Mary had left me a note when she disappeared. It had said that she needed time and space to deal with the loss of our friends. It told me not to look for her. I did anyway, of course. I never found her, though. Now I know why she stayed so well hidden. She was keeping her from me.

I had left the night of the Moon Goddess ceremony, i had to get away for a few days to clear my head. I had seen Amber up at the Alpha cemetery. She had been scattering Mary’s ashes over her parents’ graves, and it took every ounce of self-control not to kill her there and then. I blamed her for Mary leaving. I had gone to the city to visit the house that they had lived in there. I had rented it after Amber had arrived in Lakeside. It was easy to replace once I knew where to look. I had still been able to pick up Mary’s scent in the house and just wanted to feel close to her again.

Jason cleared his throat to get my attention. “Sorry son, I was lost in my own thoughts. What were you saying?” I asked. He tapped his fingers impatiently on the desk. He told me that Amber was staying with us and filled me in on everything. I smiled at him. “Well done, son, you’ve clearly got everything under control.” I praised him. At least it won’t have all been for nothing. The whole reason that I’d had to do what I did was so that my son could become a powerful Alpha with Amber at his side. If they’d just agreed to betroth her to Jason like I wanted, then everything would have been different. They refused, saying that they wanted her to replace her true mate. They didn’t want to choose her future for her. Why couldn’t they just agree? I hadn’t wanted to do it, but they left me no choice. After they’d caught me trying to give her a potion to make her grow up believing that Jason was her mate, they were going to report me to the council. I would have been stripped of my beta rank. My sons lives would have been ruined. They left me no choice.

I had left Jason’s office and headed up to my room. I stopped outside her door for a second, I could hear her moving around inside. She was approaching the door, so I ducked around the corner. I saw her stick her head out and look around before going back in. That was odd, I thought. The door opened again, and she emerged holding a tray. She reached the top of the stairs before I managed to swallow my hatred of her enough to speak. I enjoyed the way she jumped. It crossed my mind that no one would know if I gave her a little push. It would look like a terrible accident. I smiled at the thought but didn’t give in to it. I had to what was best for my son.

AMBER.

There was something really creepy about the way he was looking at me. I wanted to get away from him before I did something that would ruin my whole plan. I made my excuses and walked away. I was annoyed to realise that he seemed to be following me. I reached the kitchen and set down the tray. I set about washing up the dishes I had used. Hopefully, he would go away.

By the time I had finished washing up, he had finally gone. The only issue was that I didn’t know where. It didn’t matter, I needed to replace out if they were down there. I made my way to the door that led to the dungeon quietly. I hadn’t seen any sign of anyone. Getting there, I hoped that it wasn’t locked. I pushed gently on the wood and breathed a sigh of relief when it moved. I slipped inside quickly and stopped to let my eyes adjust to my dim, murky surroundings. I shivered as a chill ran through me. I hated the idea that Chris and Adam might be trapped down here.

I made my way slowly and carefully down the damp concrete steps. The air smelt damp and musty. As I got further in, I could smell the metallic tang of b***d in the air. My heart began beating harder and faster. What if I was too late? I almost turned back afraid of what I might replace, but I forced myself to keep going. I could hear my heart it was beating so loudly. Suddenly, in the dark, I heard a cough and almost jumped out of my skin. I rounded a corner and passed a couple of empty cells before replaceing Chris.

He was chained up with a collar around his neck like a dog. He looked weak. I gasped in horror at the sight of him. A tear rolled down my face. I know he had hurt me, but I couldn’t stand seeing him like this. I had been in love with him, those kinds of feelings don’t just disappear. He looked up at me, wincing as the collar cut into his neck. I reached for the cell door, and it swung open. He was so weak that they hadn’t even bothered to lock it, knowing that he couldn’t escape. I knelt on the hard floor and took his hand. “Chris, I will get you out of here.” I told him. The collar needed a key, and I hadn’t seen one. He squeezed my hand “Stone has the key. It’s no use. Get a message to my dad. Alpha Baxter. Moon River pack.” He struggled to speak. His voice was cracked and hoarse, and his speech was broken. I didn’t want to leave him here and I didn’t want to make him speak again but I had no choice in either. “Chris, was there another man here? We think a friend was taken as well.” I asked gently. “Adam” he confirmed, pointing at the wall between his cell and the one next to it. “Gone, taken away.” He said. I told him that I would get help and kissed his forehead before leaving.

I made it all the way back to my room without being seen. I caught sight of myself in the mirror and realised that was definitely a good thing. My face was streaked with dusty tears, and my knees were damp and dirty from kneeling on the dungeon floor. I washed my face and hands and changed my jeans quickly in case anyone came in. I rushed over to my bag and pulled out my phone. I didn’t think that Chris would last much longer, and I needed to get him some help