The Delta's Daughter Chapter 158

We pulled up outside the warehouse where Jonda’s temporary office was located. She was standing outside waiting for us, her arms crossed over her chest, her auburn hair loose and flowing. I smiled as we got out of the car and approached her. My eyes skimmed over her again, wishing I could peel the tight jeans from her legs and run my tongue over her flesh.

Our eyes locked and the corners of her mouth turned upwards “Beta,” she greeted me, her look softening and eyes brightening. I noticed a slight blush creeping up on her face.

Oh, yeah she wanted me to. I internally smirked.

“Jonda, Mike said you wanted to show us something” Hunji’s voice interrupted our obvious ogling and she cleared her throat, pulling her eyes from me and redirecting her attention to Hunji.

“Yes sir, come with me,” She motioned with her head and turned to go back inside and we followed.

“I hope you don’t mind but I spoke to my brother the first day you came to me and explained what was going on. “ She talked as she walked, taking a seat behind her desk and doing something on her computer. “He called me not too long ago and sent over some video feed from our cameras on one of the lesser-used docks on the other side of the island.” She explained.

Her brother was the Alpha of the Sea Dog pack, an Island situated between the two continents that gave way to most trading routes around the world. The Sea Dogs were a pack of water dweller shifters and pretty much dominated the import/export trade of the realm. The Sea Dogs Island was located in a perfect position for receiving and shipping for both Continents and acting as a mediator.

“I’m not sure how helpful this is to you guys, but my brother caught the culprit smuggling a couple of girls two days ago as well as other contraband, I thought if anything, you would like to take a look at the footage,” Jonda said, turning her monitor around so the three of us could see it and she hit play on the video.

Three of us stood there in silence watching the video feed. We watched as a van pulled up by a small cargo ship and a rough-looking man climbed out and opened the side door dragging out a large object that looked like it was wrapped in a sheet of sorts, he passed the object to another guy who was waiting and then repeated his steps bringing out another large wrapped up object. “Are they bodies” Tobias asked while squatting down and placing his face closer to the monitor.

The feed ended and then another one came up as the same man usher two women on a cargo ship, delivering them in the hands of another man who roughly prodded them with a long metallic stick.

“There!” Hunji blurted out, pointing to the screen “Go back two screenshots and replay it.” He commanded with a dark expression on his face as he concentrated on the feed. I watched the video closely, looking for what Hunji spotted and I might have missed, but I didn’t see anything.

“Play it again,” I said to Jonda, concentrating again.

She played it again. “Freeze!” Hunji’s voice demanded and Jonda froze the video frame. “Do you see it” Hunji asked me.

I shook my head, “I’m not sure what I’m looking for.” I admitted, scanning the paused video, it was grainy but I could tell I was looking at the exact moment the man from the van handed over the two girls, his arm extended as he shoved them towards the waiting man ready to take them on the ship.

I shook my head, giving Hunji a confusing look, “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be seeing,” I was confused as to what he saw and hadn’t. I raised my eyebrows, gesturing for him to enlighten me.

“Here,” Hunji pointed to the screen, tapping on the monitor. I looked where his finger rested pointing at the man’s outstretched arm. Once he pulled his finger away I saw what he was clearly pointing to.

“Good fucking catch, Hunji!” I exclaimed in pure surprise and astonishment as I looked at the man’s wrist and saw the obviously expensive as shit watch he had dangling around his wrist. A watch he couldn’t afford, a watch that had been commissioned and was one of a kind. Kellen’s watch Lamia had gifted him on their eighteenth birthday.

“I can’t believe I missed that.” I sighed rubbing the back of my neck in embarrassment.

“You two mind letting me in on the secret” Tobias grumbled.

“That man is wearing Kellen’s watch, she had the face custom made and there is an inscription on the back of it,” I said pointing at the screen and the man’s wrist. It was such a small visual but Hunji had been able to spot it. There was so much I could learn from him, His eyes were like a hawk. The guy really didn’t miss much.

“Well, I’ll be fucked” Exclaimed Tobias in shock.

“Please tell me your brother didn’t kill this piece of shit” I asked Jonda who had remained quiet this whole time.

She shook her head, a broad smile creeping across her face and she wiggled her eyebrows “Nope, got him sitting in our cells on the Island.” she said smugly, looking very pleased with herself.

“Shit, I could kiss you right now,” I was only half-joking because I really would like to lock lips with the beauty. I watched her slightly blush again before she clicked her tongue and huffed out in amusement. Our eyes stayed locked for a minute more than necessary.

“I will talk to Lamia; Jonda, call your brother, if that is Kellen’s watch there will be an inscription on the back of it. If it is, I guess we are taking a boat to the Sea Dog Pack.” Hunji said. Even he had a slight look of relief and triumph on his face.

He walked out of the office leaving Tobias and me with Jonda, who also was sporting a smile as she had helped us and realized the impact this discovery had on our investigation.

This was the first break we had gotten since the day Kellen had gone missing and that was two months ago. This was a huge breakthrough. Thank the Gods, Jonda’s brother Alpha John had not killed the fucker because he might just be able to tell us where Kellen is, at the very least give us some valuable Intel. I didn't want to get my hopes up, but I had to admit, I was excited because this was the first tangible evidence that could lead us to our King and best friend.

Two hours later, after speaking with Lamia and sending her a copy of the footage, the three of us found ourselves stepping onto a boat Jonda had managed to charter for us. One of her pack captains was more than happy to assist us. Her brother Alpha John had confirmed the inscription on the back of the watch the shifter from the video footage was wearing. He had assured us he would keep him alive so we could question him ourselves.

I just finished up a call to my father, explaining the new development, and instructed him to send a unit of elites to the docks. He and Uncle Marcus were handling the Kingdom while we still searched for our new and missing King. The Elite warriors would follow us to the Sea Dog Pack’s Island. Just in case this ‘lead’, turned into something more, I wanted to make sure we had backup. We were still as blind as the day Kellen had disappeared.

I was thankful that Hunji had also backed up my idea and had requested Lamia to send her own unit to the Island right behind us as well. In addition to that Mathias had Tobias pull a unit from their southern border to assist. In total, if we needed a small number of troops we would have 36 highly trained warriors at our disposal.

Moon Goddess, please let us find him soon, I sent out a silent prayer as the three of us, along with Jonda, boarded the boat. The trip across the ocean would only take two days, but I was anxious for answers, just hoping this would lead somewhere and we weren’t wasting our time.

I stood at the back of the boat, watching the dock we pulled away from getting smaller and smaller. The sun had begun to lower and the horizon held a strange type of glow of deep reds and purples. I was so engrossed in the scenery that I didn’t sense the presence that had snuck up behind me.

“For someone who has never been on anything bigger than a canoe you sure seem to be handling it OK.” I smiled at Hunji’s observation. True I had never been on anything bigger than a small skiff out on the lake and it was nothing compared to the choppy waters of the wide-open ocean.

There was a little unsettling in my stomach, but I had put that down to my anxiousness to get to the Island as it did not feel like sea sickness.

“I could say the same about you, but I am guessing you have traveled by sea many times” I asked turning around to meet Hunji head-on.

He nodded, with a complex look on his face as he said “Yes many, many times. Where I am from my family once owned a whole fleet of naval vessels. So I am no stranger to the ocean.” Offering me a weak smile, he folding his hands behind his back and stood next to me watching the sun disappear as we left the western side of the realm behind.

Leaving my home behind and venturing into the unknown. I relished the idea of an adventure, I just wish it was under different circumstances.

I wanted to push and ask Hunji more questions about his family and past, but Hunji’s silence and distant look made it quite clear he would not open up to me any more than he had. So I took the little crumbs he had offered about his life and said no more. Enjoying the silence and the serenity together, thinking about what tomorrow could bring us.