Several minutes after Sophie left the base, Axel followed him using his Limo. He figured she still hasn’t gone that far, so, he drove slowly.
Axel had still something to do after he was supposed to signed the papers his Council passed on to him, but since Sophie appeared with a wind that typically showed with heavy rain, Axel had to rescind it. Afterall, visiting the captured wolves that the pack found lingering outside the Kingdom was nothing important compared to Sophie.
Axel was already in the thoroughfare when he spotted the woman he was looking for. But she was not alone. She was walking beside a man with a familiar built. Axel’s pace went even slower as he narrowed his eyes. Sophie, who was in a company of a man, swiftly turned sideward. That gave Axel the opportunity to caught the glimpse of a small smile in her lips.
She doesn’t look mad. Wasn’t she just rude to him over a while ago? What was that smile doing in her lips when he wasn’t even with her?
Axel’s brows furrowed. He caught up to the two and drifted to block their way, unconcern of who may react negatively to it. Axel went out of the transportation he used to walk in Sophie’s direction, but notwithstanding the fact that his ultimate intention was to get Sophie, the man beside his Luna was interesting enough to steal his attention.
His face is familiar. Axel was sure he had seen that face somewhere before. No. Not just his face. He had seen the both of them together, before. He just wasn’t sure when and why.
“You’re coming with me, Sophie.” Axel commanded, still looking at the man in front of him. “Mind if I ask your name?”
“Jake, kind Sir.” The man bowed his head a little.
Jake…
Oh. He was right. He was familiar because he had really saw him prior to this day. The man who was with Sophie in the Palace. He was indeed that man.
A low ranked wolf?
“You shouldn’t have come after me.” Sophie spoke. It was only then he finally turned to her.
“Why wouldn’t I? You’re my Queen.”
Sophie snorted, and shook her head. She didn’t respond to him. Instead, Sophie looked back to his companion named Jake, to smile at him apologetically. Axel restricted himself and breathed hard. He never liked it when someone else talk to Sophie. But he can’t express himself now that he’s done her wrong.
“Thank you for your time, Jake. But I’m afraid I have to end the conversation now.” Sophie’s tone was actually nice that it made Axel’s ears bled. “Till next time.”
Next time? Axel wanted to rip off the hope of getting a next time, but he stopped himself to not further anger his Lady.
Sophie waved her hand to Jake, as Jake did the same thing. Axel, who was getting a little impatient held Sophie’s hand to drag her inside the Limo.
Sophie, on the other hand, was a little worried upon seeing Axel’s Limo. Axel had the most shortest temper, and she knew that. She thought he’d explode and take it on to Jake. So, it actually surprised her that he behaved… quietly. He didn’t also look scary, which was odd because Axel had always been intimidating.
“I’m sorry…” Axel decided to break the silence. “I didn’t mean to hide it.”
When Sophie left Axel on his covert, she was mad and disappointed. But her little talk with Jake lifted her mood up. Jake coincidentally saw her with some of the Omega a few hours ago, so when they happened to saw each other on the alley, he had the time to ask. They caught up, and it distracted Sophie’s emotion outburst.
“I am tired, Axel. Don’t add up by lying to save your face.” Sophie turned to face the window. The discomfort whom she thought had gone away showed itself.
“Sophie, I didn’t really––“
“Does Rebecca still mean something to you?” Sophie couldn’t help but ask. “You were together for years, right?”
Axel caught on. He quickly understood what lied beneath Sophie’s harmless question.
“We have ended our bond, Sophie. She’s with another man now––“
“Then stop acting like you’re still hung up to her.” Though Sophie’s voice was low, it was sharp. “Stop making me feel threatened.”
Axel, who felt nailed on his seat, wasn’t able to speak. He was the Alpha. The most important wolf in the Kingdom. The leader. The king. But somehow, he can not find even a little strength to retort and defend himself. Sophie’s voice managed to tame him. Though, it was his role to disciplined wolves before him. He felt like his superiority went somewhere else.
He was used to fighting. He would usually show his claws to those who oppose him, and slay those who speak ill of him. He had superior skills and knowledge. He had live enough to know how to survive, how to lead, and how to make decisions. But it seemed Sophie’s questions were too much for him.
Why indeed, did he hide it from her?
Axel took his Lady to the palace. But his plan to stay and please his Luna was called off. He changed his mind, midway.
He also thought it was also what would Sophie need. Axel went to the woods, where he was originally scheduled to go to question the captured wolves.
But instead of interrogating them, he took his aggravation out on them. He was frustrated, and there was no way else to express it. He needed to remove it off him. Axel turned to his wolf form, and gave the seized wolves the taste of his cruelness that would satisfy him. It was normally Jackson, Rousel, and Hansel’s work. But since he has a lot of time now and he was in a mood where he wanted to release his letdown and vexation. Both because of what he did and what
Sophie made him feel. Axel showed no doubt in mutilation, that even Hansel, Jackson, and the others couldn’t stop him.
Axel worked them up. One by one. The captured wolves kept pleading, but Axel was deaf. He was pre-occupied. He was incapable of listening. All he had in mind, while he was beating them up, was what happened. Until he noticed that some of them are already at the death’s door.
“P-please…” One of the deemed spy pleaded. “I beg you, Alpha of the Western Borders. S-s-spare––“
“For someone who had the courage to linger in my territory, you’re quite weak.” Axel’s voice thundered, as he stepped on his chest with his paw. “Which Pack did you came from?”
One of the captured wolves, whose body was lying on the flat cemented floor inside the prison, tried to move. “W-we meant no harm. We are only ordered to––“
Axel turned to the man who spoke. “Which Pack?”
“The… Wesleyeian pack… “
Wesleyeian pack…
Those who lived in the Mountain. He knew that tribe. Axel remembered the time where he ordered some of his men, Hugo, and Terrence to talk to their Elders. The Wesleyeian Pack had Jolsen and Greta, the oldest Wolves alive. They were known for their knowledge, both in History and in their kind.
“Prove it,” Axel, whose eyes resembled the crimson moon, challenged the beaten-up wolves in front of him. He moved away to let the man beneath him move.
One of them coughed blood. “You… sent your men to our domain…”
Hugo and the others….
Axel turned to his human form. He went back to his original size. His eye color went back to caramel. His sharp canines that he used to bit off their skin turned into normal. He was now naked.
His men, Arabello, came forward to gave him a robe. He wore it, infront of their captives. The wolves who claimed they were from Wesleyeian, however, were still looking at the Alpha with fear. Now, they had really confirmed it. The Alpha of the Western Borders was a vicious beast!
Now, they understood why the chosen wolves, who were supposed to be here, willingly accepted the punishment instead of following the order. What await them here was death, not information!
“Alpha of the Western Border…” Despite being in a piteous situation he was ever been, the same wolf who answered Axel’s question spoke again. “We were only sent here to confirm if you really agreed to the alliance.”
“How are you going to confirm it by lingering around my Kingdom? You acted more like a group of thieves who wanted to do a surprise attack than a group of decent wolves who only wanted information.” Axel walked towards the rough up wolf. “Why does your leader want to know that?”
“The reason is something only the Elders and our Alpha know. But our speculation is that he’s also interested in forming a union with you.”