The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30

TESSA POV

I couldn’t reel off that list of names again. Not for a sack of gold. My mind is blank. Fear seized me, all I could do was hold on and try not to make a

mistake.

Goddess my stupid, idiotic family. Why can I not shake them off?

To confess I know my parents have links to criminals, to conducting strange meetings, whispering all the time but never including me, what would that achieve?

They barely grew anything substantial by the time I left but they were no longer short of money. Is that what the Alpha wants to hear?

I’ve no proof, only my own quiet observations.

Then they had to mention Luca’s name.

The relief each time they asked a name that wasn’t his was borderline delusional. Some of the names were vaguely familiar but never men I had a conversation with.

But Luca? My childhood best friend? That anyone in my home village would tie me too?

But he’s also my mate. My destiny. The man who shattered everything I thought I knew about love and trust. Returning the night before I left for Ravenbow, he had his own intentions. Mine counted for nothing once we caught sight of each other and the bond clicked.

The memory of how it felt when his canines scraped directly against my hip bone rises. A deep, unshakeable sense of violation which left me shuddering just like back then.

“Tessa?” Maxim asks quietly, stroking cheek, and I realise I’ve zoned out of a question.

“I’m sorry. Sorry I went a bit dizzy again.”

The Warden’s don’t stop staring. Row upon row of grey and white layer. Some in chunky armour from drills, others with thick gray aprons from the blacksmiths forge. All summoned to judge us.

Alpha Hale is barely contained by the wooden desk. At any point his huge chunky hands could just flip the thing over and unleash hell.

Even his quiet voice rumbles through my chest. And his piercing blue eyes have me doubting the truth of my own name.

But somehow, like walking on water we survived. Their questions finally turned to Maxim and of course he was flawless.

How did we meet? He went to the farming district after being cooped up in the industrial zone for too long and ran into me. Clipboards move at lightning speed.

“You received your bite?” Donlon asks, pointing at the exposed bit of collarbone on Maxim’s chest. He opens the shirt a little more. “All Tessa’s.”

“You?” Alpha Hale asks me swiftly, his piercing blue eyes stern. He’s so quick my stomach is still flipping over from Maxim saying I’m all his.

“I don’t,” I confess truthfully. “This is so new. We’re only two weeks in and it’s…but I’ve never even had a boyfriend before this. He didn’t want to overwhelm me. He’s been really sweet.”/

“Has he? That’s a surprise,” Alpha Hale grumbles sarcastically.

Keeping a tight hold of Maxim’s hand I am forced to sabotage him to save us. “Lmean, as soon as I arrived here I heard about his reputation. Even on the train they were joking about ex girlfriends and trouble he has run into. I guess it made me hold back a bit.”

“Charming,” Maxim mutters. I squeeze his hand and look up at him. “But he’s winning me over. He really is.”

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Chapter 30

A smile breaks out on my face as for once, I tell nothing but the truth. “Every single day he does something fascinating or unpredictable. He got me a ne bow and arrow when mine broke. Helped me practice archery, helped me make friends which I’ve always struggled to do before. Waiting for me after training and walking me home on a night.”

“Sounds like a damn saint,” clips Warden Marshall as without thinking I quickly fire back, “He’s the kindest man I’ve ever met.”

It works. Maxim’s head twists closer towards mine, furrowed with confusion.

I nod, “You are. Taking care of me last night when Vigo hurt me? Listening to me, not pushing me? Of course I mean it.”

His jaw finally softens, but I know him well enough to know he won’t ever say anything so raw.

“I suppose you’re fairly decent too,” he murmurs back, making me giggle instead of proving we’re devotedly in love to a group of strangers.

Alpha Hale’s dark voice can’t even break the spell formed by staring into Maxim’s tiger eyes. “We’ve heard reports of falling out, clashing?”

“It can’t be helped,” Maxim murmurs. Clouds part outside, a shaft of sunlight breaking through. The red stained glass window sends bright red shards of light across Alpha Hale and his white, pristinely royal layers. “But we’re learning.”

I know exactly what he means. That agonising sensation of him walking away. I nod in agreement. “Yes. Still learning.”

He gives me a devious smirk and has to add. “One day you’ll listen to me.”

“One day, maybe,” I copy, rolling my eyes.

Maxim doesn’t smile but his eyes glimmer. Is he proud of me?

“Sounds like you’ve really won her over Pagano.” Warden Marshall snipes. Of course my cheeks set on fire. In a previous life I must have been some kind of socially–impeded ant. Maxim bristles next to me. “But that isn’t what this is about.”

The tapping of some Warden’s pen against the clipboard fills the silent room.

“True. True,” Alpha Hale murmurs in agreement. The quieter edge of his voice is more frightening. “Stop cowering.”

Maxim squeezes my hand. With a clenched breath I break back to the surface. Forced to look directly into those blue eyes, his huge frame barely fit the wide wooden chair. Every muscle in his shoulders and neck are tensed, red streaks of light across his white clothing.

My wolf has retreated. Zero use to me. She is afraid of the Alpha’s wolf, a huge white monster that humans have written legends about. That same myth is looking at me like he could snap my neck for fun.

“So. The true test of a mate bond. The only question that matters is when souls are bound and blessings received…is?”

Both of us shake our heads. “I’m sorry Alpha,” Maxim mutters.

Alpha Hale tuts. “It’s obvious. Would you die for her?”

“Alpha?” I gasp, but his stare is fixed on Maxim now.

“When the axe falls Maxim, when all the games and the fucking about stop. Would you die to save that quiet thing next to you? If I put you both on the cliff tonight and only one could come down safely?”

The force of his question, leaves us stunned. Maxim takes a second, using his own natural confidence in himself. “I’d like to think I would. But that love isn’t as instant as a mate bond.”

“I knew it about Luna Sabrina. Instantly,” Alpha Hale growls. Oh shit, Maxim.

“Would Luna Sabrina have said the same about you so soon?” Maxim asks quickly only for Warden Donlon to snap, “You are pushing your fucking luck today Maxim! Watch your tongue!”

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Chapter 30

GM

“She did.” Alpha Hale answers. “We are each other’s sunrise, each other’s sunset, I have no doubt in our bond. And will kill anyone who dared to suggest otherwise before they could take another breath.”

Maxim’s lips thin, holding back a variety of other responses, only to settle for a smooth. “Then I can only aspire to find that same bliss Alpha”

My mouth has begun to hang open. I snap it shut quickly. The air is too tense, too many eyes on me. I’ve never felt anything like this. I could be on an operating table, opened up and exposed and it would not feel as strange as this small room packed with Wardens.

With a crash, Alpha Hale slams his pen down on the table. “For fucks sake. I’ve been interviewing people all afternoon for this nonsense? Donlon bring me facts next time.”

Maxims mentor is behind todays torment?

He at least has the grace to look uncomfortable at being called out.

The pair share a moment of searing heat. Locked in vicious glares across the desk I feel so sorry for Maxim, I don’t think he has many other people out there he can depend on. Without missing a beat my wolf plants a tiny little thought. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could be that person he could count on.

Alpha Hale flicks his hand our way before turning around in his huge wooden chair, the floor squealing to start talking to a small, wizened little Warden about missing herbs and equipment.

Warden Marshall, with a nod mouths, “Get out.”

It’s over? Like that?

We’re not going to die! Euphoria rushes into my limbs. I almost knock the chair over in haste before remembering to bow, my cheeks could not be any redder but we’ve done it.

Maxim holds the wooden door open for me, forcing me to duck under his outstretched arm. I step into the corridor, my hands over my mouth, looking up at Maxim. He’s looking at me with such a strange expression. He rubs his jaw, his gaze blatantly dropping to my lips, then my neck and chest.

Without a word he takes one of my hands away from my face and takes me a few metres down the corridor, opening up another wooden door. An empty parlour room. Only room for maybe half a dozen scheming Wardens, a smaller desk and chair.

“We’re celebrating. We can fight later.”

“Yes, yes,” I murmur before he steps forward, his hands cupping my cheeks and kissing me. His lips on mine, all the sensations are perfection. Relief hits me in waves. I don’t want to lose this. I can’t.

Maybe Briggs thinking Maxim is a bastard is okay, they already don’t get on. If he swears not to tell a soul. I’m clutching at solutions. My hands land on Maxim’s chest, over his bite and he lets out that gorgeously feral growl.

“You do that again, I’m taking it as a sign you want me to lose my goddamn mind.”

I want more. I’m ready for more.

But to do that, I need to show Maxim the vile secret that means our lie is even worse than what he thinks it is. Not only have we deceived the Alpha, if i give into these feelings I’m defiling the Goddesses. I will be just like a marked whore. Maxim will touch me, knowing I belong to someone else. But I want, need, crave, have to have him all the same.

I tease around his collarbone instead, not quite touching it. Making him curse and grab at my waist, arms around my back. “Tessa…” he gro pushing mine apart, his knee hitting the wooden door behind us.

nis leg

“Haller, Rook. You’re up. Last one of the day,” announces Warden Marshall’s voice. It’s a much friendlier tone how he spoke to us, I think with a dozy.

content smile.

Just as my back follows Maxim and hits the door, his hand rounding my ass, squeezing until I flinch up into him.

Then my brain clicks into some kind of delayed action.

SIA

Chapter 30