My Mate, My Bully

Bölüm 5: Unsettling II

× Trix ×

As the messed-up days keep rolling, Ryder's practically breathing down Dixie's neck. Suspicion radiates from him and you can practically touch it.

One cool evening, I'm hanging by the balcony, checking out the training session just a few yards away. Most of them are weak and pathetic.

I dread the mere mention of war just cus I know we'll be completely obliterated. “Urgh…” I slap my forehead and look elsewhere.

Dixie's with one of the female volunteers from the hospital, playing board games. I study Dixie carefully. The way she does things has always irritated and intrigued me at the same time. Her voice, the way she speaks, the way she laughs and cries, the way she carries herself, the way she makes decisions…

“Urgh…” I need a drink. A maid, as if reading my mind, comes in with a bottle of water and lays it on a high table beside me. I take it and gulp down.

My mind strolls to the meeting that I had with the elder about this same dilemma that has completely upended my life. It was a few days ago and I was busy with some duties when an elder strolled in with news about the temple attack. Talk about a major facepalm moment. The temple of Agradio is where most of the supernatural heads of the pack reside and an attack on there means a direct warning to all of us.

Those rogues, sneaky little jerks, played me like a fool. I'm out here trying to make peace, and they're doing the double-cross behind my back. I could've known better than to trust them. It was then I knew without a doubt we needed the rune right away to find the Moon Goddess's tear to awaken the Bamboo Alpha, the only person who could properly deal with this rogue mess even my parent's couldn't completely take care of. But Dixie, now the rune bearer, had gone. Vanished. Alvera had advised me the next day on how I could handle the Dixie situation without tipping off those judgemental elders. And her solution is exactly why Dixie and I are now married. You can already guess it.

Her solution was that I should marry Dixie. Of course, I was initially reluctant and hated the idea of needing to beg that little swine for something. But reality hit. I hated the idea, but had no choice. She now bore the rune, whether any of us liked it or not including herself, so she automatically became the most important asset to this pack and to me. Dixie and I are bound together and Alvera’s idea was a necessary plan. Well, it did keep the elders from pestering me about the Nardoo issue for a while but now, accepting this reality is a hard pill to swallow. I absolutely hate every single second she pesters me.

I don't know when Ryder enters. His bass voice breaks me from my reverie.

“Big dog! My dude!” He slaps my shoulder and shakes me. Ryan's, like, the dude who thinks he's the werewolf Casanova. Dark hair, always perfectly tousled like he stepped out of a shampoo ad. Athletic build, like he could bench press a truck or something. But seriously, his cologne is a bit much – like, calm down, man, we get it, you're trying to impress. Anyway, Ryan's got that whole 'I'm too cool for school' vibe, but hey, it seems to work for him. We've been friends since my parents died and he's been very loyal, so all in all, I trust him more than anyone in this pack even though he can be “excessive” sometimes.

I eye him and continue glancing down. “Thought you were busy.”

“Thought YOU were busy…” he grins at me. “You've been so gloomy these days, dude. What's the catch?”

“You're talking as if you don't know what's been happening.”

He sighs and then places his hands on the rail too, beside me. Silence stretches out before I realise we're both looking in the same direction, at the same person.

"Trix, seriously, there's something weird about her. I can feel it in my gut."

I glance at him and then at Dixie, trying to brush off his concerns. "Ryder, we don't have a choice. We're f*****g stuck. The rune on her hand binds her to the pack and our kingdom's last hope. We f*****g need her.”

He scoffs and rolls his eyes, “I'm sure that was hard for you to say. It's really unfortunate, you know. Someone like her—"

"Cut it out!" I snap and cut him off, feeling the weight of the whole world on my shoulders. "We can't afford doubts now."

Ryder doesn't voice his insecurities, but his eyes speak volumes. I know he'll continue to trail Dixie and continue being suspicious of her for reasons I don't even know and he refuses to tell. He's so convinced that she's the harbinger of our downfall.

After Alvera and I made THE plan some days ago, it was imperative for me to marry Dixie as soon as possible. Leaving felt urgent, so we went straight to her cottage. I surprisingly found out though that her Grandma was actually Gran Gran, the lady who nursed my parents and also spent time with me when I was barely a kid growing up and my parents were mostly absent doing their pack duties. Long story short, I spilled the destiny drama, Dixie hated the idea, and I regret every second of that encounter. The way her eyes blazed with hate, saying she'd rather kick the bucket than marry me. It hurt my ego, needless to say, I kinda got where she was coming from me.

Still, I made it clear to her - marry me or face the apocalypse. She remained defiant, but I had no choice. I still have no choice. It was her defiance that had brought us into this mess in the first place. That's why I had to make her know we're mates, knowing fully well she had no idea, but certain I would leave an effect on her by saying that. I didn't want to tell her so early but she has to know.

In fact, this entire ordeal has been too damn messy. If there were another route or option, I would've chosen it and she knows it! She disturbs me everyday to explain to her why I chose this route as if I haven't continued repeating the same thing to her. We have no f*****g choice!

Reliving that day, I regret every step into that cottage. I wish I could undo the mess that brought me face-to-face with her on that dark night and the consequences of a destiny neither of us chose.

I stare back at Ryder who's been quiet for way too long and he seems to be brooding over his unspoken doubts. "Trix, you trust her too much.” He finally utters.

I sigh, “No, I don't.”

"What if she's playing us?"

"She's not," I insist as my patience wears thin. "The rune is our lifeline, and she's our shot at staying alive."

In a rare moment of laying it bare, I spill to Ryder, "If I don't get that thing soon, I'm pretty sure my folks up there will be cursing my ass out." I say while looking to the skies.

The weight of leading, the whole responsibility deal, is pressing down on me, and the truth sits there, staring at us—tying up with this stupid and careless girl is our last shot.

How can Ryder understand I have no choice?

How can anyone else understand what it means to be a prodigal Alpha?