Chapter 45: Chapter Forty-four

Delanie

I got up and clutched my spinning head and paced the small distance behind the couch.

“Someone’s going to sacrifice me?”

“No,” Ajax boomed. “No one’s going to lay a finger on you.”

“What I mean is child, you’re special. The moon goddess gave you a fated mate and a second chance mate. That’s incredibly rare especially for a human, but she also made you a cure for her curses. The only way for the cure to be used is if you’re killed under the full moon.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t believe this. I didn’t want to be special. I didn’t want to be a cure for anything.

“This is awful,” Betty said, her wild eyes met mine.

“Thanks for the talk, but we’re leaving.” Ajax stood. He took my arm to lead me to the door.

“What about your shoulder,” I asked.

“It’ll heal on its own. I’m an Alpha, remember.”

It should have healed by now, I thought.

“Alpha Ajax, you were hit with destructive magic. You won’t heal on your own and no mere witch magic will save you.”

Ajax looked at me with eyes filled with stern determination and a hint of fear. He squeezed my hand. He dragged me out the door and to the car.

“This was a mistake,” he grumbled, slammed the door and started the car.

“She wasn’t lying, Ajax,” I murmured.

“We’ll get a second opinion tomorrow. You’ll see the official pack Seer will say something completely different.”

“What’s the difference between Cheryl and the pack Seer?” I snapped.

“Arabella, is ten times more powerful, Delanie,” he barked.

The car neared a crossroads and Ajax slammed on the breaks. I flew forward but the seatbelt thrust me back.

Silence fell over us. For a moment no one did anything. Ajax eased on the breaks and turned out of the small neighbourhood. What if someone finds out and comes after me? I don’t want to live myself hiding and looking over my shoulder. I want a normal life and a quiet one.

She gave me a mate who hated me and tried to kill me but that wasn’t enough she had to make me an animal to be slaughtered for someone bad enough they were cursed. I shut my eyes and leaned my forehead on the window.

The car got slower and I was glad we were home so soon. Ajax climbed out of the car seconds later he opened my door. He took my held my hand.

“Come on,” he said.

“I want to stay in the car a minute. You go inside.”

“We’re not home, Del.”

I looked through the windscreen and saw the swings and slides. I didn’t know the pack had a park.

“What are we doing here?”

“We have to talk.”

“I really don’t want to,” I whispered.

“Please, baby.”

I sniffled. I wanted to forget the news I got. I looked into his eyes and gave in. Ajax parked in front of the playground. The park was a vast open space with beautiful green grass and healthy thick hedges and tress spread out. It had paths for joggers. It was perfect for morning runs.

Ajax trucked me under his good arm and shoved his other hand in his pocket. We started down the stone path in silence. The cool evening hair was perfect. I forgot about the healing powers of fresh air.

“Delanie, I’m sorry—”

“I hit you I don’t know why you’re sorry,” I mumbled.

“We’re going to get through this mate.”

“I’m scared. I’m sure the goddess has cursed more than a few people and they’ll come after us. I bet this isn’t what you expected when you found your fated mate.”

“Of course not, but that doesn’t mean I’m backing out now. I’ll always protect you, Delanie.”

He stopped and stared into my eyes.

“Judging by the mass destruction you caused back there it safe to say you have my back too.”

I smirked. “Of course.”

He scooped me into his arms but winced.

“We have to take care of that arm,” I said.

***

The next day we had an appointment with Arabella the Seer at around ten o’clock. I checked Ajax’s arm in hopes it had changed miraculously but it was the same but not worse which was good.

We arrived at a small house which was as homey as Cheryl’s home. There was a black SUV parked in front of her house.

“Damn it, why’s he here?” Ajax muttered.

“Who?” I asked.

The front door opened before Ajax could respond. General Maximus walked out and an older woman with a scarf on her head remained on the door.

“Max,” Ajax spat. “He doesn’t need to know why we’re here.”

I nodded and climbed out of the car as he did. Max stopped in his tracks when he saw us. Ajax took my hand and squeezed it.

“Alpha Ajax, I’ve been expecting you,” Arabella said.

“Ajax, why do you need to see a Seer?” Max asked.

Max looked from Ajax to me. He lingered on me a little too long. I’d done a good job at avoiding him so far. I looked down, I didn’t want him catching any resemblances between my mom and me. If he didn’t know already.

“We want to know the next course of our relationship,” Ajax replied.

Max barked out a laugh. “I wouldn’t know… I haven’t been married for many years.”

“Of course you wouldn’t know. Goodbye Max.” Ajax’s attempts to drag me forward were faltered by Max’s next words.

“So you’re really giving up. You’re going to allow Oscar to run the pack?”

Ajax clenched his teeth. “Odin made his choice and I’m going to watch it all blow up in his face.”

“Selfish decision, Ajax. Do you want any children you have to come into a fallen pack?”

“Look at that Max you really are getting old. You’re even giving me advice that makes sense. I know what I’m doing.”

Max’s eyes lingered long on me once again as Ajax dragged me through the front door.

Arabella locked it behind her. Did all Seers lock their guests inside their homes?

“You’ve brought me trouble, Alpha Ajax,” Arabella said with a hint of humour in her voice.

“When have I ever brought you anything less?” Ajax asked as he settled on her couch as if he was her son returning home.

“This is too big. You’re dying Ajax.”