Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Alex Heartman

Once Alex heard the sound of gunshots, his heart raced with adrenaline as he immediately jumped out of his carriage in defense. However, his bravery quickly dissipated as he realized that the gunshots weren't aimed at him. Instead, they were targeting Mia's carriage, causing Alex's protectiveness over his wife to kick into overdrive.

As he rushed towards Mia's carriage, he noticed that the attackers had already fled the scene, leaving behind only an empty carriage. Alex felt a twinge of worry for his wife's safety, but was grateful that she wasn't there to face the danger.

Despite his relief that Mia was okay, Alex couldn't shake the feeling of unease that still lingered. He felt an overwhelming urge to find out why anyone would want to harm Mia and decided to give chase after the attackers. However, before he could start running, he was suddenly stopped by Hendrix, who gripped his arm.

Alex snatched his hand forcefully from Hendrix's.

"What was that for?!" Alex spun with flaring nostrils to stare daggers at Hendrix.

He looked back towards the criminals and was about to chase them when Hendrix blocked his part again.

Alex was at this stage pissed.

"Sire, you must let them go." Hendrix suddenly seemed his boldest.

Alex looked into the distance and saw that they were too far gone to catch up with them now.

"This better be good," Alex said through gritted teeth, he would snap Hendrix's neck if it wasn't

"I think it's a form of distraction." Hendrix voiced out his thoughts.

Alex hadn't thought of that possibility but that didn't satisfy him still. What would have satisfied him would have been him catching them and finding out who they were and worked for.

"Don't ever do that again,"

Alex instructed Hendrix in anger and Hendrix bowed in submission.

He did have a point and as much as Alex wanted to keep going after them, he couldn't.

Despite Alex's agreement to keep moving forward, he couldn't help but feel angry and frustrated. The thought of someone targeting Mia filled him with a sense of protectiveness that he couldn't shake off easily. He couldn't stop thinking about the safety of his mate and wondered if there was more to the attack than what Hendrix was letting on.

Alex looked at Hendrix as they went on their journey. He was sat in is carriage looking out and keeping watch. Alex didn't trust him, he didn't and couldn't trust anyone at this stage but maybe he was only being paranoid.

Maybe he was just overthinking things.

Maybe he wasn't.

Hendrix seemed a bit too calm at what just happened and Alex began to question everything he knew about not just him, but everyone around him.

He knew the only way anyone could have known or even guessed his plan was if they were let in on it from the very onset.

That was why he had ventured so quickly on this trip. He was trying to avoid all of these.

Someone was obviously working for the enemy. Someone close and his main suspect was Hendrix.

He had been disappearing, sneaking around and all...

Alex wasn't sure who it was but when he discovered him, he would burn him.

As they continued on their journey, Alex couldn't help but feel on the edge. The thought of possible danger lurking around every corner kept him on high alert. He felt like he was walking on eggshells, constantly waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Alex's frustration reached a boiling point when they arrived their destination and were stopped at the entry of the Diamond Shadow Pack.

"I suggest you let us im peacefully. We would hate to fight our way through," Theo threatened the frightened guards by their might.

Basically, every kingdom both far and near knew of the greatness of the formidable Crystal Moon Pack army. They were literal legends.

They would only be fools to not let them through.

"I would need my king's permission for that," their chief said, trying to seem brave.

Theo knew he was in no way brave with the way he played with his fingers like a high school girl.

Theo was about to use force when Alex stopped him.

Alex had already mind linked their king and all they had to do was wait for the inevitable welcome in. He was their son-in-law and even if he weren't, they'd never dare defy him.

The order came almost immediately and the guards stepped out of the way. Alex and his men walked in majestically to the guards dismay and secret envy.

They got to the poison expert's house, which was a very shitty place with very tiny windows, overgrown weed, and a dirty building. Alex and his men felt a sense of relief to be finally there. Unfortunately, that relief soon turned to dread and anger when they walked the sorry sight of a house and found the expert dead...

Alex stared at the dead man in both shock and anger.

As the man's body dangled from his ceiling fan with blood dripping down his body, Alex became very certain that he wasn't being paranoid, but someone among his people was ratting information to the enemy.

He was disappointed and enraged to discover that he had been overrun once again.

But how? How had he been killed successfully? How did the killer even get past the palace gate?

Maybe he didn't need to get past the gate because he lived in this kingdom. Alex held his breath and gnashed his teeth.

Alex's mind raced with these questions and he was truly troubled.

He slowly stepped out of the man's shabby house, deep in thoughts.

He was suddenly worried for Mia's safety again. If the killer came from outside this palace, then he could do same to his.

Alex's eyes widened a bit from the realization.

His men were right behind him as he walked briskly to his carriages.

"Your majesty, are we leaving? The king has invited us for tea," Hendrix said; his brows creased in confusion and what seemed like worry.

Alex glared down at him before mounting his carriage.

He needed to be sure Mia was okay and he wouldn't let himself get distracted, not again.

The trip back home suddenly seemed to be taking longer than necessary. Alex wasn't sure if it was mainly because he was panicking or because it actually was.

He couldn't trust these people. One of them had betrayed him or maybe more than one.

He started barking orders at the riders and they roughly struggled through the road.

Alex was impatient with the pace at which they still went, and he tried to link Mia up through the bond, but he had ventured too far, hence, the bond was a bit severed.

Alex's heart sank and panic drowned the organ. He couldn't even hear her heartbeat, what if something had happened to her?