Chapter 38
When the knock sounded on his door, Malachi had already been expecting his visitor.
“Andre,” he welcomed his visitor. “Have a seat.”
There was something wrong with the other man, that much, he was sure about, but what the problem was, he wasn’t aware yet. Andre looked unusually calm and his stance was rigid, robotic almost.
Malachi debated on what he should ask the other man; thought it better to let him talk first. Malachi wasn’t a man to get easily intimidated or worried, but he had a feeling that Andre was lying about a lot of things. He was far older than what he had told and stronger too. He had a gut feeling about the other man that he couldn’t shake and it had only gotten stronger in the days after he had found the other man injured in the forest.
He held a grudge too strong and he was sure there was much more to his secrets than he let on. Although it was understandable that he hadn’t wanted his mate to run off with a rogue and had gone out for revenge, but now that Flora had rejected him…the grudge seems to have only intensified.
“Alpha Malachi,” Andre took a seat opposite to him, his eyes hard. “I think it is finally time for me to fulfill my purpose.”
“And what would that be?” Malachi asked calmly.
“To eradicate all rogues surrounding Lindersay.” Andre spoke just as calmly, except there was frost in his voice. “I was brought here especially for this reason and yet, you keep standing in the way of my duty.”
“I’m afraid you had the wrong idea, Andre,” Malachi looked straight into his eyes. “I told you to protect our castle. To make sure no one gets hurt. You know as well as I do that there had never been any contracts about harming the rogues, like you did the first night you came here and today when you marched with your army to get Flora back.”
“So what had you expected me to do?” Andre countered. “Sit back and watch as a rogue did whatever it pleased with my mate?”
“Flora left of her own free will and the rogue did nothing to harm her.” Malachi reminded him. “It was always your aggression that ends up hurting Flora.”
“So you knew about Flora leaving?” Andre snapped. “And you did nothing to let me know?”
“I’m her Alpha, Andre.” Malachi’s impossibly blue eyes glowed amber. “She doesn’t need to inform anyone else about her whereabouts and neither do I.”
“And I’m her mate!” Andre stood up so suddenly that it upturned the chair he had been sitting on. “I must know about what she does every second of every day!”
“She rejected you.” Malachi stood from his chair as well. “And being a mate means being equals, partners. She isn’t your slave nor your servant that she must let you know about everything she has going in her life.”
A smile formed on Andre’s face that was just as menacing as it was unexpected. “Oh, how foolish of you. Just because you rejected your mate to be with Ezra, it doesn’t mean all mating bonds will work like that.”
Malachi’s eyes widened in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on now.” Andre laughed, his stance changing in a blink of an eye. “No need to be so coy. We both know that you’ve been trying too hard to figure out what exactly it is that you think is off about me. Let me make it easier on you.”
Andre rounded the table to stand in front of Malachi, looking at him eye to eye. “Mother is really disappointed in you, Malachi. So she had to step in.”
“No…” Malachi’s eyes widened in horror but before he could react, it was already too late.
Andre took out a syringe from his pant pockets and injected it into Malachi’s neck. Almost instantly, his entire body started to feel numb and he fell to the floor.
Andre knelt down next to him, his smile menacing. “We always knew you were too weak to be the judge, too soft. So mother had a backup plan. How I wished we could have met under different circumstances, but this is even better. Your journey ends here, Malachi. Everything you own is now mine.”
Malachi tried his best to stay awake, but his attempts were futile. All he could do was watch as Andre’s guards came into his room upon their master’s command and then they picked him up like a sack of potatoes, ready to be disposed off.
“Take him away.” Andre smiled. “Make sure no one finds him.”
No…Ezra…Flora…
*
Andre’s P.O.V:
I came to stand outside on the balcony and saw a crowd forming in the front courtyard to see what the fuss had been about. Good. It was time.
“Residents of Lindersay, I have an important announcement to make.” I spoke out loud and clear, so everyone could hear me. “Your Alpha had corrupted the pack and crippled your fellow soldiers! He had supported the rogues till now and had even joined hands with them!”
The women gasped and the men began to chatter in disbelief.
“I know it is hard to believe but it is the truth!” I told them. “If I hadn’t found out in time, rogues would’ve attacked and killed every single one of you! And then they would have taken over the palace!”
More gasps of disbelief, more chatter.
“Malachi knew that I had found out the truth, so to threaten me, he even handed over my mate to the rogues!” I told them, creating the perfect lie. “Today, I saved my mate from the rogues and I took care of your corrupt Alpha.”
“How can we trust you?” Someone shout from the crowd. “Our Alpha has ruled Lindersay for centuries and never let any harm come to us.”
“Yes! That’s right!” Another person spoke out. “If Alpha Malachi had ever wanted to sell us out to the rogues, he wouldn’t have waited this long! You’re lying! Release our Alpha now!”
I gave out a bark of laughter as more and more people started to raise their voices and everyone immediately shut their mouths.
“Malachi sure has a bunch of loyal followers,” I told them after I had my laughter under control. “Too bad he trusted everyone easily.”
“What do you mean?” Someone brave enough to speak, asked from the crowd.
“I mean that Malachi is gone for good and he isn’t coming back.” I raised my hand and instantly, my guards pointed their guns at the pack.
It was fun seeing the fear in their eyes, watching them huddle together and cower away. Even the bravest didn’t speak this time as horror filled their veins.
“Listen closely and listen well.” I spoke loud and clear, letting the power in my veins resonate in my voice. “I am the new Alpha of Lindersay now. Everything I say will be the law. If you follow me without any complains, then I will treat you justly. If not, your life ends here. So tell me, any objections?”
Not a single person spoke and I smirked down at the crowd. “As I thought. Now, let your peers know about the change in management. Your duties remain the same until told otherwise.”
Then I turned to the soldiers who had tried to surround me while I was talking to the crowd downstairs; the soldiers who were loyal to Malachi. “If you follow me from now on, you will be rewarded. If not, you die.”
Snatching the gun out of one of my closest soldier, I shot at the crowd and some of them started to scream.
I looked down at the man bleeding on the floor, the man who had just now demanded that I release their Alpha. “I do not like to be disobeyed.” I told them clearly and they all fell to the floor weeping.
“Now…where was I?” I turned back to the soldiers once again. “Ah! Your decision. Let me make it easier for you. For each refusal, two people die. The one who refuses and one from the crowd. How about now?” I pointed the gun at the crowd.
Unwillingly, they all let down their weapons and fell to their knees. I heard several gritted teeth, but I didn’t care. Lindersay was mine now. I was halfway to what I wanted to achieve. A little more patience and I would have it all.
“Lock down the Castle and guard it heavily.” I told the soldiers. “No one comes or goes without my permission.”
“Yes…Alpha.”
Now for the final step…the Blood Moon ritual.
