Turk glared at Rudi. "You expect me to just leave her here to go prepare the pack for something they knew would eventually happen?"
Rudi held out his hands. "No one expected you to find your mate. No one thought it would happen. And if you did find your mate, no one thought she'd be willing to go home with us."
"I've explained myself to her. She is willing to give me a chance. She's willing to see who the real culprit is behind all the murders."
"And you think she's going to believe you the first time Marth shows up and starts killing?"
"I don't know what will happen. But I'm willing to risk it. She's smart, reasonable. I think she'll see through his disguise and trust me."
"And if she doesn't?" Rudi asked with scorn. "You're going to let her leave? After all this time, you're going to allow that?"
Turk hissed. "If it comes down to that, then maybe. But I will not hear another word of it! I won't doubt my mate. I won't betray her like that!"
Rudi sighed, defeated. "Then let's hope she doesn't betray you."
He left Turk there, walking away with a glance to Mazelina who was resting against a tree. He understood Rudi's argument for testing Mazelina's loyalties, but he wouldn't betray her like that. No matter what happened to her, no matter what his brother did to console her to his side, Turk wouldn't hurt his mate in any form.
Turk walked over to Mazelina and put a hand on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and looked at him, eyes questioning. He helped her up in silence then started back towards her pack. She didn't press for information, respecting his boundaries in that way, but he could feel her unease being around him.
To try to make her relax, he said, "Would you like me to take you up into the trees again?"
She looked at him with a reluctant smile. "That would be nice."
"Get on my back," he suggested and bent a little for her to wrap her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He could feel her breathing sharpen with excitement but knew she hadn't relaxed yet.
He jumped. Catching a branch, he began to climb. Having Mazelina on his back didn't put him off balance. He barely noticed her weight. He climbed high, taking her to just below the top where the limbs were weakest, and set her down against the trunk. She looked around, both hands holding onto him as she was unsteady standing so far up. He kept his hand on either side of her, protecting her from falling.
She finally looked at him. Before she could speak though, he said, "Whatever they have said, it is out of loyalty to me. They want to protect me from making a mistake. It doesn't matter what the Goddess has chosen for me. They need proof of your goodwill before they can trust you."
She closed her mouth and slumped a little. "Maybe this was a mistake?"
"LIna, if this was a mistake, there would be signs."
"What about them?" she gestured toward his packmates.
"They aren't signs. They are just showing their opinion of having a stranger entering the pack." Turk sighed now and got closer to her. "There is nothing wrong between you and me. In time, I hope you can trust me in at least that."
She nodded then said, "Maybe we should leave sooner than planned. I don't want them out here to suffer."
Turk rolled his eyes. "They aren't suffering, Lina. This is their element. It's what they love to do."
"Promise?"
"I promise," he said and touched his brow to hers. "Now, relax. Enjoy yourself. We can stay up here as long as you wish. But I don't want to see doubt or fear or sadness in your eyes."
She smiled. "Okay."
Turk helped her sit, then did the same, leaning his back against the trunk and pulling her to sit back against his chest. They talked softly, not wanting to disturb the peace that was the treetops. By nightfall, Turk convinced Mazelina to head back to the cabin because she was shivering and he hadn't any blankets, but he promised that at some point, they'd sleep in a tree.
The next day Turk left Mazelina with Owain for her to finalize her mating with Turk and for permission to leave. While she did that, Turk went back to the cabin, packing his things and putting everything in the car. They were to leave the next day. Mazelina didn't want his warriors angry at her for taking too long. Although Turk tried to tell her otherwise, she would not be swayed.
From outside, Turk heard a crash, then his car starts an alarm as if it had been broken into. He swiftly ran out of the cabin to find the boy from two nights ago with a screwdriver in his fist, slashing tires. Turk leaned against the doorframe and watched the boy, amused at his antics to delay Turk's departure with Mazelina.
The boy finally looked up and saw Turk, and he gave a low growl. "Out of all the mates she could have had, you had to be it! I don't believe it! What do you plan to do to her? Torture her? Skin her alive as you've done to others?"
"You have a wide imagination," Turk said with a smirk. "Tell me, what other crimes have I committed.
"I think you know what! You may be able to charm Mazelina, but you can't fool me! I know you! I've seen you in action!"
This made Turk frown, staring at the boy in disbelief. Had his brother actually missed one of his victims? Does this boy truly not see the difference between Turk and the true terror?
"Josiah!"
Both males glanced over to see Mazelina striding over with a bundle of papers in her hands. Her eyes were wide with shock and horror at the boy and what he had done to the car. The boy pointed an accusatory finger at Turk. "He's not your mate, Mazelina! He's what we all fear! Don't you see it? Don't you see he's trying to get you away to kill you?"
To Mazelina's credit, she didn't hesitate or show any emotion on her face as she passed Josiah and handed the papers to Turk. Then she spun around and faced the boy with hands on her hips. "Where's your mate, Josiah?"
"I'll introduce you!" the boy said with a smile and held out his hand. "Come on! She's in her cabin."
Mazelina shook her head. "I don't want to meet her. I want you to go back to her and stay away from me and my mate."
Josiah froze, unable to believe his ears. "But, Mazelina! What about what you said? What about being deranged to want him as a mate?"
Turk froze, staring at Mazelina. She didn't break. "That was before I got to know him. That was before I met him and found out how incredibly wrong we all are about the Alpha of Moonvalley Pack."
"Mazelina!" Josiah cried desperately.
"No, Josiah. No more. Go now or you won't like what I do next."
Josiah slumped, then turned narrowed eyes on Turk. "You'll pay for this, Alpha. Sooner or later, you'll pay." With that, Josiah ran off.
Mazelina sighed and turned slowly to Turk, who could smell the fear wafting off her. Setting her papers on a nearby table, he stepped up to her and cupped her face. There was no hint of violence or hurt in his eyes. Just pure adoration. "You know he'll try again, don't you?"
"If he does, I'll hurt him so badly, he'll never go near you again."
Turk chuckled. "I'm an alpha, Lina. I don't need protection from him. I have very good senses and I'm a skilled fighter. Please, don't waste your energy worrying for me."
She looked up at him, no longer afraid of his reaction. When she saw his sincere gaze, she smiled. "There's no chance of me ever stopping to worry about you."
"Then remember that if anyone even tries to harm you, I will kill first and ask questions later."
Mazelina grinned. "I like that. Now, you must read those. Owain wants to update the alliance he has with you and wants you to sign those."
Turk scowled. "Greedy wolf!" he growled. He took the papers from the table and went inside the cabin to read.
"What about your car?" he heard her ask from behind.
"Don't worry about it," he called, and sat on his bed, reading the audacious negotiations Owain had suggested.