The truth about him

(Renee's POV)

Gasps of shock filled the grand pack hall as Bane delivered blow after blow, on the man, that for a moment I feared he would kill him. His fists were landing with brutal precision. The scent of blood thickened in the air, and for a moment, I  was stunned to see Bane in such a position;

I had never seen Bane like this before. For all the years we’d been mated, not once had I witnessed him lose control, let alone engage in a physical fight.

His golden Alpha eyes glowed with fury, his claws slightly extended, his chest heaving. His hair was disheveled, and one of the buttons of his shirt had been ripped off, exposing the taut muscles beneath. He looked wild and dangerous.

Regaining composure, I screamed at the people who stood on the side, watching two men fight without making any move to stop them. "Stop them!" I commanded.

But no one moved; it seemed like they were all scared to offend Bane.

"Are you all deaf? Stop them, please!" My voice wavered as I took in the sight of the man on the ground, his face bloodied and bruised, while Bane stood over him, barely affected. He looked okay, save for his missing shirt button, scattered hair, and rumpled shirt.

When no one made any move, I had to resort to the only option I had, even if it was a stupid and dangerous thing to do. Without a second thought, I lunged myself at the two men, using my body as a barrier.

That was all it took to stop Bane. He paused, his claws retracted slightly as his burning gaze locked onto mine, his chest heaving up and down.

"Move, Renee. I don’t want to hurt you." His voice was deep, raw with restrained rage.

"Exactly! I know you would never hurt me, and that's why I'm not moving an Inch", I lifted my chin, standing firm. "Stop this madness, Bane. Please, let him be."

"That bastard laid his hands on you," Bane snarled, his muscles tensing. "I’m going to kill him."

"Well he wouldn't have, if you hadn't ditched me at a party you brought me to!" I yelled, before I could stop myself. Murmurs rose in the air, as the now seemed more interested in Bane's and my fight than the one they refused to separate.

Bane made to say something but was interrupted by the voice of the man behind me, if not that now, he was no longer behind him. He had stepped away, although he kept a safe distance from Bane.

"I see you've not changed, Bane," the man said with a smirk, as he spat out a thick lump of blood. I winced at the sight, and looked away.

"You still the same wild beast we all knew in our youth. Not even your Alpha title could tame you." The man continued, his voice a taunting note.

Bane's golden eyes flared with anger. “Shut up, Denzel. You’re still the same pathetic excuse for a wolf, always sniffing around what belongs to me. What are you, huh? Some guy with a low self esteem that can't bag his own women?"

A muddled look appeared on my face as I stared from each man to the other. And then it dawned on me that this fight had nothing to do with Denzel dancing with me, these two are sworn enemies from the past, who had not yet buried the hatch.

Denzel scoffed. “Because you claim everything as yours, don’t you? Including the people you neglect.”

My heart twisted at his words.

What was he implying?

"You're" Denzel made to say but I cut him short.

"Shut up, please! For someone who was badly beaten, your tongue is still as sharp as a two edged sword. That's my mate you're disrespecting, and if you go on, I'll let him finish you up."

This time, the hall was erupted in louder gasps and whispers. And I realised it was because I had addressed Bane as my mate. I lowered my face in sadness, realizing i was in a room filled with people who didn't even know me as the wife of the man I was defending.

“Tell me, Renna,” Denzel turned to me, his expression darkly amused. “How does it feel to be mated to an Alpha who refuses to acknowledge you?”

I flinched.

The pack hall fell eerily silent. My stomach twisted painfully as I realized why.

No one, no one ...was rushing to defend me.

Because I was right. I was in a room full of people who didn’t even recognize me as their Alpha’s mate.

Denzel gave me one of his mocking and annoying smile. "You see? Everyone is whispering because they don't know you as Bane's mate. "You arrived with your mate, yet he didn’t introduce you. He didn’t stand by your side. But look... he was more comfortable with another woman" He asked, pointing to Sofia.

I followed his finger to look at Sofia who was now standing protectively beside Bane  I scoffed; where was she when the two men were fighting and I had to risk my safety to get them away from each other? l guess she only plays safe.

I clenched my fists, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Denzel’s smirk widened. "You have nothing to say because you know I’m right. Nicholas doesn’t care about anyone but himself. And if he ever truly cared about someone, it sure as hell wasn’t you. It has to be her," Denzel said, pointing at Sofia again.

I blinked, trying not to dwell on his words, but they just won't go away. Maybe because the seed of doubt had been sown in my head.

"Denzel!" Nicholas growled menacingly. "I will kill you, man."

But Denzel didn't budge. He only gave Bane a knowing smile and continued talking to me. "Do you think he came to fight me because he was jealous another man has his hand on his mate?

“No. He did it because another wolf touching his Luna is an insult to his ego, not because he loves you.”

My breath hitched.

Was that true?

Bane didn’t deny it.

Denzel’s voice dropped lower, but it was clear, deliberate. “He might not have cared if it had been someone else. But me? He would never tolerate me touching what he thinks is his.”

"Why?" I blurted.

My curiosity was piqued now and I wanted answers, I wanted to know what Denzel knew about Nicholas that I didn't.

"Because we're not in good terms."

Finally, he admitted it. I was right after all; Nicholas and Denzel had an unresolved conflict between them.

"You see, Bane and I never got along because I was the only one who stood up to him. Because his parents were upper class werewolves, he felt the world revolved around him and he could boss anyone around. He would scare off anyone guy who came close to Sofia even if their intentions were platonic -"

"That's enough, Denzel!" Sofia suddenly snapped, her face pale.

"Oh, is it?" Denzel asked.

"Let's leave, Nicholas. Come on," Sofia said and pulled at his arm.

Bane hesitated, glared at Denzel, and with a look at me that I couldn't decipher, he walked off with Sofia. I was rooted to the spot for a moment, as murmurs rose in the air. And with my head lowered in embarrassment, I walked out too.

Phew! So much for a party.