*Back to business! I had already missed this two beings complicated love story. I'm sorry it's getting this long, writing keeps me happy! Y'all should check out my book though, Flavoured: A sextet in six acts, it's not up to date on light reader though, just wattpad ( ꈍᴗꈍ)!*
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First, Axel had not been able to see Raven after he woke up.
Because Briar had sleep napped her to another room, her reason being that if he saw her before the whole thing, she might panic, even though HE was already doing the panicking on behalf of her.
He wanted to see his Mate.
His wife.
But no, Briar, was very stubborn, and he couldn't even influence her because she kept saying if he tried it, it might affect the baby negatively and even though he knew it might not or wouldn't even happen that way, he decided to humour the woman and back off.
Now, he was sitted at Noona's cabin, sipping tea.
The old woman had gone for the Challenge and though every bone in his body seemed to have shouted at him, begging him to go there, but he knew Ravenna could handle this.
And as he smashed the china cup in his hand, the fifth one already as he thought, he knew Noona would ask for his head later.
And where was Briar?
She was supposed to be here with him.
Ah fuck, he really wanted to go....
"Missed me?"
He looked up, frowning "I was already planning to come kidnap you if you didn't show up"
Briar chuckled, slipping into the seat in front of him "I'm the pregnant one here but you've been the one grumpy all day"
He sighed "It's just.... This sucks, you know, like really sucks. My Mate fighting a psycho, no offence love"
"None taken"
"And I don't get to protect her"
"Raven would feel insulted if you did try that"
"For the first time since I met that female, I don't care what she would feel"
"And also, she said you trained her, so there was no need to worry. She was quite brave about the whole thing you know"
"I trained her in dodging the attacks not actually fighting back, and I kind of regret it now, how long can anyone avoid someone"
"Raven's punches are quite good"
"I know, she broke my nose, and once shoved me, breaking my spinal cord too"
"Ouuu, are you okay?"
"Don't change the subject"
Briar laughed there as she poured tea into the mug that had been set for her "Pardon me my Lord. I never see you worked up, you're always so calm and perfect, this whole new look is refreshing"
"Aren't you worried about.....?"
He heard a gong being hit from a far distance and winced.
Briar's hand rested on his and he opened his eyes, staring into her calm eyes "It's okay. Ravenna would be safe. I promise you that"
He sighed "You can't know that"
She smiled, chuckled even, and moved back "I wouldn't let anything happen to that girl, trust me. She has so much at stake"
So much at stake?
He was about to ask what that meant before he saw the marks on her arm and frowned "Did Jordan do that?"
She smiled, sipping into her tea "It was a mistake"
"Which lie are we going with? You slipped on you doorknob and got scratched by the hinges or you have a wild cat?"
She laughed "Axel, you can be so funny sometimes"
He sighed "There's nothing funny"
She still had that faraway look and smile on her face as she turned and said "I know"
They stayed in silence for a while till she said "I just think.... Well, I think things have changed now"
"What things?" He asked.
She turned to him "You know, what Raven being Alpha could mean. Then, it was just a fathomable idea really, not that she wouldn't have been good at it, but people wouldn't say she deserved it.... And now, she's fighting for it, to protect them from Jordan, not because she even wants it...."
"At the cost of her life"
"It's not a fight till one dies Axel"
"I don't think Jordan knows what it means to leave one alive Briar" Then he shut his eyes again "Forgive me"
She chuckled again "It doesn't hurt anymore, people saying mean things about Jordan, not to be awkward or anything, but I had tried imagining him dead, killed by me"
That caused his eyes to fly open "You wouldn't even hurt a fly"
"It doesn't hurt to imagine" She replied with a shrug "And I liked the thought, even though I always vomited at the end..... But he wasn't always like this you know. His father.... Their clan... They were barbarians"
"I know" He said "They were the rogue wolves that attacked your Pack"
She smiled weakly "Yes... What....what no one knows is that.... When they came, and began to kill, Jordan had immediately known I was his.... Mate... And hid me.... He's the real reason you found me alive"
"Then why didn't he take you along?"
"Fear of being found weak by his Father" Briar said, shaking her head "But he knew you people would have found me, and protected me. Finding him again.... After all this years, felt like a dream come true"
"Except it was a nightmare"
Briar smiled "I suppose.... But I don't regret him.... Not one bit, yes, he was and is a monster, but this monster had protected me, and I do not mind really"
"He's protecting you to give himself some sort of pleasure. A sadistic one" He replied "You can just reject him and....."
She shook her head "Can't. Won't. Besides, I already have a plan to be rid of him, once and for all"
Plan?
Again, he wanted to ask but she suddenly stood up, laughing "Silly me. You don't have any cups to take tea, let me go get another one, okay?" And was off.
Axel sighed, falling back into his seat, letting the silence around keep him still until he smelt a new presence.
A familiar presence...
That he obviously did not like.
With one move, he was pinning the person to a tree, his hands around her neck as his blue eyes glowed "You again?"
The girl, that she wolf he had luckily spared because of Raven coughed and sent him a thought.
Please! I have something to say!
Surprised, because only loyal subordinates or one that saw the other as Alpha could have personal mind links, he let her go.
She dropped to the floor, coughing as she looked up at him and said "Raven is in trouble"
He growled "You tried killing her before. Why should I believe you?"
"Because she saved my life once and she doesn't deserve to die" The girl continued "You can kill me, after this, if I'm wrong, but... I, and the wolves that had... Circled her worked for... Jordan"
Not shocking.
"And he...." She said, choking on the words "He plans on using a silverbane knife on her during the fight"
His heart nearly stopped.
Silverbane?
He had heard rumours of it. Made from one of the most poisonous silvers, it could kill any werewolf faster than they could heal.
Even his kind were subjected to it.
"Aren't weapons forbidden from being used?" He asked.
She nodded "But.. but I think one of the Elders let him...."
Shit!
He turned around, planning to get Briar somewhere safe, until he realized she had not returned.
And that was when his heart dropped.