C38 At the Library

Artemis Pov

Ajax body was disposed off, it was great getting him of my ass yet I didn't feel as awesome as I'd thought. I was angry and frustrated. The trace of those emotions unknown. The video he made for his daughter had already been forwarded to her. It was time to face the dog that thought he could bite its owner, Jude.

My frustration and anger were directed towards Jude, but it felt like I was projecting it at the wrong person. Walking out of my room, I saw Freya and almost instantly, I felt a tug in my chest. It grew tight and a lump formed in my heart. I almost moved back out of fear. It was then I realized my anger and frustration, whom it was directed at. It was no other person but me. I was angry at myself.

It felt as though I had betrayed Freya. I wasn't one bit pleased with myself.

“Artemis!” she called out, her eyes twinkled as she waved at me. Waving back, the knot in my chest tightened. Damn it!

She scurried away with her business.

“Alpha,” Iris called. I turned and gave him my undivided attention, “what?” I asked grumpily.

“The firm,” he started. We were walking down the stairs. He was by my side as we trotted down. I would have taken the elevator, but I wanted to clear my head. Maybe shut this cheeping voices in my head. Mute them and stay clear of them.

“What about?” I asked impatiently, clearly desperate to be left alone. The walk was also a means of me ploying how I could take Jude down. For him to have Ajax by his side, it only meant one thing. Which was, he had recruited people into his team to take me down. I was sure he had an army and I need to dissipate his army and I couldn't do that without ascertaining who was working for him.

“The firm, our stock has grown over the past few months. We're coming back to business,” Iris said with relief. I wondered what the relieve was for, we were only just getting started. We would climb back to the top, to our spot in the market as number one. We turned down to our left, still heading down. Just then Oslo came in.

He bore a disturbed look, “alpha,” he called.

“What?” I asked clearly irritated, that walk alone was not going to happen, not with the way people kept running up to me.

“One of the court member is here,” he said with a worried expression.

“So? They'll just stay, lurk around and leave,” I said the obvious but Oslo’s features were still not relaxed.

“She has come to stay till the ceremony,” he told me, I clenched my fist by my side. What were this people up to, I had to catch up faster in order not to be thrown under the bus.

“I think they know we killed Ajax,” Iris said by my side.

“Well I hope they do, so that they can get prepared for what is to come,” I said angrily storming away. If they were here, it meant they came with trouble, first I must make sure that Freya was okay.

Halfway up the stairs, I halted and turned back, “don't let Freya off your side, keep an eye on her at all times,” I said to Oslo. Iris was already by my side ready to carry out orders.

Freya's pov

I was in the library when I started to hear wails. At first they came as stifle moans and I thought that may be people were making out in the library. It wasn't a new thing, but then the moans increased and became apparent to the ears that someone was bawling his or her eyes out.

The section of the library that I sat at was more private and secluded. It was a place for knowledge, to learn about the packs history, so fewer people would be here, as it stands now, I was the only person here. And so the crying was only heard by my ears.

The crying was loud and clear, it was muffled conceived by the clasping of the mouth to muffle the cry or swallow it.

My eyes moved to the rows of book. The book entry colon and the library card, separating and detailing what book could be found in each section of the library or row.

My gaze was fixated at the direction from which the soft lamentations were coming from.

Should I interfere. Last time I did it turned out great, I was just so lucky Loretta didn't go all Loretta over me. She did say some mean words, but they were more subtle from what I perceived she might had said. The point was, I was lucky, I doubted this time would be the same. It wasn't everytime the hero was needed. So stay in your damn lane Freya!

I redirected my gaze back into the book on the table that was open, staring at me to pick up where I left off.

“Yes that's right Freya, mind your business. You are not even their Luna yet,” I said to myself.

The sobs and suppress wails continued persistently.

“Focus on the book Freya,” I said to myself for the last time. “This is non of your business Freya, stop sticking nose in pack members businesses,” my gaze was to the book but my mind was somewhere else. It was on the voice crying profusely by the books. Books!! I immediately stood up like I was electrocuted. The books may be in danger. Who knew? She could cry a river and ruin the books.

I began walking towards the direction where the cry was most insistent. I was doing this for the book. I told myself that as I approached the crying—— Loretta?!

“Loretta!” I said out loud in surprise. Wait was she the one crying? That was a rhetorical question and yes she was the one. I was just shocked to find her crying again.

“Not you again? What are you doing here?” she asked, releasing her mouth from where she clutched it with her palm.

“I was in the library, reading. What about you? What the hell are you doing here again.

Her perfect blonde hair was in disarray, scattered everywhere, her makeup smeared all over her face and palm.

“I was hiding from you,” she said sniffing.

“Me? Why?” I queried in shock.

“I didn't want you to find me crying again, but would you look at that! You are standing right in front of me again,” she said annoyed.

“And you thought I wouldn't be in the library?” I said quizzically.

“Well in my defense, you were training so I thought you would always hang around the training center, I didn't think you'll be here,” she said and sniffed once more.

“What's wrong, you can talk to me right?” I tried to assure her, of course she couldn't, we weren't friends and one time breakdown didn't suddenly interpret as best friends or friends at all.

“My father…. He's dead,” she stuttered while the sobs returned.

I bent down immediately and pulled her into my embrace, “common Loretta, how do you know, he's probably just out there, somewhere, runn——”

“No Frey, he's actually dead,” she insisted.

“You don't know that—”

“I do!” she screamed and I instantly hugged her again, she pulled away, “he is,” then she drew out her phone and showed me the video on her phone.

I took the phone and watched it. Her father was giving a goodbye message. He was being held hostage, he was chained to a metal chair.

I quivered, watching the video.

“Oh no, I'm sorry so sorry,” I crushed her into a bear hug. We were laid entangled on the floor, backing a row of books.

“It's gonna be okay, I got you,” I said and rocked her slowly.

“Frey what am I going to do, my father is actually gone,” she choked with her own tears.