CHAPTER 156: A Mate, Forgotten
RHEA
Kovas and I rid of the man’s body in the woods, burying it deep in the dirt. The rain does its part and hides the scent, the trail. It’s unlikely that anyone will know.
“Oh,” Kovas laughs as he finishes with his shovel, “This is just ironic.”
“Why?” I ask as I shove the things back into the trunk of the car.
“First Aron, and now this–you.”
“What about me?” I look at him.
He leans back against the car, arms crossing over his chest. “You’re supposed to be different. And yet here you are, killing someone like he would.”
“I did die.”
“Yes, yes, you did.” He nods, and it feels like he’s judging me, but not. “I guess that made all the difference.”
He chuckles once more, lowly, before getting inside the car. I brush off the dirt from the coat before following him in. The heater is switched on to the highest setting yet it feels so cold.
“I’m not the same. I mean–I feel different, better, but not the same.” I say as I close the door. “Does it bother you?” My gaze lingers over him.
Kovas looks up, and his gaze meets mine for a moment before falling back to the wheel. “Me? Not so much. But Aron, yes. He won’t probably recognise you now.”
“Is that a bad thing?” I raise my brow at him.
He shakes his head and shrugs, “I’m not so sure.”
And with that, he starts driving. It’s midday, but the clouds have covered up most of the sun. The drive back to the territory will take an hour, or slightly more.
I’ve gotten what I came for in the village, some herbs, a vial of silverdust, and a handful of poisons that would ruin even the strongest wolf from the inside out. The witches there are willing to give anything for a price.
I flick the radio on, low, just enough to drown out the silence. Kovas keeps his eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel as we slip out of the village and back onto the open highway.
We don’t talk much after that, even when I can hear the questions running in his head.
Am I even her anymore? Am I still Rhea or just what’s left? Am I going to survive this, or burn everything down with me first? Is there some kind of madness within me as there was with Aron?
We reach town late, around four.
The town’s square is crowded as usual with the wolves and their families, with their kids and their mates.
“How is it like?” I ask Kovas, breaking the silence. “To be an Alpha?”
“Strange.” He answers, “Different. I don’t like the feeling. Aron was always better at handling these things. And this is not something that I had prepared for.”
“What do you think will happen when Aron is back?” My voice goes a little lower. “Released?”
“I’m not really sure what he wants. I can’t tell.”
“But you have an idea? Don’t you? About bringing his wolf back? The same way I got mine after I was poisoned.” My hand brushes through the air, gesturing in a circle, “Killed.”
“I’ve offered the option to him. But he hasn’t taken it yet.” He takes a turn on the road. “He’s still thinking, or maybe he doesn’t want to anymore.”
There must be some kind of peace that comes when a wolf dies within you, especially a wolf like Kael. Who didn’t know mercy, and was a killer at his very core. Aron had the taste for power. But Kael had the thirst for blood first and then power. That was the whole reason I killed him. But now…
“Perhaps I made the wrong decision,” I say softly, and I mean it.
“Perhaps. He’s different, but he’ll get over it. Aron “I hope so.”
Wirnata, with or without Kael. He always does.” Successfully unlocked!
We reach the driveway of the house where Kovas halts his car. We both step out and head inside, into the warmth of the
manor.
“Are you settling in fine?” He questions as he takes a glass out of the cupboard. “Marcella tells me you’ve been out on runs
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CHAPTER 156: A Mate, Forgotten
often. Is that so?”
“Yes.” I take a seat at the counter. “I’m getting familiar with it all. With my wolf, and with myself. It’s all new for me.”
“And how is your wolf?”
“She–she’s good.”
Before we speak anymore, we’re interrupted by Marcella, who rushes inside the lounge where we are. At first, I believe it’s for lunch that I’ve missed, but then I see the terror on her face.
It’s something else.
“What is it?” Kovas asks her.
“It’s-” she looks at me. “You shouldn’t have come back now.”
“Why?”
“Cade Vos, the councilman, he’s here and he’s insisting on seeing you.” She tells Kovas. “He’s suspecting that Rhea isn’t dead as everyone else believes and wants to talk with you about it.”
“Fuck.” Kovas mutters under his breath. “Where is he now?”
“In the guest room.”
“He can’t see her.” Kovas points his hand over at me. “He’ll report to the Council.”
“And if you deny that she’s alive, they’ll–he’ll only suspect further.” She adds.
They’re both right.
“I’ll go see him,” I suggest and stand back up on my feet. Their faces twist with surprise. “It’s the best option. If he’s already here and looking, then he must know. It’s better if I see him and explain. He won’t tell the council if I ask him not to.” “No, that’s mad!” Kovas exclaims. “We should make him leave.”
“It will be alright,” I reassure him. I know Cade, and I know that he works for the council, but he will listen to me, and he won‘ t tell them about me if I don’t want him to. “Just let me talk to him.”
Marcella takes a step toward me, “It might not work, Rhea. If he’s here already, then that means he’s looking for a way to tell them about it.”
Kovas nods, “She isn’t wrong. They’re going to see you as a potential risk. They don’t know what magic created you when you died, they don’t know what you’re capable of, or how dangerous you might become to them. They’re going to do everything they can to kill you, Rhea. And they’ll not wait.”
“I know, I know,” I repeat, my heart racing a little at the thought of being killed all over again. “But I’m not telling them. I’m only telling Cade. He’s my mate.”
“Who you rejected…” he reminds me.
“It doesn’t matter.” I shake my head. “I’m still his mate, and he will not betray me. He’ll keep it a secret, I’m sure of it.”
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