Alpha Prime: Her Retribution

Chapter Forty Eight

I woke up the next day and got ready for work. I didn’t particularly feel like going in, especially with my last interaction with Liam but I had meetings to attend and I wasn’t about to subject Delilah to her mother’s overbearing nature.

I made my way down the stairs towards the front door, the house was silent and I was grateful for that, I didn’t need to bump into anyone. I got into my car and drove in the direction of Delilah’s house, dialling her number as I neared the house.

“Good morning Ms Adelaide.” she said.

“Good morning Delilah, I’m almost at your house.” I replied.

“Alright, I’ll be out.”

She ended the call and I continued the short drive to the house, parking by the curb. I didn’t have to wait long for her to come out. She made her way to the car and got in.

“You’re such a lifesaver,”

I smiled at her, pulling away from the curb. She brought out her camera, fiddling with it.

“You’re still showing Hope the ropes?” I inquired, she nodded, glancing at me.

“Yeah but i.. I actually wanted to take your official portrait… that is if you’re still interested.” she mumbled. I couldn’t help but grin at her, proud she wasn’t letting her fears dictate her dreams.

“Oh I am still interested.” I replied, smiling.

The rest of the drive to the Consulate was in silence and I parked in my spot, staring up at the building, sighing as I mentally prepared myself for the inevitable meeting with Liam.

Come on Adelaide, you can’t hide in your car forever.

I got out and together with Delilah, we headed into the building, she walked off to find the girls while I made my way up to my office. Opening the door, I met Liam pacing the length of my office. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening at the sight of me. I paused before walking past him to my table and keeping my bags and picking up one of the folders for the meeting. My hand shook slightly as I flipped through them even as he walked over.

“Addie…”

I ignored him, concentrating on the papers.

“Addie, please. I’m sorry.” He whispered, I closed the folder and looked up at him.

“Is that how you really feel about all these? Do you think everything is all in my head?” I asked softly, out of everything he had said, that had hurt the most. He rounded the table and grabbed my hands.

“No, I was confused, frustrated and angry when I said those words but I swear, they didn’t mean anything. I just… I… I’ve been looking for my mate for ages and to find her and have her run away from me…” He trailed off, pain etched in his features. I pulled my hands from his and cupped his face.

“I understand that she’s your mate, am I happy about it, no, not in the slightest because I know she is hiding something but I won’t stop you from pursuing her.” I replied, he nodded, taking my hands in his once more, staring at them before looking up at me.

“Unravelling the mystery of who she is is important to you isn’t it?” He asked quietly, I looked at him.

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll help you.”

My heart skipped a bit.

“W-what if we find out that she has ill intentions.”

He paused, his brows furrowed.

“Good thing I just met her then, forgetting her will be easier.” He replied, forcing a smile. I pushed back the wave of emotions that threatened to bring tears to my eyes and for the first time since meeting Kamilla, I found myself praying that she was actually a good person, not for her but for Liam, if anything, he deserved a mate and a good one at that.

He stepped back, leaning against the table.

“The potion is almost done, we should be ready to use it by the time you round up with your meetings.” He said, I nodded and gathered the folders.

“I’ll see you after the meeting.”

He nodded and I made my way to the conference room, I walked in, setting the folders down.

“Hello Adelaide.”

I spun around to see Nanna Ur standing by the window, the last time I saw her was the night I had learnt of her part in my pack’s m******e.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, she walked closer to me, still looking weathered and old as ever, as if she carried all the burden of the world.

“I just wanted to see how you were doing?” She answered, I scoffed.

“I don’t need your concern.”

She smiled sadly as she looked up at me, a gust of wind from one of the open doors blew into the room through her shawl, exposing her shoulders. My eyes moved to the exposed skin, brows furrowing at the glowing x mark that was embedded into her skin. She cleared her throat, hiding the mark with the shawl.

“You’re right, it’s none of my concern but I…”

“But nothing Nanna Ur, my life is none of your business so it is best if you leave.”

She looked down at the floor before sighing.

“Very well, Adelaide. Goodbye, till we meet again.”

WIth that she was gone, I stared at the spot she had stood, frowning at her words and why they left me feeling a kind of way.

Whatever

I shook my head just as the heads of department filed in for the monthly meeting.

*****

I hurried down to Liam’s suite, the meeting had ended a few minutes ago and all I wanted to do was get to the bottom of this mystery. I pushed the door open and walked in.

“Liam?” I called out.

“In the bathroom.” He answered, I walked into the bathroom where he was stirring the potion. It had become a dark blue hue.

“Is it ready?” I asked.

“Yeah, can you grab the seeds from my bedside locker?” He asked. I nodded and got them before heading back to the bathroom. I placed them on the counter and Liam walked over with the potion in a beaker.

“Ready?” He asked, I nodded, my heart pumping in anticipation, even my Lycan was observing everything with rapt attention. He poured a bit of the potion on the seed and for the first few seconds, nothing happened then it was followed by a crack as the hard shell of the seed began to crack open. Liam and I leaned in, watching as the seed began to sprout. In a matter of minutes, the sprout gave way to a sapling and before we knew it, we had a purple flower blooming.

“Wait a minute…” I whispered, staring at its deep amethyst petals that shimmered faintly.

“What is it?” Liam asked, not taking his eyes off it.

“When I was with Samara, when we first came here, I saw her placing this exact flower into the braew mixture.” I explained before shaking my head and dialling Agatha’s number, at this point, she was the only one who could make sense of the mess in my head, she answered on the fifth ring, I switched to video call.

“It’s bloomed.” I said, showing her the flower. “Do you have any idea what kind of flower it is?”

Agatha leaned forward, examining it before she moved away from the camera, she came back with a large book. I watched as she flipped through the book, looking up to stare at the flower. After a few minutes, she finally turned the book to the camera, showing us an exact copy of the flower in the drawing.

“The Veloria flower, a rare flower, hard to grow outside its natural habitat, is known for its mind control properties.”

“Mind control?” Liam and I echoed, staring at her, she nodded.

“Yes, its essence when ingested or inhaled weaves into the thoughts of its victims, allowing for subtle influence over emotions and decisions.” she explained. I stared at the flower.

Could it be that the entire pack was under Kamilla’s influence?

“Is there any way to break the hold the flower has over someone?” Liam asked, Agatha nodded.

“Yes, I’ll send you the list of ingredients for the cure.” she replied.

“Alright then, thank you.” I said, she nodded and ended the call. I turned to Liam.

“This makes no sense.” I whispered pacing the length of his room. “Samara told me a woman was passing by and she bought the braew from her, it’s obviously Kamilla but then how can Kamilla know about the flower if she had no idea what the braew was made of?”

“You think she knew about it beforehand?” Liam asked, I nodded.

“I’m beginning to think so but I need proof.” I replied, sighing, I stared at the flower.

“Why don’t we take a break?” He suggested.

“Yeah, we should, besides, I’m getting my official picture taken today.” I said, running my fingers through my hair.

“Delilah agreed?”

“Yeah, it feels very strange.” I whispered, looking at myself in the mirror, adjusting the collar of the beige coloured suit I was wearing.

“What? Her taking your picture?”

“No, having my picture taken, I don’t know how to describe it. Once the picture is sent out, every office, every citadel will remove Papa’s picture and replace it with mine. It feels as if this might sound silly but it feels as if I am erasing his presence.” I whispered.

“Hey, none of that.” Liam said, walking over and holding my hand.

“You’re in no way erasing Uncle Charlie from the pages of history, in fact you are adding more colour to the legacy he left. I mean, this was inevitable, you becoming an Alpha Prime and I’m sure if Uncle Charlie was here, he would be proud of the woman you’ve become.”

I let out a laugh.

“Great, now you’re going to make me cry.” I said, looking up and blinking back tears.

“Don’t you dare, now come on, let’s go get your badass picture taken.” He said, pulling me out of his room. We found Delilah and the girls in the garden.

“Good morning Prime.” Hope and her sister curtseyed.

“Hello, how are you two?” I asked, smiling at them.

“We’re fine, thank you for asking.”

I turned to Delilah.

“I’m ready for the picture.” I said, her eyes lit up and she nodded.

“Great, where do you want us to take the pictures?”

Hope let out a delighted gasp.

“You’re taking our Alpha Prime’s portrait!!! I knew you could do it.”

I smiled as Delilah blushed.

“Since it’s an official picture, maybe we can take it in my office?” I suggested.

“Makes sense.”

We left the girls and headed up to my office.

“So, you can just sit behind your desk, the flag behind you should be visible.” she explained. I nodded and did as she said. Delilah got her camera ready.

“Can we get more illumination?” she asked, Liam nodded and walked over to the windows, he pulled the curtains aside.

“Better?”

She nodded and lifted her camera to her face.

“Ready?”

I nodded, looking into the lens.

“Ready.”

***

HOURS LATER

I walked into the cottage after dropping Delilah at her place. I stifled a gasp as I bumped into Jacob. We stared at each other, it was clear that things were tense between us, especially with the words he had hurled at me last time.

“Welcome back.”

I made a sound in the back of my throat as a reply before brushing past him and about to head up the stairs.

“Adelaide?” He called out.

“Is anything the problem?” I inquired, not turning around.

“I was hoping we could have dinner together, just us.” He asked, I turned to him.

“I already ate.”

This time around, it wasn’t a lie.

He shook his head.

“This is ridiculous Adelaide, you’re my mate, we can’t keep going at war with each other.” He stated, taking a step forward.

“Actually what is ridiculous is that you would believe someone instead of your own mate.” I snapped.

“All facts show that Kamilla and her men are wolves, there is nothing to back your allegations. How do you expect me to believe a baseless, factless accusation?”

I stared at him.

“I don’t but I at least expected you to trust me.” I whispered. “Good night.”

I continued on up the stairs to my room. Tossing my bags on the couch, I flopped down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. There was so much going on in my head… running my continent, the missing wolves, Kamilla… it was all too much.

I brought out my phone, staring at the lock screen, it was a picture of my parents. A smile crept onto my face as I remembered the day the picture had been taken.

“Come on Papa, just one picture.” I pleaded, holding up the digital camera.

“I have a meeting with the Asian Alpha Prime in 30 minutes Adelaide, it’s rude to keep a fellow lycan waiting.” he replied, straightening his tie.

“Even for me?” A voice drawled, I grinned, looking up to see my mother dressed in a beautiful gown before glancing at Papa who looked as if he had never seen anyone as beautiful.

“N-Never for you.” he had stuttered as she came to stand next to him. I grinned, raising the camera.

“Smile.”

I blinked the memory away, wiping the tears that had fallen. I had always wanted a love like that of my Papa and Mother, one that was full of love and respect yet it seemed as if every force out there was determined to come between Jacob and I.

My Lycan growled at my train of thoughts, thoroughly showing her disgusts at my pity party. I sighed and kept my phone aside. My mind drifted back to the flower, there had to be some proof, something to hit the nail in the coffin and finally expose Kamilla.

Samara’s cottage, there has to be something there.

With a plan cemented in my head, I decided to wait until midnight, then I would sneak into her cottage and find out what I could about her connection to Kamilla.

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

The moon was high in the sky as I crept out of the cottage through the back door, hurrying into the treeline before anyone would spot me. I avoided the patrolling wolves as I made my way back to Samara’s hut. The door was open and the house was an utter mess, as if something or someone had torn through it.

Where do I even begin from?

I looked around, walking over to the upturned table. I knelt sifting through the clutter. I methodically searched, my eyes darting around for anything of importance.

30 minutes into my search, I heard a twig snap followed by a hiss. My body stiffened and I glanced at the door, I could see the shadow of something approaching it.

Fuck

I scrambled towards the bed, crawling underneath just in time for heavy footsteps to make their way in, the horrid cold smell permeating the air, almost made me gag. I held my breath, watching as military style boots appeared in my line of vision, whoever it was let out a loud hiss, sniffing the air.

Shit… s**t… this can’t be happening.

The boots moved away from view as the person continued to walk round the hut, knocking things over. I let out a quiet sigh of relief, I had not been detected and hopefully who or whatever it was would leave.

“There you are”

My eyes widened as a hand grabbed my ankle and dragged me out from under the bed before letting me go. I let out a gasp, staring at the crazed man with glowing red eyes.

“You really shouldn’t be sneaking around and poking your nose into other people’s business, Luna Prime.” He drawled, his voice making my skin crawl. He circled me like I was some sort of prey, his fangs out, dripping with venom.

I stumbled onto my feet, not taking my eyes off him.

“W-why did you kill Samara and why have you been attacking the animals in Yellowstone?” I demanded, he grinned but there was nothing warm or comforting about it.

“Why not?”

“Who sent you here?”

He smirked, taking a step forward.

“You’re asking the wrong questions Luna Prime. What you should be asking is what exactly am I going to do to you?” He lunged and I barely had time to dodge, my eyes widening as I realised just how fast he was. I grabbed a piece of wood, about to smash it over his head but he caught it, ripping it away from me.

And he’s strong… very strong…

“All out of tricks?” He hissed, mockingly. I took a step back, my hands blindly reaching for whatever I could use as a weapon. I grabbed what felt a fistful of what felt like sand or ash and hurled it at him before darting towards the door.

A hand grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me back, slamming me against the support beam, a gasp escaping my lips.

“Now you’ve gone and made me really angry.” He hissed, I struggled against him but it was no use, he was clearly too strong, even for a lycan and that scared me.

“Oh yes” He hissed, his fangs on full display. “The scent of your fear, it is intoxicating. I really wish I could kill you but alas, you still have a part to play but a little taste shouldn’t do any harm.”

My eyes widened as he grabbed my wrist and brought it to his mouth.

“NO! NO!” I cried out, shaking my head.

“Don’t struggle, you’ll only make this worse.” He said, lapping at the skin with his cold tongue, I shuddered in disgust and fear.

“Don’t scream too much.”

He sunk his fangs into my wrist and my world went white with raw molten pain.

I fell to the floor with a thud, my vision returning to see Jacob punching the creature repeatedly before rushing over to me.

“Adelaide, s**t! Hang on there.”

I stared at him, as he gathered me in his arms, he lifted my hand.

“Fuck.”

I glanced at it, noticing something dark spreading underneath my skin.

“J-Jacob?” I whimpered.

“Hang on Adelaide, i’ll make it better, I promise.” He uttered, tearing a piece of clothing and tying it around my wrist, I groaned as it cut off circulation. He brought his hand to my mouth.

“You need to bite and drink.” He instructed, the thought of drinking his blood should have disgusted me but I found myself lapping at the skin before biting down, his essence flowing into my mouth, my eyes drooped as I gulped it down, sinking my nails into his skin as I did. He stroked my hair, whispering words of encouragement.

“You’re doing good Adelaide, just like that, the dark substance is disappearing.”

After a while, he pulled his hand away, loosening the piece of clothing. I looked up at him, dazed while he wiped the blood off the corner of my mouth.

“Are you okay?” He asked, I nodded, sitting up. My eyes moving over to the unconscious man, Jacob followed my gaze. Seconds later, Tony and two guards arrived.

“You called?” Tony asked before frowning.

“What happened here?” he asked.

“That’s what I am about to find out. Shackle the man and take him to the dungeon.” He instructed the guards before turning to Tony.

“Find Kamilla, wherever she is. She has some explaining to do.”