<b>Chapter </b>47 To <b>Help </b>Or Not
“The best <b>way </b>to find out if you can <b>trust </b>somebody is to trust them.“–Ernest Hemingway
Neron
“I do not understand, Alpha Anthony. Our packs teamed up before when Kiya and Phoebe were first kidnapped, and our mission was sessful. Now, why you’re turning down my help?”
“Things have changed, Alpha Neron,” His cold baritone voice induced fresh bouts of concern from me. Nonchntly, Anthony leans back in his chair, staring me down with sharp scrutiny as if I’ve insulted his family. We’ve been cordial with one another for a while, and this is the first <b>he’s </b>rejected my offer of aid. “Ga Moon has the jurisdiction over this investigation. Kiya is my pack member, therefore making it my responsibility to find her.”
“My member and I wish to aid in the investigation as well.” I retort, gripping the arms of my seat. Onyx listens, yet is unruly at the absence of our mate. It knocks me out of focus, sporadically. “We have an alliance and I feel it is beneficial for us to team up once again, since we <b>have </b>amon goal; to recover Kiya safely. I mean no insult, but you don’t know what you’re <b>up </b>against.”
“I do. Don’t underestimate me.” He advised. “However, I am questioning whether our alliance is worth the
trouble.”
The moon peeks from the corner of the window, a sliver of light splicing through <b>the </b>office. It is now nighttime. Kwame, Raina, and I have resided on Anthony’snds since our departure from <b>the </b>crash site.. Kiya’s disappearance has <b>created </b>an ocean of immense shock, not just with her friends, but with her pack. I’m worried sick about her. Based on the rumblings I’ve heard within these walls; she’s admired by everyone. Even
the children.
Ga <b>Moon </b>is a family. If one hurts, they all hurt. That made the impact of the abduction that much harder on those expecting her return. Her friends have be closed off and her parents are an absolute mess.
Thest thing they’d want are myforting words..
In my hands, I held onto the portrait I made for her. It is as perfect as when I packaged it. By the miracle of my Moon Goddess, it survived the crash. My heart did a flutter when I found it nestled in a bush against a rock. The undead rogues never found it and apparently, neither did her friends. Part of me danced with joy to see my gift to her intact, but knowing I cannot see her reaction made the ache in my heart throb harder.
Settling it next to my seat now, I face another dilemma. Alpha Anthony is rejecting our help for reasons unknown to me. As his persistence raged on, Onyx grows infuriated from being barred from helping to find his other half. He wanted to jump out and give Anthony a piece of his mind, so keeping his anger in check tested my willpower.
And I share some of his anger, but not enough to attack.
“This sudden questioning of our alliance is quite abrupt, don’t you <b>think</b>?” I probed, eyeing my fellow Alpha carefully. An idea of why buzzes in my head, but I needed confirmation. “Why?”
“Simple. I don’t trust you, Neron. Or <b>rather</b>, I’m not sure if I can.” Sitting up, he folded his hands on his desk. “As more and more of your packs barbarities against my sistere to light, I’m questioning if I made the right choice forming this alliance.”
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“But, there’s more you aren’t telling me.”
“Hoo!”
I almost forgot about the bundle of feathers shuffling in myp. Diana hadn’t left my side since I’ve left the crash site. She’s like a cute, feathery boomerang. I scratch her tiny head, relishing in her soft hoots of pleasure. Even now, as the tension is thick as butter in Anthony’s office, she continues to support me.
My fellow Alpha arched <b>an </b>eyebrow, his close–set hazel eyesnding on the unusual addition in <b>his </b>office.
“Did you really have to bring that thing in here with <b>you</b><b>?</b>”
“Diana is not a thing; she’s Kiya’s pet.” I corrected, fondly poking her beak. “And I’m sure she misses her immensely. You wouldn’t push her out, would <b>you</b><b>?</b>”
“Hmm. Kiya never told me she <b>had </b>a pet, let alone an owl. How peculiar for it to befortable around its natural predators, but that’s besides the <b>point</b>.” He sighs, rubbing his temple to soothe an iing headache. “I’ve spoken with Jacqueline and the others, and they’ve filled me in on what had happened. I know you’re aware that a pack’s actions reflect on their Alpha, right?”
Unfortunately, I am aware of this. An Alpha’s <b>leadership </b>is the <b>hallmark </b>of their pack’s <b>progression </b>and structure. Like a mentor to students, the <b>leader </b>helps guide them <b>on </b>the right path. Not only that, the actions of the Alpha also reflect on them as an individual. If a pack flourishes, the Alpha is praised for being the one to bring them to that state. Outstanding leaders produce greater people. A strong pack equals a strong leader. Sadly, the packs <b>that </b><b>have </b>fallen to ruin <b>have </b>their <b>name </b>tarnished and their Alpha <b>as </b>weak.
“The Zircon Moon pack <b>has </b>proven to be unreliable, <b>thus </b><b>making </b>you untrustworthy by extension. <b>No </b>one <b>has </b>learned from the mistakes they’ve made <b>and </b>are easily swayed by extraneous <b>forces</b>, so it seems. If we were to Join again to <b>save </b>Kiya, I cannot say with confidence that <b>your </b><b>pack </b>will give their best effort.”
“Then don’t worry about them.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“You have every right to be skeptical, as I am too.” It’s a terrible thing for an Alpha to admit that he or <b>she </b>doesn’t trust the very people they’ve sworn to protect. Growing up, Zircon Moon was a symbol of pride. My pride. I’ve held my home to the greatest <b>regard </b><b>and </b>couldn’t say enough good things about it. Now, as I open my eyes more to <b>what </b><b>I’ve </b>turned an ignorant eye to, there isn’t much to be proud of.
It’s disgraceful.
“That’s not a good thing, Neron. If you can’t trust your people <b>to </b>go to battle for you, then who can you
trust?”
“My Betas and my Gammas<b>.</b>” A foreign feeling bubbled in my chest as I spoke. I don’t <b>know </b>if I should call it pride, but its warmth rushed through my body. “<b>Can </b>I ask you a question, Anthony?”
He nods<b>.</b>
“Do you regret sending Kiya to mynds?”
Anthony’s eyebrows arch at the unexpected question with a sharp intake of breath. His expression contorted as his hazel eyes hardened like steel, regarding me with a look full of scrutiny. On the desk, his fingers.
47 To Help Dr Not
switched slightly before hiding away under the cherry wood. I waited for his answer while Diana shuffled in myp.
“Sending my sister to yournds was never for your benefit. My family promised to protect her from harm, always. As the years went on, I’ve watched Kiya <b>blossom </b><b>into </b><b>a </b>force to be reckoned with. But there was constantly something holding her back from her true potential. Mom, Dad, and I believed a time wille for her to confront her demons in order for her to heal well because no matter what we <b>do</b>, Zircon Moon continued to hover <b>over </b>her like a dark cloud. Kiya is a warrior, but she is always fighting. Sometimes, even the mightiest of all fighters grow weary. While her primary purpose was to train your warriors, it was also <b>so </b><b>she </b>can break her chains permanently and finally be free.”
A tired exhale escaped from Anthony’s lips. Slumping shoulders, permeating sadness, and the loss of light in his eyes gave way to how he’s truly feels. Guilt. Anthony holds the <b>look </b>of a remorseful man with the weight of the world trapping him between a rock and a hard ce. His palm brushed his hair back, revealing more of his regret.
“I regret sending her. If I hadn’t, <b>she’d </b>still be here. I acted selfishly; in my desire for her to break loose from her demons, <b>I’ve </b>chained her tighter to them. And now, she’s gone.” His sorrowful eyes gazed at the <b>shining </b>moon through his window as if he’s praying for our goddess‘ forgiveness. “I just wanted the pain in her eyes to disappear. But you don’t send a soldier with PTSD back to the battlefield.”
“There is nothing wrong with what you <b>did</b>, Anthony.” I reassured, feeling his <b>guilt </b>twinning with mine, despite <b>being </b>so different. “You did what you thought was best at the time.”
“And look where that got her. Your ex–girlfriend tried to kill her twice, and a crazed psychopath nearly killed. my family to abduct her. I feel like this is my i
“If it counts for something, Kiya’s presence had a good effect on mynds.”
Anthony rolled his eyes. “You’re saying that because she is your mate.<b>”</b>
“It’s not just that.” I shook my head. “She was the karma we all needed. For too long, we’ve alluded ourselves to think nothing would harm us; that our actions won’t affect our future. We’ve buried that part of our history for so long, and it is only now that we’re <b>forced </b>to open our eyes and confront it. To own up to what we did. I admit, some of us <b>need </b>more work than others. Kiya is my mate, but she’s also a lesson I needed to be taught a long time ago. If she hadn’t kicked my ass, I’d still be the same idiot as before.”
“You still are kind of.” Onyx quipped. I’ve never put a mental block up so fast.
Sharp knocks from behind me echoed in the air, taking our attention from the conversation. With a blunt ‘Come in‘ from Anthony. Miss Phoebe walked in with a grim look on her <b>face</b>. An <b>air </b>of mystery trails <b>her </b>in the office, pricking at my skin. It’s not bothersome, but it still gives me the child.
Thest of my hopesid with her as she is the only one<b>, </b>I believe<b>, </b>can locate Kiya with magic.
“Phoebe<b>. </b>Any news?” Anthony asked.
The heavy sigh she gave made my fear spike. “Osiris got smarter this time. I’ve conjured up all the spells and rituals from my book to locate Kiya, but I’m met with metaphysical blocks time after time. Imagine running and suddenly crashing into <b>an </b>unexpected tree. If my sentiments are correct, he is using the magic of corrupt witches to insure their location is untraceable. He is not letting anyone find Kiya.”
Chapter 47 – To Help Or Not
“Corrupt witches?” I asked her. “What do they have to do with this?”
“Just like in every species, there are a select few who stray from the rules. Phoebe began. “Motivated by greed, lust, and who knows what <b>else</b>, they’ll do whatever it takes to get what they want. Here, witches who use corrupt magic are the ones who will ally themselves with darkness. While Osiris <b>is </b>not a witch, it’s most likely he promised them something in return of their servitude. Unfortunately, when Kiya and I were kidnapped, I’ve witnessed their immorality with my own eyes. They don’t care about anyone except themselves. I’m sure Goddess Hecate has forsaken them as her children.”
Disbelief rocks through my body at the idea of Osiris gaining unlikely allies to keep Kiya hidden away like possession. Witches, Cerberus; who the hell else is there?! My faith slowly detes, but I cannot let it die.
Giving up is not an option, <b>nor </b><b>will </b>it ever be <b>an </b>option.
I won’t stop until I <b>find </b>her.
Anthony hummed in thought, resting his <b>chin </b><b>on </b><b>his </b><b>fist</b>. “Your friend, Endo, used a special locator spellst time to uncover your location. Could we try that again since <b>we </b><b>have </b>Raina here?”
“It’s a perilous ritual, <b>even </b>without the blocks to take into consideration. The <b>blocks </b>these witches used to cloud Kiya’s location are incredibly strong, and it most likely came from the effort of multiple corrupt witches. Using that ritual again will put <b>Raina’s </b>life in danger again. Given the barriers <b>put </b>in <b>ce</b>, I will not take that risk on her life. There <b>is </b>a lot at stake now; not just Kiya’s safety.”
Raina would die for Kiya, <b>that </b>I know for sure. However, <b>Valerian </b>would never agree to <b>a </b>second chance at the ritual<b>, </b>given how he was against it the first time. His wife could’ve gotten seriously hurt.
“What can you do now, Phoebe?”
The witch rubbed her temples, her eyes fluttering close. “I cane up with a new ritual to <b>try </b>out. It’ll take some time to gather materials needed, but if I can break through the metaphysical blocks, then it leads us that much <b>closer </b>to discovering where both she and Osiris are. I can have it made by the morning.”
“Sounds like a <b>n</b>. <b>Thank </b>you, Phoebe. You’re dismissed.”
A thought suddenly struck, buzzing about like an angry ho. As Phoebe got up to leave, I <b>called </b>her out. “Wait, Miss Phoebe. There is something I need to ask you.”
Her amethyst eyes peered into my soul, silently beckoning me to ask what is on my mind.
“What do you think Osiris wants with Kiya?”
“Something bad.” She points to myp. “But, cute owl. Keep her around. She is something special.” With that, she left the office, leaving us Alphas alone<b>. </b>Diana cooed softly, nuzzling her small <b>head </b>into my stomach. My hand naturally found its way to her colorless feathers again, caressing them softly.
“Okay, Neron.” Anthony spoke again. “We’re up against an enemy unlike any other. Call your Beta Female and Gamma in here; I <b>want </b>to speak to them as well.”
Five minutester, Raina and Kwame arrived are seated next to me. Kwame has his infamous calm and collected air around him while Raina is theplete opposite. Triggered by her worry, her leg bounces at her seat. Anthony measured them both in silence, his <b>eyes </b>searching for <b>faults </b>in <b>their </b>resolve. He’s looking for a reason not to trust them.
Chapter 47 – To Help für Reun
I’m partially offended.
“<b>You </b><b>want </b>to help find Kiya?”
Both of them <b>nodded</b>, Raina more vigorously.
“<b>Your </b>Alpha <b>said </b>that he trusts you and your partners the most. Can you say, in confidence<b>, </b>I can <b>trust </b>you
both as well?”
“Yes.” Kwame answered confidently. “Under your <b>discretion</b>, <b>we </b>can work with your Beta and Gamma as we uncover additional information that’ll <b>lead </b><b>us </b>to Kiya’s rescue.”
“We want her back, and we’ll do whatever it takes.” Raina added on, her leg slowing its bounce. Diana leaned over and rubbed her wing on her arm, taking the woman by surprise. Smiling softly, Raina petted her. Anthony regarded all of us with a heavy look before focusing on me.
“Very well. You’re wee to the investigation.
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