Kieran's POV
Anger bubbled underneath my skin, but I knew this was only just the beginning. I could feel it, swirling and curling around every part of me, just waiting to burst forth at the right moment. My skin boiled, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before I would blow up. The worst part, it would probably be at someone who didn't deserve it.
This anger had building over the last couple of days, and only the goddesses strength was keeping me sane. I honestly thought I could handle it, but right now, and as time ticked by, I wasn't so sure of my theory anymore.
I sighed, as I ran a hand through my hair. I trudged down the hallways that led to my room, wanting nothing more than to lay in my bed. It wasn't a lot, but I was sure that once I had gotten a couple hours worth of sleep, I would have calmed down and be ready to think of a solution to the issue at hand.
I didn't like to admit it, but the pack was in trouble. On getting to the border two days ago, I stumbled on something.
No, someone.
He was so small,I would have easily mistaken him for a maimed or dead animal. Luckily for me, I took a closer look. Unluckily , he turned out to be the nine year old son of the Alpha who had been kidnapped a whole back. Unfortunately, the Alpha king was out for blood and had sworn to go on a killing spree until the perpetrator was brought to book.
With all of that, the last thing I needed was anything else that would set me off. You would think that fate would have granted that little favour of mine. But no, I just had to walk in on Liana, cradling the very same painting that was responsible for my nightmares like a baby.
I didn't want to, but that sight was enough for me to lose it. I snapped, and as expected, she snapped too. Heaven knows I would have passed her with some snarky remark and a sly smirk, but all I could see was red
Red clouded my vision. The red pool of blood that surrounded the little boy threatened to suffocate me, and the red hue from the painting clawed at my throat, swearing to rip my throat out. They were all coming at me, and I needed an escape.
Liana.
If she wasn't so damn stubborn, I wouldn't have had to drag her out, or raise my voice at her. I knew she was feisty, but right now, I was beginning to think that word was avgross understatement for her fiery personality.
The moment she'd stormed off, I wanted to go after her, but my feet turned to lead the moment she left. Against my better judgement, I believed she was going to be fine. All she needed to do was cool off, and while I replayed the events in my head, I decided I was going to take my own advice from now as well.
I poured myself a drink, allowing the murky liquid swirl in the glass. As the liquid hit the glass, it made a drooling sound that was surprisingly satisfying and I wished it wouldn't stop. But it had too, and I needed to drink to clear my head.
It burned as it slid down my throat, but that was the best part. I gulped down two more glasses, before willing my mind to go into overdrive. I needed to come up with a solution, before all of this would blow up beyond control.
My men and I had tried discussing and negotiating with the enraged Alpha , but it was nothing short of futile. He was furious about his late son, and the only language he understood was blood. He wanted blood, more and more blood until he finally killed who had killed his son.
But that was the problem, no one knew anything about the killer, and the massacre wasn't going to stop anything. We'd already lost innocent lives and the last thing I needed was to lose anymore .
For some strange reason, someone unexpected popped up in my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder why.
If I was being honest, she'd been on my mind all day, even before I'd stumbled into the palace. When she'd walked out, it took everything in me to not follow her. It had been an hour since she had left, and an I'd been thinking of paying her a visit. You know, just to check up on her and see if…
"Stop it, Kieran". I chided myself before I could take it any further. "You have more important things to worry about than some girl. I'm sure she's in her room fussing about…"
"Sir?" someone cut through my thoughts. I jerked up, just to catch Charles walking towards me. He was a guard, and easily one of the ones who had stayed the longest, so it was safe to say I trusted him. "I'm sorryy to be a bother."
"It's okay." I gulped down the last of my drink, before turning to face him. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"Um." He stuttered. Charles wasn't actually the nervous type, so it made no sense as to why he looked awkward all of a sudden. "I have news and it might be bad."
"Spill." I hissed. "Now."
"Liana's been gone for a while now." My heart dropped at his confession. "She left shortly after you got back, and she's not back yet."
I turned my gaze to the windows and just as I thought, it was already getting dark. In a matter of an hour or less, the sun would set completely, and once the sun set and you still still out, it was an automatic invitation to get attacked.
No. No. No.
"What the fucking hell?" I cursed out loud. I wasn't sure on the details, but I knew it had been more than two hours since she'd left.
Where the hell was she? What was she doing? Was she even okay? Had any of the king's men gotten to her? What if she was injured and….
"Sir!" Charles' voice broke into my thoughts again, and I fought the urge to strangle him. "Would you like me to send some men to go look for her? We'll search high and low until…"
"No." I cut him off. "I'll go search for her myself."
And without waiting for a response at him, I stalked out of the palace and into the woods.
The sun had completely disappeared by the time I arrived in the woods, and it made me feel unsettled. I could handle my own out here, but what about Liana? There was only souch her sharp mouth could do if she got into trouble.
So many things lurked out here, but nothing could compare to the kings men. If any of them found her….
Rustling in the bushes caught my ear, causing me to halt in my thoughts. I kept mute,before trailing down the direction I thought the noise had come from.
If there was anyone out here, it would be better to catch them unaware. I stood rooted to my spot, while my eyes scanned my immediate environment. Nothing crossed my line of vision for the next couple of minutes, and just as I was about to give up, I saw something. No, someone, and I'd be damned if I didn't recognize the mop of hair sprawled on the floor.
Someone was above her, and I only caught a glimpse of her face. A look of piure horror crossed her face and I thought she was going to pass out. The person hunched over her was one of the Alpha's men and if the way his hand was poised over his head meant anything, it was the fact that she was in trouble.
Oh no. Realization dawned on me. He was going to kill her if I didn't do something.
Shit.