Chapter Ten

Alexia was furious with Hayden. She was furious with Clara. She was furious with the clan leaders. She was furious with the Sisters of Light, and she was furious with their prophecy. But most of all, Alexia was furious with herself.

Tears welled up in her eyes and she swiped at them angrily, then she became angry at herself for crying over a guy. Over a werewolf, nonetheless. She started going up the stairs, and on her way, she met another guy who exuded power and carried the scent of the White Flame pack, Like Hayden.

He must be the Beta, she thought to herself. Suddenly, his voice stopped her in her tracks, “Hey. Alexia, right? The hunter’s daughter?” he asked.

Alexia turned to face him. Look down at him, more like it, because she was standing above him on the staircase. She crossed her arms and tossed her head, “Alexia, the huntress, is what I would like to be addressed as. I have an identity outside of being Arthur Luther’s daughter.”

Ace smiled awkwardly, “Alexia, the huntress. Noted. I’m Ace, the Beta of the pack,” he introduced himself.

Alexia cocked her head again as if to say, ‘So?’

Ace continued, “You were out all through the night, during the Half Moon attack with Hayden. Why?”

“None of your business,” she said brusquely, “Or…you can ask him yourself. He’s outside with that blonde bimbo.”

“Clara. Okay, thanks,” he said and continued down the stairs.

Alexia huffed, and continued up the stairs. The first landing was the Alpha’s, so she didn’t bother to stop. The second landing was a dark hallway with rooms on both sides.

She surveyed the tags on all doors and noted that this was the floor given to the vampires. She continued up the stairs, and the next floor was actually barred with a door.
There was a warning on it, “Do Not Enter. Hazardous Magic Going On.” The witches and wizards, okay.

The last floor was well lit, and there were fewer doors. Cautiously, she inspected the tags. They were names she was familiar with, the Hunters’ Clan. This was their floor. She located her parents’ room. it was marked with ‘The Luthers,’ but that was crossed over. Instead, ‘Arthur and Cynthia Luther.’ However, she paid it no heed and opened the door.

Her father was not in the room, but her mother was seated at the vanity, brushing her hair. She turned and when she saw Alexia, she smiled in relief and dropped the brush. She stood up and walked towards her daughter, but she brushed past her and went to sit on the bed, burying her face in her hands.

Cynthia sat beside her worriedly, placing a hand on her shoulder. Alexia crumpled and started sobbing.

“What is the matter, Alexia?”

***

“Babe! I was so worried!”

After hugging for a while, Hayden and Clara let go of each other. Hayden was smiling brightly. He didn’t notice that Alexia left his side.

“Where were you all through the attack? Your dad is injured, along with some pack members. Ace was injured too, but he recovered quickly,” Clara paused as if to remember something, “And why were you coming in with that nasty hunter girl?”

White-hot anger suddenly flared in Hayden, and he was shocked with the intensity of it. He managed to keep it under wraps, but he still gritted out, “She is not a nasty girl. Her name is Alexia.”

Clara’s mouth fell open. She looked like she had been slapped.

“Why the hell are you—”

Ace cut her off, emerging from the back door, “Hayden, hey. So, uhm, I saw Alexia now, storming up the stairs. I know she is your second-chance mate, and she seems hurt. Her eyes were red-rimmed and shone with tears, although she played it off tough. What happened between you two?”

Hayden’s heart skipped a painful beat, and everything became white noise for a while, “She was just here…we were laughing jus..t…when did she leave…? Did you say she was crying?” he stuttered.

Ace nodded, “Yes, she was. I just saw her,” he confirmed.

Clara interjected, “Why the hell do you care if she was crying? Do you really believe she is your mate? Hayden, your mate died. Died! It is impossible, all this crap!!”

The anger came back, “Don’t, Clara. Don’t interfere!” he snarled.

“I have to find her, excuse me,” he said, storming past them into the house.

***

“Stop crying, Lexi, and tell me what happened,” her mum said in a soothing voice.

Alexia removed her face from her hands, and wiped the tears from her face. However, her voice still shook when she spoke, “It’s Hayden…well, no, not Hayden exactly…but…” her voice broke again.

“Just calm down and tell me what happened, Lexi,” Cynthia said, rubbing her back.

Alexia took a deep steadying breath, and started, “When I stormed off yesterday, I went up a hill, a little far from here; Juniper Hill. I sat there, and about…20 minutes later, Hayden came to meet me there, and then we argued, and then he called me Alex…and then he held my hands and I liked it…” she hiccuped.

“Take it easy,” her mother said.

Alexia continued, “He held my hands, and he…hugged me, and then the attackers came, and we fought, and then one of them held a knife to my throat, and H…Hayden surrendered b…but they injected him with wolfsbane and knocked me out, a…and when we woke up, we were in a silver cage, and it made him weak and then…” tears streamed out of her eyes again, and she wiped them with her hands.

“Hold on, let me get you a tissue,” said Cynthia.

She brought back the box of tissues from the nightstand and offered it to her. Alexia took one and blew her nose, then she took another one and wiped her eyes with it.

“A…and then he asked me why I was denying things between us, and I told him my fears about the s…situation, and he told me his too…and I felt like we really connected, and he snuggled with me, and he told me he liked me…and he persuaded me to accept him as my mate, and I did.”

She heaved a sigh, “Then we escaped this morning, and we came here, and then the first thing he does is hug that bitch from yesterday! I feel like a fucking fool!” she snapped and started weeping again.

Cynthia hid her smile, “I get it. You feel hurt. And maybe a little used.”

Alexia nodded.

“Well stop crying!” her mother snapped, “You really want him to think he got to you? Lexi, chin up, darling. Wipe those tears. Two can play this game of his. I want you to get up, get in that bathroom, and take a shower.”

“When you come out, I’ll find you a pair of your yoga pants and tank top. You’ll brush your hair, put it into a high ponytail and go to the gym. It’s in the basement, okay? Your father is there, you’ll train with him and punch the hell out the punching bag. If it helps, imagine it’s his face,” Cynthia said finally.

Alexia cracked a smile and nodded. “Thank you, Mum,” she said and walked into the bathroom.

Cynthia smiled. The mate bond was affecting her daughter already. If things worked out between them, they were going to be able to save the clans and fulfil the prophecy.

She selected the workout outfit, just when someone knocked on the door. She went to the door and saw that it was Hayden. He looked distressed.

“Yes, what can I help you with, Alpha?” she asked coolly.

“Hi, Mrs Luther, I need to see Alex. Is she here?” he asked frantically.

Cynthia arched an eyebrow, “Yes, she is. But she doesn’t want to see you, so please leave.”

“Please, Mrs Luther, I need to see her. It’s urgent.”

Cynthia cocked her head with a thoughtful expression on her face, “Okay. But you’ll have to wait.”

“I don’t mind,” replied Hayden. The door slammed to his face, and he flinched.

When Cynthia went back into the room, Alexia was done bathing, and she was getting dressed.

“That was Hayden, right?” Alexia asked distantly.

“Yes. Let me help you with your hair,” she said and collected the brush from her.

She brushed her daughter’s wavy hair, in slow, soothing strokes. Then she moisturised it, massaged hair oils into her hair and scalp before putting it in a sleek high ponytail.

“Ready, Lexi?”

“Yes, Mum.”

Alexia was dressed in a pair of black yoga pants, white tank top, and white tennis shoes. She stepped out of the room and came face to face with her mate.

***

Hayden jumped when the Luthers’ door opened again. This time, it was Alexia who came out. Her scent washed all over him again and his heart skipped a beat. He wanted to gather her in his arms and bury his nose in her hair. She brushed past him to go down the stairs, but he leaped after her and grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at him.

“What is it, Wolfie Boy?” she snapped. Her hazel-green eyes were hard and burned with anger, but with an underlying layer of hurt.

“Alex, hey. I’m sorry. Ace told me you were crying. What did I do? Why were you crying?” he asked gently.

“It shouldn’t matter to you whether I’m crying, or not,” she growled and snatched her arm away from his grasp.

Alexia sprinted down the stairs without looking back.

Hayden watched her go, and it felt like a knife was twisted in his gut.