The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

TESSA POV

It’s not like I knew the mossy field, by practicing last night had taught me how to handle it. Gathering my arrows alone, I try looking around for Maxim there is no sign of him.

Groups of friends walk off to the packhouse for lunch.

“Fuck, I’m covered in this shit,” a familiar voice complains. I turn to see Briggs. All six feet and beyond of him, shaggy black hair spattered with droplets of blue paint.

He is halfway down the rankings too. His excellent shooting made up for his clumsy feet at least. He’s safe and I’m genuinely relieved.

Today is expected to be a cut day, no wonder tensions are running high. I try not to look at one man crouched down on his haunches, head in his hands.

When my eyes meet Briggs again he gives me a sad grin. “Can we talk?”

“Sure.”

He folds his huge arms, rubbing at each elbow awkwardly. “What happened yesterday…it all went crazy. I never thought, not for a second, that Vigo would hurt you. It was just a grab and sprint.”

His poor face is wretched, his flushed and hazel eyes pleading for forgiveness. I think if I asked him to get on his knees he’d drop like a stone, bioe paint stained pants staining the gravel.

Briggs takes another step forward, closing the gap between us, his eyes checking around for any listeners. His voice is a rasp, breaking with emotion. “Believe me, I’m very aware that without your help I would have been skirting the bottom of scent tracing.”

“That’s not…I mean,” my own words failing at seeing such a big guy get so torn up. He waves his hands to shush me.

“We both know the truth Tessa. Me and Irene-”

The packhouse bells ring out. A clashing, frantic wall of noise, nothing like the gentle dinner and curfew calls.

We all look upwards in surprise. It rings again. And again. “EVERYONE TO THE HALL!” Warden Kendrick announces raspily, his scarred throat preventing much volume.

Falling into line together, Briggs touches my arm, making me jump in surprise, nearly breaking my own ankle. “You’re my friend first. I know what pricks like Maxim think happened yesterday, he’s wrong.”

I don’t know what to say. There has to be a way to balance this so I keep my friendships but not sacrifice my spot near the top.

So we just keep walking, increasing our pace as a raft of men from the infantry fields swell the scuttling ranks and cause us to compress even closer.

“Irene didn’t show up for breakfast either, you know,” he adds. Despite everything, my heart aches at that fact. “She wanted to wait for you last night. made her get some food. So don’t be mad at her. She was exhauseted. We knew Maxim was waiting for you. We had no idea Vigo would take it that far

It’s too much explaining. Too many words falling out of his mouth like a guilty confession. “Vigo had already pushed me off a cliff edge-

“EVERYONE TO THE DINING HALL!” Warden Kendrick keeps shouting. When he adds. “ALPHA HALE IS WAITING!” we all feel the shiver of fear race down. through every rank.

Briggs shakes his head, shaggy black hair flying like a wet dog. “Getting the win…was the plan from the start.

“Well I wouldn’t have done that. Not with a bigger stronger wolf, pissed off and standing over my friend. I couldn’t finding something sounding li

resolve.

13:53 Wed, 4 Jun▷ O

Chapter 27

I might flit between wanting to do nothing and everything with Maxim. But this is concrete.

I would not have left Irene in trouble. Or Briggs. Just no.

“Well, you’re not the same as us Tessa.”

“Why not!”

Briggs temper snaps, his hands getting even more animated, people starting to stare. “Dont play dumb. Because you’re safe! Meanwhile Irene is hanging by a fucking thread and you know it!”

“But you’re not! You’ve got archery, you aren’t up for the chop? So where were you!”

A voice interrupts, “What’s going on?” as Maxim appears on the other side of me. Dressed in his black leather jacket, a scowl on his face, be and Briggs are heads above the other candidates, their muscular frames taking up the slender path with me sandwiched between.

“Shouting at Tessa as well as abandoning her now?”

The two men stare daggers whilst keeping in step with the mass of people all pouring into the packhouse dining hall. My ears filled with the stomping of boots. The blood red drapes seem to glow when the daylight streams in behind them. We’re all standing, packed in tighter by the second.

My friend just waves his hand, pissed at Maxim’s tiger–eyed glare. “I apologised. It won’t happen again. That’s all I wanted to say. See you around,” before he pushes through the crowd, receiving a chorus of curses for his blue pants staining those around him.

I turn to my fake mate. His tiger eyes are focused straight ahead.Stood on top of a metal countertop, draped in a pure white and shining, steel–armoured vestment is Alpha Hale.

His blue eyes are savagely bright, flitting around every squashed person in here. The bells continue to ring above us, a constant rattling as every archer, including myself has come in here with a quiver stacked full of arrows.

Maxim takes my hand in his, squeezing it tight. “Don’t worry.”

I wasn’t worried. Now I am. “What is this? Does this happen a lot?”

No,” he whispers back. His thumb rubs mine gently. I scan the room for Irene but I can’t spot her gentle features amongst the hundreds of faces.The huge packhouse doors slam shut at the other end of the corridor.

Luna Sabrina, Prince Remy and Princess Hazel appear in the corner their stunning white clothes and handsome features too perfect to ignore.

At the sight of the royal family Maxm grips my hand a little tighter. The jealousy in me assumes he is having some delightful flashbacks of Princess Hazel.

The final Warden’s make their way to the front. They almost look like a choir. Maxim lifts my hand up to his mouth and kisses it softly. He knows they’re watching. It still leaves me tingling.

“Ravenbow!” Alpha Hale starts. His deep voice stuns, booming around the dining hall with ease. “SCENT TRACING IS NOT A FUCKING BLOODSPORT! It is! who make the rules. Your training regime, who stays and who goes is decided by me.”

Oh fuck. This is about yesterday. Heat builds from the tip of my toes, rushing up to the top of my head in an instant. I could set myself on fire right now. Even Maxim swallows.

Every set of eyes flicks towards us and back again. hate that the first pair of eyes I meet is not Irene’s but Malva’s. Still here, still watching, her piercing green eyes gleaming with interest.

“Now, to really piss me off, I have heard grumblings about those who have found their mates, Anyone?”

Of course a grave–like silence follows.

“A mated soldier is a loyal soldier. Yes?”

Chapter 27

“YES ALPHA!”

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“I will not risk my family, knowing that should one of you find you mate across enemy lines, your loyalty will vanish. It has been proven time and again. But a mated couple, based here in Ravenbow? Their loyalty is to both Ravenbow and each other. Why shouldn’t I encourage that?”

His huge, meaty hand points around the room throughout his speech. All I can picture is that outstretched hand shoving me from the top of a cliff.

Right now, everyone is listening to Alpha Hale without daring to breathe. His white blonde hair clashes with the red of the drapes behind him. Like a marble statue capable of bleeding.

“If someone is at the bottom of their skills, of course, that is a failing. But it is upon their mate to help. That is the point of the bond, is it not? To enable each other to be the best version of themselves?” looking back at Luna Sabrina, his tough exterior dropping for just a few seconds whilst he visibly melts for his pretty, softly smiling mate.

Meanwhile Maxim is close to making my fingers go numb if he keeps squeezing like this. Alpha Hale spins back to us all.

“I have received an anonymous report. Suggesting that some people may be abusing my beliefs. That there are pretenders, snakes and charlatans amongst us.”

The burn turns up another thousand degrees on my face. It feels as though the entire pack has siletly whispered, “it’s that lying bitch stood with Maxim over there.”

I don’t look up at Maxim, as much as I want to. In my peripheral vision I can see his jaw tightening. He’s as stressed as me.

“So every declared mate bond will be met by me and a panel of wardens. Tonight, after your afternoon sessions. A list will go up with your times.”

Okay. We have a bit of time to get some kind of story straight. Maybe find out who the hell Maxim Pagano really is. I think, from the things he has said, he is from the industrial zone. That’s about it.

“Dismissed!” Alpha Hale barks. Maxim holds onto my hand as the bells start clanging again. He keeps hold of my hand whilst crowds get around us. “Don’t worry.”

The chatter from those unaffected by Alpha Hale’s announcement is rampant. They’re looking forward to seeing some dran. He hasn’t killed gossip, only fuelled it.

“It won’t be that bad,” Maxim urges, dropping my hand to wrap his arm around my shoulder. “It’s just some questions.”

It’s warm and safe, tucked in the nook of his arm. Until I look around. At least a dozen other couples all doing the same thing. Some girls are softly crying into their mates chest. But they’re the real couples. Together since last year.

“Well that’s a shit move,” Silas announces, walking towards us with a shrug of the shoulders, blonde mane blowing. “Don’t worry lovebirds, you’ll sail through.”

“It’s a formality to shut the gossip up,” Kai adds, though not with the steady conviction I’m used to hearing him speak with.

“Exactly,” Maxim grins. They fall into conversation. Apparently Vigo’s head will be scarred. Maxim doesn’t care.

How is he so calm? How do I face down an Alpha and all his advisors and not give away our lie? Finally Kai and Silas leave. It’s just us. Me and my so- called fated.

Maxim turns and looks straight at me and my stomach flips when he cups my face.

“See you after scent–tracing, yeah? I’ve got to help Warden Marshall with sparring drills this afternoon,” his voice a petty grumble. I know he despises that job.

“Maxim, I’m scared.”

He tilts my chin up and places a gentle kiss on my lips. “Just be you.”

15:53 wea, un

Chapter 27

“But-”