The Lycan King’s Gamma
Chapter 41

Gamma Kailen Steele

The day after the attack, I could go home. Hunter hasn't left my side. But that has done little to calm my guilt and anxiety over what I did. The media have caught wind of what happened and they have been waiting outside the hospital to question the person who killed a prince. "Beautiful, it's okay." Hunter said, trying to reassure me. He was holding me protectively as we walked to the back of the hospital, where a car was waiting to take us home.

As much as I wished I could stop feeling guilty, I couldn't. I'm a gamma. I should have incapacitated him. The events of yesterday kept replaying in my mind, and no amount of reassurance from Hunter was going to change my mind.

Luckily, the media wasn't waiting as we exited the hospital. Greyson and Zach were waiting by the car for us. Without saying a word, Hunter opened the back door and motioned for me to get in. I hopped in and slid over so Hunter could hop in beside me. When we were all in the car with Greyson in the driver's seat, we made our way to the Royal pack house.

My stomach was in knots as we pulled up out front and the media filled the driveway. There was a wall of warriors trying to keep them back so we could park the car.

"Kailen, it's okay. Ignore them." Hunter said, squeezing my thigh. I was on the verge of tears, watching how crazy everyone was acting.

As soon as Greyson parked the car, warriors surrounded the car. Hunter opened the door and stepped out just as Greyson and Zach also exited the car. I slid across the seat and he took my hand before helping me out. As soon as the media saw me, they pushed heavily against the warriors that were holding them back. Hunter rushed me inside with warriors surrounding us. Zach and Greyson entered behind us and locked the door.

My lungs twisted painfully as I listened to the yelling coming from outside. I was replaceing it hard to breathe as Hunter tried to lead me to our apartment. I gasped as tears streamed down my cheeks. Hunter scooped me up in his arms and I buried my face in his chest. "It's okay, baby. Just breathe." He whispered. I didn't realize we were in our apartment until Hunter placed me down on our bed.

"Beautiful, how are you feeling?" Hunter asked me, kneeling in front of me. I was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I think I need a bath." I breathed out.

"Okay, baby. I'll get that started for you." Hunter said, standing. He bent down to kiss my forehead before he went to the bathroom.

I heard the water running before I entered the bathroom. Looking at myself in the mirror, I hardly recognized myself. My face and neck are still bruised. My hair was a mess. Unzipping the sweatshirt I was wearing, I could see the extent of the bit he gave me. It was red and angry, covering Hunter's perfect mark. Tears swelled in my eyes, looking at the wound.

Hunter, coming up behind me, made me jump, but he was quick to shh me, holding me tightly against his chest. I felt disgusting having Jake's smell and mark on my body.

"Beautiful, it will heal." Hunter mumbled into my neck.

"I'm so sorry, Hunter." I cried, not able to hold back my tears any longer. He turned me in his arms and hugged me to his chest.

"Hey, he attacked my queen. He got what he deserved. If you had let him live, I would have killed him myself. You have nothing to be sorry for. I should apologize to you. I let that monster stay in my kingdom even after he tried to claim you," Hunter told me. "Hunter, this is such a mess." I cried into his chest.

"Don't worry about the media. I'm going to be making a statement about what happened. I will officially claim that you are my mate and that I have marked you." He said. Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "Now, let's get you in the tub. It will help you relax." He said, kissing my forehead.

I undressed, and Hunter helped me into the tub. The hot water feels amazing on my achy body. I sank in until only my head was above the water. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, enjoying the silence. "Baby, are you going to be okay? Zach and Greyson are in the living room." Hunter asked me. I opened my eyes to replace him leaning over the tub, looking down at me.

"I'll be okay." I told him.

"Just call out and I'll be right in if you need anything." He said, kissing my forehead. I nodded before he left the bathroom, leaving the door open to our bedroom.

I'm not sure being left alone with my thoughts was a good idea, but I know Hunter had things he had to do. This was going to turn into a massive investigation. I replace myself going into gamma mode the longer I stay in the tub. I had so many questions, the biggest one being why? Why was I the target? Was it just over the fact that I was the heir to the Opal mountain pack? And then what about the girls that were murdered? Are they a part of this? And why now? If Jake had known that I was here, why did he show up after Marcus was dead?

My mind was racing, and I got out of the tub. I pulled on a robe and went into the living room to speak with the guys. I needed answers. It was the only way I could move on from all of this. I found them all sitting around the coffee table, deep in conversation about something.

"Kailen, how are you feeling?" Zach asked me, stunned to see me. Mason stood up from his seat, turning to look at me.

"Baby, you should be resting." He said, coming over to me.

"I need answers, Hunter. Until this is over, I can't rest." I told him.

"Kailen, you have just been through something traumatic. You need to rest." He said.

"Hunter, I need to know why." I told him, looking up at him.

"Okay, but if you need us to stop or to take a break, you let us know." He said, and I nodded. Hunter took my hand and led me over to the chair he was sitting in earlier. He took a seat, pulling me on to his lap. "Kailen, did Jake say anything to you?" Greyson asked me. I took a deep breath before I answered him.

"He said that I finally remembered him and that I had never put up that much of a fight for Marcus." I said. Hunter's body stiffed under mine and I could feel his rage through the bond.

"So, you think he knew Marcus?" Zach asked me, and I nodded.

"I remember Jake's voice. He spoke to me at the auction house. He must have met Marcus there." I told them.

"We found more missing women from the area of the murdered victims." Greyson told me.

"What are you thinking?" I asked him.

"We don't know why they started killing them, but we suspect that the missing women went to the auction house. All of them have similar features to yours. It was like someone was maybe looking for you." Greyson answered. "But, I've been here. It was no secret who I was. Why wouldn't they just have come for me here? Marcus said he had to get the pack organized. But why did Jake wait?" I asked them.

"Maybe Jake feared Marcus?" Zach shrugged.

"Jake also said that I wasn't his first victim." I told them.

"Maybe he was kidnapping women that looked like you because he couldn't have you because of Marcus?" Greyson said.

"Hunter, you've been quiet. What do you think?" I asked him, turning in his lap so I could look at him.

"I wish they were both alive so I could rip them apart myself. How the hell could this have been going on for so long without us knowing?" Hunter said. I could feel how angry he was, and I understood.

"All of this was in your uncle's part of the kingdom. He would have been informed. Until the alpha of the rogue attacks finally brought it to our attention." Greyson said.

"I think we need to investigate Prince Andrew's kingdom. Things aren't adding up and we need to get to the bottom of all of this." I told them.

"In a few days, we can plan to meet the Alpha of the Night River pack. I'll call him and set something up." Greyson said, and I agree.

"Kailen, I don't want you leaving Ivory Moon," Hunter said.

"What if I promise to stay at your side the entire time?" I asked him and he sighed.

"Fine, but we are bringing extra warriors. I don't know if there's another sicko out there trying to get you." He said, and I nodded. After today, I don't think I'll ever be comfortable alone again.

There was a knock at the door, and Zach got up to answer it. The King rushed in, sighing when his eyes landed on me.

"I'm so glad that you are okay, Kailen." He said, sitting on the couch beside the chair where Hunter and I were sitting.

"I'm sorry for the mess I caused." I told him.

"He attacked our future queen. If you didn't kill him, he'd be sentenced to death. The law is the law, no matter who his father is." He said, and I nodded.

"Hunter, it's time for the press conference." He told his son.

"Kailen, are you going to be okay?" He asked me, and I nodded.

"We will stay with her until you return," Greyson said, and Hunter nodded.

"When I get back, you are resting." He told me firmly.

"Fine," I sighed. He kissed my lips before picking me up as he stood up. He placed me down on the chair and kissed me again before turning his attention to his father. "Lets make this quick." He told him.

"You link me, if you need me." Hunter said, bending back down to kiss me again.

"I will, I promise. I love you." I whispered.

"I love you, beautiful." He said before he left with his father, leaving me with Greyson and Zach.

"Zach, I need you to go get food and all the files from my office, including the map. We have work to do."