The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Chapter 60

MAXIM POV

If I could change anything it would have been risking a lantern inside the carriage. All het instead of searing into my memory.

stunning curves and soft edges I had to explore with touch

Striding through the the thunderous rain and low–hanging branches 1 luxiuriate in the last hour just a little longer.

My hands occasionally touched that fool’s blemish by accident. I’m starting to be fine with it being down there by her hip. It means her collarbone is free for me to adore, suck and nip. More dangerously, free for me to imagine staking my own bite there one day.

It would be a symbol, nothing more, but fuck, to see her wear my bite with pride, a smile playing about that coy little face of hers would leave me useless.

I’m glad she didn’t try to say anything else after we headed to the second carriage. There was nothing left in my throat. I’ve been vulnerable and honest with her, but I’m not crying.

To be seen so completely is terrifying. She was correct too, I was trying to put her and our night into a safe little rental compartment. If i fucked her, as regularly as every other woman, it could be just another encounter. It wouldn’t be falling deeper in love.

Reduce it’s specialness, so her parting hurt less. A cowards act.

I tried it, because her sinking herself down upon me the first time, was fucking breathtaking. Not just the tight, hot, squeezing bliss of her body around mine. My bite heating up, my wolf crying out in my head that she is the one. The one that isn’t mine.

Instead I got myself together. Stopped being a coward and made love to her. How Tess deserves. Well, she doesn’t deserve a train carriage floor but she got all of me. Every heartbeat, breath and thought. Slowly, painstakingly building us up together. Her thighs quivering against my hips as she slowly lost all control. Squeezing around me, her hard nipples brushing against my chest.

She called me unique. The label is all hers. There are more than enough dickhead soliders about. There is only one of her. Feisty, brave, quiet and worried. Beautiful, sweet and kind mixed in there too. A backbone too.

She has looked at everything and even though it’s going to hurt she has made the choice to leave out of sense and rationale.

Rubbing my bearded jaw, I’m nervous. My biggest ever lie is fast approaching. Clutching the tightly–wrapped bundle of her clothing I return to the archery fields. Only then do I open the package. If everything went wrong and the pack started hunting for her, the trail stops at the archery targets.

Nobody would be surprised at hearing she was out here tonight, even in this weather.

I’m going to argue I was in bed. I’d left her to stalk off to practice after a disagreement, like so many times before.

It’s fine if I carry a little of Tess’s scent on my body. Of course I will. We’re mates after all. The thought has a bitter tang, my face twisting.

Constantly checking and sniffing the air, there shouldn’t be a soul awake in Ravenbow to spot me. My only doubt is Warden Marshall. Now I know how he lurks, he poses a real risk.

Scrambling up the grassy knoll I must trust in the black of my clothing. Then, avoiding the crunching gravel I sprint along the grassy border of the path

towards the cliffs.

I’m completely soaked. As relieved as I am to be out of the rain, inside the cliffs narrow opening reveals a new issue. My feet are huge in comparison to

hers.

I walk on my tiptoes, ensuring to shake and squeeze the damp pile of Tessa’s clothing in my hand to ruin any damp footprints. After a few metres my boots are dry enough to not bother obscuring anymore.

Feeling my way in the darkness I am grateful to run into a lantern before I accidentally wander against a low balcony and hurtle into the vo myself. Gritting my teeth I silently wind my way upwards. All the way to the Royal compartment, out onto the very ledge Irene stood upon.

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Chapter 60

The single lantern casts long, ghoulish shadows around the empty, gray cylinder. Rain falls straight down the empty space. It is haunting to see it fall but not hear it land, simply vanishing into the hellish void below.

I especially dislike how close the blackness is to my feet. In the daylight there is at least fifty metres distance below.

Cautiously, I place the pile of Tessa’s clothes on the edge, like she’s sat on the edge, swinging her legs. I’m waiting for a flock of bats or Warden Marshall’s voice to cut through the silence and scare the shit out of me.

After a minute, kneeling onto my leather jacket, I take out an arrow head and start scratching onto the ledge. I’m not trying to get handwriting awards. Cutting myself, I hiss and watch as a few drops of my blood spatter onto the gray slate below, filling in the words ominously.

Okay, it kind of works better that way.

I’m not foolish enough to linger. I don’t want my scent to dominate the environment. I can be a hint but nothing more. With a quick push, Tess’s soaked bundle of clothes tumbles over. The arrow head goes next. I leave the lantern behind.

It can slowly burn out of fuel and extinguish by itself. The last remnant of my mate before she plunged.

The idea is sickening but in a way that’s good. It will be convincing. As soon as I get back outside I sprint, skirting along the grassy edges of the packhouse I race back to Block E.

Closing the door softly there is nothing to do but strip off and lie on the bed, chest heaving. Pawesome jumps upon my stomach, claws readied. I should have threatened to put that cat into the train with her.

He meows loudly. Or she. I never bothered to ask.

Guilt hits me. Why didn’t I ask? Why didn’t I get to know more about the animal she and Irene put so many hours into caring for? When the black and gold bundle curls up onto Tessa’s pillow, green eyes judging I can only whisper. “I miss her too. You’re stuck with me now.”

There is no sleep. Adrenaline has me. Opening the bedroom window I listen for any sign of the train.

There is the faint squeal of its wheels on the air, she’s on her way. Concealed. Safe. Ready to start afresh. Pacing the floor, I’m completely fucked.

/Maxim, you awake?/ comes through on the mindlink and I yelp into an empty room.

What is Remy doing awake at this time? Do I answer? It is three hours until the dawn bell goes. It’s a new day, maybe I should try to make this fresh start include not lying to the Prince on a regular basis.

/I’m awake. Do you need anything, Your Highness?/

/Where are you?/

/Just my room. Had a row with Tessa. She went to the archery range. I can’t‘ sleep until she comes back./

Would she be upset if you spoke to Hazel?/

/Is she okay?/

/She won’t talk to any of us. I can’t think of any other friend she has or trusts…I know you weren’t exactly friends in that way, but I think you might be able to help her. She’s really struggling./

I thin my lips. Hazel is sweet but she’s never known a day’s difficulty in her gaudy, charmed life. Irene and Donton must have been her first up–close Cliff attendances.

/I’ll come and see you before breakfast, I can call in on her then, try and make it seem like I’m not purposely checking in on her./

/Thanks Maxim. I hope you and Tessa work it out./

/She’ll come back when she’s fired enough arrows at my imaginary face/ I joke. It feels hollow. Because I am now. Lifting my arms, I fold them against the

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Chapter 60

cold brick wall and bury my face from the world. A brutal shiver racks my body from head to los

I allow myself to think it one time. Just the once.

I should have gone with Tess. I’should have left.

That is it. The mask goes up and I shower, dress and smarten my miserable self up.

1 head out before the dawn bell, the appropriate time for me to run around in panic looking for Tess. Knocking on Allette’s door I endure a flurry of curses, her door opening just a crack.

Her gray eyes scowl at me. “Maxim?”

“Tess didn’t come back last night. Did she stay with you?”

“No, shit…what about Irene’s old room?”

“Tried the one in Block E?”

“One minute,” Allette murmurs She guides me down the corridors before we test Irene’s old door. Nothing.

Lying I say, “Shit, Prince Remy is mindlinking me.”

Allette places her hand on my shoulder. “I’ll check Archery and the packhouse. Maybe she went straight for breakfast.”

“What’s happened?” a familiar voice asks. I turn and see Silas long, golden mane of frazzled hair.

followed us down the corridor in a state of undress. A pair of tracksuit bottoms and a

“Tess is missing,” Allette states.

“Well, no. Not missing. She just didn’t come home, she’ll be somewhere,” I correct. “Shit I’ve got to go,” pointing a fake gun to my head.

“We’ll get looking. Tell the Warden’s too. She might have sheltered somewhere outdoors and fallen asleep?” Silas asks. Nobody mentions him kicking the shit out of me. I guess we’ll get to that.

Within minutes I am inside the Royal tower, specifically the de–butterflied blue parlour next to a shuddering Princess Hazel. Still in her nightgown, blue eyes red and exhausted. I know how she feels as she ignores a hot cup of coffee.

She holds my hand tight. “My father is a monster.”

“He’s the Alpha.”

“It’s broken everything. Everything. He won’t look at my mother. He says I’ve betrayed him, talking to him up on the cliff. But what else could I do!! promised her!”

She wept and told me how she swore to Irene she could have a career making jewellery for the Royal family, a life away from Isaac, her full support in rejecting him.