Sold To The Alpha
A Love spoken Chapter 46

Stumbling through the thick foliage, the trio tried to get their bearings as the Demon's had managed to confuse their way.

'Compass' Vaughn finally grunted drawing Gabriella and Rowan to a stand still, 'check the compass or we are going to be running around this forest for the rest of our lives!'

Dropping to his knees, Rowan pulled out the battered compass that had become chipped during their travels, holding it up and studying the needle for a few moments before hesitantly pointing to their left slightly. 'Are you sure?' Gabby asked, noting the warrior's lack of conviction.

Rowan shrugged, chucking the compass back into his bag and standing up.

'It's the best we have, come on' Vaughn growled as he led the way in the new direction.

Pushing the overhanging branches roughly out of the way, Vaughn forced his way through the entwined vegetation, his eyes watching for any movement around them.

A soft wind blew across them, sending a shiver over the skin of the trio, halting, they glared around them suspiciously, their gazes focusing on a small slowly spinning entity that expanded until it dissipated to reveal the High Priestess who smiled at them, unconcerned by their immediately hostile stance.

'Prince Vaughn' she said, her voice ringing out clearly, 'I am disappointed, you try to renege on our deal' she said, her voice soft and dangerous.

'I am not reneging on anything' Vaughn spat back angrily, 'I agreed to bring Olivia to you and I did, now I am within my rights to take her back again. There was no time limit regarding how long she was to remain with you so if you would move out of our way, I have a mate to retrieve.'

'A technicality' Talia hissed back, her eyes flashing as her guard slipped momentarily, revealing the anger that simmered below the surface of her calm expression.

'A valid technicality' the Prince replied evenly.

Turning to Rowan, the smile once again returned to the High Priestess' lips, 'Warrior, you finally fulfil the promise your masters made to me all those years ago' she said murmured. 'I admit, my anger at your incompetance was severe, but seeing how you manipulated these two gullible mortals to complete your contract makes me think that maybe it was your masters who were the incompetent ones after all.

Rowan's eyes darkened, his hands clenching at his sides as he glowered at the Priestess, who's smile widened.

'Rowan didn't manipulate us' Gabriella growled out as the High Priestess shook her head in pity.

'Oh little girl' she whispered viciously, 'of course he did, he convinced you to and the baby prince that he needed your help to get Olivia to me, he made you think that he was forced into doing the things that he did, do you even know what your precious mate has done over all these years?' she asked smoothly.

'I don't care what those monsters made him do, he's a good guy' Gabriella shouted back, her face reddening as her anger started to overpower her.

'Oh, you don't care that your little boyfriend here is the sole reason that your good friend Olivia was left an orphan without a pack?' the priestess purred, her eyes gleaming maliciously.

'What? No.. he wouldn't do that' the princess stuttered back, her face paling slightly.

'Oh he would and he did' Talia hissed back happily, 'he entered that pack house all by himself and slaughtered those innocent wolves, Men, women and children, none of them were safe from his terror. The last thing those poor little pups saw before their lives were snuffed out was the terrifying face of your mate as he ripped them apart with his claws.

Gabriella stumbled back, reeling from the poisonous words, her eyes wide as she desperately sought out Rowan's ashen face.

'It's not true' she whispered, sending him a silent plea to refute the evil witch's allegations.

Rowan dropped his head, guilt swallowing him as he raised his shaking hands to his face, refusing to meet the beseeching look of the teenager.

Gasping, Gabriella stepped away from him, 'no, I was right, you are a monster, you murdered those people for this evil b***h! How could you?' she muttered desperately, her eyes glazing with unshed tears.

The High Priestess turned back to Rowan's silent shaking form, her expression turning to one of comfort and understanding, 'Rowan, she is young, she does not understand the things one must do to remain at the top of the food chain unlike us. I know you crave her Rowan, and I know of your affliction. I can help you warrior, join me and I will lift the spell that stops you from baring your heart, you can even keep the little princess w***e as your personal entertainment if you wish. Join me, help me keep the wolf from harming my coven and I will give you everything your heart desires, the princess, your voice, even freedom from the council' she coaxed softly taking a step toward him, her arm outstretched.

Rowan raised his eyes to hers, his expression blank as he watched the Priestess move slowly toward him, Gabriella and Vaughn frozen in place as they watched the scene unfold before them. 'Come Rowan, choose the right side' Talia whispered to him.

As her fingers brushed against his arm, Rowan's face contorted into rage as his claws extended and he dragged them across the Priestess' body. Meeting no resistance, he stumbled slightly as his claws passed through Talia's torso, causing it to shimmer before reforming.

'Oh Rowan, you disappoint me' Talia murmured, shaking her head sadly, 'I see I was right to only project my image to you as your response was less encouraging than I had hoped. You have picked your side warrior, unfortunately, you will replace that you picked the wrong one' she said as her image faded out leaving them alone between the trees.

Rowan retracted his claws, his shoulders heaving as his knees buckled beneath him and he fell to the ground, silent sobs wracking his body.

Vaughn approached him hesitantly, placing his hand on the warrior's shoulder, showing faint surprise when he didn't shake it off.

'Did you know?' Gabriella mumbled brokenly, 'did you know what he did to Olivia's pack?'

Vaughn nodded his head dejectedly, 'yes, he told me' he admitted quietly.

'You knew? And you still worked with him?' the teenager shouted horrified.

The prince raised his troubled gaze to the princess, 'he couldn't say no Gabby, he's bound to the council, he has to carry out every order they give him, it's part of the spell that was placed on him. His punishment for his previous life was living an eternity as a slave to powerful men and having to be eaten by the guilt with not even death to end his suffering. He didn't want to kill Olivia's pack, just like he didn't want to hand her over to the Coven and he doesn't want to be mute every time he sees you, he's even more of a prisoner than Olivia' Vaughn said sadly as he knelt next to the sobbing warrior and held him tightly.

Taking a hesitant step forward, Gabby slowly lowered herself to the ground, staring intently at the broken man in front of her, 'I don't know if I can get past this Vaughn, he murdered an entire pack' she muttered in anguish, 'I love him, but I don't know if I can look at him the same way!

Vaughn nodded, 'I understand Gabs and so does Rowan, but please, don't make any decisions until we get Olivia back. Rowan and I know we are not the mates that you and Olivia deserve, you both should have had these amazing guys who would sweep you off your feet. Men that could give you the world and only want to see your smile in return, I'm sorry that you both got us and all our baggage. Please do know, Rowan loves you with everything he has, and I love Olivia the same, you are our entire lives, all we want is for you both to be happy' he said softly.

Giving a shaky smile, Gabriella nodded as she clambered back to her feet, stepping over to Rowan and waiting for Vaughn to stand before helping to lift the warrior to his feet.

Turning him to face her, Gabriella's heart cracked as she saw the raw emotion etched into her mate's face, forcing him to look at her she quietly whispered, 'I'm not saying I am leaving, nor am I saying that I am staying, but I need to get my friend back and I can't do that without your help, will you help me?' she asked.

Rowan immediately straightened up, facing back in the direction they had been moving, wiping his face with the back of his hands.

'I think that means yes' Vaughn replied with a smile as he patted his friend on the back.

'Lets go' the princess replied, tightening her grip on her bag strap and proceeding to lead the way toward the coven and their friend.