Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

Hector POV

I hesitate as I reach the top of the stairs.

"Alpha?" I feel Riley pushing on the mind-link, as I listen to Kala run the shower in her ensuite. She wanted reassurance for my change in behaviour but her question took me off guard.

I followed her, my own stupidity frustrating me as she went to escape the room. What should I have said...

"Riley?"

"Sorry Alpha to disturb you, Alpha Jude is here. I've told him to show himself into the alpha house." I can sense Riley's hesitation through the pack link.

"Received...." I was still angry at Riley, for leaving Kaia alone with Samson.

For taking her word of her safety over mine, his Alpha. He should have known better.

I hear the front door open and footsteps enter the hallway downstairs towards my office.

Heading down the stairs I try to think why Jude would be here. Usually we spoke on the phone if we needed to see each other, so why was he visiting out of the blue. Especially this late at night. Re-entering my office, I am astounded to find him not only sitting at my desk, but going through my paper

work on Kaia.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I growl angrily, closing the office door behind me.

"Seeing what you were researching. Does she know you are researching her ancestry?" He isn't fazed by my discovery of finding him looking through my things, Jude and I had a very open and honest friendship

I trust him like a brother, like a real brother. But even I find his forwardness in my office a bit too much.

"No of course not and what has it got to do with you?" I snatch the paperwork out of his hands and place. them in my safe, which is hidden behind a painting on my office wall. I should have put them there in the first place, I should have known my desk drawers weren't safe.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"What are you doing here?" I turn to him once the paper work is safely secured away. Annoyed at myself for thinking my desk drawers would remain unopened.

"Look, you left like a man on a mission. It was reported you drove like a lunatic out of the pack grounds. When I went to the library to see what might have happened...did you know you left everything out...I mean everything. Even the books that aren't privy to pack members eyes?" He gives me a pinned look.

Shit, in my hastiness to contact Riley for an update when I had that ominous feg that something wasn't right with Kaia...I bolted from Jude's pack. Leaving everything out.

"Shit, I was in such a hurry to leave...sorry man."

"Look, I took it upon myself to dig a little deeper and found some further information..."

"You took it upon yourself?"

"Cut the shit man, I'm your best friend...if you really like this girl..."

"Like this girl...she's my mate Jude."

Then as your best friend, I want to help you to protect your Luna. What made you leave?" Jude demands

to know, not wasting anytime.

"Samson, the beta, he was here...I returned to a right shitshow. Blood on her feet, blood on her hands, Riley slashed and unconscious... Rosa having a panic attack." My fingers pinch at the bridge of my nose as I update him. "Rosa?"

"I think it triggered things for her."

He doesn't say anything, he just silently nods before handing me the file in his hands.

"Read with care...and read when alone." His eyes look into mine with deep seriousness. Jude was always ready with the banter but for him to give such a warning, it must be serious.

"I understand."

"I've also reached out to someone, I'll let you know if they come back to me."

"Who?"

"I won't divulge her identity right now, I owe her that at least. If she says no, it's a no Hector and we will have to find another way."

I'm intrigued by who this she is, who he seems to be keeping in the shadows. I thought I knew everybody in Jude's life, so who has he been keeping away from me, and even maybe his pack. "Where is Kaia now?"

"Shower."

"Cleaning up huh?" His eyebrows wiggle, a smirk forming upon his face.

"What do you mean?"