Chapter 28 The choice
Dravik's pov
Auren sits stiffly on the bed, her eyes glued to the blanket in her hands. She twists the fabric, her fingers restless, as she waits for me to speak.
I say nothing and just watch her.
I know I’m making her uncomfortable. I can feel it in the way her shoulders inch higher and the way her breathing turns shallow. Any other woman would have snapped by now and filled the silence with noise. She does neither, she just endures.
What is it about you?
“She is like a forbidden fruit”, Shadow muses in my head. “So close but so far away. Are you sure it will hurt her. We could just try and stop if she is in pain-.”
“Will you keep your horny self under control,” I snap at him. “Her bond isn't broken yet, you will have to wait”
He let out something like a whimper. I know it isn't what he wanted to hear and if I'm to admit, it’s not what I wanted to hear too.
If I am being honest, Shadow is only voicing what I’m already thinking. I am hiding behind him, using him as an excuse not to face how badly I want her. How badly I want to pull her into me, scent her skin, make her mine and damn the consequences.
“We can make her ours now”, Shadow insists.
I roll my eyes, exhaling slowly. “Would you like another female instead?”
“Hell no!”
The sharp refusal made me chuckle.
“You are not saying anything.”
Auren’s voice breaks through my thoughts and I brought my gaze back to her. Her eyes remain lowered, her lashes casting shadows against her cheeks. Her fingers keep worrying the blanket like it is the only thing keeping her grounded. She radiates so much innocence and I wonder if she is still a virgin.
Oh come on……What is this?
I’m not some foolish boy ruled by lust, so why does she unravel me like this? I haven’t had any interest in a female apart from using a few as means of release.
Maybe it’s because I haven’t had sex in a long time. That must be it.
“I have errands to run,” I say, pushing to my feet.
She nods her head as usual, not questioning me, but I feel her eyes follow me as I cross the room.
Shadow groans. “Coward”.
“Relax. We will visit Penelope and get us sorted.”
“I don’t want Penelope”.
“Too bad. That is what you’re getting.”
As I walk down the stairs, I hear raised voices. Jace’s and Brandon’s among them.
“You can’t be serious, Brandon. Just chill out, man,” I hear Jace hollers.
“I am fucking deadly serious,” Brandon’s voice shakes with fury. “You think because you’re Dravik’s brother I will let you get away with this? Hell no. I don’t care who you are, I fucking outrank you.”
My jaw tightens as I step into the room.
What has he done now?
“You know Jace”, Shadow mutters. “He probably slept with somebody”.
I see Garrick standing between them, one arm braced against Brandon’s chest, the other stretched toward Jace. He meets my gaze and gives a small shake of his head.
It’s Bad he mindlinked me.
I sweep my eyes over the omegas frozen in place. “Out. Now! Get back to work!”
They scatter instantly.
“Jace,” I turn to him. “What the hell did you do now?”
“Seriously, it was ages ago. We got drunk and one thing led to another. It never happened again.”
His eyes flick to Brandon and I immediately know I was right.
“By ages ago,” Brandon roars, “you mean last two months ago, when we first got fucking engaged.”
“Exactly,” Jace shrugs. “Ages.”
“Seriously? You slept with Phoebe?” I ask. “What the fuck is wrong with you.”
Brandon had only just announced his engagement to his long time girlfriend last two months. They have been together since they were kids and the wedding was to take place soon. My fists clench at my sides.
Maybe it wasn’t the boy’s hands that needed chopping off.
Shadow chuckles.
Brandon turns to me, “Tell me you’re not going to let him get away with this.”
I look at Jace. He does not look sorry, not even close.
I love my brother but it’s finally time to admit he is way out of control.
“Oh Comeon man…..If you ask me,” he says lightly, “I did you a favour. At least now you know she isn’t worth it before you realize it when you’re like five years into the marriage, right?”. He smacks Garrick’s arm playfully and Garrick growls, shoving him away.
“Damn,” he mutters. “You’re all so serious.”
“Jace,” I growl coldly. “You have gone too far this time.”
He lifts his hands. “Alright, alright, I know. I’m grounded and will not go anywhere without you or Garrick.”
“No. You’re not getting off easy. Enough is enough. Goddess knows where I failed with you, but I’m not letting you spiral anymore. You will not be grounded, you will be punished accordingly.”
“Punished?” He scoffs. “She isn’t even his wife yet.”
“She was my fiancée,” Brandon shouts, surging forward and Garrick blocks him again.
“What are you going to do?” Jace asks, his eyes narrowing. “Banish me?”
I can see his wolf Ash stir behind his eyes, his eyes turning dark.
“You know what? That is exactly what I will do,” I let all emotion leave my voice, letting Shadow step forward with me. My silver eye burns. “Lucky for you, because she isn’t his wife yet, I’m going to give you two options”.
He continues glaring at me.
“5 years banishment or…..”
My eyes moved to Brandon who gaped at me knowing what will come next, even he is surprised at the words coming out my mouth..
“Or what?” he snaps.
“A fight to the death.”
His jaw drops. “What? You can't be serious. Over this?”
“This,” I say, stepping closer, “is only the end of a long list.”
He stumbles back. “Comeon Dravik. I'm your brother, you raised me. I have learned my lesson and I can change, I swear. I won’t do it again.”
“Clearly I did not raise you well enough,” I roar.
“Comeon man”, he turns to Garrick. “Garrick…..Please….”.
“Dravik,” Garrick pleads. “That is too far.”
I lift a hand. “Don’t come to his rescue, he needs to learn his lesson.”
“Just because of fucking Phoebe?” He snaps.
“But it’s not just Phoebe is it? What of all of Garrick’s girlfriends you always find a way to screw with? Or all the girls I've ever been with, you try to have a way with right from when you were a boy and every other person’s woman you have screwed with. It’s as if you have something to prove, like a challenge that makes you want something already taken. You have had warnings after warnings and now I’m done. You even tried to hit on Auren.”
“That is bullshit,” he snarls.
“Oh really?” I say coldly. “How about the comment you made to Hope, about Auren not being family yet, indicating she is to be shared. Hope fucking tells me everything.”
“If you want to keep touching women that isnt yours,” I continue, “then fucking do it elsewhere. Go to the humans for all I care.”
“If possible, take Phoebe with you,” Brandon spits.
“Oh really,” Jace cocks an eyebrow at him. “You sure you won’t miss her?”
“For fuck’s sake!”, Garrick growls moving without warning, his fist slamming into Jace’s jaw.
Jace hits the floor.
“He is sorry Dravik. Comeon you bastard, get on your fucking knees and say how sorry you are!” He growled at Jace and then turns back to me. “Please man, you have to forgive him this time, he has learned his lesson, he is just a kid.”
I stare down at my brother as he struggles upright, grinning with blood on his lip.
“Twenty four is not a fucking child,” I say. “You know he needs this.”
I step closer, Shadow fully unleashed now.
“The choice is still yours,” I growl. “Better still, choose the fight. You and Ash have always wanted to challenge me. Now is your chance.”
He looks up at me, fear finally naked in his eyes….....finally, a reaction.
“What do you choose?”