31.

Farryn slowly parted from Jason, their breath still intertwined as they opened their eyes to peer at one another. Jason’s gaze was darkened slightly with lust as he rose from his seat and brought Farryn to hers as well.

“I know you don’t need to be protected, I can tell that you are strong, but all I want to do is make sure you stay safe. Let me stay by your side to help keep you safe.” Farryn blinked slowly, Namia seemed to swoon inside at Jason’s kind words while Lola rolled her eyes as hard as she could.

“You’re my Beta Jason, of course you’ll be by my side.” Jason’s body tensed up before he released a chuckle, stepping away enough to pinch the bridge of his nose.

“That’s… not exactly what I meant Farryn.” He glanced past his hand to her confused expression and inhaled slowly, his cheeks slowly starting to turn pink.

“Geez I never would have guessed you’d be this dense. I like you a lot Farryn, a lot more than I would have expected and I think… I think you’re my mate.” Farryn could feel the recoil from Lola, the white alpha was not pleased in the slightest bit but it was Namia who was howling with joy, seeming to confirm the male’s thoughts. Farryn stared blankly at Jason, she felt drawn to him but was it only because of Namia? She wasn’t confident that she held any feelings for him herself. She could see his expression slowly beginning to crumble at her lack of a response.

“Jason I think you’re right but I’m not sure we are right for each other. Besides, we have much more important things to worry about and to focus on than this. I think, until these murders are solved, we remain purely professional. Can we do that please?” Jason’s jaw set tightly before he sighed, he knew she was right.

“Fine, we’ll talk about this later.” He turned on his heel and briskly exited the dining room with Namia begging Farryn to go after him. Instead she seated herself once more, propping her chin into her hand. She was sad to see him upset but the desire to chase after him wasn’t strong enough to make her. Her eyes drifted to the window nearby, wondering if Tristan would be fine in the jail cell for the night. She sighed deeply as she closed her eyes, bringing herself to the piece of her mind that her wolves owned.

Namia refused to look at her which stung in its own way but she hadn’t come to try and appease her longtime friend. Lola sat with her head high, a wave of gratitude coming from her for turning down Jason.

“I don’t know what to do, if I were to let Tristan fight for his innocence he would win” Lola growled fiercely in denial, cutting Farryn off in the process. Lola rose to her paws and approached her slowly, motioning with her muzzle for the young woman to sit. Once she had done so she touched the tip of her cold wet nose to her forehead. Ever since hearing the white wolf’s name their connection had grown, but Farryn had still not fully accepted her. This was the first time that Farryn was truly asking her for help.

The touch to her forehead brought a searing heat to her skin, oddly however it didn’t hurt. Because she had yet to officially accept Lola she couldn’t hear her words, yet coming to her for help, it was the equivalent of accepting the wolf into her body and Lola acknowledged it.

“I don’t believe that he should have to fight. Wait for the ones with pointed ears to return, something is wrong with Rorus, and with Tristan.” Lola had sat back down as she spoke, Farryn ran her fingers through her hair before shaking her head.

“That could take weeks, or even months, and could ultimately turn up nothing. But you saw his eyes too? They changed to three different colors.” It helped Farryn to feel a bit more sane to know that she wasn’t the only one to notice the difference inside of Tristan.

“I have, but I have sensed it as well when you spoke with Rorus. He is not well but he is not like you. The priest did not notice but perhaps it is not a priest of the Moon Goddess that is needed. A sign of a good leader is knowing when to ask others for help, to know when you are in over your head. You should meet with the dragon priestess, you have already met her offspring.” Farryn’s head lifted sharply in surprise while quickly trying to remember who she had spoken to in Aeston. The young merchant with the mischievous smile was the only who stood out.

“How can you be sure she is Dragonkin?” Lola’s head tilted to the side slowly as she sniffed at Farryn.

“I could smell the desert on her skin, just as I could smell something more…ancient. Bring Tristan with you, keep an eye on him, keep your pack safe. Travel with no one else, the dragons are a sacred breed who are not welcome to outsiders. Too many wolves will keep the priestess from wanting to help. She will be more likely to help there rather than leaving her offspring and traveling here.” Farryn nodded her head slowly, reaching a hand out to brush her fingers through the soft white fur and touch the scar on her neck just slightly.

“Thank you Lola. I will return to Aeston tomorrow morning with Tristan.” The wolf nodded her head and both rose to their feet. Farryn noticed Namia looking back at her but the russet beast turned her head quickly when she made eye contact. Farryn frowned before bringing herself back.

Farryn opened her eyes and began to rise to her feet when a sudden wave of disorientation. Her vision blurred sharply as her head felt as if it was spinning. She placed herself back in her seat until her body settled back down, she had only ever spoken internally to Name once in the past but she had never felt this way afterwards. Whether this was because there were two wolves she was unsure.

Once she felt confident she wouldn’t pass out by standing up she made her way back to her room, mind full of the possibilities that may happen once Tristan was released. The sudden worry that Rorus may attack her became clear but Lola had been so confident, so sure that their win during the Royale was a fluke that she felt no fear towards the male. Instead it was concern for his health and well being. Tristan still considered himself to be an outsider in the pack. He relied on them for certain things but not the way a true born pack member would.

Farryn rubbed the bridge of her nose softly as she closed the door to her bedroom. Perhaps she was worrying for nothing, what could possibly go wrong? Tristan was kind, if not a little flirty, but other than that he was harmless. He didn’t seem to be the type to intentionally do anything to harm anyone. After giving herself a slight pep talk Farryn was feeling more confident in Lola’s plan. It was all going to work out in the end.