Chapter 49

Atticus' POV

Continuing down the dimly lit stairway I pick up the scent of blood. 'Do you smell that?' Leo questions through the mind link. 'Yes. Stay alert.' I tell him. He gives me a slight nod and we continue in silence. Never taking my eyes off of Lakota, I watch as he tenses as he hits the last step. "What's wrong Lakota?" I question him. "Something's not right. I don't know what it is though." He says. "Who do you have down here Lakota? Is it only Esther?" I ask him accusingly. "Brother, I give you my word, I do not know who is down here." He tells me as he lowers his head. I push my way past him down the corridor following the blood to an empty cell. I take in a deep breath and immediately I recognize it as Zaraphine's scent. She was in this cell.

Letting out a deep growl I quickly turn towards my brother and grab him, lifting him by his throat and shoving him into the closest wall. Hearing a crack as his back hits I question him, "Do you know who's blood that is brother? Do you know how bad I want to kill you just for being the god damn Alpha of this pack!? My mate was here! In that fucking cell! The cell that is currently covered in her fucking blood! What happened to my mate, Lakota?!" I growl as I feel my wolf trying to take over. My hands turn to claws and I feel my fur raise all over my body. "ENOUGH! STAND DOWN ATTICUS! NOW!" A deep voice growls louder than humanly possible. Surprisingly my wolf obeys his command and cowers away.

I turn towards the voice and growl, "Who the hell are you?!" He gives me a smirk, before walking towards me. Standing right in front of me he looks me dead in the eye and says, "I am your Alpha pup. Now I said stand down. Do not make me tell you again. If you want your mate back you will do well to shut up and listen. I have no problem taking my daughter's mate away from her!" I raise my brow and think. Is this Jasper Knight? Could this possibly be Zaraphines father? "My mates' father is dead! Now, who are you?" I question with a growl. "I can assure you, son, I am not dead."

Jasper Knight's POV

The two young Alpha's and the Beta just stare at me while Eos has a huge smirk on her face. It is Eos who finally breaks the awkward silence. "It is about time you showed your face, Jasper. Selene and I have been wondering where you ran off to." Shaking my head I let out a soft chuckle. "Come on Eos, you of all people should know I do not just runoff." She laughs as she walks towards me wrapping me in her arms. "I sure did miss you, Jasper. We all did. I'm glad your back." She said. "Me to Eos, me too. Now tell me what exactly happened. Where is my daughter?" I ask her.

She lets out a soft sigh before lowering her head, "I'm not entirely sure Jasper. She ran off. I can't pick up her essence. It's almost like she's vanished. Your dear mate tried to force her into mating this little Alpha right here. She's been using black magic and had Lakota hexed. Then young Atticus here has been traveling trying to find ways to stop her while I was here stopping her. She is in the last cell. I'm not sure if she is awake or not yet. I got rid of the magic she was using. I still can't believe she was stupid enough to wear her talisman around her neck. After I destroyed it, I put her to sleep and Zaraphine left." She explains.

"How are you alive, sir? I mean everyone thought you were dead. This doesn't make any sense." Lakota speaks up sounding nervous. "That is a story for another time. Right now we need to speak to Esther and find out where my daughter has disappeared to." I tell him. He nods his head and walks to the end of the hall where my mate sits in her cell. I follow behind him and look in to see her sitting up staring right at me with her eyes the size of saucers. "What my dear mate, did you not expect to see me so soon? You should've known that your little mutts couldn't hold me forever. Now, where is my daughter?" I growl at her. She flinches at my words and lowers her head before whispering, "She is not your daughter Jasper. Our daughter left. She is a rogue." I let out a snarl, "She is my daughter Esther! Whether you believe it or not, that is my child! She has my blood running through her veins. It may not be our blood but it damn sure is mine!"