Chapter 59 These Conclusions

~Liam~

I played with the Head Gamma’s ring on my hand, my thumb rubbing over the center stone, an oval-shaped star ruby. A star-like pattern appeared as the light hit it.

He finally did it. I expected it to happen but hoped it wouldn’t since the slight change in him when Anna was around. He cared for her in the same way he cared for Sarina. However, it wouldn’t have been enough to make him do this. It was something else, or more accurately, someone… who meant the world to him – Maya.

“He’s going after him,” said Luca.

“He’s not our concern now,” I replied. “He’s a rogue.”

“Rigel and Rain are our brothers!” he shouted, growling.

I drank the last of the bourbon then set the glass down. “If he was really our brother, he wouldn’t cut the bond. Face it, Luca, he hated me for it.”

He growled. “It’s suicide! We have to go after him. I’m not losing my brother.”

“That was his choice to make…” I said calmly.

We grew up together and trained together. We weren’t brothers by blood, but we shared a strong bond, nonetheless. It had always been the four of us – me, Gale, and Rigel as the three idiots with Lexy as the only voice of reason. I didn’t want to believe things had changed since we both lost our mates, but he proved me wrong last night.

“… and I choose to save my Luna over a traitor.”

Someone slammed the door open, interrupting my thoughts. It was Lexy. Her high ponytail was now a hanging mess, she stood by the door seething then strode over to me.

“I don’t want to hear it, Lex.”

She pointed a finger at me with a hand on her hip.

“You have to get him back,” she said firmly. “I’m not losing my brother over a stupid suicide quest.”

I rubbed my temples in annoyance.

“Lex, he let the most important prisoner escape. He threatened to kill Sabri in front of Nalia,” I argued as I showed her the ring. “He returned his ring, Lex. He denounced his position before going rogue. He’s not one of us now. Whatever he does is none of our business.”

“He is our brother!” she shouted, emphasizing each word. “We four stick together no matter what.”

“We’re not having this talk,” I said, standing up. “He’s not one of us, Lex. Let that sink in.”

She narrowed her eyes at me like I just said the most stupid thing in the world. It sounded stupid to me, but his actions proved otherwise. This was Luca trying to manipulate me into changing my mind. I ignored her and headed for the door. I had a meeting to attend. I had to save my mate.

“If you won’t do anything, then I will!” she screamed.

I stopped. Slowly, I turned around to face her and she stepped back until her leg touched the edge of the bed.

Is she stupid?

I wasn’t going to let her risk her life for that traitor.

“No, you won’t,” I said firmly.

Her eyes widened. She tried to get past me, but I held her arm. I was faster.

She pushed at my hand to try to free her arm. I tightened my grip.

“Don’t you dare!”

I can’t lose you, too.

“You will not involve yourself in any matter concerning Rigel.”

“No, don’t. Please, bro…”

Tears began to build in her eyes.

You have too much to lose.

“You are to stay with your mate until he recovers,” I continued. She froze. “I give you this Order, as Alpha of the Red Claw Pack.”

Our link glowed red indicating that the Order had been set.

Did gale give her an Order? No matter.

She looked away, defeated. I let go of her arm and sighed.

“Since when?” she asked softly.

“I was counting. First, it was twice a week. Now, it’s four to five, twenty-four hours,” I replied.

I was busy with the pack, the investigation, and with the search, but it didn’t mean I pushed my little sister to the side.

“Also, Gale confirmed –“

“Does he know?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. Sorry, Lex. There’s nothing more we can do for him.”

Her eyes wandered to the ring in my hand. “That’s him,” she said.

Luca agreed with a howl. When the three of us ascended into our positions, it was understood that we’d always have each other’s backs no matter what. The three of us, looking out for our little sis and keeping the pack together. And when Goddess willed, our tight circle would expand to our own mates.

“Liam,” said Gale, entering the room. “It’s time for the meeting.”

That was what I needed to hear. I strode out the room, leaving her behind.

“I haven’t given up on him, Liam. He’s still our brother.”

He was our brother.

Gale followed silently.

“It’s not your fault,” I said as we rounded a corner.

“I should’ve killed him,” he spat. It was the first prisoner to ever see the outside world, but…

I looked him in the eye and firmly said, “I wasn’t talking about the prisoner.”

When the rogues attacked that day, Gale did what he could. It wasn’t his fault Sarina was outside, wasn’t his fault that Maya was with her. Someone had to pay. Rigel was just impatient.

The Blue Moon Pack was one of the strongest packs. We needed compelling evidence to take them down, not mere speculation. I would not have my warriors attack the innocent. I would not have Myron have his way and destroy everything my pack stood for.

We reached the kid’s office and barged in like we owned the place. He’d been helping out with the search and although it was still tense between us, he wasn’t asserting a useless claim anymore. Good for him because I would’ve pummeled him if he pissed me off.

There was a map laid out on a long table that wasn’t there before. Two Alphas and my Beta. He had no Head Gamma because I have her.

I could only imagine what my mate was going through right now. She loved her father, but her true origins were hidden from her. Was she confused, lost, alone? Luca whimpered. Could I bring her back? It’d been three months and no word from her.

Are you still mad at me?

I did some digging with the paperwork. My pack was associated with the Old Alliance. There had to be recorded.

The three of us discussed the plan. This wasn’t an attack. It was a retrieval, a covert mission. Sneak in, sneak her out.

“Do you know about the Old Alliance?” Flynn asked.

“They’re a ghost pack,” I replied. “The alliance attacked their pack, weakening them. Do you know what happens to a pack recently attacked?”

“The smaller packs band to steal their land if they’re being merciful. Rogues tend to get bolder,” he answered.

At least he knew his homework.

“It’s a good plan,” I said, stretching my neck from side to side.

He raised a brow at me. Gale had a stern look on his face.

Will this work?

“My pack will take back our Luna. She is no longer of your concern.”

His brows furrowed then his lip twitched. “You… You are not cutting me off from this mission. We have a truce!”

“Then I have a favor to ask.”

It has to.

“What favor?”

“You want Anna back, don’t you? When this mission succeeds, there’s no guarantee she’ll talk to you, let alone see you,” I said, and he frowned.

“You don’t know that.”

“After what you did? She hasn’t spoken a word about you since she left this pack.”

It wasn’t my place to forgive him. He’d been helping us, and I could tell he regretted it and he’d given up on her, but just like Rigel, leaving the pack doesn’t sever the bond. Growing up together, going through life and death situations together – these create a bond far stronger than links and blood.

Damn it, Rigel!

“What do you want?” he asked, sighing.

He’s still our brother!

You really are the voice of reason, Lex.

“To get my brother back.”

Why’d he set the prisoner free? Why did he have to turn his back on us? It was my fault. I dismissed his feelings too easily and only felt my own pain, grief, and anger. They consumed me, but Anna pulled me out of it. It consumed him, but Sabri wasn’t enough for him.

He was with me that day. I asked him to attend the meeting with me. Because of me, he couldn’t even protect his own mate.

I was the eldest brother. I should’ve been there for him, but I wasn’t.

The ring was his. He was my Head Gamma. He was my brother.

Luca howled in my mind. Gale was staring at me wide-eyed while Flynn looked confused.

I pointed to a particular area on the map. There was another reason we didn’t attack the Blue Moon Pack.

“You been here yet?” I asked and he shook his head. “Their location allows them to see all that approaches their pack from a good distance. Guests must be escorted because of the spells. The pack hasn’t seen a rogue in years…”

Since Myron took over, or so I heard.

“What does this have to with Anna?” he asked. “I heard about your Alpha Duel with Alpha Myron. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you turned us down when you were under siege. She could’ve been – been…”

“That was me,” said Gale, avoiding my gaze. “Frankly, we couldn’t risk accepting aid from a pack that abused our Luna.”

You didn’t tell me about this.

Flynn’s face hardened. None of us said a word for a while.

“You have to let me talk to her,” said Flynn.

“I can arrange that.”

She’d probably hate me for it, but… I had to take my chances.

“Mate will understand,” said Luca. “She is kind.”

“We’re exploiting her kindness now? What kind of mates are we, Luca?”

“The sweetest, most caring, and most protective. We’ll get her back and let her decide on her own, but whatever she decides on, we’ll continue to love her every day like it’s the last. For every moment without her is agony, and every moment with her is sinful bliss. Anna - she’s the air that we breathe that’s never enough. Her voice is the music that plays, a serenade in the wind. A fully bloomed rose who captivates all despite her thorns. She’s our captor, bound to her in more ways than one. Our sole liberator, and yet we’d rather she keeps our freedom. A gift born from an alignment of the stars, the one speck from this vast universe destined for us. What kind of mates are we? We are but lucky; undeserving of her. What kind of mates are we? We are but the speck destined for her. Nothing more and nothing less.”

I chuckled. “You incurable romantic.”

He smiled.

“We… incurable romantic,” he corrected.

“Gale will go with you. Help me get our brother back, and I’ll get my mate to talk to you.”