Chapter 32 CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
MAEVA
Everything is fine, untill it isn't. The world tilts and I hold on to the kitchen counter so I don't fall over. Everything blurs and my eyes sting. I blink furiously to clear my vision but nothing changes.
What did that witch give me? I made sure that everything was measured and brewed correctly. I told Taron not to contact me and I cut off the mind link so I could concentrate on it and this is my reward?
My stomach burns and I clutch it hard. Since I'm no longer holding on to the wall, I plop to the ground. My skin burns, my claws extend and my fangs come out.
I needed something to take this pain away, not induce it. This is the last time I'll ever trust a witch. The next minute, I feel fine. My claws and fangs retract and the burning heat is gone, leaving me in cold sweat.
I hope this means it has worked or I swear to everything, I will find that witch and I will hurt her.
A loud bang on the door caused me to pause. Taron would never come here after my instructions and he would never knock like that. I sniff the air and my confusion rises. Four pack elders are in front of my door. How dare they come without invitation or permission?
I pull myself up and march to the front door. I pull the door open, ready to rip them a new one but the looks on their faces stop me.
It's not anger on their faces, it's dejection and worry.
"What is it?" I ask.
I open communication back with Taron. "How are you the Beta but you don't know that there are pack elders are at my doorstep?"
"You cut me off and you don't have a cell phone. I was hoping to get to your house before they do. I'm at your backdoor."
"We want to know our fate." One of them says.
"Your fate? Please speak clearly."
"You spoke to the Alpha's that came this morning but you didn't say anything to the pack you are Alpha over. What happens to us when you become Alpha Caius' Luna?"
"I'm nobody's Luna."
"So you say, but we all know this is above you. The council is involved now and sooner or later, you will be mated to him. What will happen to our pack?"
I clench my fists and take quick breaths to calm myself. Why does everybody think that mating with Caius is a foregone conclusion? I have a mind of my own and I will not be forced or threatened into mating with him.
"Our pack will be fine because I am not mating with him. I won't have this conversation anymore. Take my word for it and be at rest."
I don't wait for their replies before I turn back and slam the door shut. Taron is in my living room looking solemn.
"I don't think we're ready for the consequences of what you want to do."
"What's he going to do? Force the bond on me?"
He shakes his head and looks away.
"We'll be fine. It might not look like it right now but we'll be fine. The council will be fine. Caius will eventually be fine and move on."
"And if he doesn't?"
He has to. That thing that I drank can't be for nothing. We have to break this bond before it expires. Taron sighs heavily and slips out of the room. I stand in the room, pacing and turning. I need something that will snap Caius into breaking this bond with me. Something that will make him hate me enough to not want anything to do with me.
I pace and stress for hours, considering the pros and cons of the different ideas that come to mind. I keep pushing away the only viable option untill I have no choice. I have to tell the council that I can't mate with Caius because I already have someone I want to be mated to.
I'll have to lie and say I will mate with Taron for as long as I can and play the part to make it believable. Hopefully, I won't have to do it for long. Caius is a proud Alpha, he won't like hearing that I'm mating with a Beta. A Beta he knows I occasionally fuck. He will be humiliated and will want nothing to do with me.
Taron will have to stay in the pack for his own protection but in the end we'll all have what we want.
"Bring the car to the house. I want to go somewhere." I tell Taron through the mind link.
"Alright."
I get dressed to head out to the council immediately. Taron will tell them that I want an audience and the ones that can be available will come. I don't need all of them there, I just need two that will relay the message to the others.
Taron honks the car and I meet him outside. When I don't get into the passenger seat, he looks at me in confusion.
"I thought you said you wanted to go somewhere?"
"Yes. I'm going. You're not coming with me."
"You want to drive."
"Yes. I'm going to meet with the council. Please tell them I'm coming."
"You want to drive hours to the council." He says, not believing me.
"This is getting ridiculous. Get down from the car so I can get going."
He gets down from the car and holds the door open for me.
"Alpha, what are you going to do?"
I can't tell him. He won't agree to it and I don't have any choice left. Taking a stand won't mean much if Caius is going to play patient lover. It's either this or fuck someone on his pack boundary. I'd rather not go that extreme.
"You'll find out when I come back."
He has that look in his eyes like he thinks this will go bad for the both of us. I enter the car and drive off immediately so I don't start thinking the same thing.
The drive to the council is long because I don't speed but I eventually make it. I park in front of the council building and walk inside.
Alpha Haze, Alpha Hill and Alpha Brent are seated and they do not look happy to see me.
"You had better have a good reason for pulling us here tonight, Alpha Maeva." Alpha Brent says.
He is the only one who looks angry. Alpha Hill and Alpha Haze look annoyed but not at me.
"I'm sorry for pulling you out this night so I'll make it quit. I will not mate with Alpha Caius. I have someone I have picked as my chosen mate and I will mate with him."
Alpha Brent slams his palms on the table and I jump in shock. I have never seen him this angry before.
"I dare you to repeat what you just said, Alpha Maeva."
I recover from the shock, square my shoulders and meet his gaze.
"I will mate with my Beta, Taron."