Talons

Chapter 30: The Joy

Colton’s POV

Mandy and Carter have been extra lovey-dovey this week and I know it's because Valentine's day is around the corner. From fresh cut fruit to breakfast in bed; my beta is going all out because this is his first Valentine’s day as a mated male. 

Although reconciled, Carter still feels indebted to Mandy. He knows that she did not want his mark, and as declared by the council, her rejection request would have been granted had they not been fully marked and mated. 

I used to think he was spoiling his mate, but the more time passes, the more I find that Mandy does not expect anything from Carter; he acts on his own. In return she subtly makes sure he has no added stress as we continue with our training. I'm not hoping for a fated mate, but if I am blessed, I hope she is equally as supportive, even if I don’t deserve it.

“Why are we here?” I ask. Carter has dragged me to a jewelry store and I’m feeling uncomfortable. The clerks keep flirting with me, but I have sworn off humans. The last one I was with was in so much pain toward the end of our tryst that I had to take her to an urgent care facility when we finished; never again.

“I want to ask Mandy to marry me.” I flinch at Carter's nonchalant declaration.

“For what?” I don’t mean to sound cold but being mated is greater than being married.

“I overheard her talking to B; she wants a wedding and I want to give it to her.” I have also overheard many conversations between B and Mandy, but I’ve never heard a romantic word leave B’s mouth. She is extremely sarcastic when it comes to matters of the heart, and Mandy is always teasing her about it.

“And what did B say?” I ask, knowing that the girl would not disappoint. 

“She said it was a financially reckless and selfish expenditure that held no real value other than to make oneself the center of attention.” We both laugh. That is the answer one would expect from a bitter old man, not a fifteen-year-old girl.

“And Mandy?”

“Told B that she would only understand after she fell in love.” My eyes go wide and Carter grins. I know Mandy has never told him that she loves him, even though he tells her as many times in a day as he speaks to her, so for him a wedding is symbolic.

“Wow man, so like… you two are really good?” Carter nods. 

“I wasn’t sure we would ever be, but now that I know she wants to marry me, I feel like our bond is fully recovered.” I don’t understand, but I can imagine.

Carter does not find the ring he wants, but he enquires about something he can give a girl who likes science and I immediately know he means Brain. I ask him why and find myself confused. I had no idea B’s birthday was in February, in fact I don’t ever remember a time it was celebrated.

Although I used to hate the girl, I would have been invited, and I would have gone because I wouldn’t have wanted to disappoint my ‘future mate.’ The very thought of how much time and energy I put into the twins still irritates me, but my anger is short lived, because I’m still perplexed.

“Has she never had a party?”

“Mandy said that B hates parties, she usually celebrates privately.” Carter looks at me suspiciously. “Before you ask, I don't know the exact date, and I will not ask Mandy. We have known B for too many years to not know her birthday. I will wait for Mandy to bring it up and I will have a gift ready.” I nod at Carter’s wisdom and start looking around the store but find nothing. 

It is not until we have left and are driving back to the pack grounds that I think of the perfect gift. I keep it to myself because I don’t want Carter to steal my idea. He has Mandy to help him out, I only have hope.

Rhea's POV

When the pain in my legs and hips subsides, I shift my body in such a way that my injuries are not touching anything. My head literally feels like it's going to explode, and crying makes the pain worse, so I don’t. 

The sun rises and sets before the headache fades enough for me to stop wincing, but then the rain starts, and I am miserable again. I am so cold that I cannot stop shaking, so I force myself to move as much as possible, trying to work up body heat.

When I am too exhausted to even shiver, I feel a warmness overtake me. I think I am dying, but then the most beautiful voice fills my head, taking all the pain with it.

"Sorry." It was just one word, but I am instantly lifted from the pit of grief and into delight.

"Sylvia? Is that really you? Please, I need you." My wolf is silent, but I can feel my body lighten. 

"Sing to me," she whispers, and I immediately indulge, only I don't just sing in my mind; I sing out loud, overcome by genuine joy.

I am weak, but I feel the slow warmth of my wolf speeding up my recovery and I want to encourage her. I stand up and start singing as loud as I can, showing her that whatever she is doing is working. I am fine, and we will be fine. 

The pain doesn't just go away, but it does become so dulled that I can only feel it if I move too much, which gives Sylvia the comfort to relax before she starts scolding me. I know she has been going through my memories and she is angry that I nearly got myself beaten to death. She thinks I did it to wake her on purpose, and I find myself laughing uncontrollably.  I love that it seems she hasn't changed in the time she was gone.

"Where did you go?" I ask, my voice cracking as I think of the two-years I spent without her. I'm not angry, but the question seeps out before I can stop it.

"I’ve been healing your body. I had to work slowly and for some reason, I couldn't reach you."

"Are you done?" I ask, not meaning to sound rude, but my wolf whimpers in response. "I'm sorry. I just don't want you to leave me again."

"I know, I- I,"  my wolf stutters, and I gently press her to be honest with me. "I couldn’t heal our senses and I'm not sure I have the energy to help with the injuries to your back."

“Please focus on yourself, I don’t want to lose you again.” I can feel a surge of emotion from Sylvia. She sacrificed herself to protect me and I will make it up to her no matter the cost. “I don’t play with fire anymore,” I tease, and I hear a sleepy chuckle come from her. “Please sleep. I will be okay.” I start singing again, and when I start to feel sleepy myself, I hear her whisper to me.

"Happy birthday Rhea."

Colton’s POV

Mandy has been excited all day. We have been invited to the Claw pack for some sort of dinner with a high alpha, and it is the first time she and her mate have been invited to the Claw pack since they have been together. She is lamenting about how she wouldn’t have shipped B’s birthday present if she knew she would see her cousin in person, and I am extremely glad that I held onto mine. 

When we get to the pack, Mandy literally runs through the gates, but she is stopped by alpha Lark. I can’t hear what he is saying, but I can tell that Mandy doesn’t like it, and based on the irritability of Carter, I can tell that her emotions are carrying over to him. 

I link my beta for a status, and he simply tells me that we haven’t been invited to a friendly gathering. I should have known from how gleeful my father was, especially when he said that the council member was an ‘old friend.’

We make our way to the packhouse, passing by the bakery that former luna Mavis runs, but it is dark, and that is the first indication that something is wrong. A Talons party without dessert is no party at all.

My father links me to find Raven, which I do, but not because I am going to follow through with his plan. I want to use the opportunity to find B, give her my present, and apologize, once again, for all the years I put her through hell.

I know where her old bedroom is, so it doesn’t take me long to get there, but when I push the doors open, the room is stale and clearly untouched. B might wear scent blocker a lot, but I doubt she wears it to bed, and her scent in the room is so faint that it tells me she hasn’t been around in a while.

Unsure what to do, I put the gift on the nightstand and leave. I run into one of my old flings in a corridor, and she immediately clings to me. I have no one in the pack to impress, so I get her to lead me to a private place.

We catch a glimpse of Robin on the way, and it's the first time I have ever seen her look sad, which makes me worried. The girl is tough, and other than the time she found her fated mate, I have never seen her look anything other than angry or calm.

“Lisa?” I ask, because I really can’t remember the girl’s name, but I know it's something along those lines.

“Liz,” she corrects. “You okay alpha?” I nod, but I am immediately turned off by the way she practically moaned my title.

“Why is everyone so…” I trail off and Liz chuckles before replying.

“The little r*tard landed herself in isolation.”