Chapter 21: 20

Chapter 20

After leaving the villager all beaten up at the underground prison, Severus called for another meeting—and this time, it was to ask the pack warriors to expedite the finalization of their documented reports.

His men worried for nothing when they realized that he would no longer try to bring up a topic completely unrelated to their own missions.

During dinner, Xyla looked as if she wanted to ask him something—but she held it in.

Severus knows that his wife is curious about how things proceeded earlier, and it's not like he's planning to keep such crucial information to himself forever.

The thing is, he doubts his mate can take it.

Not to mention, that cannibal is still not properly dealt with yet.

Severus needs to consider several factors first before taking action.

The dinner was uneventful, considering Brandon's family didn't visit the pack house. His son was nowhere to be found as well—to which he simply shrugged off.

His son's body and wolf should be undergoing changes as of late due to the fact that he would come of age soon. Perhaps, Lucas is starting to seek his mate, that's why he's often out and about.

And for that reason, Severus could try to be more understanding.

'Can we really not call Amber down? She will feel only if she eats by herself later.'

It was Xyla.

Severus played it cool by calmly stabbing the meat on his plate with a fork. 'That kid needs to rest.'

That's all.

A brief answer would be more ideal on this occasion.

Besides, his mate will totally flip once she finds out that the girl she's treating like her own daughter has gotten herself injured—by a cannibal, no less!

Xyla will feel more stressed than she is now, and Severus' wolf is ultimately against that.

Hence, both of them made a mutual decision of staying silent until things were sorted out. Besides, his Beta and Delta in the table are looking too carefree, which only confirms his suspicion that they haven't heard a thing from the other members until now.

Severus appreciates the squad leaders' intention to keep the news on the down-low. If word gets out recklessly, it can create panic and anxiety among the pack members.

People tend to exaggerate stories to obtain their desired reaction from a certain person—until the truth is no longer bare, resulting from various alterations in people's accounts. Effective planning is what's needed here; therefore, a meeting with the officials shall push through by tomorrow.

His Beta is a bit on the technical side, it won't be a surprise if the man accidentally stumbles upon the villager as he regularly visits the prison to check on the activities of the guards on-shift.

He has already punished countless pack warriors for slacking off, thinking they won't get caught. No one frequents the underground prison anyway.

As for Brandon, it seems like his own pups haven't spoken a word regarding their encounter with a dangerous creature in their mission. Otherwise, the man would have contacted him by now.

Brandon skipped the dinner in the pack house because he still had no idea.

Strange…

For Salt and Pepper to keep their lips sealed even toward their own father.

Did Amber try to talk it out with them, too?

The scowl on Severus' face only deepened.

'Should I visit the girl in her room?'

His heartbeat sped up, so he glanced at his wife firmly. 'No need.'

'I seriously think Amber feels bad, and has reflected on her actions already. Must you really keep your pride?'

'That's not it.' He sighed. 'I'll explain everything to you later. For the time being, leave her be.'

Xyla looked genuinely confused, but she nodded her head nonetheless. 'I'll leave her share inside the microwave, then.'

'That's better.'

Severus went for a run an hour after dinner, and while he was on his way back—he saw Amber, peacefully walking with a bottled water in her hand.

And she looked like… she just woke up, given the messy state of her hair which she didn't bother brushing at all before leaving her room.

His wolf continued hiding behind the bushes, eyeing each of the girl's movement carefully.

Amber is the type of person who refuses to leave her room while repenting. Xyla said with conviction that Amber should have realized the error in her ways by now, but that didn't seem the case to him.

Severus had decided to leave after a few more minutes of observing her, but that plan never came true when he realized where she was heading—the route she was taking.

The underground prison?

What the hell?

Trainees aren't allowed to go there, and it's for their own sake, their sanity.

Their safety.

'Tsk.'

Amber wasn't this obstinate when she was young.

And now, she's taking the secret path she has most likely discovered by accident.

'What a child.'

Severus told himself to calm down. He just finished his run.

No need to get himself worked up again.

He convinced himself with those words like a mantra, then he shifted back into his human form to follow the stubborn kid inside the prison.

What business does she have in here?

It's quite impressive that she knows the time-off of the guards at the secret path's outpost.

To think that she'd, one day, use her insider's knowledge to her advantage like this…

Severus suddenly felt the need to be more in control.

As an Alpha, such impudence must not be tolerated…!

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But when it comes to Cain Santiago's daughter, he just softens up before he knows it.

Severus followed Amber's trail of scent, and the direction he was headed to was all too familiar with him.

After all, he just went down here a couple of hours ago.

Severus came to a halt when her scent had gotten stronger as he drew closer. He wasn't mistaken—Amber came here for a reason, and that reason was that… bastard.

How reckless could she get for coming by without anyone's supervision?

He was at a loss for words.

Severus leaned his back against a wall from the corner while listening in on their conversation. His wolf was growling and snarling inside his head, urging him to tear that villager apart.

Severus could tell that the man was provoking Amber into doing something—like stepping closer. The cannibal was egging her on, and it was clear that he had an ulterior motive.

So, Severus crossed his arms, and waited.

What will you do now, Amber?

You insisted on going here alone…

What are you planning?

Can you pull it off?

Then, impress me.

My disappointment in you… make it fade away.

"…I've held your machete for you after all."

"What are you doing?"

"Can't you tell from one look?"

"Nah! You can't do it. Your moral compass will prevent you from doing so. Are wolves of River Severn now heartless murderers?"

Severus heard Amber release an annoyed sigh.

And it made him smile a little.

'I guess she's capable of feeling annoyed, too…'

"Sounds like you're stalling to me…" Amber muttered quietly. "Please grant me the permission to do it."

"W-what? Who are you talking to right now? You're bluffing, and it's comical to see you try so hard, mutt…!" The man, who was obviously shaken to the core, masked his nervousness by breaking into laughter.

Yet…

For some reason…

Amber uttered the same exact words one more time.

"Please grant me the permission to do it." And the humility in her tone was present.

The villager stopped laughing for a moment before he let out a string of curses—all directed to Amber's person.

Severus could only imagine the kind of expression she was wearing right now.

'I'm guessing… a blank expression.' Because that's just so her.

But then again, he stilled at her next words.

"Your permission is all I'm waiting for, Alpha. I know you're here."

Severus finally stepped out of the corner, and revealed himself.

Ha.

'How long has she known?'

Oddly, his wolf awakened to reply. 'You weren't exactly concealing your presence either.'

That's true.

But Severus didn't feel the need to, considering how distracted Amber must have been while concocting this plan.

"I thought I had made myself clear," he spoke lowly. "You're supposed to rest until you get better."

But, Amber didn't move from her spot.

She was holding a knife—and she wasn't even trying to hide it from his prying eyes.

Severus clenched his jaw.

Through the years, Amber had been an advocate of thorough completion of tasks given to her by the pack, and by thorough… it meant complete obliteration of the task at hand.

And by the looks of it, it seems that she won't be letting go of this issue unless it's… thoroughly done.

Severus doesn't have to elaborate it.

He could sense Amber's grating anger, and fueled determination.

Hell, her injuries are a mere display against her wishes to carry out her will…!

Right now, it's clear in her eyes.

She wants to dispatch the cannibal.

"What do we know about these creatures again?" 

He shook his head to say no to her ridiculous idea. "The kill is not ours to take." Suddenly, his red eyes shot brilliantly—the mark of having an intense conversation with another person. "Do you wish to offend the King?"

She can't be this stupid, blind, one-sided…

"Have you killed one before, Alpha?" she suddenly asked, her voice small because she was in a daze.

"No." He feels like he already knows where this is going.

"Then…" Amber looked him in the eye, her head tilting in wonder. "Aren't you curious as to how it would have… felt?"

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