Abella gasped as she leaned heavily against the counter as the image faded away.
“Are you okay?” Caden asked with concern.
Abella nodded her head although she couldn’t speak and she went back to the eggs.
“Let’s get something into your system before you have to go back to the pack house,” Abella said in the right tone of voice.
“Thanks,” Caden said, and Abella knew that the gratitude was for her understanding.
Abella smiled before saying, “Go ahead, and set the table.”
It was a decent breakfast even if they cooked it in a hurry, and after eating Caden helped wash the dishes.
“We still need to finish our talk,” Caden mentioned a little while later as he was pulling on his jacket getting ready to go.
“We will,” Abella told him honestly.
“Okay, you take care of yourself,” he stated giving her a narrowed look from black eyes, and Abella laughed before nodding her head.
Caden reached up a hand and trailed it lightly down her cheek, and Abella sighed at the sensation his touch created within her.
“I will talk to you later,” Caden told her in tone that she didn’t quite understand, but she nodded her head anyway.
Abella wouldn’t admit that she was disappointed when a few seconds later he walked out to his truck and drove off after giving her a wave. Abella watched him leave before she closed the door, and she took her cell out of her pocket as soon as she closed and locked the door.
“Aunt Cicely, it happened again,” she said when the phone on the other end was answered.
She explained what happened at Cicely’s request and then waited as she told Abella that training would began the next day instead of Monday as it seemed that Abella was developing it faster than suspected.
Abella agreed with that as they set a time, and then she rung off.
She did some light cleaning of the house before deciding to go into her secret room. Shutting the door behind her, her eyes landed on the backpack Caden had brought with him the night before, and she bit her lip before walking over to it.
She nodded her head as she opened it and began to pull out the books one by one. Unlike Caden, Abella decided to start with the last diary first as it was the one she wrote in the weeks before she died. Abella knew that it wasn’t the right order of things, but she wanted to know what was going through her mind those last few weeks.
She settled in the only chair in the room before opening the book, and she began to read.
Chapter 18
Caden parked his truck in the back of the house using the back entrance to get to his office. He scowled as he thought of Jenna telling him he was neglecting pack duties so as soon as he entered the office, he sent Timothy a mind-link, I am here in the office.
He settled down behind the desk to look over a few papers on his desk as Timothy came through the door a few minutes later.
“Hi Caden,” Timothy said with a hard smile.
Caden nodded his head as he read the message from Alpha Stone and he sighed.
“So they found another rogue,” he stated aloud and Timothy walked over to sit down in front of the desk.
“According to what Alpha Stone told me,” Timothy explained, “she is only 16 and from what he could tell, she has been severely victimized.” Timothy hesitated for a moment before he continued, “She told him her mate rejected her and then tried to kill her.”
Caden’s head snapped up at that news and his teeth clenched in anger as his wolf snarled inside of him.
“Does Stone have any idea who her mate is?” Caden asked his voice cold that Timothy flinched involuntary.
Caden sighed closing his eyes to calm him and his wolf down.
“No,” Timothy replied relaxing against the chair.
Caden frowned as he muttered, “Too bad,” and Timothy nodded his head in agreement.
Caden’s eyebrows lifted as he asked, “So is this the important news that I needed to hear? Is there anything else that I need to know?”
Timothy scowled, “No, I mentioned the call to Jessa, and Jenna overheard. She assumed it was something important and called you.”
“I highly doubt that,” Caden said absently after a few moments thought.
Timothy’s eyes widened as his mind clicked onto what Caden was saying.
“That bitch,” Timothy muttered clenching his fists.
Caden waved his hand as he said, “We weren’t doing anything, but making breakfast. Besides, Abella understands more than we give her credit.”
Thinking about Abella, Caden frowned as his eyes narrowed causing Timothy to ask, “What? Is something the matter?”
“No,” Caden replied shaking his head. “Just remembering that Abella and I need to finish a conversation we…” he was cut off by a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Caden said lifting an eyebrow at Timothy because the smell coming form the door was from one of their new fighter wolves.
The young man who came through the door was a good-looking one with hazel eyes and a lanky build, and he was strong although he was only 20.
Caden also recognized him as the young man who was the unmated male who was a constant companion for Jenna. He settled back in the chair as his brain clicked on something that he overlooked, but he would let this young man confirm if what is mind was telling is true.
“You wanted to see me about something, Briac,” Caden said with a question in his voice.
“Yes, Alpha,” Briac said respectfully, and Caden saw the confidence in the man’s stride as he approached the desk after walking into the room and closing the door.
Caden’s eyes glinted with approval although he shielded them so Briac couldn’t see it.
“Go on,” Caden ventured waiting for Briac to speak.
Briac clenched his fists as he stated angrily, “I know that you are the Alpha, and a highly respected one, but I respectfully ask that you release my mate from her debt. I will pay it anyway I can.”
“What debt?” Timothy asked throwing a confused look at Caden before he turned to face Briac.
Caden’s body had stiffened as the news sunk in and his wolf was eerily calm, which actually caused Caden concern.
“I’m not sure exactly what you are referring to, Briac. Please, enlighten me,” Caden requested his voice calm, but there was a note of steel underneath the calmness.
Caden watched as confusion came into Briac’s eyes before he said slowly, “Jenna told me that the reason we couldn’t be fully mated is because she owes you a debt and your repayment was the pleasure of her body. She didn’t want to hurt me anymore than she already was so I should wait until her debt is paid before we could mark each other.”
There was silence in the room until Timothy exploded, “What Bullshit.”
Briac turned narrowed eyes to Timothy and told him with a sneer, “After forcing a kiss on my mate, Beta, you don’ have any right to talk.”
Timothy’s jaw actually dropped open as he literally stammered out in anger, “Forcing…a kiss.”
“Timothy,” Caden said using his Alpha tone, “calm down.”
Timothy listened to Caden as he and his wolf calmed down, but he was still angry.
“How long have you been with us, Briac?” Caden asked leaning forward putting his elbows on his desk.
“Almost three months,” Briac told him, and Caden nodded his head.
“You came with the Council members and stayed,” Timothy concluded, “without asking for permission.”
Briac glared at him as he bit out, “No, I didn’t.”
Caden let that slide for a moment as he stated, “You stayed because you learned Jenna was your mate.”
“Yes,” Briac nodded his head.
Caden stated, “Jenna told you that she owed me a debt.”
Again Briac nodded his head although Caden could see from his eyes that questions were starting to run through his mind.
“You may ask,” Caden told him, and Briac l
ooked at him astonishment.
“I don’t understand what kind of debt she would owe you,” he asked him slowly.
Caden smiled slightly as his wolf howled lightly, Poor Jenna. Her mate is not as stupid as she hoped he would be.
“Because there is no debt,” Timothy told him leaning on the corner of Caden’s desk.
Caden watched as Briac’s eyes widened in surprise and then anger clouded them, and Caden could read in those eyes that he thought Timothy was lying to him.
“He is correct, Briac,” Caden stated pushing to his feet. “Jenna owes me no debt and she is allowed to be with her mate with my complete blessing.”
“But…” Briac started only to frown as he stopped.
“I haven’t had sex with Jenna in almost three months,” Caden told him. Thinking for a moment, Caden said aloud absently, “To be honest, I think it has been longer than that.”
“I know that for a fact,” Timothy stated with a grimace.
“Oh, really, and how do you know that?” Briac growled at Timothy and Caden knew he was upset that he believed her even though he knew that something seemed wrong about what she had been telling him.
“Because of her stupid stunt, I almost lost my mate,” Timothy snarled back, and then proceeded to tell him what happened with the supposing ‘forced kiss.’ “If you don’t believe me,” Timothy concluded, “ask the other pack members and they will tell you what happened that day.”
Briac’s face paled as he muttered aloud leaning heavily against a chair, “How stupid could I be.”
Timothy and Caden looked at each other before turning back to him.
“Are you sure you want to believe our word on it?” Caden questioned playing devil’s advocate, and Briac looked up at him in confusion. “She is your mate no matter what we say.”
Briac went to go say something when suddenly he clutched his chest in agony, and Caden gritted his teeth as Timothy dug his hands into his arms.
“Damn,” Briac growled his eyes bright as his wolf wanted to break free.
Caden watched as Briac struggled to keep his wolf at bay and knew he lost the struggle when suddenly he shifted.
“Timothy,” Caden ordered a second before they both shifted into their wolves.
Caden tried to first talk with him through the mind link, but it was no use as his wolf was hurting and not listening, not to mention the link wasn’t strong as Briac hadn’t been officially welcomed in the pack.
Caden remembered how it felt to lose control of your wolf for the first time although his happened after Leana left him and he had taken himself away from the pack to calm down. It had taken him over a week to even shift back into his human form.
We are going to have to take drastic measures, Timothy told him.
Caden huffed lightly before allowing his wolf a little more control. His wolf immediately snatched Briac around the neck forcing him to submit as he mind linked the doctor.
Once you calm down and wake up, then we will talk more, he promised Briac as the doctor hurried into the office and gave Briac a sedative to knock him out.
Timothy and Caden shifted back into their human forms, and Caden walked around to his desk to grab a pair of boxers as Timothy scowled.
“It happens too often for me,” Caden spoke lightly, but there was an undercurrent to his voice.
“Let’s get him to the infirmary,” Dr. Olsen said chuckling as Timothy growled at them.
Caden hid his own smile knowing that Timothy wasn’t shy, but Jessa would have a fit if she caught him.
“If we are caught, you will be the one explaining the situation to your sister,” Timothy told him with a narrowed glare.
Caden flinched at that causing laughter to enter Timothy’s narrowed glare and Caden shook his head as he leaned down to lift up Briac’s wolf into his arms.
“Damn it,” Caden muttered as they hurried from the office, Timothy closing the door behind them. Once in the infirmary, after he laid Briac on the bed, Dr. Olsen found something for Timothy to wear.
“Dr. Olsen,” Caden began, and the doctor looked over at him, “When he wakes up, let me know.”
Dr. Olsen nodded his head as Timothy and Caden started to exit the room.
Caden froze at the door when suddenly as if Abella was in the room with him, he heard her ask herself, “Why would Dr. Olsen take an order from Devin knowing he wasn’t Caden’s father nor of Alpha blood?”
Caden turned to look at Dr. Olsen his black eyes narrowed in thought because that was a good question…something he hadn’t even thought of or even bothered to ask.
Later, Dr. Olsen and he would have a long talk, Caden promised himself as he turned and walked out heading for his room.
Dr. Olsen had felt Caden’s eyes on him and he smiled although it was twinge with apprehension. He knew that eventually, Caden was going to ask him why he did as Devin ordered even though he didn’t have to follow it.
“Devin,” Dr. Olsen spoke aloud, “you finally are getting what you deserve.”
A few hours later, Dr. Olsen informed Caden who was working in his office that Briac was awake.
Caden had made a few phone calls to help Briac, but ultimately the decision was up to him concerning the plan he had in mind. He walked up the stairs as the front door opened and Jenna stepped in followed by Devin. A few seconds later, a pissed off Trixie came out of the living room and Caden ignored them all as he continued up the stairs even though both Devin and Jenna called his name.
He walked into the infirmary as Briac slid on a pair of jeans and a shirt before giving him a glare. Caden chuckled as he told him, “I have to admit I like the fact that you are not scared of me even though I am an Alpha.”
Briac looked stunned at the compliment although he nodded his head as a slight smile twitched on his face.
“Come on,” Caden said tilting his head as he heard feet hurrying up the stairs. “Let’s go somewhere else so we can talk.”
Briac looked at him in bewilderment, but nodded his head again.
“Use the back entrance,” Dr. Olsen suggested although Caden was already heading for it.
“Thanks, Doc,” Briac called out following behind Caden.
“Mac,” Caden said stopping before he stepped out the door.
At the use of his first name, Dr. Olsen stilled and looked at Caden.
“We need to have a conversation ourselves when I get back,” Caden said seriously before continuing out the door, and Dr. Olsen saw the look of confusion that crossed Briac’s face as he followed behind Caden.
The door closed behind them just as Jenna opened the door to the infirmary.
“Where is Caden?” She demanded.
Dr. Olsen looked at her and said, “He left as he had something to do. Can I help you with anything, Jenna?”
She didn’t bother answering as she turned and walked out of the room slamming the door behind her.
Dr. Olsen chuckled before going back to his own paperwork.
Once outside, Caden threw a change of clothes at Briac before getting a pair for himself and shifting into his wolf. Briac followed suit and headed after Caden as he ran through the woods bordering their property. Caden knew where he was heading he just hoped that Abella didn’t mind the sudden visit.
Not too far from Abella’s house, he shifted back in his human form and got dressed. Briac was confused, but did the same thing before asking, “Where are we going?”
Caden didn’t answer as he started walking toward Abella’s house. Once they reached it, he knocked on the door with Briac standing by his side.
Caden waited patiently as Abella answered the door.
“Hi,” she said giving him a smile, which diminished a little when she noticed Briac.
“This is Briac, Jenna’s mate,” Caden told her bluntly.
Her eyes widened at the information and Caden smirked as he introduced them.
“Abella, this is Briac,” he said. “Briac, this is Abella.”
“The witch,�
� Briac said a shade scornfully.
The smirk left Caden’s face as his black eyes smoldered with anger, but Abella reached out and grabbed his arm pulling him into the house.
“That’s me, the witch,” Abella admitted with a smile. “Are you afraid to enter a witch’s house, Briac?”
Caden watched as Briac’s eyes flared in astonishment at her challenge before they narrowed and he stepped into the house.
“Close the door behind you please,” asked Abella squeezing Caden’s arm lightly before turning and heading for the kitchen. “I will get you guys something to drink and then you can talk in private.”
Caden’s head snapped up as his eyes narrowed slightly and he started, “How…?”
Abella threw him a smile, “Why else would you bring another pack member to my house that isn’t Jessa or Timothy.”
Caden couldn’t help the laugh that came out her words, and he missed the look of pure astonishment that crossed Briac’s face at the Alpha laughing.
“Come on, Briac,” Caden said heading for the living room where he sat down on the couch and leaned back resting his head on the edge.
He opened his eyes as he heard Abella come back into the room with two glasses.
She handed one to Briac before bringing Caden his glass and he smiled at her as he took it.
“I have a paper due this week so I will let you guys talk,” she said heading out of the room, and Caden watched until he lost sight of her before he turned back to Briac.
He sat forward cradling his drink between two large hands. He looked at Briac who sighed and said, “I guess punishment is in order for attacking an Alpha and Beta.”
“Technically speaking, you didn’t attack us,” Caden contradicted him.
“Technicalities,” Briac scoffed taking a swallow of his drink.
“What do you want to do?” Caden asked him seriously.
Briac stilled and looked at him. “I do not know,” he muttered. “I know this may sound corny coming from a man, but I was waiting for my mate. I couldn’t wait to find her so when I met Jenna…” he shrugged his shoulders as his voice drifted off.
The Witch Prophecy Page 17