CHAPTER 210: I WON’T

"What if I want to? Are you willing?" Lance asked her, even as her nails dug into his chest. And despite the slight pain, he was happy with her actions. Because, he could see clearly that she didn’t want to answer him. Which meant that she did not want to break the bond. But the vision had told them that she did break it. And they hadn’t even known.

There were only a few days left for the Golden Moon Night. Which meant that they had to make sure that she did not break the bond before that. They could not risk it, not when the entire fate of their future could shift with one decision she made out of anger or fear. But to stop her from doing just that, they had to first know what needed to be done to break it.

Secondly, if she did indeed break it then their next most urgent step would be to make her accept them as her mate and not go with the Dark Lord. Which at the moment, seemed impossible. She barely trusted them. She barely trusted herself with them. And every time they took one step forward with her, they would find an insurmountable wall between them.

Even now, when she had just woken up, she had believed that they had easily abandoned her. In fact, she had not even considered that they would have stayed. What she didn’t know was that only Zen was not here. Kael was also here, waiting for her outside.

He watched her as she looked down at him and narrowed her eyes," The bond cannot be broken. You should know that. I will always be enslaved to three of you."

Lance raised an eyebrow at that and caught her hips, ready to hold her if she tried to put distance between them," Really? Then what about your revenge?"

He watched her go still and look at him warily." What about my revenge?"

"You are bound to obey us because of this bond. That is what you promised. What if I tell you to abandon your revenge? And live a carefree life here?"

He watched her pull back from him emotionally and felt his heart ache at the movement. There was the wall. Her defences. Just how much hate and hurt did you have to carry inside you for you to be willing to give up a lifetime of happiness for revenge?

She tried to jump off him then and pushed against his chest as if distance alone could protect her from the conversation he had started. But Lance was faster. His hands slid down and caught her thighs, holding her firmly in place before she could escape. In one smooth movement, he rolled her over, switching their positions so he was the one lying on top of her, caging her between his arms.

As she struggled, he pushed her thighs apart with his knee and settled closely together, reminding her that just a few hours ago, he had been inside her.

She pushed against him," Let me go."

He lifted one hand and caressed the side of her face, his thumb brushing her cheekbone lightly. Then he placed his palm against her cheek and gently guided her to look at him, forcing her gaze to meet his.

"Tell me why," he said quietly.

She frowned. "Why what?"

"Why is the revenge so important?"

Her eyes flashed. "Why do you care?"

"Because you care," he said as if that were the simplest thing in the world.

And to him it was. He was the Supreme Alpha of the werewolves. If his mate wanted something done or wanted someone dead, all she had to say so. But he knew he could not say that to her. And she would not be happy even if he did.

He saw her blink at his answer as she tried to wrap her head around the answer. He noticed the doubt and suspicion, but calmly stared back at her.

She stared at him, searching his face as if she wasn’t sure if he was lying.

Then, slowly, she looked away. Her hand clenched against the sheets.

"Because that is the only reason I am still alive," she whispered. "My mother suffered a lot to keep me safe. How can I live if I don’t avenge her?"

He continued to caress her face, his heart aching at all the grief she held inside her. It was not her anger talking. It was her grief.

His thumb moved gently across her cheek. "Would your mother want you to avenge her," he asked softly, "or would she rather you be happy?"

Emira stilled. Every part of her froze, as if his question had struck something deep inside her. She slowly lifted her gaze and stared up at him, confused and hurt and defensive all at once.

"Are they mutually exclusive?" she asked, her voice barely more than a breath. "Avenging her is what makes me happy. Once those who made her suffer have met their end, I will find my own happiness."

"Emira... Can you not trust us? What if we can help you with this revenge that you want?"

Emira shook her head then," No. You cannot help me. No one can. Because the path I have chosen... you might not agree with it."

"At least tell me. Try trusting me." Lance almost pleaded, wanting to tell her that he was her mate. That she could trust him. But he held back, barely.

"It is because I trust you Alpha Lance that I dare not tell you."

"What do you mean?" Lance looked at her searchingly but she simply shook her head, saying nothing more as she looked away.

The Stormhold Alphas were righteous men. They would not support her plan. After all, she also wasn’t sure if she was doing the right thing. Her mother had been innocent and free of all burdens until Aldren found her. And he looked for her because he feared she would give birth to the dark master’s bride and restore his power. So, her biggest and best revenge was to make Councilman Evan Aldren’s biggest fear true. She would help bring back the Dark Master and she would be his bride...