The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Chapter 51

TESSA POV

Irene will always be dead. The mushroom packaging is from my family. No amount of holding, kissing or consolation from Maxim is going to change those facts.

The black shirt shouldn’t change how I see him. But it simply doesn’t suit him. The black steals the warmth from his expression. It’s taking a step away from the man I secretly adore, but closer towards the Alpha I can no longer serve.

“Come back, we need to talk!” he hisses, following me through the dark winding corridor. Goddess he loves to try and tell me what to do. Even now, when Irene is dead and we’re just as guilty as her.

Above us the thunder continues to roll. The storm must be coming soon, even the wind is picking up, whistling down through this cylinder with enough force to send my hair billowing in front of my eyes.

The world is screaming signs at me and I’d be a fool not to listen.

Maxim has the promotion he always wanted. Black–shirt, top of the pile.

Alpha Hale hasn’t killed me today. But he will.

I’m too big a risk not to be removed now. My stupid, foolish, reckless family has managed to damn me from hundreds of miles away after all. They’ll all be dead soon. That’s probably on Maxim’s to–do list now he’s a fully–fledged ally of the Alpha.

As much as I love being around Maxim, there is no way my soul can rest easy being part of this world any longer. My shy, timid exterior has been wrenched away today. Time to act upon my convictions.

My brain offers these facts calmly. Detached and sensible. Because to think about what leaving really means will only make me change my mind. My wolf rustles his name through my mind. Instead of saying ‘stay‘ it just seductively whispers ‘Maxim.’

It’s time to go. Just like Luca warned me, they were never going to see me for my potential. You can’t come from the fringes and expect to be treated the same as everyone else.

Goddess, it’s going to hurt. So much. My heart is aching and twisting in too many directions.

A huge crowd of people, a mix of beige, gold, blue and a few other black–shirted elites block my way. I don’t want to join the scrum so I hang back on the steps, watching their slow, cattle–like shoving through the narrow gaps.

They’re all whispering. But to my suprise, they’re not judging Irene. The words are of shock and horror. No other cliff death has ever been so brutal. The population is scared. War on the outside of Ravenbow, terror on the inside?

Irene’s scream still rings loud in my head. When it finally stops, I’ll just be tormented by her kind, freckled face lingering in my memory.

Was she looking for me when she fell? When Maxim had me pressed against the wall out of sight? Where are my friends? What have Allette, Kai, Briggs and poor Silas made of everything?

I don’t get time to think. Maxim swoops from behind, His arm wrapping around my stomach, picking my feet completely off the ground. Lkick out like a child but he doesn’t stop. His strength always takes me by surprise.

“Just another minute Tessa, that’s all. This isn’t…I’m not forcing you,” he pants clutching his side where I managed to wind him. I’m stuck in a narrow alcove carved into the cliff, a passing point for people to wait at.

His hands plant either side of my shoulders. A gorgeous, oak and berry scented prison. Lean only really look straight ahead.

“You won’t change my mind.”

“I know,” he nods. “I get it. I need to make sure you know the truth. About today and why…” before looking away and rubbing at his beard….Tess I’m

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Chapter 51

just so sorry. I need you to know that?

Forced to stare at his sculpted face, messy brown curls, I instantly crave the soft, tickling feeling of his beard against my skin. Maxim is normali, dazzlingly handsome, but right now, he just looks so sad. His amber eyes are desolate.

In that instant, any anger I felt towards him melted. My heart can’t hold any malice towards him.

“I don’t blame you. I left Irene to go to scent–tracing. She was happy to stay with Silas…but…I had no idea this was coming. I thought she was safe.

“Isaac must have thrown her under the bus when they interrogated him about the armour.”

“That wasn’t you?”

“No.”

“Then you can’t blame yourself. At least you tried to intervene. I just sat there thinking about it.”

Maxim furrows his brow and looks away. “Well I do. I blame myself.”

I shake my head. I want to put my hands on his chest but I keep them to my sides instead. “Any other day, Isaac would have just been banished to the front. But then today…”

“But then today happened, yeah,” Maxim added with a sigh. “I don’t know how to make it right Tess. But I want to.”

“I don’t know either.”

Thunder roars again. Maxim steps a little closer, like he can shield me from it all. Everyone will be heading towards the packhouse for their evening meal. I’ve got a chance to get out and do what I need without being observed.

Maxim adds quickly. “Please. Wait. You keep looking at my shirt?”

“Congratulations?”

He slaps the wall beside me in frustration, I flinch. “No it’s not. It’s not like that at all.”

He’s always unpredictable but there is something else going on in his head. Cagily,”

t it’s th

promotion you wanted?”

“Tess, come on,” he grimaces, allowing me to see him blush for the first time. My wolf spirals at him calling me Tess. A name that is only his.

“What?”

“You know. You must know?” his eyebrows dropping in confusion, a sad ghost of a smile flitting over his features. I’m too shellshocked for guessing games. To start hoping for something I can’t ever really have.

Only for Maxim’s hand to leave the stone wall and gently wrap just underneath my jawline. Almost holding my throat, but just softly stroking the skin. Electricity flies through my blood. My pulse dances underneath his touch. “Then you weren’t listening before. When I said I did everything I could. For you. Nobody else. Only you. So this shirt, it is not a reward. It is my fucking burden now.”

I should really use more words but my throat has seized, the way his fingers lightly trace the shape of my neck has me near silence. “Why? I don’t want you to be burdened.”

“My blue shirt was soaked in Donlon’s blood, Hale just told me to grab a black one. I’m assigned to Prince Remy. It wasn’t some powermove, or deserved achievement. I just got soaked in another man’s blood.”

When he leans forward I push to rest my forehead against his. He shakes. Just a small quiver but I feel it dance through me. I hate Alpha Hale, not just for Irene, but for what he has done to Maxim tog. Dulled his spark.

“So…you’re one of the elites now.”

Chapter 51

Everyone else appears to have left, there is only us in this cold, dark little hole in the cliffs. Heads pressed together.

“I hate it. But, it’s worth it.”

I back away. “Worth it because?”

“Because you’re still here. I don’t think you understand Tess, how much I need you to be alive.”

His fingers are still dancing gently along my throat. I hate how perfect this should be. The man I love, holding me, explaining how he’s tried to keep me safe. Understands why I’m so angry and need to leave. It should be the stuff of fantasies.

But we are standing just metres away from where my best friend was murdered. Tied up, mocked and brutally disposed of by an Alpha who cannot cope with the revelations about his Luna.

“I’ve got to go. They’ll clean out her room but she left gifts for some of us.”

Maxim’s face sours even further. People don’t leave trinkets and gifts for friends if they weren’t expecting something bad to happen.

“I wish I’d just slit his throat and dumped him somewhere.”

“Then maybe, now you’ve got this new role, you can use it to make sure it doesn’t happen again?”

He nods firmly. “I will. I like that idea..”

“I hope you do,” before lifting my hand to peel away his fingers. I’m not going to be around to see it, but I bet he does a brilliant job. He acts like he doesn’t care, but he’s got a heart. A real, caring, warm heart made for loving the right person.

“Do whatever you need. But come back tonight. To me. Our room.”

“MAXIM WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!”

“Fuck!” he growls. “Fine – just please don’t do anything dangerous before I see you again.”

“Like what?”