The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

17. Distractions

- ENRIQUE -

"I don't like the fact we have a royal in the cells." Carlos sighs as he sips his mojito.

"Neither do I. The United Kingdom might be small, but they're powerful. I don't think we want to piss off the Lycan King." Jose adds quietly, his voice blending with the thudding of the music in the club.

We're down at Jewels because today had just been too fucking much, and I needed a break. But even while I'm here all I can think of is her.

Even Jose isn't having any fun, which is not normal for him, but Carlos doesn't make fun of either of us either. Seems no one is themselves today. Even my fucking wolf is irritating the fuck out of me with his restlessness.

We sit here staring, unseeing, at the distractions down below that seem to be rather dull tonight.

"She's no royal in my eyes," I reply arrogantly, thinking of the woman who reminds me of a princesa right out of a storybook with that hair and those

curves.

"Yet you call her Princesa." Jose mocks.

I exhale slowly, "Cabrón?"

"Yeah?" he smirks.

"Shut it."

They both snicker.

"Don't you like a woman with light hair?" Carlos asks.

"And those curves... no?" Jose adds.

"I also like to kill. Want to be next on my list?" I counter, making them smirk, but the light-hearted humour dies away, and we all become sombre. "Why have we still not found who took her passport and her bag from that night? How can there be no footage of where that all went down? Where has she been living whilst she's been here? Jose... it's not like you to be so inefficient. I want those answers."

"I'll get them, I promise." He lowers his head apologetically.

"She must have come here for a reason. It's been three days since being down there, but not once has she asked to be let out." I muse, taking a gulp of my drink and glaring down at the lights below.

"Hmm, maybe she likes you and it's her way of winning you over," Carlos suggests.

I scoff, remembering the little chica who reminded me of a doll back then. Long hair, cute, innocent... I frown, feeling my irritation rise.

"Let's get out of here. Luis will be landing here by the end of the week. That's more crap to deal with," I mutter as I stand up and take out another cigarette, lighting it. I've had far too many today.

"That's pretty soon... why the change?" Jose asks, now frowning.

"Why don't you ask him when he comes? Maybe you can both have a fucking chat over some Tembleque?" I ask sarcastically as we head out of the club.

"Very amusing. We all know Luis is a jerk."

"With allies I can use once his land is mine," I remark as I get into the passenger seat and Carlos gets into the driver's seat. I fall silent after that, deep in thought. Why am I restless?

Do I go down there? Ask her what will get her to leave?

She's come here, but I don't want her around when Luis and his daughter - whatever her name is, are here. The past is something I have kept hidden, and she is someone who knows more than I want anyone to know.

No, I refuse to acknowledge her in any way. I will continue to ignore her... but can I?

We reach the packhouse and I head to the kitchen, feeling like something to eat. These cigarettes just aren't cutting it now.

It's late and I'm glad not many are around, and the kitchen is completely empty. There's a large walk-in fridge and there's an entire section in there that no one will touch as it is specifically for me, and I do dislike people touching my things...

The cook always makes sure that my juices, shakes, fruit, and an array of prepped meals are always well stocked up. Alongside the meals that contain plenty of protein for when I train late, not wanting to disturb the staff in the middle of the night, there is also a selection of desserts available for me to eat at all times.

I scan the shelf of desserts, about to grab one when I pause, frowning as I look at the tray, it's emptier than usual... My frown deepens as I scan the fridge, even yesterday, I felt that the dessert tray looked a little emptier than usual, but thought perhaps the cook was busy, but two days in a row? Something isn't right...

I unscrew the lid from the glass jar of my favourite custard and my frown deepens, my eyes flashing with irritation. There, to the side, I can see the little streak of someone having a sneaky taste. I slam the jar back on the shelf, growling.

I will find the cabrón who stole my desserts and make them run a thousand fucking laps in the damn sun!

Glancing back at the shelf, I frown.

Two nights of having the fucking audacity to take what's mine.

That's one time too many... but this means they'll do it again...

Tomorrow night, I'll be watching. I'll find the little thief and I swear if it's Jose, I will skin him alive.

Growling, I storm out of the freezer, making one of the pack members jump from where he was about to pour himself some water.

"Alpha! Is everything alright?"

"Perfectly!" I snarl leaving the room.

Do I look fucking ok?

Idiot.

“Enrique, I'm going to leave these with you, you might want to check it, they were seen at the coastline last night,” Carlos says, dropping a file on the table. “The memory sticks in there with those pictures and a couple more not so clear.”

I massage my temples. "Think

maybe I should attend the SWA summit coming up in Alaska? Actually, don't answer that." I mutter. "I'm not sure if anyone aside from those on the islands have seen these things, but Luis will be attending the SWA though I will have him forward the information we've gathered."

"Yeah... maybe someone will know what they are and now we have those Crawlers to deal with. I do think it's better you do go. I know you don'want to because certain people will be there, but the Lycan King didn't call this meeting. There's another powerhouse behind it, someone who has information on Alphas from across the pl. This man holds power. How about we get to him before the Lycan King."

"I don't know, nor do I care if it is the Lycan. It might even be his son. I refuse to believe that boy's not doing anything right now... he isn't human.... I can assure you of that." I murmur, remembering the red-eyed boy I once tried to kill.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asks quietly.

"No. So what else did you want to discuss?" I ask, ending that conversation.

He nods, looking down as he scratches his cheek. "Ah yeah, it's about Francisco. Do you want us to give the body back to his family? I'm sure they want to organise his burial."

“Burial?" I ask, as I pick up the file and flip it open. It's the following evening and I've spent the latter half dealing with paperwork. The pack's grown and with it, so has the paperwork.

"Yeah, ones' send-off?" Carlos says as if this is obvious.

"Ah yeah, so he can go tell Hades or Selene of his final deed on earth?" I reply coldly. "People like him don't get a send-off, cremate him."

Carlos freezes as he looks at me hesitantly. Although cremation is common in our pack, the belief was that the soul would not pass if the body is burned... Well, I don't plan to help him into heaven, anyway.

"Enrique... I know that he almost committed a sin-"

"Almost? The intention was there. He could have and would have if he had the choice. Sounds pretty clear to me. Do continue." My eyes flash and he lowers his head.

"Forgive me, you are right, Alpha... but what about his family? If he is given the correct funeral rites, it would help them... Albeit it could be small, don't take that from them."

My eyes blaze and I stand up, closing the gap between us.

"Did I ask for your advice, Carlos?" I growl lowly. "No. I didn't. Let them see the body, but that's it, he's going to burn in hell anyway and I want no more discussions on this topic. Am I fucking clear?"

“Absolutely. I understand, Alpha," Carlos says, lowering his head before he murmurs an “excuse me❞ and leaves.

I clench my jaw, punching the table before I walk over to the window. I hated disagreeing with him, but it also grates on my nerves when he and Jose try to argue with me.

Frowning, I glare out into the night sky. I still plan to find my dessert thief, but before that I think I'll pay a visit to the prisoner and try to find a way to

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Her words, though, still grate on my nerves; 'Are you an Alpha who honours your word?'

Fucking woman... Don't antagonise me...

Yet, no matter how unbothered I act, those words are still messing with my head.

I head down. It's not that late and there are people around, but they clear out of my path when they hear me approaching. A group of boys in their late teens walk inside, just finishing from training.

I have strict rules here and one of them is how strict and harsh the training is. There are things going on, something big is coming and everyone needs to prepare for it. That is something I know.

I unlock the doors to the cells, heading down towards the abandoned ones, wondering if she'd want to go home now. It's been a few days, she will be feeling pretty weak without food now and maybe, just maybe, she'll be ready to go home.