He owned Canis Isle and knew he and his men could use it as a retreat. He made sure to stop the island ferries and fortify the stone wall surrounding the town, essentially turning it into a floating fortress. A battle trick passed down to him by his father, who was also once the Alpha Loup Garoux. Sonia Bouvier had been a refreshing reprieve in his life of strategy on and off of the battlefield. One trait he loved about her was that she had no loyalty to anyone but herself.
She was honest with him. His love grew for her fast. Adolf found himself helping her get established on the island with her own place that he had built for her. He had frequently stayed there at the beginning. He had thought her love and affection after almost a decade had been real, but it hadn't been.
He quickly found that out when she refused to see him after his gruesome injury and grueling recovery.
It had been almost a year and not one letter from her. Yet, his spies kept giving him reports on her allowing a Lycanthrope rebel to become one of her best patrons. That news had caught his attention. It would seem that the same patron was the one who had burned down her establishment and was attempting to make more problems for the island authorities.
Earlier this morning, the two messengers he had sent to Canis island had returned. The men's report had given him hope. Adolf no longer slept. Sleep in these times was a luxury. Good sleep was a treasure. Adolf sat at his desk making a supply list when his butler opened the large double doors.
The two men, Fenwick and Bayle entered. Fenwick and Bayle were two of Adolf's most trusted men. Over the many decades of his reign as alpha, the two had helped him carry out many orders and assisted in brokering peace and alliances. Now he utilized them to spy on his island. His son had warned him years ago about letting the island have such lax rules that it could cause an uprising of some sort, and here they were.
His son was murdered by the very thing he had prophesied about.
"Come in and report to me what news you have." He commanded.
Fenwick spoke, "We believe your son is alive."
Those words seemed to send a jolt of lightning through his body. Hearing that his only son
and heir to the Loux Garoux was alive rocked him to his wolf core. He hid the emotions and stayed cool and aloof on the outward surface. Adolf said nothing at the news, which allowed Fenwick to go more in-depth with his explanation.
"Duke Randolf was not ambushed on the road. His men were. He was ambushed in the forest. It seems his lordship didn't see it coming. I found his clothing in the woods a distance away from the carriage. It would appear he was badly wounded and because of his injuries turned into his true form. I was able to track him somewhere in the woods. The same night his lordship disappeared, one of the Lycans was found dead in the island's stables. His throat had been ripped out. The coroner said it was done by an animal. I wouldn't have paid it much attention, but it was one of the men who had been bragging about killing your son. When I spoke to the stable boy, he said he saw a black wolf running behind the stables." Fenwick stopped speaking when Adolf's hand went up.
Adolf spoke then, "Where are my son's men?"
Bayle answered him, "Only his lordship's beta survived. I found him unconscious in the island infirmary. I put him on the first ship off of the island and here for better medical care. He has been here for a few days."
Adolf let the news sink in. There was a sliver of hope. "Anything else to report?" His voice was stern.
"Sir? This Amaruq character has taken over the island and instilled fear into the hearts of the people. He has bragged about killing royalty and parades around as if he is the rightful heir to Canis isle. Two dangerous fires have been caused by his hands."
"Thank you, I will consider the information that has been presented to me this morning." He reached inside his desk drawer and retrieved two black leather pouches filled with gold. He slid the bags forward on the desk. The two men stepped forward, got their money, and exited, leaving Adolf alone with his thoughts.
He stood from his desk and walked the length of his study. The news they had told him, though happy, held quite a lot of weight. His son had always been clever. He had outsmarted all the other young male wolves when he was a young wolf pup. Adolf had always known if given the chance his son would be the right leader to end the war.
He never gave up. Something deep inside told him that his son wasn't going to give up now, and he shouldn't either. He would let Fenwick and Bayle rest before sending them out again. This Amaruq character was becoming an intriguing opponent. He was either crazy or stupid if he thought he would live after this.
If he didn't rip him apart with his bare hands, he knew that his son would. His thoughts went back to his prisoner Sonia. She had told him the truth. He had told her in their last encounter, among other things, that if she was telling him the truth, he would let her go. Adolf had other plans.
"Whitley!" He called and rang the servants' bell that sat on his desk. Shortly after, Whitley stood in front of him, waiting to do his bidding. "Bring me her. Now!" He snapped.
Whitley nodded his head and exited the room. Madame Bouvier was sitting on her bed sipping tea, wearing nothing but her sheer undergarments and a thin silk robe over it. The servants had snuck in earlier this morning and stolen her clothing. She was trying to remain unbothered, but she couldn't understand why they had taken them.
She was drinking coffee when her room door unlocked. She saw it was the butler. She smiled at him. He did not smile back. She swallowed hard. Something was wrong. "The master requests your presence."
Bouvier looked annoyed. "He wants to see me now?"
"Yes. Immediately."
"But I don't have any clothes on." She protested, hoping the butler would give her time, but he didn't.
Instead, he continued speaking. "I was under the assumption that you were very well acquainted with Master. There is no time. Now, please, follow me."
She did as he instructed and followed him to the first floor back to the study. She saw Adolf sitting in front of a roaring fire with crystal glass in his hand.
The Butler announced her. "Madam Bouvier, master."
Sonia had expected him to at least get up and look in her direction, but he did not. Instead, he spoke, "That will be all, Whitley. Do not disturb us." He ordered.
"Yes, sir." Whitley obeyed and exited, closing the doors behind him.
They seemed to sound louder now to Sylvie...
Madame Sonia Bouvier closed her robe and held it tight against her frame as she entered Adolf's study. She felt very vulnerable and didn't know what to expect from him. He had been damn near cruel the last time she saw him.
"Don't just stand there. Come here." He growled at her.
His cold words shook her out of her daze. She walked over to him. The study was dimly lit. She knew it was almost noon but being in here, one couldn't tell. It felt more like a den than a study. It smelled like him and cognac.
Bouvier stopped walking and stood in front of the fireplace. She looked at him. He was sitting in the large armchair, sipping his drink. He looked positively male. He wore the mask that concealed half of his face.
She noticed today he wore his suit with no jacket. Just his vest and gold pocket watch. His black hair was peppered with white and slicked back. He was so handsome, even deformed and mean. She felt like a fool for still having genuine feelings for Adolf.
He thought very low of her now. Adolf was about to speak when Sonia stood directly in front of the fire. He could see the outline of her naked form under her thin layers of clothing. It made him lose track of what he was going to say. So they were just standing in awkward silence for a few seconds.
Then he spoke to her, "Have you come to seduce me and beg for your freedom?" He joked, referring to her nonexistent clothing. She didn't know whether to laugh at his quip or be offended.