Talons

Chapter 89: The Unknown

Colton’s POV

My brother and his mate have successfully scared off Jessica, who is brooding in a nearby corner, but I kind of wish she would come back. They are currently ‘fighting’ but it's the weirdest argument ever. Miracle is technically agreeing to everything he says, she’s just doing it in a way that sounds like she’s not, which is pissing Dolton off.

My attention to them is short lived though because the woman I had my eye on is dancing with Jack, who like Dolton removed his mask. Orlin and I start to get irritated by the sight, and when my brother and his mate leave, I barely register that they are gone.

Jack keeps lifting the woman's hair and using his hand to touch her marking spot. It’s obvious that the woman is sloppy drunk, and I’m finally seeing the drunken behavior we have all been warned about. 

Jack is the same age as me, if not older, and he hasn't found a mate. I can tell what he is thinking; he wants to put his mark on the woman, and based on the sour looks he’s getting, there are a lot of other men who feel the same way. I really want to know who the woman is and why no one else dared to approach her.

At a certain point, Jack was grinding against her so hard that Luke and Robin intervened by pretending to be bringing them water.

Seeing an opportunity to ‘wish Luke a happy birthday,’ I down the rest of my drink and start heading toward the woman who I can’t take my eyes off. Her body is exactly what Orlin and I have dreamed of, I just hope everything isn’t fake.

As I approach, the fresh scent of something sweet hits me hard. I start panting as I walk toward the source, feeling a pull that makes me both nervous and excited. 

Orlin is prancing around in my mind, completely over the moon that we have a mate, but she hasn’t noticed me yet. She is still listening to something Robin is saying as she sips the water she had been given, then Jack scoops her into a claiming hug that causes me to let out the loudest and most menacing growl I have ever unleashed.

Everything stops, even the music, and Lark, who had been mingling with guests, comes to find out what's wrong. He and I are friendly again, so he knows I wouldn’t start trouble for no reason.

Rhea’s POV

I'm so drunk that it's getting hard to stand, and Jack is taking full advantage of the situation. He had been grinding against me so hard that I started to feel uncomfortable, and then he kept moving my hair to the side to examine my marking spot.

"Baby. Do you know how stupid I feel right now,” he says, and I try to pull away, but he is stronger than me in my current state. “I knew how you felt about me back then, but your brother made it clear that if I touched you, he would kill me.” 

“So, you chose to openly pursue Raven?” Jack doesn’t respond, but he licks his lips while eyeing my neck, which draws Robin and Luke to my rescue. 

My sister gives me water, and Luke tells Jack that he needs to sober up, reminding him that he and I are not fated and marking me is a crime. I hadn’t even considered that Jack was also drunk or how close to an intoxicated mark I had come.

“Sorry,” Jack says, standing next to me and pulling me into a hug that draws one of the most intimidating and loud growls I have ever heard. 

My eyes land on the source and I feel terror consume me. Sylvia retreats and I’m shaking so hard that Jack feels compelled to hold me tighter, but when he presses a kiss on my cheek, all hell breaks loose.

Colton’s POV

After my warning, I thought Jack would take the hint and my mate should be pushing him away, but she is just standing there, and I can see that she is shaking. 

Jack must have a bit of a death wish because he pulls her in closer and kisses her cheek, making me lunge toward them, punching him full force and making my mate fall back onto the ground.

“Colt stop, what are you doing?” Lark asks as he holds me back. I can see Robin helping my mate up, and I move in her direction. 

Her mask has come off and when I catch sight of her face, my head tilts to the side in confusion. I know her from somewhere.

“Colt, talk to me man, what is going on.”

“She is my mate,” I whisper, still trying to place her face. The woman shakes her head, and I growl again, making her hide behind Jack, who is bleeding badly. “I know you,” I say, and Jack starts to laugh.

“You don’t recognize your own mate?” His words mock me, but he is right. 

“Come here so I can look at you. I’ve been drinking and I didn’t mean to scare you.” My mate is still a statue, and I push Jack out the way as I aggressively reach for her. As soon as I have her in my arms, I know exactly who she is. “Brain?” I whisper.

“That isn’t her name,” Jack says, trying to snatch B out of my arms, but I hold onto her tightly. Jack is right though, that isn’t her name, but I don’t remember what her name is, which is hurting me.

“Tell me your name,” I say, but the girl is silently crying, while her brother is staring between us, looking for a chance to strike, so I loosen my hold on her to avoid a bigger issue.

“Colt, you’re drunk. Please let my sister go. She is also drunk and clearly terrified.”

“Don’t you feel it?” I ask, but still nothing.

“Colt?” I hear, and Jessica links her arms around my body, pressing a kiss on my cheek before I can order her away, but my mate has no reaction.

“Alpha Lark, I’ve been drinking. Please arrange a room for my mate and I to rest.” Lark nods, and a woman comes to escort me to a room. I extend a hand to B, but she doesn’t take it. “You are my fated partner, and I know that you are scared, but if you don't come with me, I will sever all alliance ties between Iron and Claw.

Mandy’s POV

Carter and I brought the pups to the pack nannies after we realized that Chun wasn't coming back. We heard Colt growl loudly, and while I hate to leave my daughter behind, his warning was not a simple threat.

Something serious was happening and as his sworn betas, Carter and I have to be ready to fight at any moment.

We rush back to the party where B is standing like a statue and Colton is beckoning to her. She steps forward a few paces, and I find myself running to protect her from the man who I know tormented her for most of her youth. 

I don’t want to see my cousin get hurt again, and from what I know, she has only just gotten out of a serious situation.

I jump straight into the middle of them, hoping to talk my alpha down, but it only angers him further. 

“How long have you been hiding her from me?” he asks, using a command.

Rhea’s POV

Hearing Colton threaten my brother’s pack snapped me out of my stupor and I found myself stepping forward like a robot. Emma and Robin are both expecting, and this is not the time for war.

“Baby,” Jack says, going to reach for my arm, but Luke stops him, warning him that Colton will kill him if he touches me again. “Baby,” Jack says again, brushing Luke's hand away from his arm and this time, Colton responds.

“She is not your baby. Her name is…” Colton pauses, obviously unsure what to call me.

While he is struggling to remember, Mandy stands between us, and Colton’s irritation turns on her.

“How long have you been hiding her from me?” he asks, and Mandy looks at him in confusion. There was a command in his tone, but she doesn't have a response. “B is my mate.” Mandy gasps and turns to me, but I have no words for her.

“Colt bro, are you sure?” Carter is standing next to his mate, and Colton orders his beta to secure an emergency council hearing. 

My eyes go wide because I know that means he is thinking about declaring the pack relationships as hostile, but I can’t bring myself to speak. 

Colton’s POV

I grab my mate's arm, and Lark tries to stop me from taking her away, but he is already treading on thin ice, so I remind him of a fact I know he doesn’t want to hear.

“Alpha Lark, your sister is my mate and by definition, she is a rogue. If I want, I can take her away from this pack and there is nothing you can do about it. I'm trying to be respectful by keeping her on your territory, but if being near my mate is going to be an issue, I will take her now.”

Lark’s POV

Colton is right, legally I cannot protect B, and I regret not letting her leave the party like she wanted. She hasn’t spoken, and the only time she moved was when Colton threatened the pack. 

I link my parents; unsure I want to send my little sister into a closed room with a drunk male who is claiming to be her mate. She has already gone through so much, and I feel like I’m witnessing the beginning of another dark chapter of her life.

Rhea’s POV

We have moved into the Packhouse, trying to be civil, but my father refuses to let Colton take me, and Colton decides that it isn’t worth it for him to negotiate anymore. 

While we are still standing there, my brother gets a call from the council, telling him to arrive at a hearing location within the hour. Colton tried to grab for me, but my father roughly pushed his hand away, almost starting a fight.

“Don't touch my daughter” he growls, and I shift my body behind him. 

“Alpha Talons, I don’t want trouble. I just want my mate to drive with me.” I whimper at Colton's words and my mother comes to my side, rubbing my back in a comforting manner.

“Colt, please. Let's not complicate things further. We will bring Rhea there.”