The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 90

Chapter 90

TESSA POV

I should have been appalled at Maxim smashing up the men who insulted me. But I don’t think they’ll be the last ones. So perhaps it’s good to set the bar. Maybe people might just keep their opinions to themselves.

Because i seriously dislike being the centre of attention. I could feel my throat closing up and hands shaking just walking in.

Eating quietly together, I can see his mind is whirring too. Maybe he’s getting mind links from the gigantic Remy. He reminds me of a polar bear, hidden strength under thast gentle white exterior.

Perhaps Maxim is still struggling with Warden Marshall’s pride in him. With a tiny smile I wonder if he is panicking about Princess Hazel, Maybe he thinks I’m madly jealous. I don’t have the heart to tease him like that.

I know my mate. I know him better than I know myself right now.

Sat next to him, food finished, I run my hands over the thick chunky oak, the solid bench, nothing the blood red drapes that hang down from the dramatically vaulted ceiling.

“You picked a good place to sit. It’s more private, out of the way.”

“You picked it. With Irene,” he answers softly. “For those reasons.”

I hate how often I surprise myself, with myself. It’s disconcerting.

“I need to tell you something, before I get whisked away by Remy, are you okay talking here?”

I look around. Nobody is near us, even though other tables are filled with people. Some inevitably stealing looks our way. Rumors and truth will be filtering out across campus. Even so, it feels safe. I take his hand and nod. “Go for it.”

“You felt drawn to the exile grounds? The meadow and the cliffs? There is a reason for that. You were there as an infant. We’ll do some proper research but Alpha Hale told me that you were born into a family that roamed the mountains, claimed them as your own, separate to Ravenbow. Obviously Alpha Hale didn’t like that, so around twenty years ago…”

I can guess where this story heads. My face feels stonier by the second. Maxim tries so hard not to hurt me as he steadily fills in the blanks of my life. How my dark–eyed, copper–haired family were dumped off that cliff ledge. But that a few tried to get away. Carrying me with them, until that meadow, Until they were extinguished.

Only for the Darnells, a pair of ragged exiles, to take me with them. Closing my eyes my wolf swirls with confusion. I don’t know what is real and what is just blind, conjured hope. I can see the field, wildflowers and the cliffs. I can feel the sensation of being lifted, the distress and flailing and struggling.

“So…I’m going to guess there are none of my family left out there?”

“Hale guessed the Darnell’s took you in, hoping for a reward. You were their Contessa. Their little queen. It sounds like they did everything they could to get you out of Ravenbow.”

“Only for me to land straight back here,” I smile wanly. “What about my family, the other ones, the Darnells?”

“I would imagine they are dead now. Alpha Hale instructed some of the Wardens to go and destroy the entire village.”

I nod. Numbness taking over. That same unsettled feeling I got from looking at Maxim on the wrong side of the bed rises. There should be something inside me for the people who raised me from being an infant? But when I cannot even imagine their faces, is it worse to pretend?

“Tess? Are you okay with everything I’ve told you?”

I shuffle closer to him on the bench allowing him to quietly wrap his arm around my shoulder and hold me close. I keep my eyes closed, so that I can keep seeing those fields and cliffs.

1/4

Chapter 90

“I want to find out more.

*Then, I think I should take you to meet Princess Hazel. She’s been translating those notebooks, she’ll know where to find the pack’s history

It feels like I’ve started to strip away the happiness from our day. It started so perfectly. I couldn’t stop smiling, now I’m some huddled little wretch in his arms. He’s beaten up two men. I don’t want it to be like this.

“Tess, look at me,” Maxim whispers, tilting my chin upwards.

My vision is blurring with tears but I choke out. “I’m so happy, I promise you I am. I love you. You’re safe, But…”

Chiding me softly, “I’m not expecting you to be anyone but you.”

“Even if I’m quiet? Really quiet?”

“Don’t forget I loved you even when you were completely silent,” Maxim murmurs into the top of my head, planting a kiss into my copper waves. need time. Space, whatever, Just tell me.”

you

Ten minutes ago the noise, the stares and the chaos of the packhouse dining hall didn’t bother me. Now it feels oppressive. I’m sick of being looked at.

“Can we get out of here then…let’s see Princess Hazel, like Remy suggested.”

Maxims brow furrows. “You’re sure?”

“Yes. I promise,” brushing the tendrils of hair that keep curling annoyingly around my face behind my ear. Maxim keeps his arm around my shoulders. Like he’s guarding me, keeping me held together. Everything I need right now.

“Where is your leather jacket?”

“Oh, 1 pawned it.”

“Why?”

“For your parcel, last night. I know all the plans changed but there was food and money in there to get you through.”

I stop halfway through the dining hall and plant my lips on his. People around us watch with wide, judging eyes but I can’t help myself. I want to tell him how every kind gesture he does makes my heart feel bigger. Like it could take off and soar straight out of my chest.

But I don’t have his words so I just grab him to me instead and feel my pulse skip when he returns my affection, able to feel the smile on lips as I press mine back to his and stroke his increasingly bearded cheek.

The past can’t hurt me now. Or rather, 1 won’t let it.

Ascending the stairs Maxim quickly mutters, “She’s been struggling. She could be odd, sad, crying, angry…”

That was not sufficient preparation for what actually greeted me. Ascending to the royal bedroom suites, Maxim coughed awkwardly before knocking on a wooden door.

“FUCK OFF!” a sad, wretched voice screams. “I am to be left alone!”

“Erm…it’s Maxim?”

“FUCK OFF!”

“No seriously. I didn’t die. Tess is here with me too. Remy thought we should come and see you-” the door flying open and a madwoman scowls. Her head has been roughly shaved, a few cruel tufts of golden blonde suggesting what was once there.

Then she leapt on him like a wildcat. The fear in his face, looking at me helplessly is enough to almost pity him. Especially when Princess Hazel plants a huge kiss on his cheek. “I thought you were dead! I’ve cried over you! Damn you Maxim!”

Chapter 901

“Hazel, you might remember Tess? My mate? She saved me. Came up with a hell of an idea so when I fell I landed on this web of ropes.”

For once I keep my composure. I plant a sweet smile on my face and give a polite bow to the lunatic in the nightgown. There is nothing to fear from her.

I can easily imagine how stunning she once was when she turns to face me with her blue eyes filled with excitement. “Tessa, Tess…oh Goddess we need to become friends. Immediately!” before grabbing my hand and yanking me inside.

Her pale blue lair of scribbled pages, messy bedsheets and piles of books is quite a sight. Maxim follows, closing the door. He almost looks relieved when a huge, skulking tortoiseshell cat jumps up into his arms demanding attention.

“Pawful…you’ve gotten a lot fatter.”

“You weren’t feeding her enough!” Hazel snaps. I turn to look at Maxim, “What were you feeding her?”

“Chicken scraps once a day?” he shrugs.

Hazel and I shake our heads. “Fish, chicken! Twice a day!”

“Eggs too!”

“They can have fruit, pretty much anything.”

“I can only give Pawesome back now you’re here Tess,” Hazel scolds. “Although she has been good company.”

“I imagine Pawesome felt the same,” chancing a teasing glimpse back at my struggling mate.

Maxim raises an eyebrow. “Am I being ganged up on?”

Hazel raises her eyes with distinct ire. “Yes. Because you let me think you were dead. Awful. Awful of you Maxim-”

“I was kind of busy being relieved I hadn’t died to start posting updates around the pack?”

“I find your beautiful mate much nicer company right now. You can leave.” Hazel snaps, pointing at the door childishly. Maxim and I stare at each other, amusement twinkling.

“You can go to hell, I’ll tell you that for nothing,” he mutters under his breath.

“Go help my brother, I want to go through these notebooks with Tess.”

Maxim places the admittedly very plump, heavy furball onto my lap where it immediately abandoned me for Hazel and her bowl of treats. I stand up, both my hands in his and stare up into his amber, charged eyes.

I start. “I think you need to be with Remy, this is a big time for the pack.”

“It’s a bigger time for us,” Maxim grumbles. “I’m not picking this place over you.”