The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79

TESSA POV

The dank red light hanging above the doorway was the brightest thing about the place, instead of seductive allure, Camiliar smelling erfo weaved throughout its threadbare, planked walls.

When Maxim said whorehouse, 1 had imagined something bawdier. Maybe with music blaring, the illusion of fun and games. Especially beca ne it wi Maxim. I could imagine him regaling a packed bar with stories, winking and charming his way to anything he might like.

When he’s really trying to impress or make my toes curl with blatant longing he has a flashier, full smile: Still gorgeous and handsome. But the casual little grin that I catch on his face, when he thinks I’m not peering, is the one that ties a rope tighter around my heart.

He said he had a short beard before. Goddess how on earth did we only sleep together the one time? We shared a bed for goodness sake!

I must have truly been gut–wrenchingly shy, terrified or beyond believing it could ever end in anything but disaster.

Maxim, with those broad, seizing shoulders and expressive features conjures up life and happiness. He’s the warm, fiery centre my wolf years to curl up closer to.

This place is the absolute opposite of that feeling. The middle–aged woman has no time for me, bustling past, opening a door to a private parlour with a steaming bowl of cabbage–scented soup.

“He’s paid me nothing so don’t think I’m rolling out the red carpet treatment.”

I doubt they’d even have a carpet fit to walk on, but I bite my tongue.

Her long, navy skirts bristle from being worn so long I fear they are permanently creased into one shape. When the door closes, another shape appears at the other end of the gloomy corridor.

A scrawny brunette with a bobbed haircut too severe for her gentle face. A dress that reminds me of my own burnt orange nightmare. Knowing that she has had her hands upon Maxim has my blood practically foaming.

Her eyes are a gentle, pale green, a colour that gives my wolf a little startle for

Some reason.

“There is a spare bed in my room,” she whispers.

I keep my face neutral. This is not where I want to be staying. I follow her up silently. Two double beds, each at opposite ends of the room, a headboard against each wall, the mattresses sagging with age. In the middle, a mahogany vanity unit with a lantern and a scuffed mirror.

“Sorry we disturbed you.”

“Oh it’s fine, I just relieved it was him again,” she answers, opening a cupboard and offering me a set of fresh sheets. Together we strip my bed down, my pulls a little rougher than she deserves. The word ‘again‘ tugs painfully at me.

Then my wolf reminds me I’ll be leaving here. This isn’t my life. This girl was woken up at midnight and it could have been any kind of sadist. The image of that long, tall, wet–lipped rebel sprung to mind and all the heat ebbs away from my ribcage.

Her thin voice is the one brave enough to break the silence.

“He told me about you.”

“He did?”

“A little. He was really upset when he came here a few days ago. You were the girl who used to bite him?”

“Turns out we’re mates…Second–chance.” I answer while roughly plunging a flat pillow into its new case.

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Chapter 79

oh wow! that’s nice, really nice, ghing me a sweet anvile, minus het pointed inercors and a few bottom beath Due donde habe her with rude questions, fait then I am dying to know more

She is a whole new person in my limited world.

“How did you end up here, are you…safe?” my eyes flitting down to her neck and wrists, checking for signs cher’s Bean Barined in any mer

“Oh I’m a lot safer now! Absolutely. And…truthfully nobody really comes here. I’ll probably never repay my debt to Mrs Braithes. But it’s better than the

mines.

That’s where you’re from?”

“I was. Then I was a healer at Ravenbow. Then…well a lot happened but it ended up that I was exiled about the task at hand. She is so quiet, so meek. Her green eyes catch the lantern and my wolf is giving me a weird

“Exiled? But your wolf!”

She nods sadly. “That’s why I was happy to bite your guy, I could bite him and not taint him permanently.”

“You’re so close to Ravenbow! Being discovered!“.

two years ago.” She keeps her eyes down to

se of deja vu

“Because I’m a glutton for punishment?” she answers with a wry grin. “That’s what Mrs Braithes tells me anyway. The other option is to be out there with those rebels. I think…I’d like to get some sleep now.”

She has no desire to answer any more questions and I don’t even know her name.

I lie awake. Listening to the fake sounds of her sleeping, all heavy breathing and snuffling under the covers. Then I realise I should have asked her about exile. About the deja vu?

And most importantly, about the meadow, the meaning of those cliffs and what I might be getting to see when I make my journey. I cannot shut my eyes.

Not from excitement, it’s swirling, almost nauseating confusion.

What can the cliffs possibly tell me about myself that is worth risking leaving Maxim a second time? But would not going there eat away at me forever?

My fists bunch the fresh bedding.

With a low groan I sit up and start untwisting my hair, blaming the thick braids in the flat pillow for my insomnia.

“I’m sorry for clamming up on you before,” my roommate speaks. “I got nervous.”

I knew she wasn’t asleep.

“It’s totally fine,” I whisper back. “I do really need to know something though.”

“You want to know what happens here, how many men, how I survive it? My teeth?”

“No! Well I mean, I wondered but no. I got deja vu talking to you. Have we met before?”

“No,” sounding confused.

“Thank you. You must remind me of someone I know then. I’ve got some…memory issues at the moment.”

“Oh.”

“I’m Tessa by the way.”

“Daff.”

Chapter 79

Gritting my teeth, I push the conversation forward, talking softly into the pitch black room. “If you wanted to leave, I could try to help. Or come back at money to pay off any debts you bas”

“You’re kind. But Mrs. Braithes is pretty cunning. So far, the deed has only happened a few times. Normally she manages to get them drunk, beslu something sleepy in their snacks. It’s not the life I wanted…but.. it’s not forever. When the war is over I’ll try and leave.”

“I’m so sorry you were exiled. It sounds awful. You don’t have that awful scent the men seem to get?”

“I think i’m lucky my wolf is just miserable and not angry. It just feels very dark. Trapped, I guess would be the way to describe it?

In the darkness I can see that damn mountainside clear as day.

The two sides, green and white. Without realising I sink into a heavy sleep. Those colours dance and sway. Bright, cornflower blue skies dance with flowering grassland. Asleep I can smell the earthy dew on the wildflowers.

Voices bounce around. None I recognise but they call my name. Male, female, caring and kind. Then harsher, brasher. Then the scents change. It’s all fire and smoke. The freshness of the meadow is swallowed up by cries and sobs.

By the time I wake up my body is drenched in sweat. The bath one of the two women prepared for me has long gone cold. I take it without complaint. scrubbing vicously, praying I don’t smell like the foul, greasy rebels.

Taking my time I repair and seperate my tangled, doomed copper locks.

New underwear and a plain, cotton dress hung next to my boots, waiting for me when I get out. Only then do I realise almost the entire day has vanished. I’ve slept the day away.

All I can do now is wait for Maxim. He promised. Help me in this deranged mission back into danger.

I nervously pick at a meal with the two women. As the sun sets she starts a fire in the parlour and a chicken cooked a few too many days ago in bread is offered. But it fills me.

Staring down at the pulled white flesh, it gives me a creeping feeling. The same as the deja vu I experienced seeing Daff’s pale green eyes.

Maybe my mind is starting to slowly heal Or the screws are getting scarily looser.

Mrs Braithes watches me and tuts, her lips pursed so tight a slew of wrinkles appeared. I eat the chicken and stop pondering it’s mental significance with

a blush.

“So he’s your mate?” she snaps quickly.

“He is.”

“But you’re here and not with him?”

“Yes.”

“When he returns? You’re going with him then?”

“No I have to find this place-

“The worlds gone fucking mad,” the older woman decides firmly. When I open my mouth to speak I catch Daff’s wide–eyed expression, silently insisting! stay quiet. “Absolutely insane!” she repeats.

Watching the fire my mind ticks over.