"The only way to break a mate bond is to sever it completely," Riki told her sternly.
"But, how-" she asked.
"Death, of course, my child." Addie immediately shook her head. She would not do that. To kill her mate, or even one of them would be akin to killing a bit of herself. A bit of her heart and she could not allow that to happen.
"Is there no other way?" she asked timidly.
"Speak to the boy-that's all I ask. His story I fear is a sad one and once you are aware of it, you may feel you understand why this has happened."
She wondered how she would tell Hunter, her other mate, about this. Faintly, she thought she heard his voice.
"Addie! Adeline!" It was indeed Hunter's voice that she had heard. It was coming from outside but Adeline felt she couldn't bear to speak with him about what Riki had told her just yet. She resolved to speak with her father and the boy first. She didn't need Hunter going all overprotective over her about her other mate. She didn't know the man well enough to know that he wouldn't harm Cameron out of sheer jealousy. Wolves-especially Alphas- were known to protect their loved ones to the death.
Adeline slipped out the back door of the cottage with Riki's help. She walked along the edge of the trees before making her way towards the cellar where Cameron was shackled in silver.
Walking slowly down the corridor towards the cells, she looked down at her feet. She smelled he Alpha was still there, along with her own father.
"It's alright, Hunter. He will not harm me, lest he ultimately harm himself, and he is not a rogue. She was as confident in this as she was in anything else. He had no malice on his face, and she instantly recognized that she was his because Hunter was also hers.
"I'm alright, Dearest." She knew from what Cameron said that he didn't know her name. I would gladly go through that pain again and again if it were the worst pain I would have experienced prior to meeting you.
Because Hunter was unable to contain his beast, a faint growl could be heard.
"Enough!" Alpha James's Alpha voice boomed. It is evident that some explanation is required, and I would prefer that we do so elsewhere. This place smells bad.
She asked him politely, "If you don't mind Alpha, I would like to have a private conversation with my friends first." There must be more to this story than just a mistake made by Mother Nature or the Moon Goddess, depending on which you prefer.
He said to her in a more subdued tone, "It is your choice, Adeline." I'll leave you to talk to your friends alone in my study. I'll return to the training grounds to watch.
The Alpha gave his Beta a stern look as he looked over at her. Corbin, come. We ought to let them discuss this. There might have been a mistake in this...situation. However, we are not responsible for interfering with it. Your daughter is safe if she claims he is."
She walked toward Hunter with a somewhat perplexed expression on her face, grasping Cameron's hand. She had no clue even where to start the conversation, yet heading towards the review appeared to be the main sane thing to do right now.
"Shut up, Hunter. She grabbed his hand as well and said, "We need to talk about whatever...this is."
With only the occasional dripping of water on the ground, they left the damp confines of the underground chamber behind them.
"Adeline?" She raised her face to his as her father softly called to her. He was nervously staring at her, as if the words he was about to say would hurt. This rogue pretends to be your spouse. Only you can be truthful with us. Is he lying, or were you given two companions?"
Without knowing what to say, Addie turned to face her father. She made a request and did not respond.
She told a security guard, "Unshackle him." Upon hearing the odd request, the guard stopped right away.
Her father began, "But-."
He won't hurt me. And yes, he says what he says," she said with a slight shift in her tone. Oh, how awkward this was.
Adeline saw the Alpha nod slightly to the guard from a distance. She walked to the dim corner where Cameron was strung up after he opened the cell door. His hands went to his raw, red wrists as soon as the shackles came off.
When Adeline noticed the condition of the skin on his wrists, she immediately entered the cell and went up to her partner. She looked down at them and held the back of his hands in her hands.
"Are you alright?" As she looked up into his face, she asked quietly. As she took in his appearance, she noticed that he locked eyes with her. He had clover-colored, piercing green eyes and wavy, dark brown hair. Her knees almost gave out from the sandalwood and mint scent. She was afraid that someone else had entered the room because the scent was more musky than Hunter's.
"Adeline?" As he took in the scene, Hunter spoke in a soft, curious voice. He immediately suppressed a snarl because his partner was so close to the man who claimed she was his.
Riki sternly advised her, "The only way to break a mate bond is to sever it completely."
She inquired, "How-"
"Obviously, death, my child." Immediately, Addie shook her head. She wouldn't act that way. It would be like killing a portion of herself to kill her partner or even one of them. Some of her heart and she was unable to permit that to occur.
"Is there no alternative?" She asked hesitantly.
"All I ask is that you speak with the boy. I'm afraid his story is sad, and once you know it, you might think you know why this happened.
She wondered how she would explain this to Hunter, her other partner. She thought she heard his voice briefly.
"Addie! Adeline!" She had heard Hunter's voice, and it was true. Adeline felt she couldn't bear to talk to him about what Riki had said to her right now, even though it was coming from outside. She made the decision to talk to her father and the boy first. When it came to her other mate, she didn't need Hunter being overprotective of her. Because she didn't know the man well enough, she didn't know that he wouldn't hurt Cameron out of pure jealousy. Alpha wolves, in particular, were known to fight for their loved ones' lives.
With Riki's assistance, Adeline escaped through the cottage's back door. Before heading toward the cellar, where Cameron was bound in silver, she walked along the trees' edges.
She looked down at her feet as she walked slowly down the corridor toward the cells. She got the impression that her own father and the Alpha were still there.