"I promise Rollin, I did not know that that man was her dad." Una raised her eyebrows and hands simultaneously. "The guys picked up a bunch of humans and brought them here."
Joy had been sent back to the cell, her father and the other pack members had been sent outside.
"It's okay," Rollin muttered. "We have something to use against her. It'll make it easier for us to find the mate."
"But I had something else in mind. Something way easier than threatening her."
"Keep it in your mind."
Una crunched her neck, pressing her lips together into a thin line. Rollin's eyes narrowed.
"What's that face?" He inquired.
"Nothing," she gritted, moving towards the door.
"Stop." He commanded, gliding from his throne. Una turned to face him with a blank expression.
''What's wrong Una?" Though he frowned, his eyes were remarkably soft. She refused to meet his eyes, staring at the wall behind him instead.
"Don't tell me you're affected by what the half-breed said," he uttered.
"Well, right now, you're making it feel like it's true."
"It isn't true. And now isn't the time for you to be listening to the words of some half-breed."
"I don't care about the stupid throne, but am I your minion? Because I feel like a minion right now. You told me that we would always be equals despite the rules, but why do I feel like a minion?"
"Would I let a minion talk back to me the way you do?"
"How come I'm always doing the dirty work Rollin? I'm always the one who has to strategize attacks and kill people."
"You're not doing the work of a minion, you're doing the work of a Beta. Every Beta does that."
"But if something were to go wrong, your life would be more important than mine." Tears were forming on the surface of her eyes.
"Now, you're just acting like a child, and it's irritating me," he spat and turned away from her.
Una stepped forward, pulling his sword out of its sheath. She threw it in the air and with its edge pointed at her head, it sank down. With one quick step, Rollin put his hand over Una's head and it stopped the sword from piercing her, sinking into his palm instead. He shoved her to the side, so that not even a drop of blood would touch her hair.
"What are you doing?" She gasped, covering her mouth.
"What?" He grunted, sliding the sword out of his palm. "You clearly seemed like you wanted me to prove that I care about you." He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and pressed it on his wound.
"You could have just controlled the sword without hurting yourself," she mumbled.
"Yes, I could have," he stated. "We'll go with your plan then, as long as you stop annoying me by saying such annoying things." With that, he stepped out of the throne room.
"You can come in," Una said to the door, which swung open. Her henchman walked in with a woman at her side.
"What took you so long to get here?" Una asked the woman, who bowed her head.
"I still had a few things to confirm," the woman spoke in her nasally tone.
"And?"
"She was living at her place with a man. At first, she told me he was her distant cousin. Then I heard her fighting with her ex-fiancé, and she said he was her man."
"What did the ex-fiancé do to get himself dumped?"
"He cheated on her with her best friend."
"Then he can't be the mate. Who was the other man? Is he human too?"
"I'm not sure if he is human, and it was difficult to get his name because she never told it to anyone. I even tried to ask her step mother and it seems she wouldn't tell her either."
"Where is the man now?"
"They're together. When she said she was going for a getaway, I asked her if her cousin was going and she said yes."
"She actually took him to the village?" Una scoffed. "But I didn't sense any human there?"
'Joy no!' Krii's voice flashed in her memory.
"Krii?" She muttered. "No, Krii is Jemima's mate. Was." She slapped her mouth. "Couldn't you take a picture or something? I mean... what exactly am I paying you for if you can't think of doing something as simple as taking a photo." She waved her out. "Get out, useless."
The woman turned, then paused and turned back. "He had a tattoo," she said. "There was a time he wore one of Joy's limited addition ripped vests. It looked like a diamond on his bicep."
"A gem?" She gasped. "That was the first thing you should have said. I take back calling you a brainless bimbo." She snorted a laugh.
"Did you? I didn't hear it."
"I said it in my head." She waved her out again. "You've done your job well. Expect a visit from me soon."
"Thank you, ma'am." She bowed and left the throne room.
"So, it was Jude this whole time? How did he manage to keep his anger at- Ohhh," her mouth shaped into a wide 'o'. "That's why he was hiding. I should have known. Well, this is interesting."
***
"Welcome back dear sister," Una chirped as Joy was dragged in again. The Beta was now seated on Rollin's throne, a wide grin on her beautiful face. "Where were we?"
Joy's wide eyes scanned the room, her mouth hung open loosely. "W-Where is my dad?" She croaked.
"Who?" Una's eyebrows furrowed.
"My father," she clenched her teeth. "Where is he?"
"I'm not sure. I'm not really in charge of the help. But, I do have some good news." She clapped her hands. "I found out who your mate is."
"W-What?"
"Don't worry, I'll make you a good deal because were sisters. I forgive you for what happened earlier." She clasped her hands together and placed them under her chin. "I don't like it when my brother gets mad and orders me to kill people. So, if you, call Jude to come here, then I'll give you whichever helper guy is your dad."
"If Jude comes here we will have to shift into your Attacker and stay here. What's the point of this deal if I'm not going to be with my dad?"
"Right," she muttered. "Well then, I guess this is one of those one sided deals. Where I make you think you're going to benefit, but in actual fact you're not. And just so you know, Jude will come, you calling him will just make it easier."
"Where is my dad Una?" She gritted.
"Does this mean we have a deal?"
"You're making me very angry!" Joy's eyes turned bright yellow, but almost immediately they darkened, and she hissed, feeling a sharp pain in her head.
"Don't raise your voice at me." She kissed her teeth, wagging her finger.
"Tell me where he is!" Joy screamed and this time her eyes were bloodshot. A wave of magic forced Una off the throne. The pain in Joy's head stopped and she stalked towards the Beta, clenching and unclenching her fists. Una shot up, snapping her teeth at her.
Joy punched her across the face with one hand, and took hold of her neck with the other.
"Where is he?" Her eyes were a deep red flame as she pressed harder.
"You're making a big mistake half-breed!" Rollin roared pulling the sword out of its sheath. He threw it in her direction, and without looking, Joy caught it with her bare hand and threw it back at him. With wide eyes and a gasp, he rolled to the opposite side of the room. Joy's lip curved into a fiendish smirk, Rollin himself had chills crawling up his spine. Joy threw a hacking Una on top of Rollin, her eyes now focused on the throne.
"What is happening?" Una coughed.
"The moon," Rollin pointed to the orange light seeping in through the window.
"But how is she doing it on her own?"
"I don't know," he stood and helped her up. "Let's block the light out first."
With the wave of her hands, dark curtains covered the window. Joy stopped before she could sit on the throne, shaking her head. She stepped back and with her trembling hands, rubbed her eyes, a fog clearing from her mind. She gazed around the throne room and her eyes met Rollin's. His scowl had returned and he was stalking towards her. He threw a punch to her jaw and something cracked as she hit the floor, passing out.