Page 23 of Brutal Alpha's Sold Mate
She freezes, then turns her head away. I release her wrists and roll to the side, letting her scramble up. “You almost had me,” I tell her after clearing my throat.
“Sure,” she answers, rubbing her wrists.
“Maybe that’s enough for now.”
She nods, looking anywhere but at me.
“Come on. I’ll walk you back to the cabin.”
“I can find my way.”
I tilt my head. “Suit yourself. I have more business to handle, anyway.”
She lifts her chin. “Then go handle it.”
A trace of tension lingers, but I decide not to push. I stride off, heading deeper into the forest. Once I’m out of sight, I lean against a trunk, shutting my eyes. My heart is still pounding from having Kai pinned under me. Her mention of the poison churns my anger. If I ever see Malcolm and Wiley again, I’ll make sure they regret laying a hand on her or anyone else.
I force myself to leave the forest, stride back to the settlement, and seek out Leonard. Every question rattling in my head boils down to one: how could he have led me to those degenerates?
I pass a few pack members, who give me puzzled looks when I barely acknowledge their greetings. My pulse hammers harder with each step, driven by the memory of Kai’s confession about that poison.
Leonard is outside a storage cabin, rummaging through crates. He spots me and stands with a mild smile that does nothing to soothe me. I waste no time.
“What were you thinking?” I demand, marching right up to him. “Malcolm and Wiley? Did you even bother to check who they were?”
He sets down the crate. “Theo, calm down. This is unexpected.”
I grab him by the shoulder, just enough pressure to show I’m serious. “I have good reason to be upset. They’re slavers. They’re trafficking witches and shifters. You put me in a room with men who kidnap and poison people for profit.”
His face drains of color. “I didn’t know. I swear. The only reason I contacted them was that they have a reputation for arranging these… marriages. Or deals, or however you want to call it. They were supposed to provide a mate quietly, no fuss.”
I let out a harsh breath. “And that sounded normal to you? Some mysterious duo offering wives to alphas on a whim?”
He bristles but keeps his stance. “You said you needed a mate fast. One with enough spirit to convince the pack it was a solid union. Malcolm and Wiley have a network. Word travels that if a powerful alpha needs a partner, those two can find one. I’d heard rumors, yes, but I never knew it was anything more than them being… under the table.”
I release him. “Rumors about them dealing in underhanded stuff? That didn’t raise any alarms?”
“They’re known for secrecy, not for this level of depravity. I thought they specialized in matchmaking for alphas who don’t want to bother with the usual song and dance. I didn’t realize it went beyond avoiding official ceremonies and documents.”
I step back and throw a glance around to ensure nobody’s eavesdropping. “Well, congratulations. Because of that, I ended up with a mate who’s been fed some potion that hinders her wolf. Now she’s stuck with me, and I’m tied to two men who’ll likely retaliate if I try to expose them.”
Leonard rubs his forehead. “I’m sorry. I truly am. If I’d known—”
“That’s not good enough,” I snap. “Kai’s in pain every day with her wolf suppressed. She and I may not be on the best of terms, but that doesn’t mean I can ignore what they did to her. I can’t believe you didn’t dig deeper.”
Leonard’s voice trembles. “If there’s any way I can fix this, I will. Tell me what to do.”
“You’ll help me find a cure for the poison they gave her. And if Malcolm and Wiley show their faces in my territory again, we take them out. Understood?”
He gives a curt nod. “You have my word.”
I glance at the crates he was sorting, each labeled with supplies and pack inventory. “Start by telling me everything you know about how you reached them—any name, address, or contact. If they have associates, I want to know. We might need to corner them or gather enough evidence so nobody in this territory will ever trust them again.”
Leonard nods again, then picks up a small notebook from atop a crate. “I have records of every exchange I’ve had with them. It’s not much, but it’s yours. And if you want me to seek out more information quietly, I’ll do that, too.”
I snatch the notebook and flip through pages of scribbled dates and vague references. The details are minimal, but it’s better than nothing. “Fine. Do what you can. Let me know if youdiscover any leads.” I slam the book shut. “But don’t try to keep me in the dark. If I find out you’re hiding more secrets—”
“Never,” he promises. “I don’t want anyone else suffering because I didn’t ask enough questions.”
