I regret asking for just a snippet of the story the moment I heard what Uncle Knox said about Miranda not being Alpha Nate's daughter. Questions that beg for urgent answers claws at my mind. Now I'm curious to know...
How come she's not their daughter? How did they find out? Why are they just finding out now? Why not before? Did Miranda already know? Is that why she aimed for Thor when the reality of not being a princess hit her in the face?
I arrive in front of Council Yard Penitentiary and park in front of the gate, waiting for the guards on duty to verify my ID. When the security check is complete, the prison's massive gate automatically swings open and I drive inside.
I want to park the car and tell Uncle Knox to continue talking but I see the warden that I asked Ella to call back is already waiting for me at the parking lot. He's dressed casually and not in uniform which makes me realize that my threat indeed got to him.
"Uncle Knox, I so much wish we could continue talking but I have already arrived at Council Yard. But be sure that I'll call you first thing tomorrow morning." I say and he chuckles
"I can see I've really piqued your interest. Don't worry, I'll also be waiting for your call. Now allow me to go back to my movie. I'm on vacation after all." He laughs and ends the call.
I can't help but laugh when I heard him say, he's on vacation after all. I'm happy one member of the family is having a good time. I get out of the car and start walking towards the prison building while the warden hurries after me.
"What's your name?" I ask coldly when he finally catches up to me.
"Neal, sir. My name is Neal." He replies hastily
I can tell from his tone of voice and the way he repeatedly says his name that he's scared of me. Which makes me wonder how many pussies disguised as brave man-wolves are under the Council's employment.
I stop walking abruptly, making him lurch forward before steadying himself.
"Neal, I want to ask you a question and I want you to think carefully before you answer me. I want the truth because I don't give second chances if you're caught in a lie." I say in a warning tone
He nods
"Yes, Beta. Of course, what is your question?"
"How many people in the yard already know she's the real Luna?" I ask, looking him straight in the eyes to read his expression.
"How many people? Nobody knows! No one, Beta, just me! You told me that in private, I wouldn't dare share that information with anyone. Not with my men and not even my mate! Please believe me!" He desperately replies and I nod. He sure looks and sounds sincere.
"Now tell me what happened? What made her kill and who did she kill?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you much because I wasn't on duty when it happened. I was called in later. It was when I arrived that I learned from the guards on duty that the Luna attacked the late inmate on their way to the mess hall."
"Is that really what happened?" I ask with an arch brow. "She attacked the inmate for just no reason?" I ask again, chuckling in disbelief.
"I– I wouldn't know Beta because I wasn't there, you see. That was what I was told..."
"What you were told was a big fat lie Neal and you know it. That apart, tell me, what was she doing outside of her cell after I specifically told you I didn't want her getting familiar with other inmates... I instructed because I don't want any inmate claiming later in the future that Silver Moon pack Luna was in prison with them."
"I did as you commanded and gave the instruction. The guards on duty said she came out by herself when the cell doors were automatically opened for the inmates to go for their breakfast."
"And it didn't occur to you that maybe she came out because she saw the others coming out of their cells and knowing my instructions, why didn't your guards instruct her to return to her cell?"
"I– I don't know why they didn't, Beta! I– I'm really sorry about this."
I laugh. Of course, I understand even without seeing Ash what the guards tried to do.
"No need for unnecessary explanations. Take me to where the Luna is and get me the file of the inmate she killed."
"Yes, Beta." He says and brings out his phone to relay what I ask for to someone
"Oh and while you're at it, tell the person to also get me the CCTV feed of the incident, from beginning to end
"Yes, Beta..." He says again, placing his phone to his ear.
It's already lights out when we arrive at the building where the cells are located. All the cells are in darkness, only the corridors are lit. The inmates appear to all be sleeping since everywhere is also in pin-drop silence.
We walk down the long passageway, past Ash's actual cell until he stops in front of a cell.
"She's in here. I'm going to turn only the light in the room on manually so we don't end up waking the others." He explains and I nod in understanding.
"Eric... Eric, is that you?" A hoarse voice that I recognized belongs to Ash whispers from inside the dark cell. I immediately move closer to the cell and can't help but gag when I perceive the stench of decomposing body and coagulated blood.
I switch from my human eyes to my wolf's so I can see through the darkness. What I saw made me quickly tell Neal to leave the room in darkness.
We shifters can only see in heat or thermal vision in our wolves' eyes. Right there in the dark, even though I can't actually see her face or facial features, I can see her body shape which appears like a silhouette as she rises from where she was crouched, and what I see is enough for me to be able to tell she's naked.
"Get me a blanket right now." I sharply command Neal
"Yes, Beta!" He replies and immediately hurries off
"Yes, Ash, It's Eric," I reply as I watch her take unsteady baby-like steps toward me like her legs are made of rubber.
"You don't have to walk forward. Stay where you are. I'll come and get you myself as soon as the guards open the gate." I tell her
"No! I don't want to stay here anymore! Get me out of..." She isn't able to finish her statement before she falls unconscious to the floor.
"Ash!..." I grip the iron bars tightly as I scream-whisper her name in alarm.
"Hey! Ash! C'mon girl, wake up!" I say a bit louder with frustration. I don't want to shout her name since I don't want those who might be listening in to know who she is
"Fucking bastard! What the fucks taking him so long!" I swear frustratingly at Neal even though it's just been seconds that he left.
I frantically pace the small space in front of the cell. I am anxious. She passed out. What if something happens and she dies? What am I going to do!? I know Thor doesn't remember now but he's no fool. The seer said he will eventually figure things out by himself and I know he's already putting two and two together. What am I going to say happened to his mate?
I stop pacing and grip the iron bars tightly again, feeling like I should pull them out of the wall. I can certainly do that but I won't. Apart from the fact that my action will set off a very loud alarm in the yard. I can't carry my best friend's mate in my arms while she's naked, it's not right. So I have to be patient and wait for Neal to hurry back with the blanket that I'll use to cover her with.