Mikkeli POV
After only a couple of hours in bed, I'm already at the training grounds. I didn't have much sleep, but if you're as restless as me now, you don't pay too much attention to sleep.
After I finished sparring with Jake, I think it's high time to get back to my office and take care of all the paperwork, which for sure awaits me taking into consideration my long absence. But I didn't manage to get to my office because I could smell the most delicious fragrance, already so familiar and already so desired by me every day.
She's standing at the edge of the training grounds, far away from other females, and I can see that she's practicing with a knife. I take my time to admire the grace and strength in her movements, and when I get closer, she notices me and stops training to look at me.
"You like that knife, don't you?" I say, coming closer.
"It was my present for my 14th birthday; dad told me that he would allow me to go for dates when I turn 15 on condition I will master knife till then."
"And silver?" I say, coming closer.
"You're kidding me," she smirks "Even though you think my parents were reckless, we were pretty much aware that there was a chance of a werewolf attacking sooner or later."
"Would you like to spar with me? I can give you some advice. You know, how to use silver against the werewolf better".
She nods, and I come closer. I show her some movements, explain the weak parts of the werewolf's body, both in his human and his wolf form, show her where and how to cut, and try some blows, some punches.
I enjoy the closeness of her body, her graceful movements, and the smell of her sweat. I'm fully aware she's ogling my body the same way I do with hers. Finally, we try the actual combat, and of course, I'm stronger, but still, she manages to impress me and surprise me a couple of times. I guess she has this advantage that I'm unfamiliar with how humans think when they fight. Nevertheless, I manage to pin her down to the ground straddling her thighs and take her knife away from her. My eyes shift when Byron and I inhale her sweet scent.
A low growl coming from behind makes me back into reality. I turn around and see very pissed off Hayden standing very close to us.
"I thought we had rules that you were not allowed to be alone with her?" he growls even louder.
I snarl in response; even though Hayden is my brother, his behavior now is openly challenging toward me as an Alpha of his pack. Hannah and I stand up, I want to say something, but she starts first:
"There are at least 20 people around here with Jake over there looking at us all the time. We haven't done anything wrong."
"He's too close to your neck with his teeth" Hayden's eyes keep sending daggers in my direction.
"For that, I keep drinking wolfsbane. Hayden, I appreciate the concern, but nothing bad happened. He taught me some movements, he asked first, and we had a normal conversation" she comes closer to him and gently pats his arm.
A sharp blade of jealousy pierces my heart. I know Hayden is my brother, and I trust him, but the only male in my pack I'm comfortable being around her is Kyle, no one else.
"Nevertheless, let's come back to the packhouse. I need to discuss with you a very important issue after we all get a shower," she says, heading towards the entrance of the building.
I can see Jake looking at me, as always, with a cold stone face, I never know what this guy thinks, but I also can see some warriors of my pack sending both me and Hayden questionable looks. I understand them; Hayden and I rarely quarrel.
When half an hour later, both of us sit in my office, and the tension between us is still immense. He's pissed off because I came home earlier without notifying him; I'm pissed off because I think he's taking all this "taking care of Hannah" too personally, and it bothers me. I still remember what Jake once said about Hayden's feelings toward her.
"Don't take me as stupid; I know what you are up to," he finally spits. "You still don't want her, but you are afraid of rejecting her"
"Your point?" I try to keep calm.
"You are afraid of getting weak, Mikkeli, you don't want to reject her to not risk Byron losing his strength because of the shattered bond, and I know you! You are afraid of only one thing in this world, getting weaker. That's why you don't want to let her go!"
I growl lowly and feel Hayden's wolf backing away a little. He must sense how pissed off my wolf is with nearly a suggestion of rejection.
"You know nothing about my feelings," I say.
"Really? You are a selfish bastard; you want to keep her here so you can keep getting stronger, thanks to the bond. You are obsessed with your strength Mikkeli; you are ready to sacrifice everything if it helps you keep it. I won't let you use Hannah. She's a person, not a fucking object!"
"Don't judge me by your own standard. I'm not the one who fathered children because of rape!"
Low blow, I'm aware of it, my brother looks as if he's been just punched in the gut, but I don't avert my eyes. He's the one who started it; he should bear the consequences.
Hannah enters my office and gives us both a disbelieving look. You can really cut the tension with a knife.
"Are you serious? Honestly, you are behaving like children fighting about lollipops," she says, sitting on one of the chairs.
"So, what do you want to talk about, Hannah?" I say, enjoying the taste of her name on my tongue.
"I talked with Rose, and she told me who Maddie's father was, and I wonder if he is the one who is trying to get to my brothers"
Me and Hayden immediately tense and forget about our childish argument
"So what do you know?" asks Hayden, and I can see how focused he became.
"According to Rose, Maddie's father is Alpha of the Full Moon Pack. He knew he had a daughter, but he rejected them both because Maddie turned out to be born an Omega, and Rose wasn't his mate. But from what I understand, he doesn't have a son, and Connie doesn't have an alpha wolf. I also remember that Jake once told me that for most of the Alphas, a male heir is something fundamental."
"That's true," I say, "and it is definitely true about Ryan. Connie's mother is his mate, but there was some complication when Connie was born, and she can't have more children; from what I recall, she had many miscarriages after she had her daughter. He's so much into her that he has never looked in the direction of other women, but I know he's not happy he doesn't have a son. Like my father, he doesn't value women enough to be in Alpha's position, and Connie's wolf isn't strong enough to be considered an alpha's material."
"So as a leader, he has to stomach giving his land to somebody else, not inheriting it by his flesh and blood. Of course, Connie can one day give birth to strong children, but they will be considered as the bloodline of their father, not their grandfather. His family name will be erased." Hayden looks at me, and we both think about the same.
" And Maddie managed to give birth to two boys with strong wolves, his male grandchildren, and since they were never officially acknowledged as heirs of the Blackwood line, he could claim them as his own. He can claim them into Full Moon bloodline," I continue.
"I know for sure that they traced us back from my dad's letters to you, Hayden. Then he could send someone to get a DNA sample. I'm sure it won't be too difficult. Then they were prepared to take the boys, but they didn't manage to do it in time because you showed up first," says Hannah "Two attacks we encountered came from the direction of Full Moon, so it must be someone from there working with rogues, and it must be someone from here helping him. Once they attacked us in the woods, they knew directly where we were. And there is one more possibility?"
"What are you thinking about?" I ask
"What if Connie is also in that? I mean, her future husband is supposed to inherit her pack's territory and then pass it to her children. If her father suddenly obtains two male heirs, what's about her birthright?"
"And Connie may not be strong, but for sure, she's ambitious, and she wants to be Luna very much," I say, smirking because I know Connie enough to be sure of it, "but if that is true, we can get rid of this dangerous very quickly."
They both look at me with intensity.
"Becca told me that the pack is pretty much suspicious about Jason and James. She figured out they're Hayden's children, and I think it's time to tell the boys the truth because there is a high risk that they will hear it from somebody else. Once you explain everything to them, Hayden will be able to claim boys as his sons officially, they will officially become the heirs of the Blackwood line, and Ryan wouldn't be able to do anything about that."
Hannah takes a deep breath, and I can see that she thinks deeply about what I said.
"Well, I think it's a good idea. It's high time for this. Hayden, are you ready to tell them the whole truth?" she looks at my brother with concern, and honestly, I feel again a pang of jealousy.
"I'm scared, Hannah, and I'm ashamed. After I tell them the truth, I know they will never look at me the same, but no matter how much I regret my past, I can't change it. I don't want to lie to my family, they will know the truth, and they will decide whether they can forgive me or not. We have a big party during a full moon in a couple of days, accepting you into the pack. Let's not spoil this moment. We will tell them after, I guess it's the best solution if you, me, and Rose will tell them the truth together," says Hayden.