CARLOS POV
"Carl! Stop! You don't have to do this!" Through the murkiness of my resentment, I heard Fletcher's pleading.
"I don't think you should create additional problems. Calm down a bit."
"We need to teach him a lesson."
"I don't think he knows the gravity of the situation and why saving the lady is of more importance to us."
I was the one to blame. I was an unemotional man who possibly talked when he had something vital to say. However, I had anger issues; if somebody enraged me, I blew my top and got violent without any provocation.
"We perceive the lady we need to save as our mate."
"Y-Your mate?! For both of you?" Rodriguez muttered, rubbing his cheek.
"Indeed, the lady belongs to both of us. She will make us complete." Fletcher grinned.
Members of the Belmont pack grumbled among themselves with stunned faces. This was new to their ears, and they didn't mind speculating. Before long, the family would welcome another member, and a vital one indeed: the Alphas' mate.
"I… see now!" Rodriguez expressed, and it appeared as though he was no longer terrified. "I now see why you got tense when I first opposed the idea of us marching down to Port Alvarez."
"Oh, so you now get it, right?" I asked.
"We will surely go down to Port Alvarez to save your mate. But unfortunately, she's in Logan's den." Rodriguez winked, and his facial expression turned serious.
More voices followed his own in unison. The members of the Belmont pack grudgingly affirmed that they were prepared to battle to save our mate. Rodriguez appeared to have pardoned me for hitting him.
A shifter having sleepless nights about his mate wasn't something strange, particularly if she were in peril. Yet, regardless of whether Rodriguez acknowledged this thinking, I still could not pardon myself. My hot temper was something I had never figured out how to control.
However, perhaps my fury would give me an advantage against Logan. Going wild made me a stronger warrior.
"Rodriguez, go into the woodlands and get the crystal balls from Selena. We will need the best warriors to accompany us to Port Alvarez," Gabriel gave the order, "and Adrian, you will go exploring around the palace. We want to know precisely where they are keeping our mate."
Rodriguez and Adrian both dispatched to their different assignments. I lit up a joint to smoke as I stood under the shade of an almond tree. The sea breeze coming onto the island gave me peace of mind, but I still had something worth my attention.
"Are we all going?" I asked Fletcher as he looked somewhat confused.
"No, I don't think so."
"We need more hands on deck, Fletcher." I said, citing the seriousness of the situation.
"Logan could send some of his men down here if all of us marched down to Port Alvarez. To avoid such a gamble, we could take twenty of our best men with us. The majority of them would be archers and firearms experts."
A lady who was left standing in the forefront shouted. Her name was Viola. She was breathtaking with long, wavy dark hair, and she served as a chef in one of the steak houses.
"Logan has been taking a lot of the rookies as of late!" she yelled.
"That is the reason this time we chose to go and rescue his captives and bring them down here," I replied.
"It seems Logan is busy getting every single person found on the island to go along with him," Fletcher chuckled.
"Maybe he's trying to develop his province." I laughed.
"As he needs more people. The entire north of the island belongs to him. Can't he leave us in peace?" Viola's tone sounded irritated.
I snarled.
"Peace isn't a word he understands, or else he would not have turned into the leader of the uprising that took place sometime ago. From that moment on, he's been attempting to take over the whole of Dartmoor Island."
"He will persevere relentlessly to get the entire island under his hold," Fletcher muttered. "We must clash with him eventually. Today he just ignited the fire by holding our mate hostage."
Viola gave us a concerned look. "How are you sure Logan won't kill you this time? What's preventing him from doing so, assuming you run into him once more?"
I gave Viola a little grin. "I'm happy you worry about us, Viola."
"Obviously, I do! You're the most amazing Alphas we could dream of! Without you, Belmont wouldn't be a place we all call home."
Her genuine tone showed that she really meant what she was saying. Others behind her mumbled and whispered to each other.
"Much obliged to you for your confidence in us," Fletcher added.
"I think it is time to dismiss the crowd. As soon as the archers and Adrian return, we will get ready for our assault against Logan. For the meantime, all of you need to get back to work, but don't walk past the walls today."
The crowd mumbled that they understood the orders, and the group scattered.
I walked up to Fletcher, my head hanging low.
"Thank you," I muttered, embarrassed about myself. "If not for you, I would have compounded more misery on Rodriguez."
"Forget about it, Carl." Fletcher caught my lower arm.
I lifted my hand and put it on his arm. We shared a look.
"I still appreciate that you are always next to me."
"And I always will be." Fletcher gave me a wide smile. It made him look younger, significantly more innocent. I could perceive how he could easily charm ladies with this look.
I gestured. I hoped his words would constantly be reality; that Fletcher and I could never be separated, and I hoped that soon we would be along with our mate as well.
I was deeply immersed in my thoughts before I zeroed in once more. We needed to protect her as fast as possible. Until I had her brought back to Belmont, I wouldn't be able to rest.
I just hoped we would get to her before anything awful takes place.