Chapter 80

Dylan point of view

"I'm here solely to protect you, Aderyn. And you know that. Come with me or she'll come get you herself."

I growled at the fudging words that kept coming from this male witch. I was boiling with so much rage and fury, one I doubted I'd be able to subdue any much longer.

"I can't. I just can't, Reagan. I belong here, here with them." My mate answered in the most beautiful voice, shocking me. Not the voice, but her words. I never expected her to say that, especially not after I knew they both had some kind of 'history' together. I could clearly tell she didn't want me to end his life, but I was left without a choice. Every ticking second, the bastard kept giving me more reasons why I should rip his bleeding heart out.

"You'll die if you stay here." The fucking bastard counted his words slowly, still expecting a reaction from her. I held myself back from pouncing on him again. I wanted her to tell him off, but her next words ended up surprising me and riling me.

"They are family to me, Reagan. And I'm not going anywhere, especially when I know that Raina is back. She is the one, Reagan—the vile witch who killed mother. I can't leave, Reagan, and neither can you. So I ask you to stay here and help us. We ne—"

"Come on, Aderyn. He can't stay here," I quickly countered, then Travis spoke quickly.

"Seriously, Dylan. I think the Luna's right. We could use the help of someone like him who worked for the enemy. And Dylan, he actually saved Allegra from being killed by some witches."

I snapped at him. "And how are you sure he's not still in cahoots with the enemy? No. He's not staying, neither will he be keeping his life."

A throaty chuckle left the cursed witch's lips. "I can't stay, Aderyn. If you don't want to leave this place, I can't force you, but she'll come after you. And she's much deadlier than ever. She's different, Aderyn. I've never seen anyone with so much dark magical energy."

"That's why I say stay, Reagan. I'll need your help. You know you can't go back there again; they'll kill you."

"I agree too on that. You came here to help our Luna, then stay."

"Wait a minute. He's not staying in my pack after what he did."

"And I really don't plan on staying."

I was about to speak when Aderyn grabbed my hand, wanting to talk to me.

I couldn't say no to my mate, could I?

"He's not staying, neither is he leaving here alive." Those were the words that came out when I was alone with my mate.

Aderyn crossed her perfect, soft hands over her chest, staring at me before finally breathing out. "I know he attacked the pack, but Dylan, believe me, Reagan is not dangerous."

I raised my brows, chuckling sardonically. "He's not dangerous? Have you met the guy? Well, I don't really care about that. He attacked the pack and crossed into my territory to kill my mate. He's dying for that!"

"And are you sure that's the only reason?" Her black brows curled up, trying to read beneath my angry expression.

"Among other reasons," I told her honestly. I was pissed at him for invading my territory, but I guess I was even madder because the fucking witch dared touch my mate. He fucking kissed her. I growled angrily and so did Gunther. I wouldn't even have blinked an eye—not without tearing the bloody bastard apart for daring to touch Aderyn—but I hesitated this time, maybe because of the obvious truth that somehow this fucking witch had a special place in her heart.

Hell, thinking about that made me mad. I really hoped I was wrong about this, but I couldn't help but think if he was the reason Aderyn had been adamant about not letting me in.

Does she love the guy?

I gritted my teeth to prevent myself from growling again. This was the worst feeling ever. I hated the fact that I thought I was second on her list compared to the devil witch. I hated this feeling. I drove my nails deep into my palm, letting them eat through as I tried regaining my composure, but then something warm and soothing formed around my neck.

My eyes widened gently, trying to hide the surprise in them when Aderyn wrapped her gorgeous hands around my neck, boring into the soul of my eyes. I gazed down at her.

"Stop, Dylan. Stop making useless assumptions," she whispered to me, her face not far from mine. I blinked confusedly, not understanding her.

"Reagan is a friend I knew growing up. A very close one, and I owe him my life and know he'll never hurt or betray me." After she paused, I growled in anger at the too much trust she had in this devil witch.

"Listen, Dylan. I know you are angry and pissed at him and what he did..."

I cut her off. "Pissed is an understatement, princess. I'll kill him." I spoke frankly, but she shot me a fierce look.

"Please don't, Dylan. Put your anger aside and realize we need him. Raina and the Blood Stone King have merged together. He knows things that could help us."

I remained silent, listening to her. I didn't want to admit she was right. I really wanted the bastard dead. But she was right.

"He kissed you! He kissed my mate. He dared touch what's mine." My eyes glowed dangerously, replaying the scene in my head.

She remained silent and just bored into me.

"Do you love him?" Stupid, maybe. But I just had to ask the question that had been eating me up inside. "Is that why you refused to let me in? Is that why you are protecting him?"

Aderyn was clearly surprised. She fell silent. Her tempting soft lips curved into a smile, startling and shocking me. Then the smile deepened all the more. Fuck, I almost forgot my fuming rage. She was so beautiful.

"Is the big bad Alpha suddenly jealous?" She almost chuckled. Fuck, if she had, I would have lost it and pulled her into my arms. I shrugged at her comment, refusing to let go of this anger. I had to kill the bastard.

"And what if I am?" Her smile didn't fade; instead, she stared at me with the purest desire. I had never seen such a tender and exclusive gaze in anyone's eyes.

Then her lips opened to say, "Then I'll say there's no reason for you to be, Dylan." Her voice was low and gentle. Her lips moved so temptingly. And her words surprised me; I couldn't help but smirk to myself.

"What are you saying? Do you love me?" I asked flatly, brewing a naughty smirk.

She chuckled, then I saw a red stain cover her cheeks. Was she seriously blushing?

"What I'm saying is, I—I—" She was fighting with her words, then her eyes became dead serious. "You are addictive, Dylan." Her smile appeared as she tried to withdraw her warm hands from my neck. I held her tightly, pinning her to my body. I tried inhaling her scent but was greeted with a different, foreign scent—one that belonged to that witch. He was all over her.

I snarled. "I hate him."

"But we need him. Let him stay and help us out."

I breathed out, pinching the skin between my forehead. "He won't stay."

She smiled. "Let me take care of that." Her smile reassured me he'd surely agree to it, but it also stirred up a question in me. How would she make him stay?

"If he tries that again with you, I'll kill him. This time for real."

Aderyn barely nodded. But I meant my words. I still hated him and did not plan on liking him. But this wasn't about me and my hateful gut toward him; I had to think of my pack's and Aderyn's safety. And if this devil witch could help, well then, I was left without a choice.

My mate and I walked back to the fucking bastard. His visible right eye was boring into me with an expression I couldn't read. Fuck! I couldn't read him as well; he must have spelled himself or something. Well, I'd address that matter later.

Aderyn moved to him, taking him away. I held myself back, watching them from a distance, listening to them.

"Do you really trust him, Dylan?" came Morgan from beside me.

"No. I hate him," I stated bitterly.

"I don't trust him, but I trust our Luna, and if she trusts him, I'm with her on that," Morgan said.

"I concur with you. Besides, he saved Allegra's life, killing his own companions."

I sighed.

Then my mate and the witch approached us. I already knew his decision because I was listening to every detail of their 'talk.' And he was staying. My mate didn't even have to persuade him much; he claimed it was all for her safety.

Gosh, I hated it when he said those things.

'I'm still not in support of this,' came Gunther's voice from the back of my mind.

'That makes the two of us.'

"He's going to help us," my mate said.

"Just to be clear, I'm doing this for Aderyn," he said, curving his lips into a smirk. "I don't like you."

"I don't fucking care, witch—"

"I prefer the devil instead," he said.

"It's Reagan," my mate said, stepping in between us. But I could still see his smile; it was hardly fading. His deep, visible gaze spelled danger for me, and I couldn't help but wonder what lay beneath his long, black, gleaming hair.