The Delta's Daughter Chapter 371

MIKE

I watch Lyrics wolf retreat wanting nothing more than to chase after her again and sink my cock into her tight channel.

I groan swiping my hand roughly over my face and looking down at my still very erect and desperate cock. I must be a glutton for punishment for torturing myself in this way.

Not that I didn't enjoy it. I very much enjoyed touching Lyric and her body was so responsive to mine. Would I have liked things to be taken further? Fuck yes!

I knew she wasn't ready though. Baby steps. I needed to be slow and understanding - to move at her pace. No matter how much I wanted to shove understanding out the window and stomp all over it.

When she was ready, I would make her mine.

The last thing I expected when I left Kellen in his office with Tala, placating my wolf's urge to go out for a run, was to find Lyrics wolf deep in the forest playing around.

Duke and I watched her frolic around for a few moments until the slight breeze that weaved between the trees changed direction and she caught my scent. Duke had taken a step forward and stood on a twig. I swear it was on purpose. That's when her wolf caught sight of me.

At first, she growled, the fur on her back spiking and ears pushed back. Her dark brown fur shone under the night sky. I thought she was angry to see us, her mate. Then her growl became playful and bounced on her front paws, challenging us in a good way. When she barked and ran off, I didn't even try to hold Duke back.

It was game on. He was going to mate her when he caught her. He kept the game going for a while, having fun with the she-wolf. Until he became frustrated and wanted her under him.

That's when she shifted, and a very naked Lyric stood in front of us. Her fingers through my wolfs fur only served to heighten his desire to mate her wolf, but her touch in skin form excited him just as much.

When she turned her back, I couldn't take it anymore and shifted, daring to stand closer. My chest to her back. My warmth and desire radiated off me and I couldn't help but place my hands on her. Wild wolves couldn't keep me from touching her and she didn't stop me.

I didn't expect it to go so far but when she welcomed my touch, my kisses, and didn't stop my hands from roaming. It was all I could do to hold back my primal urge to throw her to the floor and mount her as my wolf would have.

I kept those urges at bay, remembering she had issues with intimacy. I asked her to trust me, told her with as much conviction as I could that I wouldn't hurt her. That I could stop.

She had been gone for over ten minutes now and I was still stuck in the same place watching where her wolf had disappeared from my sight. Her scent still clung to me; her arousal still drenched my fingers even if I had licked them clean. Goddess, she tasted just as she smelled. Like sweet, sweet peaches.

Oh, how I wanted more. And the way she responded to me I knew there would be more… In time.

I shift back into Duke and head back to the palace at a slow trot. He's feeling very pleased with himself. Not only because we sexually touched our mate but, also because he had fun playing and chasing Lyrics wolf.

'Note.' Duke spoke up 'Her name is Note.' He said clarifying what or who he was talking about. He was in love.

We were halfway back when I felt a push on my mind, Kellen's voice coming through *Tyron wants us in cells. Where are you?*

It was late at night. I had left Kellen when Tala came into his office, ready to call it a night. It must be important if Kellen is having me accompany him this late.

*Be right there, almost back at the palace. Went on a run.* I tell him. Duke picking up his pace, so we get there faster.

There's a door outside the main palace that leads down to the older cells. Or dungeons I guess you could call them. They were part of the original structure, and it was kept when the palace was rebuilt some 250 years ago and kept open by Kellen's grandfather. They weren't used very often except for extreme cases. Otherwise, we conducted all arrests, inquiries, and questionings in the holding cells.

I reach the external door, shifting into my skin form and pulling it open. A guard sat inside and upon seeing me he handed me a pair of shorts. We usually kept boxes of clothes in certain places as Kellen's mother once put an order into effect that you would not enter a building nude. Stating that it was rude and improper to younger shifters and any guests that may be visiting.

I make my way down to the cells that are the worst. That's where we are keeping Twenty-Nine. In the worst cell we had.

I meet Kellen and Tyron halfway down the first corridor. Old sweat and blood permeate the air and the undertones of mold tickle my senses. These dungeons are a depressing sight and leave you with a feeling of creepy crawlies under your skin.

"What's going on?" I ask as they meet me. "Tell me he spilled some useful information?"

Tyron shakes his head and grunts. "No, the fucker has remained silent except for his screams. The guy screams like a little bitch," He chuckles lowly. "I called for you both because, even though he hasn't said anything, I wanted you to see for yourself what happens to him with heat lamps."

I frown looking at Tyron and then at Kellen, wondering what Tyron can mean.

"Come on," Tyron motions for us to follow him.

We reach the end of the corridor, turning right down another one. Tyron flips a switch as we shuffle down toward where Twenty-Nine is. Light illuminates the dark corridor, flooding from the cell our prisoner is in.

We reach the cell and Kellen steps up to the metal bars. There is no need for silver, as it seems silver does not affect Twenty-nine. After all, he isn't a shifter, so the rules of standard punishment are slightly different for him.

"I hope you are willing to talk, now that you have had some time to think about the position you are in." Kellen quite calmly states.

Twenty-Nine ignores him, his head hanging lowly, arms twisted behind his back in cuffs. He's in a kneeling position with a chain around his neck that's hooked to the concrete floor. Florescent lighting hangs above him, but also several ultraviolet lights on tripods are positioned around him.

Kellen nods at Tyron and the lights that shine on him become brighter, the ultraviolet lights beam right at him. Twenty-Nine winces, turning his head from side to side, trying to avoid the blinding light.

Steam rises from his skin and finally his head lifts. His yellow eyes meet mine and he snarls revealing tiny, pointed teeth. Tyron increases the beam from the lights and Twenty-Nine begins to hiss, his skin flaking like cinders from a fire.

Kellen nods again and Tyron decreases the light.

Interesting.

"Where is Senko's base of operations?" Kellen asks, again calmly not showing any emotion, his gaze hard and face stoic as he waits for an answer.

Tyron flips the lights on once again, this time as bright as they can go.

Twenty-Nine screams out in pain "Argghh!" Yet he refuses to answer the question.

"Now watch this," Tyron says as he opens the cell door, walks in, and pulls out a small electrical stun phaser from his back pocket. He places it against Twenty-Nines neck, pushes the button, and lets it rip.

Twenty-Nine convulses. The jolt of current is not enough to kill him, but it will make all his muscles spasm.

My eyes widen and I notice Kellen drops his hands as we watch the skin on Twenty-Nine begin to change. The dull grey of his skin begins to warm to a warm pink. Almost natural looking. Tyron grabs his hair pulling his head up so we can see his face better. His yellow eyes bore into mine with hatred and defiance, then as slowly but as suddenly as his skin color changed so did his eyes. Becoming an icy blue.

"What are you?" I ask with fascination as his skin, eyes, and hair morph to make him look more human. His features stay the same just the coloring changes.

Finally, he speaks. Eyes still trained on me "Master will come for you. Shame your mate had to die." A cruel smile tilts his lips.

I cock my head knowing full well he speaks of Jonda. "She's not dead and she isn't my mate." If he was trying to get a rise out of me, tough luck because it wasn't going to work. Not tonight. Not after my encounter with Lyric, which still had me feeling giddy on edge.

"That's not what he asked." Tyron roughly yanked at his hair, making his head jerk back.

"Now, now, let him speak. If he wants the lights again all he has to do is keep his mouth shut." Kellen gives him a wicked smile and waggles his eyebrows at Twenty-Nine. But the prisoner doesn't see it. His eyes are solely focused on mine.

"We will ask you again, what are you?" Kellen steps into the cell, crouching down in front of Twenty-Nine. Inspecting him and his new look.

The now icy blue eyes flick to Kellen and he snarls, jumping to bite him, jerking the chain around his neck. Kellen shuffles back slightly as Twenty-nine gnashes his sharp tiny teeth at him.

What the fuck is up with him? He looks like a rabid dog wanting to attack and bite Kellen.

"Master will free me way before you break me." He manically laughs, rolls his head around, pulls the chain that grips his neck, and we watch as his skin returns to the dull grey and his eyes morph back to his mustard yellow.

"I doubt you will be getting out of here anytime soon," I mumble at Twenty-Nine.

"There are more than one way to be free."

Whatever that means.

"What did Senko mean when he said he brought his army for me?" I figured I could try a different question that had to do with me, seeing as he was intently focused on me and not the other two males in the cell with him.

"You are the one that will set us all free." He smiles, but it's a sickly-sweet smile that makes my skin crawl.

"Where is Senko?" I ask the same question Kellen asked hoping he might be more willing now.

There's a moment of silence and Kellen nods his head again. The lights come on and twenty-Nine cries out as it burns his skin.

"Super sensitive to different lights" Tyron informs us.

Kellen has him switch the lights off again and we give the prisoner a minute to catch his breath.

"Again, where is Senko," Kellen asks this time. He says nothing.

"Where is Senko?" I try.

"The dark witch has risen; the blood alchemist will set us all free. You can't hide. You can't run. He will find you and then he will be master." Twenty-Nine's eyes light up suddenly and his face becomes passive. He looks up at the ceiling as if he is having a conversation with himself. "Yes, master." He says to the ceiling. When he breaks his position, head coming down, he once again looks at me. Then his eyes skirt to Kellen and he addresses him for the first time. "He will come for the boy and all of you. It has begun."

Twenty-Nine begins to convulse, wildly yanking against his restraint. Foam forms at his mouth, eyes roll back then blood mixes with the foam drooling down his chin and splashing on the floor. Within seconds his body goes limp and if it wasn't for the restraint and chain around his neck he would have fallen flat on his face.

"Did he just fucking die?" Kellen asks, looking just as stunned as I am.

Tyron places his fingers against Twenty-Nine's neck, cocks his head at the same time. "He did."

The three of us stood there in stunned silence for a few moments. Remnants of the Rogues we caught a few years back that had cyanide capsules under their teeth and would kill themselves before we even had a chance to question them.

"Well, that…"

"…Sucked." I finished Kellen's sentence.

"Really sucked." He said, still staring at Twenty-Nine's limp form. "Did he will himself to commit suicide, or…"

"That was weird as shit," Tyron said. "I ain't never seen anything like it."

No shit. That was strange as all get out. And also, there went our chances of getting any information out of him. It kind of feels like we got cheated out of answers.

"If he could do that, why wait until now? Why not when Tobias nabbed him?" It's a valid question Kellen asks. One I too would like to know the answer to.

"Maybe he was waiting?" Tyron suggested.

"Yeah, but for what?" I question looking the prisoner over.

Kellen forms a deep frown, taking a minute to think, looking perplexed. His eyes flit over the body before us. "Link the pack doctor, have him come do an autopsy on him. Maybe his body will be able to answer other questions if he can't physically or mentally be of any use to us now."

"If it can wait, I'll send him over. I was going to stop by the hospital. Check in on Jonda." I told him.

I wasn't actually planning to go there, but when Twenty-Nine still thought Jonda was my mate it made me think of her. She was still in a coma and Rhett was still by her side. He hadn't left the hospital. Even eating and showering there.

I also needed to patch things up with him. Our friendship was strained, and I didn't want it to be. None of this was his fault. It wasn't Jonda's either. Now she carries his child and I'm guessing it was too soon to tell when she left New Moon and got herself kidnapped.

I knew Jonda wasn't out of the woods yet, I just hoped not only for her sake but also for the child and Rhett's, she would pull through.

A short while after, I find myself in the pack hospital standing outside the room Jonda is in. The door is ajar, and I lean against the frame as I watch Rhett sit there sleeping in a chair. His hand was wrapped around Jonda's. The other rests on her stomach which doesn't even show signs of her being pregnant yet.

But if I listen closely, underneath Rhett's breathing and the sounds of the monitors I can faintly hear the beat of a tiny heart. The sound makes my own heart clench. The thought that this could have been my child grips me and causes a deep ache.

I wanted pups. Many of them. Only a few weeks ago, just over a month, I thought Jonda would be carrying my pups. That we would be mated and live happily ever after. Now everything has changed.

It's no longer Jonda my heart beats for. It's no longer Jonda my wolf pines for. I will always love Jonda. I fell in love with her because she didn't care how many females I had slept with, she understood me. Complimented me. And now, I realize how quickly all that can change.

Lyric is strong and skilled. She's fast and smart. Smarter than Damon and Alpha Xander put together. I may not know her favorite color or what she likes to eat. Or what she likes to drink, her hobbies other than stealing and technology. But I wanted to know, and the idea of getting to know all those things about her, what made her tick, excited me.

"You can come in." Rhett's tired and gravelly voice jars me from my thoughts.

I clear my voice, pushing off the door frame and nudging the door open more with my shoulder. "I wanted to see how she was doing. I also wanted to see if there was anything you needed?"

Rhett marked Jonda. We hoped that if he did that, her wolf would emerge. That his bite would break the curse. So far nothing has indicated that the curse was broken, Nor were there any signs of her wolf emerging and healing her.

"How is she?" I walk into the room further coming to her other side and casting Rhett a glance. He looks tired. Worn. Defeated. His green eyes had lost the charismatic shine they held. His hair was disheveled.

My gaze wanders to Jonda, taking in her still form. Aside from the slight rise and fall of her chest, the only indication was alive. Her skin was pale, her chestnut hair dry and dull. Light pink marks covered her body, or at least the skin I could see. The remains of those dark veins that were crawling all over her when I saw her being held by Twenty-Nine.

"No change." Rhett coughs and shifts in his seated position.

"The baby?"

"Doing good." His voice cracks and I look at him just to see his eyes misting over. "They did some tests; the baby is definitely mine." He tells me, never once breaking his eyes away from Jonda.

I wondered how hard this had to be for him. Jonda may not live, and I didn't know what that meant for the child she was carrying but I knew it wouldn't be good if she didn't pull out of this. Did he love Jonda? Did he feel the mate bond? I knew they had to be drawn to one another, after all, they were strangers and she slept with him without a thought.

But it was Rhett's child growing inside her that had to bother him. That he could be a father, but in one moment it could be taken away from him.

I know if it was me, I would be beside myself with worry. I'm not sure how I would take it honestly, if I was in his position. I didn't think I would deal with it well. Shit, I had a hard time dealing with the fact that Jonda was in this state as it was. Jonda and I had history, albeit we were only together for six months, but those six months were the best I could ask for.

My time with Jonda was over. I could only send prayers to the moon goddess that she would pull through and could be with her true mate. I only ever wished happiness for her.

That happiness just wasn't going to be with me anymore.