Mated To My Boyfriend's Dad

Chapter 131: _ A High Ranked Traitor

Rhett

~~

The headquarters bustled with activity as Rhett and Aceco approached. A ragged battalion of soldiers with their faces dulled and bloody by the grime and exhaustion of battle, rushed forward. They saluted Rhett sharply, their eyes lingering on Aceco with a mix of curiosity and awe at her presence and aura.

"Gamma Rhett!" the lead soldier boomed, his voice filled with respect. "We were just informed of your arrival with Aceco."

"At ease, soldier," Rhett returned the salute, his voice firm and stoic. "Report."

"The clean-up is underway, Gamma. Most of the damage seems superficial, but we’re still assessing the situation."

Rhett grunted in acknowledgment as a knot of worry tightened in his stomach. The news of the attack at the headquarters only solidified the urgency nibbling at him. Glancing at Aceco, he said, "Welcome to the headquarters, Aceco. Let’s get inside."

The soldiers readily parted, their gazes flickering between the stoic Gamma and the fairy healer.

"Greetings, Fairy Healer!" they all chorused with awe, clearly shocked to find Aceco in the headquarters.

It was understandable since no one in their wildest dreams would expect the healer fairy to be outside of her safe haven at all, not at such a time too. But as the adult she was, Aceco had a mind of her own and could make her own decisions.

As they entered the building, Rhett cut straight to the chase. "Farkas," he barked, his voice echoing in the vast hall and eyes on the lookout for Farkas.

As they walked into the lobby, Farkas was found barking orders at a couple of soldiers.

"Farkas!" Rhett called again, causing the military advisor who had a hand on his hips to turn around and face them.

The moment his gaze landed on Rhett, a deep sorrow flickered in his eyes. "Rhett," Farkas rasped emotionally, shaking his head. "I heard about Alistair."

He took a step forward, offering to place a hand on Rhett’s shoulder in condolence. Rhett, however, remained rooted to the spot, his jaw clenched tight. The pain of the loss threatened to consume him, but he wouldn’t allow it to break him, not in front of his soldiers.

He didn’t have the time for useless grief. Those who were dead were dead and gone. He was a realistic man who wouldn’t mull over what was lost.

Alistair wasn’t the only life that was lost. Hence, no one should act like Alisair’s death was the only important one. Although the young soldier had earned it. He had worked so much and dedicated his youth to the pack that he deserved to be mourned by every member of the pack.

But Rhett had other responsibilities. He had his son to protect. He had his... Mate to protect. And he’d protect them with all of this might. With every fiber of his being.

Ignoring Farkas’ outstretched hand, Rhett spoke through gritted teeth. "Do you not see who I am with, Farkas? We have pressing matters to attend to. Stop being a baby."

Farkas’s face was now as though he had just heard about a ghost walking in daylight. He seemed so shocked to see Rhett’s indifference to Alistair’s death.

He was about to stammer out something that Rhett didn’t want to hear when Aceco, sensing the tension, stepped forward and offered a gentle smile to Farkas. "General Farkas, I presume? It’s an honor to meet you, albeit under such grim circumstances."

Farkas’ surprise was evident, his gaze flickering between Rhett’s stoic facade and Aceco’s serene presence. "The honor is mine, Lady Aceco," he finally managed to say with awe at Aceco’s aura. "Though I must say, it’s a dangerous time for you to be out in the open."

Aceco chuckled softly. "There’s no truly safe time anymore, General, from what I’ve witnessed tonight. The vampires are playing a different game now. If we don’t act fast, they’ll be one step ahead of us every time."

That was one thing Rhett could agree on. One thing he was ready to talk about— not on sentiments.

He turned back to Farkas. "Farkas, Aceco is here for—" He turned around, noticing the soldiers around and knowing he couldn’t say that out loud. "...you know." he settled.

"See if Cora survived the attack and get her here if she did."

Farkas nodded curtly, the glint of Rhett’s neutral attitude to Alistair’s death still lingering in his eyes. "Right away, Rhett. I do hope she survived though. Let’s not talk about people’s deaths like their existence didn’t hold a weight." He said, Rhett understanding his friend was admonishing him.

Then, Farkas wheeled around and disappeared into the throng of soldiers, his broad shoulders looking like a pack of grief and responsibility.

Taking a moment to survey the scene around him, Rhett noticed scattered debris and hastily bandaged soldiers cleaning up the aftermath of the battle in the station. The sight ignited a cold fire in his gut. They had been attacked here, within the very heart of their territory.

The vampires really had grown wings. He wondered just what had given them such reassurance to have the guts to come into the headquarters and attack on there too.

He couldn’t help but wonder if it wasn’t just a regular fairy family but someone of rank in the pack helping them out. But who would do that?

Who would betray his/her kind for the sinful bloodsuckers?

He just couldn’t fathom the thought. But seeing how the vampires chose this night to attack when everyone would be out for the full moon’s ritual in the Ravenwood pack, he couldn’t help but wonder. It was too convenient a time.

And with how they took out every outpost as though someone had snuggled the layout of the security of the pack to them, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was even a bigger traitor in the pack. One who was a member of the pack.

And not just an ordinary member but a high-ranked one.

"A grim spectacle, isn’t it?" Aceco murmured beside him, drawing him back to reality. "But the vampires won’t find us unprepared next time."

Rhett grunted in agreement, his gaze sweeping across the hall once more before ushering Aceco toward his office. He knew she meant to offer comfort, but stoicism was his armor. He couldn’t afford the luxury of grief, not when his pack’s very survival hung in the balance.

"At least your office survived the night’s chaos," Aceco remarked with a hint of humor as they entered.

Rhett forced a humorless chuckle, the sound grating on his own ears. Jokes were the furthest thing from his mind at that moment. He gestured toward a chair, his voice devoid of warmth. "Please, sit."

Aceco settled into the chair, her gaze steady and unwavering. "We have much to discuss, Gamma Rhett. But first, a word of advice – a leader cannot afford to be consumed by grief. It clouds judgment and weakens the pack’s resolve."

Rhett met her gaze, his jaw still clenched tight. "My grief is a private matter, Aceco."

"Perhaps," she acknowledged, her voice taking on a gentle but firm tone. "But a pack leader’s strength lies not just in their physical prowess but also in their emotional fortitude. Your soldiers look to you for guidance, for hope. Drowning in sorrow will only spread fear and uncertainty."

Rhett understood her logic, but the pain of Alistair’s death was still a raw wound. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. Aceco needed to understand that grief wasn’t the only thing eating him from the inside.

But the fact that he failed his people. Failed his son. Failed his mate. His beautiful mate. His Isleen.