The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

MAXIM POV

I followed Wardens Marshall and Kendrick out of the packhouse, single file towards the train station.

The train was still hot, hissing steam escaping from its metallic, burgundy shell. We wait, endlessly, until everyone else has dispersed, the front two carriages of the train the only ones untouched by the staff.

Rather than ask questions, I wait. Fully aware that Tessa would be wondering where I had vanished. Again. Finally, we stepped out of the shadows and approached those sealed wagons.

“What do you need me to do?”

“Remove all the notes before anyone h

distaste.

Sees,” sliding open the door and beckoning me forward, Kendrick stays silently behind, his face set in grim

Notes?

The first corpse is more than enough to let everything sink in. Of course Warden Marshall wants me to be the one to do this. All the notes are about Tessa

Crumpling the first slip of paper in my hand, I stuck my head back out of the train door and hissed.

“What about the guys who loaded them on?”

Kendrick snaps. “They’re staying south for under the moonlight.

now. Get

Con with it.” Warden Marshall silently stands guard, arms folded, commanding the empty platform

They want me to choose a side. How, when I’m only being told a sliver of a story?

Is skulking about with the man who has almost had me booted out countless times really the right move? I could just be his fall guy.

Donlon never makes me do shit like this. He always saved my ass, lessened punishments. He wouldn’t have put me in this carriage of corpses.

Staring out at row upon row of mangled bodies, most still in their glossy, black armour, didn’t help me pick either.

I recognised faces. Men who helped to train me. In the dark, the spilt blood and gore merged into the black armour, making every halting touch a gamble.

The silence of the train carriage was eerie. So many men are in here with me but only the sound of my breathing.

It took me hours. Dozens of men have been killed. Due to the space of the train, they were stacked on top of each other. Lifting, adjusting, and gently replacing in position, I need every single note. These bodies will be heading for the healers‘ preparations after this. No trace can be left.

I claim every single scrap, all written in an angry, ink–splodged cursive. “Tessa Darnell. Come home.”

“It’s done,” I snarl, stepping down from the carriage. My bloodied hands repulse me. I need a shower.

“Pass them over,” Kendrick barks, flicking through. All the same message?”

“Yes,” I confirm.

“Then you know what to do now don’t you?” Warden Marshall asks firmly. His blue eyes appraise me, arms still folded.

“I’ll talk to her.”

“If you don’t get the truth out of her, someone else will.” he warns.

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Chapter 35

“I’ll get it,” I barked back. I don’t need Warden Marshall’s guidance right now. Someone like him or Kendrick questioning Tesas made my ble he

“Good.”

“Then what are you going to give me? A shove off a cliff? Make me out to be one of the rebels? Now you’ve got my bloody fingerprints all over these scraps of paper?”

Marshall glares, quietly seething. He must be growing out his hair because the fuzzy halo effect has gone. Now he’s just a blue eyed block of ice. I’m giving you a chance to get out of this alive. Both of you. But it’s a narrowing opportunity.”

“Why? What is going on? How are these rebels linked to…what I saw?” Not daring to mention Donlon explicitly, seeing as the steely Badger himself remained within earshot.

“Let’s see how you do at this task first. Truths for truths. Call it a trade,” before turning and nodding at the Badger. They were done. Leaving me with a trainload of bodies and a hissing steam engine to work out how to approach Tessa.

There is no doubt the Wardens would hurt Tessa. It would not distress them to see her cry. Her blood on the floor wouldn’t make their guts twist.

Sneaking into our room, I felt strangely torn at seeing her asleep. Yes, I had told her not to wait up all night for me, but an undeniable clunk of disappointment hit my ribs to find Tessa wasn’t sitting up in our bed, chocolate eyes fixed on me

I washed up and began stripping off in our bathroom before the sounds of her anguished dream ripped through.

Then, a cat almost took both my feet from underneath my feet with its silent slinking.

I studied her anguished burbling and blanket clenching. Cruel karma for wanting her awake when I walked in.

Knowing my task, but still being greedy enough to crave her happy expression one last time. Before she hates me.

Soft little whimpers sealed it. Saying sorry

and over, even in her sleep.

Taking her wrists, lowering my body over her. It was the only thing I could think of to look after her. My brain short–circuited to offering nothing but flicking on a light and stopping her from twisting around so violently.

It just meant when her soulful brown eyes did finally open and fix on me, we were painfully close. Close enough to see every thought bouncing around her micro–expressions.

The fear, panic and the sad acceptance. Clear as day across her gentle features.

The truths are now wedged between us, tears streaming down her face whilst she’s saying sorry all over again.

My first instinct had been to get the fuck out. Because lets face it, this is a seriously bad situation. She couldn’t be more tied up with one of the main rebel suspects. Meaning I’m an accomplice for covering up their mate bond.

Fucked. Utterly doomed. A sensible man would run and take exile. The truth is death.

Leaping off the mattress, I was unable to view that sordid mark on her hip for another second. I was leaving. Before Marshall could find me again.

Then my wolf yanked at my ribs. Her soft little sob tugged at something I didn’t truly realise existed before now. An invisible chain. Linking me to her. Her sadness is mine. She’s so full of fire but she isn’t letting it shine. Now I know why.

How could any man have claimed her in that way? Sinking his teeth against bone. I despise it’s rough, ragged appearance.

Some childhood best friend. Her mate, her blessed partner, and he forced a bite on her hip?

What else has he forced upon her?

So I held her. What won’t wait until morning?

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12:54 Fri, 6 Jun

Chapter 35

GO

Tessa’s sobs died down, gradually we settled into a quiet comfort. Inhaling orange, her hands pressed on my chest, my heart just underneath her fingertips.

I fall into a dreamless sleep, only to wake before dawn. Without moving, I stare down at the waves of curls Tessa’s fiery hair has spread across the

pillows.

She has rolled over, my huge, possessive body curled around her shape. Keeping her. Possessing her for a little longer.

Only when the first bells of the day ring do 1 plant a soft kiss on a bare bit of her neck. Then another. Savouring these final moments.

I get a sleepy “Maxim?” in return.

“Last night, everything you told me…I’m not reporting it all.”

Her head tilts into the pillow so she can look straight at me with those cosy, warm chocolate brown eyes, “You’re not?”

“No. But is there anything else I need to know?” allowing my nose to rub against the beautiful softness of her shoulder. Her gaze flickers but not with dishonesty. But down to my lips. She’s wanting the same as me. A tiny snatch of what might have been.

“My parents…don’t farm as much as they used to. I don’t know who they meet, what they talk about, but they are not good people.”

“What about…Luca?” hating the way his name sounds on my tongue. Deadmeat I should be calling him.

“He reappeared out of nowhere that night. He was in prison for years before. He just vanished and the whole village shut down. Like he never existed. He was angry when I saw him last…obviously…” her face colouring up with a blush, “He wasn’t clear though. I thought he was just angry about being locked away, not against everything Alpha Hale stands for.”

“Okay.”

Tessa shifted against me, her warm, curvaceous body fitting my hold perfectly. Her arm, previously tucked under her head, comes out.

Tentatively she places it along the length of my forearm. The one wrapped around her soft stomach. After an age her hand lies on top of mine.

“Cramp sorry,” she whispers, a blush still burning.

I immediately lift my

hand up

at an angle, spreading my fingers so hers find the gaps. “Better?” I choke out in my grumpiest voice.

I don’t say “perfect.” Or “Thankyou.” Having her small hand in mine wrapped in mine is never a problem.

Bells continue to ring in the distance, pipes creaking and doors slamming as people prepare for their day. More archery and scent–tracing for Tessa. Goddess knows what for me.

“Tessa, I need you to do something for me.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Stay at the top. Don’t be rattled by anyone. I’m going to make this okay.”

“How? How can you make this right?”

“Just watch me. But…” my words faltering. “…we need to be switched on. Focused. Make it through the next few weeks without any drama. We need to be invisible.”

Her fingers tug against my grip, pulling away. But I’m not ready to let her go just yet.