Kyle pov
“Ahhhhh”, faith screamed. I felt every fibre of my entire being tense. My mate was afraid, and the desire to protect her was almost overwhelming. I bite my tongue so hard just to fight back the urge to growl that I can taste the blood. I couldn't risk doing anything to scare Ingrid. It was a miracle that she even came.
“Impressive”, Ingrid appraised me. I was used to being in the spotlight, that's where leaders had to be, but something about being at the centre of her attention was unsettling.
“Excuse me?” I say.
“You are an Alpha wolf, I could sense your reaction, but you controlled it. Most don't even bother to try. They think having an animal is an excuse to behave as unruly as they please. I am surprised and delighted by this.” Ingrid remarks.
My attention shifts to David. He's quickly on his feet. He looks nervous and upset. I can see the desperation etched in his face, his eyes begged her to turn around, and I suspect that he is struggling with his own wolf. It would be hard to have your mate so near and have her pay no attention to you. she hasn't even spared the poor bugger a single glance.
“And who might you be?” the witch asked Faith curiously.
“My name is Faith Huntress. I am Alpha Kyles mate and proud luna of this pack. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance” Faith stuck her hand out firm and strong. There was an intense pause before Ingrid finally took her hand and shook it. I was proud of my girl for being diplomatic, polite but stern and yet not threatening. She was amazing.
“Let's get to the point then, shall we.” I watch the small witch as she approaches the window and gazes out over my pack. I was proud of the reserve we resided on and hoped that she could appreciate the beauty of it. Maybe it would persuade her to stay with David.
Ingrid is nothing at all like I had expected. David had described her as beautiful and regal but not much else. He didn't have the chance, I suppose.
Eloise and her mother were polar opposites, different in every single way.
Ingrid was on the shorter side, maybe 5”2 at best. Eloise had legs longer than the Vegas strip, at 5”9.
Ingrid had a lot more curves than her daughter, who was obsessed with her weight. Eloise had beautiful fiery red hair and steel grey eyes that looked blue in the right light.
Ingrid's hair was a rich, smooth chocolatey brown, and her eyes were hazel in colour.
“She took after her dad,” Ingrid comments, but she doesn't look at me. She simply continues to gaze out the open window.
“Can you read minds or something?” she was a witch. After all, the possibility was real.
“No. I can't read your thoughts. But I can feel the heat of your eyes. I just assumed, given your history with my daughter, that you'd be making some comparisons. Was I wrong?” she turns and looks me directly in the eye.
“No. You wouldn't be,” I admit, I see no reason to lie.
“Would you care to sit?” Faith offers our guest.
“No, thank you. I prefer to stand.” her gaze shifts back out the window. I'm surprised by Ingrids willingness to stand with her back turned towards us.
“In fact, I would appreciate it if we could cut to the chase. Your beta mentioned something about a curse? Care to tell me more about it.”
I swear I could see David's heartbreak. She refused even to say his name.
“Do you need a drink or something, beta?” I offer David. I know he wouldn't want to leave as long as she was here. The need to protect her would be consuming him, but the least I could do was give him a small out if he needed it.
“No, thank you, Alpha. I'm fine,” he replies Stoically.
I take my chair, and Faith pulls hers up beside mine.
“Where would you like me to begin?” I don't particularly feel like going over everything with Ingrid, but I would if it meant getting her help.
“ just about the curse. I'd prefer not to get into much else, please.”
“Okay, well, After discovering Eloise wasn't my mate, some pretty unpleasant stuff took place when I confronted her. In the midst of it, she placed a curse on me, a curse that I can feel, it’s like an evil stain on my heart. I don't know the first thing about it; honestly tho, I have tried damn hard to find out anything I could. But the curse means that the first person” I the back of faiths hand. I'm not ashamed to admit that I need the support. I feel so darn guilty that she was innocent in all this, yet she was forced to bare my punishment with me.
“That I mate with and mark after her to have sickly babies. Babies that will die moments after birth. She wants me to watch them die, to stand by helpless as my true mate suffers again and again. I won't put Faith or any pup through that. I want to break the curse.” I feel angry just talking about it. I always did.
“I see,” Ingrid replies rather tensely, tho I don't know which part of it makes her upset.
“You know there was a perfectly easy way out of this.” she looks me in the eye. I don't like how judgemental they look right now. Still, I mind my temper.
“And what pray tell may that be.” had there really been an easy way out, and I have been missing it all this time.
“You could have marked any female. The curse would have been bound between the two of you, and then you could have killed her. Bam curse broken, you meet your true mate and live your lives happily ever after surrounded by a beautiful litter of Alpha pups.”
This time I can't control the growl that tears through my throat. How vile, how evil. Kill an innocent woman, what kind of person, what kind of man would do such a thing.
“That is Despicable.” I snap angrily. “I would never hurt an innocent.”
“You hurt my daughter.” she defended herself. This was a mistake. I should have never asked her here. What a waste of my time.
“Your daughter wasn’t innocent.” I had no reservations pointing this out.
“She was playing with dark magic and toying with others. She was power hungry and reckless.” I remind her.
Ingrid's lips turned up into a surprising smirk that caught me off guard, and her eyes gave way to her
Mischief.
“What?” I can’t help but ask.
“I just needed to know what kind of man you were before I agreed to help you.” She replies with cheek.
I had this woman all wrong. I expected her to be this timid little thing, but she wasn’t. Sure she didn’t trust us, but it wasn’t because she was scared and weak, wrecked by a horrid past. She was just smart enough not to trust us. She’d make a fine beta female if she ever chooses to accept David as her mate.
“And did I pass your little test?” I quirk an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued by this woman.
“I would have preferred a little less attitude, young man, but yes. Unlike the others of your kind that I have met, you are not willing to harm another for selfish reasons. I will help you.”
I all but sighed in relief. Ingrid was going to help us. That’s exactly what I had hoped for.
“How?” Faith asked eagerly.
“First of all, I’d like to speak to your beta in private if I may.”
David entire being came to life.
“Why?” Faith let slip before her hand quickly covered her mouth. My goodness, she was so cute.
“Sorry that was rude, forgive me.” Faith apologised politely. But I could see her curiosity push at her.
“Forgiven Luna.” Ingrid waved it off.
“Take all the time you need. Beta David, please mind link me as soon as you are ready for our return.”
I lead Faith from the room. My mate can’t help herself and spares frequent quizzical glances over her shoulder. I knew already what was coming, and soon as the lock clicked shut.
“Okay, what was that?” Faith blurted without shame.
“I don’t know” I still don’t know if I should tell her David’s secret.
Tell mate. She looks so cute like that.
Faith stared up at me, I knew she was faking it, but her cute puppy dog eyes and fake pout were hard for me to resist.
GIVE IN. give mate what she wants. Duke whines. And even harder for Duke, apparently. He’s a sucker for her.
Fine. You whipped poodle. I surrender to Duke. I’m sure Faith would keep it to herself.
Don't you dare say anything, but they are mates. David told me. But he isn't ready for anyone to know yet. This has to stay between us.
I say over our mind link to avoid being overheard.
Faith gasps in shock, and her eyes snap to my office and back to me and then back to my office. This continues several more times as she tries to wrap her mind around what I just told her.
Nooooo wayyyyyy. She finally replies.
Wait a minute. Faith’s excitement dissipates rather quickly, and she appears to be conflicted about something.
Is that why David has been so sad lately? Did Ingrid reject him? She asks with great concern. She was such a kind soul. She never ceased to amaze me with how much she cares for others.
No. She hasn't rejected him, but she didn't accept him or the bond either. If I had to guess, I would say that's why she wanted to speak with him alone for a minute. I admit.
So you think she's rejecting him? I feel her sadness wash over me through our connection.
I hope she's accepting him... I really do...but I don't know. I guess we're just going to have to wait and see.
I promise not to tell David or anyone.