Chapter Twenty

After hours of running, with my many breaks, my legs were on fire and felt like jello. I managed to hide my scent though. I didn't even know I could do that. Wolves can't even hide theirs without some sort of spray. I'm not going to complain though. It's been at least a day since I ran away. I didn't realize how far away the border was, I guess 30 miles is a long run when you're just a human.. or whatever I am.

Trixie was lost in her own thoughts. She managed to climb a tree and has been up there for the past few hours. She heard men approaching her and needed to hide, she wasn't sure who the men were until they started calling out her name. *Kane must have sent them to look for me.* Trixie just scoffed. *As if I'll go back there! I may have put up with being abused but I refuse to stay with a lying, cheating mate!*

Trixie still had plans to cross the border. Once she left the kingdoms territory, she would be classified as a rogue. *I'll be free to go wherever and do whatever I want!* Trixie kept thinking of all the different things she could do. *Maybe even find a pack who would accept me.*

No matter how much Trixie tried not to, her thoughts always kept going back to Kane. Since she blocked everyone out, she hasn't felt anyone trying to contact her. She did hear that annoying buzzing sound again but managed to block that out as well. She knew Goliath would surface but that wasn't her concern anymore. Trixie had no idea how she managed to block everything but again, she wasn't going to complain.

After waiting for hours, she couldn't hear Kanes men anymore and decided she needed to keep moving. She had to try to get as far as she could before nightfall again. Last night she had to sleep on the cold ground but tonight she was going to try the trees. They offer more cover and protection and with just being in a t-shirt and shorts, the nights were brutal.

Trixie climbed down the tree, stopped to listen for anyone or anything and when the coast was clear, she started walking towards the border.

*I'll get there tomorrow afternoon!*

~ ~ ~

This was a complete nightmare. I've seen Goliath lose his temper and go on rampages thousands of times but this topped them all. Kane and Goliath have zero patiences. No one dared tell him any sort of news, they were terrified. They only came to me and told me updates. I was the only one brave enough to tell him that we still haven't found Trixie.

I could tell Kane was losing it. I managed to keep him from going down to the cells and hospital from slaughtering Max and Ashley but that wasn't going to last forever. Goliath wanted their heads on display and their souls in hell. Telling them that Trixie wouldn't want that was only going to work so many times and I knew for a fact that Kane would let Goliath do whatever his heart desired.

I was stressed beyond my limits. I might be his baby brother but the only hold I have over him is trying to convince him of what Trixie would want or how she would feel. William wasn't around because he was always out searching for her, making sure the search parties were doin what they were supposed to do. Jake was busy running back and forth between helping me keep the kingdom from having a full melt down and keeping our demons at bay because they too wanted Maxs head. Thank Goddess he hasn't abandoned us again.

Kanes office is where I've managed to keep him held up. It's completely destroyed. Every piece of furniture is... well they don't even look like they used to be desks and chairs. Only one couch remains, I managed to hold onto it because eventually he will crash. Being the King of Hell means his stamina and energy is out of this world but it doesn't mean it won't run out and the way he has been going, it'll force him and Goliath into a deep sleep to replenish its loss.

The walls are decorated with holes and burn marks, the carpet is completely ash, at least it has nice wooding underneath. *Maybe I can convince him to keep the wood flooring after all of this is over.* Theodore thought to himself.

Theodore just kept watching Kane pace all over the office, stopping every once in a while to add a new hole to one of the walls.

Both men were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. They both looked at the door to only see Tatum slowly walk in. Kane just went back to his pacing.

"Hey, any news?" Tatum asked Theodore.

"Nothing new. I don't know how she's managing to avoid William and his team but she's fucking good." Thedore was running his hands through his hair. Even though they haven't managed to talk about their fight, Tatum has been by Theodores side since Kane and Goliath practically declared war on Gabriel if they don't find Trixie. Even though Theodore was beyond stressed out, Tatum always managed to help him calm down.

"Thank you, Tatum." Theodore looked up at him. "I don't deserve any sort of kindness from you and yet, here you are..."

Tatum stopped Theodore. "You are still a jerk, an asshole. I might be here for you right now through this but that doesn't mean you're forgiven for what you did to me. You'll have to do a lot more than apologize and say sweet things to me. You're my mate and as stupid as this may sound after everything, I won't give up on us." Tatum paused his stern voice faltering. "Unless you truly don't want me... just tell me and I'll leave." He lowered his eyes, not wanting to look at Theodore.

Theodore stood up and walked over to Tatum and wrapped his arms around him, bringing him into a tight hug. "I was stupid, confused. It's no excuse and I'm going to prove to you how sorry I am. I do want you. I've waited thousands of years for you and I already fucked it up. I fucked up big time and I'll never forgive myself for hurting you." Theodore looked down at Tatums dark blue eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness, baby." Theodore leaned in and ran his nose up and down Tatums neck, inhaling his scent. "You smell like chocolate chip cookies, ya know?"

Tatum slightly shivered, enjoying this contact. "You smell like brownies and fresh coffee." Tatum replied. Earning a hearty chuckle from Theodore.

"You two can take that shit outside. I don't want to hear or see your lovey dovey bullshit." Goliath snapped at them. Kane and Goliath have been going back and forth on taking control which was also taking a lot of energy from them. Theodore just glared at him.

"I should go. Keep him from snapping any further." Tatum whispered and gave a small smile. Goliath just rolled his eyes. He might be on edge but he would never attack his brothers mate. He had more self control than that.

"Okay, baby. I'll see you for dinner, yeah?" Theodore asked while running his hands through Tatums soft chocolate hair. He loved it. Tatum just smiled and nodded, taking his leave.

"Finally some quiet." Goliath grumbled while retreating back into their mind. Once Kane was back, he just stared at Theodore.

"What? Going to snap at me some more, brother?" Theodore retorted.

"No. I just wanted to apologize for being a shit brother to you for the past few days. You needed me and I left you to figure it out on your own. I didn't mean all that shit I said to you, I mean I was disappointed but I could never be ashamed of you. You're my other half and I need you just as much as you need me." Kane might be some wild killer bee with an angry grizzly bear living in him but he knows how to admit he was wrong, only to Trixie and Theodore that is. "If you don't want to forgive me, I understa..." Kane couldn't finish his sentence because Theodore wrapped him in a bone crushing hug.

Both brothers just stayed like that for a while. They both needed it. It's been too long and their bond needed to be mended. Neither of them liked being away from each other at all, especially when they weren't on speaking terms.

Theodore went to pull away and reply to his brother, only to have Kane collapse in his arms. *They finally crashed.* Theodore couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Theodore dragged Kane to the couch, only to trip at the last minute and fall down on the couch with Kane on top. Theodore managed to wiggle himself between Kane and the back of the couch but was still half way pinned below him. *How the fuck are you so damn heavy!* Theodore groaned. *You literally have zero ounces of fat on you. How have you not crushed Trixie.* Theodore chuckled to himself and kept on his rambling but was slowly starting to fall asleep. *Next time I'll let you fall on to the floor and sleep there.*

That was the last thought Theodore had before passing out from his own exhaustion.