Chapter 22-Weeding out a Spy

“You excited to return up north?”

Marcie asks as I check off what I would need for this trip on my list. I grimace, thinking about how I was treated growing up and look my friend in the eye.

“Honestly, no. That place was a nightmare. But if me taking the throne means bettering werewolf kind, then I will do it.”

Marcie gives me a small smile before pulling me in for a hug, her comfort being something I need in this moment. We have a week to head up north, a week to see Alexander and Narin.

My heart clenches at the mention of my ex-mate, the reminder that the bond has not yet broken when last night Albot had to hold me once more through the pain of Narin fucking some she-wolf.

At one point, I thought about getting back at him, at allowing Narin to feel the pain I felt by giving in and allow Albot to swallow me in his touch.

But I want my first time to be special.

“I wish I can come with you; help take out that bastard and beat the crap out of that ex-mate of yours.”

The Latina sighs out, causing me to laugh. To think one of he stupidest things Alexander did was send this spitfire of a she-wolf my way and allowing me to gain a trusted friend.

“Trust me, I need you to take care of Astraea. Besides, you’ll be there to help me kill off Coro.”

I reassure her, the two of us deciding that I can finish packing tonight and that a break is much needed. We walk down the steps of the pack house, intending on going to the kitchen and see what is for lunch, when a flustered Matrix comes running through the door with panic in his eyes.

Grabbing Marcie and I by the hand, he drags us to a quiet sitting room without warning and I link Albot to come join us. Something tells me this panic has to do with Maya.

“Matrix, calm down.”

Marcie growls, ripping her wrist from his grip and glaring at the panicked wolf. I sigh, pulling my hand free from his grasp as well and taking a seat in an arm chair while I wait for Albot, who thankfully arrives minutes later with a look of concern on his face.

“I left Blake in charge of training the pups. What’s so urgent?”

He asks, closing the door and leaning against the wooden object to prevent anyone from entering the room.

“Crysta was right. Maya has a charm on her. I finally got the courage to confront her, to make up.”

Matrix begins, his pacing becoming faster. I look to Albot and frown. We knew she was a spy and thankfully we prevented any damaged this she-wolf could have caused after meeting her.

“Last night I talked to her, talked about having a mating ceremony on next month just to get her to warm up to me and I managed to kiss the hand with that ring she never takes off. I swear, the rancid smell and taste I got nearly made me throw up. I couldn’t believe just how horrible it was.”

He runs his fingers through his hair, his eyes a little sunken in as if he hasn’t slept a wink in the last twenty-four hours.

[Blake, I need you to take the pups ages fifteen and under to the training hall. No one is allowed out until I say so.] I link my son.

[Something happened?] the seventeen year old asks.

[Yes. I don’t want the pups involved.] With that, I open the link to the pack, making sure my emotions are calmed as to not cause suspicion.

[There will be a pack meeting in thirty minutes outside of the pack house. All pups ages fifteen and under must report to the training hall. All wolves sixteen and older must attend the meeting.] I get a resounding “Yes, Alpha.”

Before anyone can ask questions, I shut off my link. Right now, I need to focus on Matrix and calming him down.

“So, we are getting rid of a spy.”

Marcie asks, a predatorial glint in her eyes.

“Yes.”

I answer with a smirk. I have wanted to tear into that she-wolf for a year now, only being able to spar with her in training and rough her up enough to leave her bedridden for a few days.

Today is the day I make an example of what happens when you mess with my pack.

Climbing out of my chair, I walk towards the still pacing Matrix and force him to stop, having my friend look me in the eye.

“Trix, you need to calm down. I want you to link Maya and tell her you told me about your plan to have a mating ceremony. Make her feel like this meeting is about that.”

I order, knowing that without an Alpha command, his emotions will be felt through their link. I watch as he takes a deep breath, his eyes glazing over. I wait, allowing him to do what he has to do to make Maya feel like she has won. Finally, his gaze snaps back to mine and he nods.

“She will be there.”

He confirms.

“Good. We have twenty minutes until the meeting, go take a quick shower and get something to eat.”

With that, Albot opens the door to allow Matrix upstairs. Hopefully he can hold his emotions together for the time being and we can deal with the Spy quickly.

◆◆◆

Standing on the steps to the pack house, I watch as pack members slowly trickle in. Thankfully, there are no wolves under the age of sixteen in the mix. We didn’t need someone helpless for Maya to use as a hostage. We had a few link Albot saying they could not end the patrol and risk Soulless sneaking in. All Albot said was if they see Maya before the meeting ends, to bring her to the pack house.

“Everyone is here.”

Albot whispers into my ear as I scan the wolves gathered and spot Maya right in front. Good, this will make exposing her easy.

Taking a deep break, I look beside me to make sure Albot, Marcie and Matrix are standing by my side. I will need Matrix to play along as a soon to be fully mated wolf if this plan is to succeed.

“Pack members, I would like to thank you all for gathering here.”

I begin, taking a step forward and smiling at the crowd. I see the questioning gazes all looking in my direction. The whispers and speculations of why they were gathered with little notice so quickly.

“Now, we have some news about a pack member and I would like to share it. Maya, will you come stand beside me?”

Shocked looks are throne Maya’s way, the she-wolf beaming with happiness. I watch as she bounds up the stairs, her eyes instantly looking towards Matrix just behind us. I can see the anger in his eyes and inwardly groan. I cannot have him blowing it. Taking Maya’s right hand in mine, I feel the ring subtly and suppress a wince. I can feel the dark magic seeping out. Definitely a Dark Witch is involved.

“Now, as you all may know, Maya is the mate to our Head Hunter Matrix. They have yet to have a mating ceremony, and there is a reason why.”

My smile soon falls as my hand slides up her wrist. Marcie and Albot step forwards, grabbing Maya on either side. I watch the panic form on her face, the fear as my claws did into the wrist. She struggles to get loose, but the two do not relent and I chuckle.

“You all know that Astraea has an opportunity to become allies to the Royal Pack, and that’s not false information. Unfortunately, it will not be with Alexander.”

I begin, stopping to motion for the wolf with his hand in the air.

“Why is that Alpha?”

Pedro asks, worry on his face.

“Why don’t I let Maya explain. She is a spy, after all.”

I chuckle out darkly, my claws sinking further into her flesh. Murmurs of disbelief is heard over the crowd while Maya continues to struggle and I sigh.

“Maya, tell these people why you are here.”

Thankfully, she is still a pack member, my command still holding power over the she-wolf as her struggling stops and the panic in her eyes grows.

“Because you are Princess Crystalline Thorn, and my Master, Prince Coro, ordered me to spy on you for King Alexander.”

She blurts out, unable to defy my Alpha Command. Growls of the betrayal from the pack are directed at Maya, their hatred towards her growing.

“Why are you mad at me, she lied about being the Lost Princess!”

Maya screams out accusingly at the crowd. I chuckle, taking a glace at the she-wolf before digging my claws further into her wrist, feeling her wince. She does not cry out in pain, which doesn’t surprise me, she is Coro’s underling.

“I never hid who I am. If they came and asked me, I told them the truth. I will never hide anything from my pack.”

I sneer at her, relishing the defeated look on her face as she realizes this is a trap. The she perks up, a smile of triumph as she smirks at me.

“But I am Matrix’s mate!”

“Want to bet on that as a fact?”

I ask, my free hand reaching for her ring. Her triumphant look crumbles as I slowly tug the gold ring off of her hand, releasing my claws from her wrist when she tries to resist and prying the ring finger open, breaking it in the process.

Finally, the ring is off and I toss the jewelry into a bowl of Moon Water. The surface begins to bubble, a black tar like liquid seeping to the surface. The crowd backs away, terrified of the black magic being released and purified.

“Matrix, do you feel the mate bond?”

I ask, my eyes never leaving Maya’s face in case the she-wolf tries anything. Silence follows my question as I wait for his answer, but it never comes.

“Matrix?”

I call out again.

“Um… Alpha, you should take a look.”

Someone in the crowd calls out with a chuckle. Looking away from Maya, I turn to see Marcie loosening her grip on the she-wolf as Matrix makes his way to her. It’s as if no one else but those two are on the porch. Like their worlds only involve the two of them.

“Clearly he feels a mate bond, but it’s not with Maya.”

Albot chuckles, taking Maya’s other arm just as Marcie lets go and rushes to Matrix, wrapping herself in his embrace as he buries his face into her hair, inhaling her scent.

“Hey, M and M, can we finish with this traitor first before you go off to mate?”

I call out laughing, watching as Marcie and Matrix jump away from each other, a blush on their faces.

“S-sorry, Crystalline…”

Marcie mumbles breathlessly, causing me to laugh again. I wave a hand dismissively at them, deciding not to give the two a hard time, considering they have spent a year unable to be with each other because of Maya and her dark charm.

“So, with Maya being proven as a traitor who used a dark charm on Matrix, the punishment is simple. She will be banished from the pack and turned Rogue.”

I begin, taking a moment to see the anger on the crowds face growing.

“That’s it?!”

“Yeah, that’s a shitty punishment!”

“She should be beaten!”

“She should be killed!”

The crowd protests and I allow them to voice their frustrations, happy to know they too feel hurt by this betrayal.

“This is not it at all. If you remember I have all the pups kept to the training room it is because I do not want any of them to witness what is to happen.”

Talking above the crowd and quieting them, I put the power in my blood into each word. Happy when their attention if focused onto me, I turn to Maya with a grin.

“Maya Alibass, you are hence forth banished from Astraea. You will be marked a traitor and upon Albot releasing you, have exactly two hours from leaving my pack lands. Be warned though. You are only allowed a ten-minute head start before my pack hunts you down, allowed to kill you as a Rogue and traitor.”

With that, I motion for Albot to follow me, dragging Maya as we walk towards the crowd, intending to pass by them and allow Maya a clear head start.

The wolves before us part, giving us a pathway while they curse the now Rogue she-wolf who whimpers in pain from the mark of a traitor burning into her arm from the power of my words. With the crowd behind us, I nod to Albot who promptly releases her. Maya stumbles forward, turning to glare at me. I growl, something feral and powerful giving her a warning.

She can either fight me and die or run and have a chance to live.

She chooses to run, turning around and heading into the trees. It takes about two hours to reach the border in wolf form. Although in just a few minutes she will be hunted by my pack. A pack filled with wolves who came looking for a second chance after facing a betrayal do not take kindly to traitors. Maya will be dead in no time.

“You can hunt.”

My words are a trigger as the wolves behind me surge forward, some shifting into their fur side while others take the challenge in their human form. I chuckle, looking around the now empty front lawn to see Marcie and Matrix leaning against the railing on the porch, making out like hormonal pups.

“Not going to join the hunt?”

I ask, amused when the two separate with a look of shock and embarrassment.

“She isn’t worth it.”

Matrix mumbles, his eyes never leaving Marcie. I chuckle, linking my arm through Albot’s and heading towards the pack house.

“How about you two head back to Matrix’s place and finish mating, then. She wasted a year of your time with one another.”

I suggest, seeing the two nodding approvingly at this before Matrix scoops Marcie into his arms and runs off. I will be surprised if a pup isn’t born next year because of this.

“What are we going to do?”

Albot asks, nuzzling my cheek with his lips. I shiver, looking at him with a pointed look before dragging him inside.

“We are going to raid the kitchen, find food and hide away in bed for the rest of the day. Link the pack to pick up their pups when they finish hunting.”

My answer is met with a chuckle from him, his lips pressing a soft kiss on my cheek before his eyes glaze over. I know that me not accepting his advances hurt him, but the mate bond still hums weakly in my veins. I want it to be gone before I can enjoy anything with Albot.