Neither Edward nor Axel knew about the Wesleyeians’ plan. They kept it a secret, until the witches’ spell took an effect. All of them were bewildered. They were ready for war. They left early to make sure they would have enough time before the attack. They made countless countermeasure. All of that, just for them to acquire victory without actually battling August and his wolves.
But though it ended in a lousy way, there was still something Axel and his pack did not know.
“What, Edward?” Axel shifted his gaze to Edward. “Is it important?”
“Very…” Edward breathed hard. “And I would like us to talk about it privately.”
Axel took a glance on the high ranked wolves around them, before returning his gaze to Edward. He put the sake on the table, and nodded.
Whatever it was, Axel had the time to listen to it. Despite the fact that their dilemma had been solved, they were going to stay here until dawn, so he’ll be free until then.
Edward, who was uneasy, tilted his head towards a certain direction. He walked and led the way, expecting Axel to follow him. He wasn’t ready. Nor will he ever be. But now that the war they were struggling with ended, he figured it should be the time for Axel to know about what had happened to Sophie and their baby while he was on the expedition.
Edward walked towards a secluded area, where the wolves won’t be able to hear what they will talk about. For now, this must be discussed privately. At least, he did not want to publicize a story that was never his to tell.
“What is it, Edward?” Axel’s brows creased. “How serious it is that we have to be far away from our pack?”
Edward measured Axel with his eyes. He haven’t seem him went on rampage, but he was already fearing it. Though, he was still not sure about had happened, since Hugo still was not reporting after that one transmission, the information he held was important enough to overturn Axel’s emotion.
“It is about Sophie…”
Axel’s eyes became sharp. “What happened to Sophie?”
Edward breathed hard. “Rebecca infiltrated the Palace this morning. She went after Sophie… and your baby..”
“What?” Axel asked, his vice scratching. “What did you fucking say, Edward?”
“I’m sorry.”
Axel did not waste any minute. He closed the gap, and forcefully grabbed Edward’s collar. He pulled him up with restricted anger. The veins in his neck turned visible. It was just how Edward imagined it to be. He really overturned.
“Repeat what you just said…” Axel dared him. “Rebecca did what?”
Axel’s tone was precise. The rage. The suppressed emotions. It was threatening Edward.
“Hugo reported it to me this morning---”
“And you did not even bother to tell me?”
“You have to be in your best state---”
“If I am to kill Rebecca and your baby, will you sit still?” Axel’s grip on Edward tightened. “Tell me what she did…”
“She coerced with Rousel and Flora to poison Sophie….”
Axel’s jaw hardened, before he brusquely let go of Edward. He turned around and hit his forehand with his palm. “Goddamn it, Edward!”
Hiding it with Axel was wrong. Edward knew as much. However, he did not regret it. Had he told Axel, he would gone home and leave them. Things could go wrong if ever the Wesleyeians did not pull the crazy stunt with the witches. Nothing was certain.
Albert he could admitted and still not feel bad about it, Edward felt awful.
From the very start, he shouldn’t have allowed Rebecca to go back in the Western Kingdom. If he cared enough, he would’ve avoided it. He would have been able to save Sophie and her baby, and all of this wouldn’t have happened.
He was also one to blame. He took his part on letting Rebecca do as she pleased.
“I have been holding back myself because she was pregnant…” Axel breathed hard. “Had I know this was how she was going to pull it off, I would’ve stopped caring and kill her right off the bat…”
It crossed his mind once.
While they were still preparing for the war, Rebecca showed no doubt. She was blunt and bold with what she wanted to happen. She even dared to tempt him once, so he knew, that Rebecca will not stop unless she achieved her goal.
It occurred to him before their expedition. The warning that Teresa told him the same night he found out Sophie was pregnant, Axel knew it was Rebecca. But he did not want to jump to conclusions.
Now, thinking about that made Axel vivid. He deeply regretted letting Rebecca do what she wanted to do, when he could’ve do something. He went easy on her, thinking she was just… putting up a show not worthy of his attention.
“I know what she did what wrong---”
“Wrong?” Axel turned around again, facing Edward. “She attempted to kill my baby… Attempted, Edward. Let’s both pray it did not harm my unborn child.”
“You may punish her the way you see fit. However, I would like you to wait until she give birth…”
“I won’t promise you anything.”
Edward’s lips pursed. Axel who looked both sorrowful and mad, gave him a once-over, before turning around again to walk away.
Axel still owe him a lot of favor. Edward could’ve just used it to his advantage to save his baby. But he was not that cruel. At least… not to his friend.
Axel, who was anxious, borrowed a transmission from Efraim to contact Hugo. He messaged him, and asked how Sophie was doing. He was hoping for a past response, but waiting for hours until dawn was not enough for Hugo to respond.
They set off.
The moment the sun peeped, they departed from the Mountain to return to the Kingdom with the Crimson Red. And although the shocking news pained and angered Axel to the core, he did not say anything. Even to Efraim.
From time to time, Axel waited for a response back from Hugo. He patiently stood by, hoping for at least a good news that Sophie and his baby was fine. He wanted to hear from any of Edward’s pack from the Palace.
But so it seemed they weren’t willing to talk about it through transmission.
After over a day, the wolves who participated in the war came back. Efraim, who was overjoyed with how it turned out, threw a banquet for the wolves. Everyone rejoiced, relieved with their victory. Whilst Axel and Edward became busy with unsettled plight.
“Where is Sophie?”
Axel walked with long steps, passing by Hugo, who had such a terrible look on his face. Axel did not wait for him to answer and went straight to their lair. Hugo, who did not know what to say, followed him. As well as Edward, who just came in without a word to know what had happened to Sophie.
“Alpha…” There was discouragement in Hugo’s voice. “I am sorry for ignoring your transmission.”
Axel could care less. The only thing he wanted to know right now was Sophie’s condition. If she was alright, or if the baby was alright. Those were his only concern. For a whole day, he managed to not do anything. He suppressed his emotions. He kept what he found out from his comrades. Not even to his trusted wolves.
Axel swallowed hard. He stopped outside the door with a long face. He came back, just like he promised. He was alive… but how about her?
They were safe, right?