Chapter 155
Alpha Cole Rush stood on the balcony of his thirty-storey building. He often stood on that particular spot because it did make him feel on top of the world, on top of the pack, because he was.
But today, something else bothered him. He continuously stroked his bearded chin, lost in thoughts. Something had been running through his mind, something he could not make sense of no matter how hard he tried.
Yes. It was true Lake had gone in search of his mother. The ungrateful child could go to the ends of the earth if he liked, but that was not what worried Cole. His son had been away for over a week, it was odd for Lake to abandon duties in such a way, except something he placed in higher in priorities than his duties. But, what could have suddenly appeared? Or changed his son?NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.
At that moment, there was only one person he could ask. There was only one person who would know the answer to his questions and not leave him in the dark or lie to him for any reason. Alpha Cole turned to look at the bodyguards mounted at both sides of the entrance to the balcony.
“Reed, get me Neil. My son’s assistant.” He instructed one of the guards. The man by the left bowed and turned to leave.
It only took twenty minutes for Neil, alpha Cole’s informant, to arrive with the bodyguard. Cole knew he had arrived when he heard two different footsteps walk in simultaneously.
“Greetings, alpha Cole.”
Cole turned around to look at the young man whose head was bowed. His curious eyes danced around the man’s appearance, before he spoke.
“My son has been away for more than a week. I know you know something about what is keeping him there. Tell me everything you know, keep nothing away.” The last statement was more of a warning than an instruction, and Neil knew this.
With his gaze fixed on the ground, he began to speak.
“I do not know in details, neither am I certain, sir. But, I am sure that there is something else keeping him in Ten. The restaurant alpha Lake found his mother is ran by his mother, but the stripper who worked here, Jojo Wyatt, still works for her in Ten. She must be responsible for the alpha’s delay.” Neil replied.
Cole’s jaw hardened on its own accord. His nostrils twitched and he turned away from Neil to hide his anger.
Of course! That must be what was holding his son back. What was wrong with Emerald? How could she still manage to get on his nerves despite being so far?
Cole scoffed and turned back to Neil.
“You are going to go to Ten. Find out exactly what is going on there and return to report to me. I need to be a hundred percent sure of what I am dealing with.” He ordered, but the man wore a hesitant and unsure look in his eyes.
“Alpha Cole, I would never disobey you. But, I am afraid this might not be a good idea. The alpha already called and instructed me to look after the affairs of the Casino. It would be very unusual of me to head to Ten even after knowing this. He is your son, he would surely suspect something.”
Cole shrugged and turned his back to the man. His fists rolled into balls beside him and his shoulders felt tense. The man was right. Lake Rush might be stubborn, but he was not an idiot.
“Nevermind. You can leave.”
“Thank you, alpha.” Was the man’s response, before he turned away on his heels and dashed out of the room.
That door had closed, but he still needed to know what was going on. Since Neil could not give him a reply, he was certain the next person closest to his son would be able to give him something, an information he could make proper use of.
He walked out of the balcony, into his office, and settled into his chair. He relaxed his back and stretched his legs forward, before reaching out to the table for his phone. He scrolled through it and when he found the number he was searching for, he dialed it.
********************
Lake:
Kenji sat beside me, knotting the lace of his shoes. Ashley was currently in Ten, and according to him, they had a date in ten minutes.
I fixed my eyes on my phone screen, trying to ignore the fact that I was slightly jealous of him, even though I was happy for him. I mean, I wished I could knot my laces to go on a date with Jojo, but she wanted nothing to do with me.
Suddenly, when his phone rang by his side, he looked into the screen then turned to look at me. I stared back at him, oblivious of what his empty stare meant.
It was his first sentence that made me understand the look in his eyes.
“Greetings, alpha.” He called out.
I dropped my phone beside me and stared at Kenji. I noticed how his fingers gripped the phone as he pressed it to his right ear. He had never been comfortable around my father, even when we were kids and his father was my father’s closest friend.
“Kenji, I heard that you accompanied my son to Ten.”
I arched my brow at him, even though his back was facing me. He had been wise to put the call on loudspeaker, now I could hear what my father was about to say and why he would not just say it to me.
Kenji tried to speak, but he ended up stuttering.
“Yes, sir. I… we actually…”
“I have always liked you, Kenji. I have always known you as a wise boy, that is why I expect you to drag my son back to Rush pack as soon as possible! What has he been doing there for days? It’s been almost two weeks? Has he suddenly forgotten his duties? The pack and the businesses that he has to run? Or did he give up everything because of a woman?” My father yelled at the other end of the phone.
All he managed to do was annoy me.
I turned to place my feet on the ground and stomped over to Kenji who could not think of a suitable reply for my father. I snatched the phone from his hands and he glared at me at first, before his glare dissolved into relief and gratitude.
“If you have something to say about me, say it to me, father. Leave the people around me away from this.” My tone was blunt and grave. To say that I was annoyed would be a far understatement.
I heard him chuckle at the other end of the line and bile rose up in my stomach.
“Oh! He lives! Well, that’s a good thing. As it stands now, I have properly sought Jade’s hand in marriage for you. She is currently packing her things to your place…”
My head was beginning to spin, I could barely keep my feet on the ground without wanting to kick something to destruction. It took every iota of self control in me not to smash Kenji’s phone to the ground.
“So, do hurry and return. We have a wedding to plan.”
I took in deep breaths, I tried to calm myself down, but all my efforts proved futile.
“You would do no such thing, father.”
“Do no such thing? I have…” He laughed out loud.
“I have already done it, Lake. And there is nothing you can do about it.”
There. That was the moment I lost my shit.
“You would not dictate my life to bend to your twisted rules, father. Not while I am out here, trying to be there for my son and his mother! Why? Because I want to be nothing like you!”
There it was. The reason behind all my pent up anger. I had spilled the secret I intended to keep from him for as long as was necessary.
Lose lips are really the recipe for disaster.
“Son? Did you just say you have a son?”
Shit! How could I take my words back? The back of my head was beginning to hurt badly.
“I am coming to Ten right away!”
“No, father…”
“Who is the child? You have a son? Who is the mother? I must know these things Lake.”
I slipped my rolled fist into my side pocket, a daring frown on my face.
“If you do not calm down, father. I swear you would never set your eyes on my son.”
“Calm down?! No, Lake. You do not get to call the shots here. If you do not bring that boy home, I would come with as many soldiers as possible and tear down Ten until I find him.”
That was the last statement he made before the line went dead.
Another threat, another fucking threat!
I tossed Kenji’s phone to his side, digging my fingers into my hair. I could almost pull them out in frustration.