Chapter 22: What are you, Rue?

"What do you think she is?" Henry asked.

He and Thane stood by the window in his bedroom, staring occasionally at Rue who was fast asleep on the bed.

The healer had already tended to her wound and assured him that she didn't lose a lot of blood, so she would wake up in a few hours.

Now he sat with Henry, the leader of the elite warriors and the only man he trusted.

"I don't know." He answered finally. "They said she was wolfless from birth."

"True." Henry nodded. "According to what I gathered, she was born that way."

"But what I saw," Thane frowned. "It was out of the ordinary. Her eyes glowed bright gold, unlike anything I've ever seen. She shattered that creature without even lifting a hand."

"And you said all she did was scream?" Henry asked again.

"Yes. She was in pain. Her eyes changed with her scream, and the next thing I knew, the skinwalker attacking her shattered to bits."

Henry shook his head. He had never witnessed something like that either. It sounded too strange to be true.

"You went into heat." He continued. It wasn't a question, but Thane nodded all the same.

"I thought once I claimed her, this pull I feel towards her will be gone. Too bad the fight tonight killed the urge."

Henry sat up suddenly as if he just remembered something.

"I forgot an important detail." He said.

"What?"

"When I asked around at her pack, it seemed a lot of people were eager to talk bad about her, considering how she murdered her parents."

"What did you find out?" Thane asked impatiently.

"On the night she was convicted of the murder, her maid was killed. This caused her a lot of pain because it seemed she and the maid were close."

"How is this of any importance?"

"When she witnessed her maid's death, she lost control and screamed. People said it was terrifying."

"What? The scream?"

"They said it shattered the windows, and threatened to bring down the building. No one had ever witnessed something like that, and a few speculated that she was cursed with a witch's magic."

Thane remained silent after Henry finished. His mind was restless, his thoughts scattered.

Deep down, he knew Rue wasn't ordinary, despite the fact she was wolfless. First the golden light, then the strange pull he felt towards her. Now this one he witnessed himself.

He shouldn't have been bothered by it, but he was, especially now that he was beginning to grow a soft spot for her.

"What are you going to do, Alpha?" Henry asked.

"Nothing." Thane answered. "For now. I'll keep a close eye on her. I have a feeling about her, but I don't know if it's a good one or a bad one."

"Should I inform the council?"

"No. They can't know anything. Just like the others, let this one also be between us."

"Got it. And what about her?"

Thane turned and glanced at Rue. Her chest rose softly as she breathed. She looked so vulnerable. He suddenly wanted to know everything about her.

"I'm going to do something I have never done in a long time." He said finally.

Henry looked up expectantly. "And what's that?"

"By dawn, take her away from the harem." Thane said. "She'll stay close to me in the castle here. Have the maids clean up Katherine's room and put her there. I want to be able to keep an eye on her."

"Yes, Alpha." Henry nodded. "Anything else?"

Thane went silent for a moment, brooding quietly. Then he said, "The skinwalkers' attacks became frequent the moment I brought Rue here. That could mean they're after her. I'm not completely sure, but I might have to use her as bait."

Henry's eyebrows heightened in surprise. "Bait?" He repeated.

"Don't worry, I don't plan to sacrifice her." Thane said. "I want to be sure the skinwalkers are actually after her."

"And if they are?"

"Then I guess we'll have to find out what Rue is and protect her."

"You care about her, don't you? More than you should."

Thane's face hardened suddenly. He looked over at Henry and scoffed. "I care about my harem, if that's what you mean."

"That's not what I mean, Alpha. And you know it." Henry stated. "You care for Rue, more than you've ever cared for anyone. Not even Katherine. Hell, you imprisoned Katherine because she insulted Rue."

Thane wanted to argue, but in the end, he changed his mind. There was no need denying it.

Yes, he imprisoned Katherine because of Rue. Yes, he cared about her, more than he should. He felt drawn to her the moment he set eyes on her the night he bought her.

"It doesn't matter how much I care about her." He murmured after a while. "With the strange things that have been happening, I'm beginning to suspect. The moon goddess might be playing a shitty game."

"You think she might be your mate."

"Yes. And if she is, you know I won't hesitate. Selene thinks she can test my limits. I'll kill her, no matter the feelings I have for her."

Henry didn't know how to respond to that, mainly because he knew Thane was serious.

His last mate, Ariadne, had almost succeeded in killing him, almost succeeded in making the curse come to pass.

And Thane had loved her. Still, he heartlessly killed her. Ripped out her heart without flinching. Because he wouldn't let the moon goddess win this battle.

"I guess I'll turn in for the night, Alpha." He said finally and slowly stood up. "I'll keep the mind link open, in case the skinwalkers attack again."

"I doubt they will." Thane murmured. "They won't return so quickly, not after what Rue did to one of them."

He remained standing by the window long after Henry left. His mind was restless.

For the very first time, he was conflicted. The thought of killing Rue filled him with a kind of fear he didn't understand.

After a while, he pushed the thought away. He was just jumping to conclusions. Rue wasn't his mate. What he felt for her was infatuation, lust, and it would fade the moment he claimed her.

He turned softly and looked at the bed where she lay. His heart softened somewhat.

Moving quietly, he walked to the side of the bed and leaned over her. Sweat had dampened her hair, plastering it to the side of her face. Her lips were parted slightly, her cheeks flushed.

She was so beautiful. How could someone as perfect as this be a murderer? He had so many questions to ask her.

He lifted his hand and brushed the wet strands away from her face. Then he stroked her cheek, his thumb moving softly.

"What exactly are you, Rue?" He whispered.

He remained in that position for a while, his eyes unfocused. He would have to leave soon, to prepare for the night of the blood moon.

But instead of leaving, he crawled into the bed and pulled her into his arms, letting her scent wash over him and lull him to sleep.