28

***RIO.***

I glance back at Eric as the Alpha King carries Isberlt towards the packhouse, still very much in his wolf form. He's refused to let anyone else grab hold of her, and the sudden possessiveness intrigues me.

Glaring at the wolves that scream in agony at our feet, I shake my head as bitterness fills me.

I can't believe Katniss set this up.

I know that woman is up to no good, but doing this to her? For what exactly? Because she's in a lower position than her, and can barely defend herself?

"Do you think we should take them away?" I ask Eric, who finally turns his attention back to me. Looking at the wolves, he shakes his head and says, "No, we shouldn't. They had no right to attack a defenceless wolf. They might be my family, but this... We will never tolerate it. They will suffer for what they have done; along with their Queen that set up this evil scheme. "

Nodding, I glance at him with my brows lifted and my arms crossed against my chest, and he cocks his brows; questioning my gesture.

"You know they are mates, don't you?"

He looks confused for a second, but when I jerk my head towards where Theodore took off with Isberlt, realization covers his features, and he chuckles.

"He made it pretty obvious. Didn't he?"

He asks, and I shake my head, suddenly finding interest in the dried grasses that scrunch beneath my boot.

"I didn't. Not until he mentioned the connection. How could I have when he acted so cold towards her? And even declared her a slave. Why will he do that to his mate?"

Eric shrugs, his gaze moving behind me, and he hisses through his teeth; striding towards the wolves.

"I forgot these fuckers were with us!" He snaps, grabbing hold of one. "If you mention a word of anything you just heard to anyone, you'll be dead. I promise you, I will know, and I'll find you, and I'll kill you. "

Scared for their life, and knowing he's an Alpha that doesn't go back on his words; they nod, and he lets go of the man.

"Head back to the packhouse, and wait for your punishment. I promise you're never getting out of this. "

They all glance at each other in their naked forms, their hands covering their cock, and I can't help the laugh that slips through my lips at the fact that it scare these fuckers to be seen naked when their lives are literally on the line.

"Now!" Eric growls, and they are quick to get on their feet, running towards the packhouse with their cocks dangling between their thighs; making them the more hilarious.

"Is he going to reject her?"

I ask Eric when the wolves are clearly out of sight, and he sighs before resting against the tree, one leg placed against it.

"He will not do that. It'll drive him insane from the inside, and you know that. An Alpha like Theodore rejecting his wolf will not only make him mentally unstable, but his wolf will fight against him because, as far as I know, his inner wolf is drawn to her. "

"So he's going to accept her then?"

Eric meets my gaze with a chuckle, shaking his head. "He will not do that either. Theodore is stubborn, and he will not accept the girl whose mother..." He's quick to stop, as if catching himself before letting the words slip through, and I cock my brows at him, drawing closer.

The girl whose mother...? Is there something else about this that I do not know?

"Her interaction with the humans isn't the only reason he hates her, is it? There's something more? Something deeper? Something... More personal?"

He grabs hold of my shoulder, gripping the skin, and my eyes move to the contact before moving back to meet his gaze.

"Why are you so concerned about this? Are you secretly in love with Isberlt or something?" He laughs, and I jerk his hand off my shoulder, my heart pounding against my chest.

"What? Of course, I'm not!" The words come out harsher than I intended, and Eric raises his hands in surrender.

"Okay, calm down Captain. I was joking; I know you know better than to fall for the Alpha King's woman—rejected or not. " *I should. I do.*

"We should head back. I don't think I want to miss Katniss finally getting the punishment she deserved. "

Eric winks, and I shake my head with a laugh.

"I'll meet you soon. I'll just take a patrol of the borders again. "

He nods, and heads towards the direction of the packhouse while I take his earlier position against the tree; my fingers digging through my hair as a long sigh slips through my lips.

What have you done, Rio?

***THEODORE.***

I let out a sigh I didn't realize I was holding as I glance at a very unconscious Isberlt on my bed.

"Are you okay?"

Eric questions, his hand on my shoulder as his gaze moves down to Isberlt, and I shake my head, letting out a sigh before resting against the chair.

"I'm not, Eric. To be honest, I'm not okay. I don't know what I would have done if she had gotten hurt. "

"I thought you didn't care. "

I meet his gaze, and he's smirking at me; cocking his brows.

*Mother-fucking bastard!*

"Please don't even start on that, Eric. "

I groan, dragging my palm down my face, and he raises his hand in surrender, saying, "I'm not starting anything. I'm just reminding you of what a fool you are to think you can hate your mate. And what? Ignore your desire for her forever? Common Theo, I know you're smarter than all these. "

"I didn't plan on ignoring her forever. "

I tell him, and he lifts his brows at me, questioning me. "Then what were you going to do? You will not reject her, *will you*?"

I groan, shaking my head as my troubled mind races through so many thoughts than I can handle.

I do not fucking know! I do not know what I want to do with her!

What I know is that I'm *never* letting her get hurt again. Not under my watch.

"You need to let go of the past and embrace the present, Theo. That's the only way you can have peace of mind. Forget what happened and embrace your mate. "

"You of all people know better than to tell me to fucking let go of the past!" I snap, standing up to him with my fingers poking his chest, and Eric looks down his chest before lifting his eyes to meet my gaze, scoffing.

"You want her, don't you?" He jerks his head towards an unconscious Isberlt, and I sigh, taking the seat again. "Theo, I know you want her. You can lie to everyone else, and even yourself, but you can never lie to me. Despite your acclaimed hatred for her, I can feel your desire burning for her, and I know that desire keeps getting stronger the more she turns out to differ from what you thought of her to be. She's everything you need in a mate, and even better. Are you seriously going to allow a mistake from the past that wasn't even her fault to destroy that? To destroy the beautiful connection you could have with this woman?"

*She's everything you need in a mate, and even better.*

I know he's right. He's always so fucking right.

Isberlt... She's a powerful woman. Even at her weakest points; she never gives up. She never stops fighting. She never stops looking for a way to make it.

Just like earlier.

She had a mild number of powerful wolves against her, but she didn't *stop* fighting.

Even when her back was to the ground, and it seems pointless to continue; this woman never *stopped.*

All these without her wolf, and it truly makes me wonder. How much more powerful will this woman be with her wolf by her side?

"Let's forget about that, okay? I'm exhausted, and I need to punish the one who planned this. Get me Katniss, drag her here if you have to. "

He nods, taking one last look at Isberlt before walking out the door, and I cross my arms against my chest, leaning against the chair to take it in the gorgeous sight before me.

*Why does it have to be you?*

I watch as her eyelids slowly flutter open, and her gaze moves to the ceiling; her chest rising and falling.

She groans, sits up on the bed, and flinches when her gaze settles on me.

**Mate.** Aztec growls within me, and it takes everything I have to not run towards her, and take her into my hands; *inhaling her scent*.

"Are you okay?" I question her, and she nods slowly; seeming unsure of herself.

Her gaze moves down to the t-shirt she's putting on, and I stride towards her; taking a seat beside her.

"I changed you into that. " I mutter, and her eyes go wide — her cheeks turning a bright shade of red.

"What?" she croaks, staring down at herself. "You... You changed me into these?"

Realising how that sound; I groan, mentally hitting myself.

"You don't have to worry. I didn't look. " God! That sound even worse! But I don't know how else to say it? In a moment of anger, and feeling quite possessive; I didn't think of calling Heather to change her into new clothes. I just did it.

"I mean, I saw a bit of skin..." She flinches, her hands moving to cover her chest, and I chuckle silently at the silly act. "I did nothing, Isberlt. You don't have to worry. "

She seems unsure for some seconds, and when she realizes what she's doing; her hands fall down her chest, laying beside her instead.

"Why did you even try to fight that?" I question with a shake of my head, and she lifts her brows at me, as if she does not believe I just asked that.

"What should I have done then? Stay still, and let them do whatever they want?"

"They would get what they want, either way, Isberlt. Whether or not you put on a fight. "

I shrug, and she nods. "And I prefer trying to fight my way through than accepting fate. "

*She's everything you need in a mate, and even better.*

Silence descends in the air; a very comfortable silence as my gaze remains on her, and hers on mine.

She clears her throat, breaking the silence before saying, "You know who did it?"

I nod with a sigh, "Katniss."

"You don't have to worry. She won't be a problem anymore. You can change into some clothes and get fed; your presence will be required before the council later. "

I tell her, and she nods, staring down at the shirt.

"Of course, I don't mean you should take that off now. You can go change in your room, Isberlt. "

At those words, she lifts her head to meet my eyes; a small smile gracing her features, and adding a light glow to her face.

*She's everything you need in a mate, and even better.*

Why can't I stop thinking about that! Fuck!

"Before this, I was running an analysis on the Sera, and I think I came up with something. According to the..."

"We will talk about this later, Isberlt. For now, you need to get fed. "

She nods, and starts rising from the bed, and without thinking; my hand shoots out to grab hold of her wrist when she moves down.

"Where do you think you're going?"

She gives me a quizzical look, tilting her head. "You said to get fed and change into proper clothes. I need to go do that. "

"Is there a problem with doing those here?"

I question, with a lift of my brows, and her eyes move across the room, before settling on my gaze with a nod.

"What's the problem?" God, why am I acting so fucking possessive?

"Um..." she says, her eyes moving down to my grip on her wrist. "You?"

I let go of her wrist, raising to hover before her.

"I will have Heather bring your clothes and food. "

I tell her, turning away without another word.

*She's everything you need in a mate, and even better.*

**Fuck you, Eric.**

*Author's note: So who's your favourite character so far? Drop those thoughts, sweethearts!*