Chapter 236: The Prisoners
Kaden’s POV
The moment the door shut behind Ruby, I let out a harsh groan that dragged up from the very bottom of my chest.
My head thudded back against the frame. I closed my eyes, running a hand down my face to wipe away the remaining warmth of her skin.
Fuck.
It had taken every last ounce of my self-control not to pull her flush against me and crash my lips onto hers. The raw vulnerability in her eyes, the way she clung to my shirt as if I were the only solid thing in her world—it had nearly destroyed me. But I couldn’t take advantage of her state. She was fragile, overwhelmed, and carrying a pup.
And Kane... what the hell was Kane doing?
Anger consumed me. How could he be so reckless? How could he leave her alone in this state, giving her reason to bleed tears and think he was creeping around with someone else? I needed to get to the bottom of whatever my brother was playing at. I had promised her I would look into it, and I intended to keep my word.
Pushing myself away from the door, I walked back into the silent room, stripped off my shirt, and threw myself onto the bed. I lay flat on my back, staring up at the plain white ceiling, but sleep was completely out of the question. Every time I shut my eyes, all I could smell was her intoxicating scent. All I could feel was the small, trembling weight of her body pressed against mine.
Get a grip on yourself, I growled mentally, staring into the dark. She is your brother’s woman.
Openly frustrated, I reached out through the mind-link, connecting directly to the guard stationed at the packhouse front gate.
Is Alpha Kane back yet? I demanded, my tone sharp over the link.
No, Alpha Kaden, the guard responded immediately, a hint of nervousness in his voice. He hasn’t returned to the territory yet.
Alert me the very second he steps foot on the grounds, I ordered coldly.
Yes, Alpha.
I severed the link and closed my eyes, attempting once more to force myself to sleep.
Why lie to yourself? My wolf chimed in suddenly, his dark voice pacing restlessly in the back of my mind. What if Kane really is cheating on her? Will you step up and take her instead?
Shut up, I snapped back silently.
I can’t explain it, Kaden, but you feel it too, my wolf pushed, his tone uncharacteristically serious. There is something about Ruby. Something deep.
"I know," I muttered aloud to the empty room, letting out a frustrated sigh.
Restless energy surged through my limbs. Resting here was pointless. My mind was spinning too fast, refusing to settle, and the quiet walls of my bedroom were only suffocating me further.
Suddenly, a sharp thought cut through the fog in my brain—a distraction I desperately needed.
Monica and Brandon.
The two prisoners Logan had locked away down below. I remembered how strangely Logan had acted that day. There were too many secrets floating around this packhouse, and I was done waiting for answers to walk through my front door.
I shoved myself off the bed, pulled on a shirt, and headed out into the cool, silent corridor.
I made my way through the quiet hallways and down the winding stone stairs leading into the depths of the packhouse. The cool air grew damp and heavy, carrying the stale scent of old stone and iron as I approached the heavy oak doors of the dungeons.
The two guards standing duty at the entrance immediately snapped to attention, their eyes widening in confusion at the sight of me walking down at this hour.
"Alpha Kaden," one of them greeted, bowing his head respectfully. "Is something wrong?"
"Where are the cells holding Brandon and Monica?" I asked, my voice low and commanding, leaving no room for questions.
"Right this way, my Lord," the guard said quickly.
He unhooked a heavy ring of brass keys from his belt, turned around, and led me deeper down the dark hallway toward the high-security cells.
The guard’s heavy boots echoed on the cold stone floor as we walked past empty cells. He stopped in front of a thick iron door at the very end of the hall, unlocking the small window before stepping back.
I leaned forward, looking into the dim, shadowy cell.
Inside sat two figures, positioned close together and chained on a thin, dirty mattress. Logan had told me that Brandon and Monica were spies sent by our enemies to gather information on our borders. Looking at them now, they definitely looked like experienced spies.
They appeared to be in their late thirties, their faces lined with tiredness. The man had dark hair streaked with gray, and the woman had harsh features, staring back at me with dull eyes.
Satisfied that Logan’s report matched what I saw, I raised my voice, keeping my tone cold and authoritative.
"Who sent you?" I asked, my voice filling the quiet dungeon. "How long have you been giving information to our enemies?"
The middle-aged man turned his face away, moving back into the corner without saying a word. The woman beside him stayed completely silent, looking down to avoid my eyes.
I watched them for a few more quiet seconds, checking their faces for any sign of a lie. They acted just like trapped spies who refused to talk. Whatever strange way Logan had acted the day they were brought in, it clearly had nothing to do with these two older prisoners.
"Keep a close watch on them," I told the guard coldly, stepping back from the door. "No food or water until they decide to talk."
"Yes, Alpha," the guard answered, bowing low as he shut the small window and locked it tight.
Feeling my doubts fade away, I turned around and walked back up toward the main floor of the packhouse, my mind completely at ease. Logan was right about them—they were just enemy spies.
I headed down the hallway, planning to go straight back to my room and try to get some rest. But just as I reached the base of the stairs, the low rumble of an engine broke through the quiet night outside. Bright headlights flashed through the tall glass windows, cutting through the shadows of the main entryway.
Kane was back.
I stopped right where I was. Turning slowly toward the grand staircase, I stood with my arms folded tightly across my chest, my jaw locked as I waited for him to walk through the front doors.