Chapter 7: Is This the Room Prepared for Me?

Jace’s POV

Cayden wasn’t just my Alpha. He was my best friend, and the position of Beta was given with trust. However, no matter how close we were, I was first his subordinate, and then his friend. Either way, he had my absolute loyalty.

I was quite surprised to hear what he told Tori just now.

I tried to catch up with him. He made his way down the hospital hallway before exiting the double doors that lead out into the front lawn near the pack house. He was moving quicker than his usual pace, but I wasn’t aware of anything else on his agenda tonight.

He turned quickly and made his way toward his office. I followed him in, closing the door behind us. Strictly executing every single one of his orders was my responsibility, but I needed some clarification.

“Alpha, was the plan changed for Miss Tori? I thought…”

“You know the plan, Jace, and it stays.” Cayden turned his attention to the papers in front of him.

We had a war brewing and that had been his focus. Being on top of everything was important and the newspaper was one of the sources of information. However, I was the one who normally went through it and extracted the key information for him.

For some reason, I felt he acted a little abnormal today and didn’t seem to be in a good mood. I had known Cayden since he was a boy. I remembered the day he became Alpha, and I remembered his father. My sister and I had known him forever and we supported him through the trouble he faced after his father’s death.

Something was bothering him. I didn’t know why I felt so, but it was not my place to ask. If it was something he wanted me to know, he would tell me.

I got the confirmation of the plan and that’s all I needed from him. The rest would be taken care of as he wished.

“Got it Alpha! I was just a bit surprised that you said to set her free. Normally you wouldn’t say it unless you mean it. ”

He put down the paper and looked me right in the eyes. His words were as cold as ice.

“Isn’t death the ultimate freedom for her?”

***

“Tori, I promise this will be the last time for a while I need to stick you with a needle.”

As I entered the room, I heard Ava’s voice. From Ava’s report, Tori didn’t like needles—well, me neither—but she had been a trooper.

“I’m sorry..” Tori replied softly.

I stood by the door watching the two. She was a tender girl, and I was certain she made Ava’s heart melt.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetie. I’m going to take care of you. You are safe here.” Ava had always been great with her patients.

Pulling back the needle, Ava placed it on a silver tray before putting a bandage on the area she drew blood from. Tori was getting some of her strength back just after a few days of being here. That was because Ava was the best doctor in the pack.

“Ava,” I called her name. “Can I borrow you for a moment?”

“Of course, Beta.”

She turned to Tori and smiled. “I will be right back. Try to drink the soup while I step out.”

Tori nodded in understanding. She had been compliant with everything asked of her, but I knew it didn’t mean that she had accepted her role as a breeder.

I sighed. I had warned Kas to stay away from her, but Tori just seemed to have this power about her that made people want to befriend her.

“Jace, did you need me for something?” Ava lowered her voice giving me a curious glance.

“How is she doing?”

I was put in charge of monitoring Tori. Although the last time Cayden asked about her was a week ago, I still needed to be on top of her status at all times.

“Um.. well she is doing much better. She still has a long road ahead of her, but she is making progress every day.”

“That’s good. I see she is eating.” I looked around the corner of the room toward Tori who was sipping her soup. “Can she be moved to her room soon?”

I sensed uncertainty from Ava’s delay in response. “Ava, what’s going on?”

She hesitated for a moment. I knew her too well to know what was going through her mind.

As expected, she said, “I know that the Alpha wants to breed with Tori as soon as possible, but it isn’t time yet.” She looked me in the eye. “In theory, Tori is well enough to go to her own room in a few days. However, I don’t personally feel comfortable with it.”

I raised my eyebrows.

She continued, “All the trauma she had been through isn’t going to make her feel right at home. Tori is still recovering, and with her here I am easily able to ensure she is getting her fluids and eating properly. If she goes there… well it’s going to be more complicated.”

“Cayden said three weeks, and he will expect that.”

“Right now, she isn’t able to conceive safely. Her body is much too weak. Don’t get me wrong, she has been cooperating and done everything I asked her to do, but whether her body heals at the speed we want…that’s not something I can control.”

I knew Ava had a point, but at the same time, my hands were tied on this topic.

“I honestly don’t know if she will be ready by the Alpha’s deadline. Do you want to see his wrath if she loses his child?” Ava was pushing the issue. “Or better yet, if she dies in the process.”

“That isn’t for you to decide, Ava.” I frowned and ended the conversation.

This was one of the Alpha’s top priorities and there was no negotiation on what needed to happen.

I looked toward Tori; she wasn’t a plain Jane kind of girl. She had a natural beauty about her that reflected her kind-hearted nature. Reddish brown hair cascading down in waves over her shoulders, and gentle blue eyes. She was a pretty woman.

Most pretty women with Alpha blood like her would be treated like princesses. While she certainly wasn’t spoiled, it didn’t change the fact that she still easily attracted everyone’s attention, just like any other young lady with Alpha blood would.

Ava and Kashad made friends with Tori and I know they like her. Maybe to them, Tori was somewhat different from other she-wolves that the Alpha had ever interacted with. But neither of them knew what the Alpha’s plan for Tori was.

Ava sighed. “I know.”

“I need her moved to her room as soon as possible. That’s an order.”

“Yes, Beta, I understand.” I could see her reservation, but Ava never once failed the task she was given. “What room should I have her prepare to go to?”

“The suit directly next to the Alpha’s. He wants to keep her as close as possible.”

Ava was surprised. But then so was I when I learned about it. For generations. That was the suite reserved for one, and only one female: our pack Luna.

Knowing Cayden as well as I did, that suite would probably never be filled. He put Tori there only because it was more convenient for him to complete his breeding task. That was it.  

“But…” she began to say, but I gave her a look to stop her.

“I’m aware, Ava. It’s irrelevant where she is going. Also, from now on all of the information on her goes through me. I need to know when every detail of her health comes in.”

She was a little taken aback, but she didn’t question me.

“Yes, Beta. The last batch of tests will be back in three days, after that, she can move if required. Just precautions need to be made.”

“Good. Keep me posted on the new test results.”

I walked past Ava and she followed me to where Tori was sitting.

Tori greeted me with a warm smile. “Beta Jace.”

“Miss Tori, just Jace, please.”

She was still weak, but more energetic compared to before. I could even see a healthy glow on her pale face. The bruises over her neck had faded. She was like an elegant and fragile China doll that should be treated with care.

“So… am I moving soon?”

Being a wolf she would have heard what we were talking about. She had heightened hearing after all. I didn’t specifically plan to hide the conversation we just had from her. Sooner or later, she would have to know.

“Yes. They’ll have your room ready next week.”

“Oh.. okay,” was the response she gave as she looked down at her lap. She was showing all displays of anxiety, and self-induced panic.

Ava was right, she wasn’t mentally stable enough to be a breeder yet.

“It’s going to be okay. I am still going to come visit you, and Kas will be there for you as well. Just a lot closer than the hospital. Plus, you will LOVE the beds they have there. It’s like sleeping on clouds.”

“I saw the scars on your body. I'm so sorry that you've been through all this. You know that in the wolf pack, we've been taught since we were young that scars are a symbol of strength. It means that you've endured a lot of hardships. ”

“I can't even imagine what you've been through, Tori. I respect you so much. You've experienced something that no one should have gone through, and you've endured it alone for years. To me, you're a superhero.”

Ava tried to lighten the situation, but I could tell it wasn’t really working.

“I promise, Tori. I will help take care of you. You can trust me.”

I looked at Ava with disapproval. She didn’t notice—or maybe she did, and she just chose to ignore it. She shouldn’t be telling this, it’s not helping her. We had a plan, and that’s all that it was to it.

Looking toward Tori, however, a very small voice inside me tried to tell me she didn’t deserve this.

“I don’t want to be his breeder,” she whispered just loud enough for me to hear.

Ava sighed. “I know you don’t.”

I watched the tears roll down her cheeks, and Ava couldn’t help but hug her.

Tori flinched at Ava’s touch and was tense, but after a moment she gave in and surrendered herself to tears within her arms. Sometimes the world was unfair. Maybe an innocent girl like her didn’t deserve what happened to her, and what would happen to her.

I heard Ava mindlinked me. “I didn’t know how she felt, but I can only imagine how heartbreaking it was.”

I frowned but quickly waved away the uneasy emotion that grew inside me. The world wasn’t fair for Cayden either, so what? What should be done needs to be done.

With this thought, I hardened my heart again.

Cayden’s order must be executed. We were running out of time.