The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53

TESSA POV

Allette was waiting for me outside the cave entrance. Her gray eyes were red rimmed, her hair lacking its usual bright scarf. I’ve never seen her look

shaken before.

“Thad a feeling you’d be last out,” she smiled wanly.

“I didn’t see you, where were you standing?”

“Just a few down from the Wardens balconies. It took ages to realise it was Irene. I didn’t believe it was, until I heard her shouting. Then when she flew down past me…I swear our eyes met,” her voice dropping to a whisper.

“It’s going to be so different now,” I add, trying to sound like I intend to stick around. “Did you have any idea?”

“That Isaac was a bastard? Oh I thought that yes. But I had no idea they were lying about the bond. Just so foolish. There is no way to trick the Alpha. Not with the Wardens, his eyes are everywhere. You can’t fake a bond.”

“No I guess not,” keeping my eyes down to the ground, my stomach quivering. How can a real mate bond possibly feel more intense than when Maxim swore he had put himself through Donlon’s gore and torture, for me?

Together we walk, not towards the Packhouse to eat, instead we head to Block E. Irene’s room. “No scarf today?”

“Oh I threw it down after her. When everyone was leaving. I don’t know why really. She would always say something nice about the colour or whatever. So I just, I guess it was my way of saying goodbye. That I’ll miss her.”

So there is a little kernel of softness deep down inside her. She isn’t all cold ambition and aimless flirting. Now isn’t the time to tell her Irene cursed her easy ability to talk to Silas, to lean on him and bat her eyelashes.

“I ended up singing a little song, down into that black hole” confessing with a blush. Outside of the dark gray stone tomb it seems bizarre but ten minutes ago it made sense. “You see anyone else?”

“Silas stormed out straight away. As soon as she fell he left, before the Alpha gave us permission. Briggs and Kai ran straight after him as soon as it was allowed. I didn’t think I would be of much use so I decided to wait for you.”

With genuine affection I force myself to reply, “Thank you.”

I focus on the sound of the gravel underneath my feet. Ground my brain in real outside noises. Allette makes small talk about the weather, the rolling thunder, how the wind is wrecking our hair. I don’t tell her to shut up, she’s trying to do the same as me. Replace the sound of Irene’s screams with anything else.

Opening the door to her room, the remnants of the fight are so loud and visceral. I’d almost forgotten how hard Isaac punched me in here, touching my

healed cheek.

What remains are the smashed trinkets, messy bed, black armour lying in shattered chunks. “What the hell happened here?” Irene gasps, noticing the patches of blood on the floor. Where Maxim wedged a knife into Isaac’s throat. For me.

Grabbing a simple canvas bag, we gathered Irene’s things. Her clothes went in a small wooden trunk we found under the bed. I gave Allette a version of the truth. Explaining how I was in here, Isaac attacked me. Maxim saved me. I just left out the mushrooms and the damning connection to Donlon and Luna Sabrina’s nightmarish assaults.

“The bastard. Maxim must have been furious–Oh Tessa look,” Allette whispered. “This has my name on? And here, these…”

Together we gathered tiny, wrapped gifts for myself, Maxim, Allette, Silas, Kai and Briggs. “I’m going to open mine now,” Allette said firmly. I think in oras to avoid getting emotional in front of a group of people. She gasped to unwrap a stunning copper and steel hair claw. The teeth were the thinnest, almost invisible silvery steel.

But the mechanism was surrounded with a mix of leaves and branches. Contrasting copper and silver tones. Weaving in and out like a forest floor, a

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Chapter 53

completely unique piece of craftsmanship. Some of the leaves are sharp, with edges like tiny blades, the stalks with indents like knife hilts. Allets place it in her hair, admiring it in the mirror. “I wonder when she was planning to give us there?”

“I don’t know. She was wasted in the Armoury. She should have been making these things for the Alpha.”

With Irene’s possessions safely placed in my room we headed back to the packhouse. My stomach is growling and maybe I might see Maxim. Only there is something wrong.

It’s not the thunder, which continues to leave the dusky evening sky too dark and heavy for comfort. Then I see a few students running. “Shit!” someone

shouts.

Something is happening. My wolf is skitting about, pushing, nagging me to move.

“Come on…” breaking into a jog. Only to round the corner, just away from the packhouse and see Maxmin bloodied and wrecked on the floor. Briggs standing over him, his grisly face matches a murderously scowling Silas and Kai. What the hell is going on?

“MAXIMI” screams out of both of us.

Briggs black boot raises up. He’s going to kill him.

I cry “No, no!” and break into a sprint, only to feel something whoosh past me. Then another. I watch the blades land into Briggs. Twisting my head briefly, a serious, focused Allette holds a fourth blade just at her shoulder. Ready to strike. Her precision is not a matter to be questioned.

But Briggs falls. Heavily. Allette sprints to catch me up as we shove at Kai and Silas. I land by Maxim’s side. His nose is bust and bleeding, the boots of his so–called friends have left vicious welts and cuts.

“Get the fuck away from him!” I scream. “Get back!”

Without thinking I reach into Briggs and yank out the blade lodged in his thigh, brandishing it towards Maxim’s former best friends. “He’s done nothing wrong! NOTHING!”

“Your best friend is dead and you think he’s innocent?” Silas growls.

“HE SAVED HER! Where were you when Isaac was beating the shit out of her? He’s the only one who reported it! He didn’t know everything would unravel this way. He wanted Isaac banished to the front and Irene safe.”

Kai pipes up, his green eyes flashing with anger. Looking around, sensing the judgement from a growing crowd. “What about Donlon? He’s been like a father figure-”

“And that’s enough to do this is it? What great things Donlon taught you! What about actual proof Kai? Or are you one of those the Alpha knows has misplaced loyalties?”

“Don’t go making accusations-”

“What, like, you? Where’s your proof dickhead? A shirt colour? You’re all snakes!” as Maxim groans in pain. My hands are stroking his cheek, getting smeared in blood but I don’t care. I just need to get him back to our room and care for him.

I’ve never exploded like this in my life. Usually everything stays inside, festering away to the point I cannot speak. But right now, I want to scream what Donlon was really up to. To assure the idiotic men who had shambled to the side that they were completely wrong. Allette helps, ripping the remaining two blades out of Briggs and kicking him over onto his back.

“Go! Take this fucker with you.”

Irene’s gifts can wait.

Silas and Kai help Briggs up, the three staggering away. Briggs is bleeding heavily down one leg. Allette grimaces, “Shit, that one in his leg was silver edged,” examining the blade in her hand. Meaning it might cause permanent damage.

Right now I don’t care. Not for a second. I told him today he was wrong about Maxim and he chose not to listen. Again. How many times do you overlook

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Chapter 53

someones wilful mistakes?

But tonight is not about our friends. “Maxim, look at me. I’m here. I’m here. With you.”

When he doesn’t immediately answer I shower his bloodied beard with kisses.

I get a groggy “Tess?” in response.

“It’s me. I’m here.”

The first drops of rain begin to fall. They hit the blood on his face, the cuts on his forehead, cheek and bust nose and start to form red tracks.

“You’ve got to go, you need to go. The rain…” he murmurs hazily. His hand reaches up for my face, purple bruising visible from where one of his friends stamped on him shattering my heart. His hand then flops down, his eyes shut.

He’s right. If I’m going to leave, then now is the time to strike. I should be gathering some food. Making up a rucksack of supplies. Tell Allette I’m going to practice archery for the next few hours. Make sure nobody is looking for me. Injured Maxim has a valid alibi before dawn. I could be hours ahead of trouble if I abandon him now.