Chapter 163
"Get your gear now!" Dron screamed at the top of his lungs.
He was acting like a madman, and he knew it.
There was good reason for it, though, at least in his mind it was a good enough reason.
One moment, he was sitting back, waiting for the rest of the people from the community to agree or disagree to going on this journey with him, and then he looked down at his locator only to see that Tempest was moving.
He tried to call for her once, but the signal wasn’t strong enough to reach her.
She was leaving the stronghold.
That wasn’t part of the plan.
Dron started to think of the worst-case scenarios.
What if someone had come in there and physically taken her? What if she was in danger? What if she was just tired of waiting?
All of it passed through his mind, and in that instant, he realized that he couldn’t hold back any longer. He had to leave and immediately.
"Mark chief, we haven’t finished gathering the food and supplies that we need for the journey." Krex tried to speak, but Dron just growled at him before he managed to get a grip on his anger. It wasn’t Krex’s fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.
"You have until I say my farewell to Tine to gather the men who are coming with us and the supplies. After that I’m walking to the exit and leaving. If my men are not behind me, there will be reprimands, and you’re not going to like it."
Krex glared at Dron but he didn’t say anything in return; instead, he simply turned and all but ran in the direction of the store room.
At least he was taking it seriously.
Dron stormed in the direction of the medical tent. The last thing he had to do was tell Tine he was leaving. In actuality, he didn’t have to tell her he would be gone. He was sure one of the men who stayed behind would do that for him, but Dron felt like it would be disrespectful for him to leave without so much as a good bye.
He pushed his way into the medical tent, and the doctors who were there all jumped in surprise. Dron was moving fast, and there was a serious look of determination on his face. It could even be taken as aggression.
He did his best to calm down. He may be the strongest alpha in the area, but there were still alphas around. He didn’t want to start something he would have to take time to fix.
Dron slowed his gait as he made his way to Tine. Her eyebrows raised when he got closer to her.
"Something has happened?"
"No. At least I don’t know for sure if something has happened. It could be nothing." Dron said more, trying to convince himself than Tine.
"Then why the increase in rush?"
"Tempest is no longer at the stronghold. She’s moving away. I need to catch up with her before she gets any farther. Before there is more distance between us."
Tine’s facial expression evened out, and she shrugged her shoulders. "I understand. What about the volunteers? How many have you agreed to take with you?"
"Six."
"Only six? That’s not very much." Tine struggled to sit up in the bed, but Dron put a hand on her shoulder to keep her lying down.
"It’s not many, but I don’t see us needing that many. We’ll all be fine, and I’ll get them back to you in one piece." He knew he shouldn’t make any promises to the woman, but it felt like the right thing to do. No one wants to know they are sending their people out to die.
If Dron had anything to say about it, he would indeed make sure that everyone got back in one piece.
"So be it. I wish you well on your journey, and I can’t wait to meet the omega that you are linked with. I’d be willing to bet that she is far more special than any of us know."
Dron sighed softly, "She is."
Tine shrugged her shoulders once again before she closed her eyes, ending the interaction.
Dron turned on his heels, and with the same determination he had when he entered the medical tent, he walked out of it.
He meant what he told Krex; he was going straight to the door.
He didn’t stop to say anything to anyone else.
As he made it to the door, the ones who had volunteered to come with him started making their way next to him. The rest of his men stood there at the door and fell into ranks just as he stepped out.
There was one final addition as they stepped out into the arid sand. Dron turned to see who had been waiting for them.
It was Mikael.
That forced him to stop.
"Mikael, come." Dron ordered.
Everyone else stopped as well and waited to see what Dron would do. He hadn’t been asked to volunteer simply because he was too young. Dron didn’t want to be responsible for another member of that family being hurt.
"What do you think you are doing?" Dron asked Mikael.
"What does it look like I’m doing? I’m going with you."
"No, you are not."
"Yes, I am." Mikael raised his chin in defiance. Dron knew he was only a child, not even a full alpha yet, but he couldn’t let him talk to him like that.
"Come with me." Dron grabbed hold of Mikael by the scruff of his shirt and tugged him away from the crowd. The small kid could barely keep his feet on the ground.
"Let go of me!" Mikael hissed out but wasn’t strong enough to break Dron’s grip.
It wasn’t until they were a bit away from the main crowd that Dron let the boy go. "Do you have some sort of death wish?"
"What? No. Why would you ask something like that?"
"Why, because you know where we are about to go is dangerous. Your family was killed. Your home destroyed. You have a safe place to be here. Why would you want to leave here to do something you don’t have to do?"
Mikael tried to look strong, but Dron could see straight through his facade. The boy was scared. "I have to do this."
"No, you don’t, and you’re not going to. Go back inside." Dron pointed to the doors.
"No, you don’t understand. I have to do this. I wasn’t there to protect my sister or my father. I wasn’t there to protect the rest of my town. I was out doing childish things. It’s time for me to grow up. It’s time for me to be the alpha I’m meant to be." He turned slightly to look at the crowd. "These people took me in when they didn’t have to. They fed me and clothed me. Gave me work. I’m not going to sit back again and watch it all be taken away. I want to help. I’m capable even though I’m young. I won’t get in the way. You have my word."
Dron stood back and looked at the kid. He was thin, but he was armed. Any other soldier would probably look at Mikael and see the weakness, but Dron could see the fight in the kid’s eyes. He would be an asset as long as he wasn’t too reckless.
Dron could work with that.
"I’m the leader of this group. Do you understand that?"
Mikael shrugged his shoulders in affirmation.
"You better because the minute I see that you are going against my word, I will send you right back here with a chaperone. This isn’t for play. What we might face in these lands isn’t going to take it easy on us. They will want to kill us. Do you understand that?"
"Yes, I understand. I know how serious this is."
"It’s the most important mission I’ve ever had the chance to participate in. I will not fail. Not you. Not anyone else will distract me from what I have to do."
Mikael shrugged in affirmation again.
"Understood."
With a sigh, Dron turned away from the boy, lifted his hand to wave the group behind forward before he started walking himself. Mikael rushed to keep pace with Dron.
"Speaking of important missions. What exactly is ours?"
"We are going to find my mate."
Mikael’s steps stuttered for a second before he righted himself and continued walking alongside Dron.
Dron knew what the kid was thinking. Out of all the missions they could be on, how was finding one lonely omega the most important?
It was the most important for Dron because he knew if he didn’t, he would be losing all proof of what the high royals were trying to do. He would be allowing them to continue tricking his countrymen. But most importantly, Dron knew if he didn’t get to Tempest quick enough, he could lose the very essence of his soul.
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⏸ PAUSE■ STOP