"Rodriguez, please talk to me," Arya begged as they neared the rogue pack territory.
He hadn't said a word after learning that it could be his mate! The mole! The air in the car was suffocating with unsaid words and anger build-up. The only thing that Rodriguez was thinking of was, 'it has to be a mistake', but he had heard her voice from inside the house, telling Alfa that he, Rodriguez, was there as well.
Werewolf hearing was both a boon and a curse. In his eighteen years of life, Rodriguez knew one thing; one's greatest enemy is the one who wears the mask of friendship. In his case, the mask of a mate! His mate!
"Rodriguez, please, say something!" Arya's voice carried frustration and fear. Deep within, Arya was dead sure that the mole was Michelle. The problem was that she didn't have any proof.
Michelle knew that Arya would come alone to visit her family. She wouldn't have told anyone, yet when Alfa was talking to her, his phone rang, only to inform him of Rodriguez being there. Yes, Arya heard that muffled sound telling Alfa that Rodriguez was there as well, and it was a females voice.
By now, they had reached the gate, and the guards were opening the chain they called gateway.
Arya held onto her pendant and mindlinked Rodriguez. 'Rodriguez, I need you to understand me! Please respond!'
The car skidded to a stop, making Arya bless the person who came up with seat belts. Arya held her breath until the car fully stopped, and Rodriguez turned towards her. "What?" He asked through clenched teeth.
Arya noticed the guards at the gate, stand staring, not understanding why the car suddenly halted. They stood there, in position, ready for anything.
"I don't know if what I'm thinking is right or not. If you punish her and later found out it was a false allegation, will you ever forgive yourself?" Arya asked, still shaking from the sudden stop. She rubbed her head where the seat hit her when she fell back on the seat, instead of flying out through the front glass of the car.
"I'm a grown-up adult. I won't just kill her. I know how to find out if it is her or not," Rodriguez said.
"And what if it is true?"
"She dies!"
"No. We can use that to our own advantage. I'll tell you how later, but you must pretend you know nothing."
"I'm not taking orders from someone else!"
"I didn't mean it like that. If we are to get one step ahead of Alfa, we have to make sure that Michelle doesn't know that we know about her. I don't want only the Flowerew's dead, but the vampires who helped them. For that to happen, we need someone to get our message across to Alfa," Arya explained.
Rodriguez stared at her for a good one minute before starting the car and driving it into his territory.
Rodriguez had heard that a mate was a wolf's biggest strength and his greatest weakness. The mate bond felt like no other. A mate can kill or die for each other, and if one dies, the other goes insane with grief. Could the mole really be his Michelle? His mate? The one who should love him and support him more than any other person?
Was this the reason she always tried to avoid the topic of the marking ceremony? Just because it was said that when your mate marks you, they can know what you're thinking even before you tell them!
He will find out the truth today, and may the Goddess prove that she is not the mole!
The car came to a stop outside the pack house, and Rodriguez jumped out and made his way inside, whole Arya followed behind, hoping he wouldn't mess up her plan.
The entire house fell into a sudden silence as Rodriguez went straight in and walked towards his office.
Every wolf on the territory felt the tension of their alpha, and they all hoped it wasn't because of them, as their alpha was one of the kindest person you'd know, but he could become savage in seconds.
Whenever that happened, someone died. No one was able to defeat Rodriguez, and whoever challenged him didn't live to tell their tale or survived and lived in shame.
He was the only alpha to actually defeat the killer of alphas, Kane Flowerew, and his vampire friends.
Soon, everyone got a mindlink, 'Meeting. At six.'
That's all Rodriguez said. With hearts pounding, they all agreed. They didn't have any other option.
Michelle was in her room when this happened. She was scared, A knock was heard at the door, and she nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Who... who is it?" She asked, her heart nearly breaking free from it cage.
"My Luna, my Alpha has sent you a present," came a voice.
A present? What could it be? With her heart pounding, she opened the door to reveal a young girl holding a box.
The girl smiled and handed her the box, and ran off without an explanation. She stood there, at the door, looking at the box then at the girl, who had by now disappeared.
Taking the box inside, she slowly opened it, and to her surprise, it was a gorgeous burgundy ball gown. There was a handwritten note with it, saying,
My love, I had been waiting to gift you this all my life. Please come in tonight's meeting wearing this dress. I will send someone to do your makeup and hair. I want you to look perfect. Your true love, Rodriguez.
Her heart sank. She felt like the earth had moved from under her feet. 'True love'! These words made her burn with guilt, not because she didn't love him, but because he loved her. Her, a traitor! Her, the one who should be with him through and through but is working undercover with his enemy!
Tears streamed down Michelle's cheeks, and her nose felt stuffy. She held the dress to her chest and cried like a child. He loved her so much, and she was betraying him.
She became quiet and was determined to stop riding on two boats at one time. Tonight, in front of everyone, she was going to confess. Whatever happened afterward, she was ready to face it; even death.
She got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Then she began wearing the dress that her mate had sent for her. She was going to tell him everything and ask for his forgiveness. She also prayed that the Goddess gives her strength to do this.