The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45

MAXIM POV

After one uncomfortable handshake, Princess Hazel left for Irene. I headed over to the Healers section.

They might as well call it the witches coven. The skill is looked down upon by the most, because nearly every single girl fails. In a dank granite–lined hall, long mahogany benches, burners, glass vials and syringes tinged with the scent of burnt lavender dominate. Above all the siclky cackle of cruel bitches dominates the space. It’s constant, echoing over and over.

You can be a healer well into old age so students must excel beyond expectations to be promoted. Most of these gurning shrews will be serving scrubbing pans next year.

They all write home and insist they made it though.

Striding in, I ignored the curious stares, I need Warden Bea. A creased–up old woman with lilac–tinted eyes. Her Warden’s dress is entirely gray. A living dustball.

Keeper of the herb stores and the one tasked with trying to educate the young fools.

“Warden Bea, I’ve come to ask if there have been any discrepancies with the herb stocks?”

Her already unpleasant face doubles in wrinkles. “I manage the stores. What are you suggesting i have done wrong young Beta?”

She hates me on sight. “I sugget such a thing if it was not of the strictest importance.”

So followed a míserably dull four hours of my life. Inhaling dust, spiders, mice dropping and everything in between. With her ink blotted, scrappy handwritten records Warden Bea left me to root around her cavernous stock room.

Of course everything is accurate. It has been a month since I caught mention of it in the steam room. Slamming the final cobwebbed book shut I run my hands through my hair, finding gritty particles. This was a complete dead end.

Thanking the wrinkled Warden Bea who was still capable of a bitchy smirk in her elderly years I hear the lunch bells ringing.

I’ve gone and missed Tessa finishing archery. I should have been stood waiting for her. Except when I jog down everyone is losing their minds. Apparently Alpha Hale crushed a lad’s windpipe with his bare hands? “Just one hand!” someone exclaims. “Then he took out Donlon and Kendrick!”

Shit. What the hell have I missed?

I believe the drama without question. The Alpha is huge and stressed. He can do nothing else but lash out. But there is no sign of Tessa. With a deep breath, I close my eyes and think of her. Remember how she felt in my arms last night, inhaling her perfect orange scent.

That sensation where my nose touches the back of her neck. Just like that I feel my wolf nudging me to head back to our room. Maybe Tessa thought we needed to meet in private? Maybel I’m just insane these days.

Hearing Isaac hit her as I turned the corner, something inside me snapped apart. Restraint, tactics, sense all evaporated because Tessa in distress is not to be allowed. Under any circumstances. No.

Instead of listening outside like this morning, I charged in with every fibre of my being. The sickening sounds my fists made in his body were not violent enough. Nothing sated the hate I felt for the thug. Sever hisf ucking head my wolf screamed.

For making the side of Tessa’s head bruise and swell with the force of his strike he deserves nothing less. For daring to think he could keep laying hands on women and get away with it.

My own anger at not being there to protect her kept my arms pounding into him. When he called her nothing, my wolf briefly took over. The knife in my hand felt right.

No more talking from Isaac. Nothing worth hearing anyway.

1/4

Chapter 45

But Tessa figured it out. Isaac called her nothing but she’s the one to expose Donlon’s methods with her scenting skills.

Kai, Silas and I have been sorting out uniform all week. Handing out specially made ones marked up as being for extra large chest, reinforced shoulders Were so fucking implicated in this, Donlon could argue we knew the whole time!

Every single fatherly conversation for the past three years, hands on my shoulder, insistence that he would always look out for me feels like a punch to the guts.

Because Donlon suggested I get rid of Tessa. He used all my trust and tried to turn it against the fire–haired, quiet hero in the room.

All that matters right now is keeping Tessa safe.

That’s the thought racing alongside my pulse.

Not even vengeance or the triumph of proving Donlon’s guilt. I need Tessa safe from harm, blame. From Alpha Hale’s temper.

The first time he speaks makes all three of us freeze in panic. Isaac shit himself, looking around for Warden Donlon and finding nothing but his own demise.

“SPEAK!” Alpha Hale commands, smacking his huge arm into the door, the red wood to split and crack down the centre.

Chaos surrounds me. Tessa is trembling. Isaac slowly stumbling then stumping down the bathroom wall, blood loss takes it’s inevitable toll. Warden Marshall nudges his way to the front, alongside the broad Prince Remy. The other Wardens huddled in the doorway listening in like weasels.

“Alpha, we can tell you everything. Can we speak in private?” Tessa offers, her face bright red with the force of will it takes to ask something of an Alpha so pissed.

“You? In private? The one everyone considers a traitor and a rebel?” he scoffs. My fists curl back up.

Tessa’s face drops, alongside my heart. One of her beautiful new braids hangs oddly by her cheek, swaying wtih her struggle. “I’ve done nothing but my best. I answered all your questions before. I’m trying to help. Last night I proved my loyalty? Surely…is that not enough?”

The sadness in her voice is excrutiating.

“It proves nothing,” Alpha Hale spits. “Your family name was the warning. You shouldn’t have been allowed off the train!” glaring my way. Her cheeks are aflame her eyes back to the ground. My anger is threatening to surface all over again.

Prince Remy is staring around us all, his clear blue eyes laced with concern. I wonder if he notices Irene’s sad little pillow bed. Resplendent, gleaming in his white armour and gold chains, yet so sheltered. Has he ever considered how miserable an existence some of his own pack members live?

Alpha Hale lifts a hand and beckons Warden Marshall forward. “Take her to her room.”

“This isn’t fair,” I protest. “Tessa has been nothing but loyal! There is a plot!”

“Shut it Pagano,” Marshall hisses, raising an eyebrow my way. Like I should trust him. As he approaches Tessa with an outstre who to trust anymore. And I haven’t even revealed Donlon yet.

hand, I’ve no idea

Tessa’s sorrowful brown eyes look into my very soul as she walks past me. “I’ll see you soon. It will be okay.” I offer, reaching out to take the mushroom packet from her hands and squeeze her slender fingers.

I hate how much it feels like goodbye.

“Well Maxim? Enthrall me with your sleuthing.” My wolf tingles with anticipation. “You’ve probably heard I’m killing dickheads today, so I’d hurry up.”

“This relates to Luna Sabrina. It really would be better in private.”

“Fine. You can tell me from a cell.”

I hear the door slam above. I think Warden Marshall just dumped Tessa in our room like a stray animal.

2/4

Chapter 45

Fuck this.

Both Tessa and I tried to protect his mate’s dignity. Only for him to rob Tessa of hers.

“Isaac has specially customised armour, used alongside others to fetch poisonous mushrooms into the packhouse.”

“Who gives a fuck about mushrooms?”

“Well they’re being used to drug Luna Sabrina. To leave her vulnerable to seduction.”

My heartbeat remains steady. It;s like that little moment where you steady your breathing and count your pulse before firing a bow. A floating middle ground where you’re insanely calm no matter the surrounding carnage.

Princy Remy is first to react. “Everyone out! NOW!“”

Alpha Hale, giant he is, wobbles. Only when Prince Remy offers his arm in support does his face gradually return to a flushed puce, Isaac’s still bleeding, unconscious body is dragged out. There is no sign of Warden Donlon or Kendrick. They must be recovering from their earlier beating.

“Tessa was in here because Isaac has been attacking his mate. Princess Hazel has investigated it this morning.”

Prince Remy’s forehead screws up, finally taking in the surroundings of the miserable little room. The broken trinkets and old bloodstains. “Hazel did?”

But Alpha Hale has no interest. “Back to the matter, tell me about this drugging?”

“Did Warden Donlon….know Luna Sabrina before the mate bond sparked with you?”

“No.”

“Sure about that?” my manners are slipping the more I burn inside over how he shattered Tessa’s confidence.

“She would have told me.”

“But Dad your mate bond clicked when she was visiting relatives. You didn’t know everyone in her home village?” Prince Remy suggests.

“Do not dare slander your mother.”