Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Alex was sitting in his study, going through some documents thoughtfully when he heard the commotion outside his study.

That voice, he'd recognize it anytime any day.

Mia.

What did she want? Just when he was finally able to catch a break from thoughts of her, she had to show up and make his efforts useless.

She came every morning, probably with the hopes of him letting her see him if she managed to trouble him a bit. But Alex wasn't gonna let that happen.

He was tempted every time she came but this time was the worst of them. She had come crying and apologizing even when she did nothing wrong. It had nearly broken him as he was close to coming out when he remembered why he was doing what he was.

What if he lost control again? What if he ended up hurting her The fear of this question forced him to remain seated while she kept yelling outside.

"Alexander! If you don't come out here this minute, I'll rain hell on you!" Mia threatened bitterly and Alex heard something in her voice, he never believed he would. Anger with a mixture of frustration and pain.

He felt like a monster for a split second but he couldn't get carried away so he dislodged the feeling.

He was doing this for them.

"Alexander Heartman, I'm warning you!"  The guards were holding her back, begging her not to defy the Alpha's orders as she fought to get through.

"Come out this instance!"

Still no response.

She was pissed and sad.

Why would he not see her?

"Xander, please." She could no longer hold in her tears as her heart broke in a million pieces and more.

Alex felt his heart twist in his chest when he heard the pain in her voice.

"I'm sorry, okay?"

Mia cried and Alex struggled to stay seated as his pen slipped from his grip and he stared longingly at the door.

"Just tell me what I did wrong, please…"

She was acting like a love sick teenage girl, who just got dumped and wouldn't accept it. Mia felt no shame. She had long sold it and she would sell it over again to get him to open the door.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..."

Mia pleaded as all the fight left her and she slipped from the guards hold to the floor.

She was beyond hurt. Her heart was heavy and her eyes were paying the price for it. Tears kept spilling out of them and they wouldn't stop even if it hurt. She wanted the unending pain to end and she had no idea how to stop them.

Alex ran his hand through his hair. This damn bond. He felt every pain, like it was his and his hands began to shake as his wolf begged for control. Max was used to fighting Alex and losing but he was fighting now, he was begging.

It was easier for him to keep his emotions for their mate bottled up, but Max didn't have that luxury. He wanted to comfort Storm and it was driving him crazy that he couldn't.

Alex was hurting everyone and everything around him but that was what he was built for.

He dropped to his knees as his whole body shook in pain from not just Mia and her wolf, but from Max and his damn self.

"Please…" Mia was on the floor, now coiled up in a corner, crying and the guards watched her in sheer pity. Anyone would be more than thrilled to have her.

Yet here she was, being treated like trash by the Alpha.

Alex struggled to his feet.

He needed to get out of here or he'd lose control and either go to her or let the demon take over.

Every day was a battle to keep the demon at bay but today was a bloody war.

His heart was beating frantically in his chest and his muscles shook even more. His eyes became teary as a natural force from all the pain.

He walked quickly towards the door and threw it open.

Mia was still on the floor, her head bent between her knees as she cried. When she heard the door open, she snapped her head up.

She stood to her feet and dusted off the imaginary dust on her skirt as she locked gazes with Alex. A gleam of delight flickered in her misty eyes.

He had come for her, she wanted to cry in joy... But as she approached him, the guard blocked her part again and Alex turned to walk away from her as she was pulled back by the guards, stopping her from reaching him.

Her heart dropped, making a splashing sound in her stomach.

She cried and screamed but he didn't turn back. He was a coward. One too chicken to face his fears.

•••••••••••

Alex sat by the river side, fighting back tears threatening to flood and drown him.

He was hurting and it was no lame man's deal. It was real, almost tangible pain.

He gripped his heart tightly as he struggled to steady his breath.

When he left his study the intense pain reduced, but didn't stop. He needed a distraction but he didn't know what or how to go about it.

He remembered the dead wolves, that were killed by the Red Moon killer and made up his mind to investigate it as a distraction for him.

He mind linked Gerald and he came rushing down to him.

Alex didn't care if he saw his hideout as Mia already did.

When Gerald reached the river bank, he was surprised to see the Alpha looking really disheveled and troubled. He didn't have the raging energy that pushed any man under subjection around him, and he seemed... Weak?

Gerald couldn't almost believe what he was seeing, the Alpha looked his worse.

"We are going to visit each and every home of the victims and discover what had happened to them before they left home,"

Alex instructed solemnly, he had no fight left in him. None.

Gerald nodded, and they went on with the investigation.

Alex mostly listened while Gerald did the questioning. Only chipping in somethings once in a while.

By the end of the investigation, they realized that they had a very obvious and prominent link.

Each and every one of the victims had all eaten Chex at the cafeteria before they went missing. Chex was a very expensive meal and those poor peasants who had died didn't have enough money to afford it.

Someone obviously got it for them and Alex was going to find out who.