Chapter 38
Reyland laughed dryly.
“Now I have proved things to you as well right? You’re disgusted,” he stated flatly.
“I –” Anna protested weakly, the strain of the last few minutes weighing heavily on her heart and mind.
“Don’t bother. I’m the one whose kindness is hurtful? Your hands are less painful than that look on your face a second ago. I assure you of that,” he continued dryly.
What Reyland did not know, what he would not allow Anna to tell him, was that she had not been repulsed by him.
She was aroused, and if he had been anything of a wolf, he would have known it clearly.
Her face had crumpled because her mind was racing too fast, in too many directions.
When her eyes had fallen on his response to their kiss, she had thought of the wolves he had mentioned earlier, so casually.
She had thought of the time she had wasted not knowing how he tasted.
Of how she had never seen just how blue his eyes were or how soft his skin was.
She had been disgusted with herself.
Not him.
And now, as he rejected her so bitterly, as he rejected his own self, her heart broke.
It broke for him, and it broke for her.
This view he has…of himself…
He won’t ever allow himself to see anything except these sad thoughts!
Anna mused, her eyes on the kind, so very kind, man in front of her.
These limiting beliefs!
Even if he is wrong, he won’t hear it.
He can’t see beyond this cage he has closed himself in!
That’s why he stays here, stays away from everyone!
He doesn’t want to be seen!
Oh, goddess!
I knew it before, but never like this.
Not this clearly!
Reyland!
Won’t you free yourself?
Won’t you try?
The pain of her thoughts weighed down on her.
At a loss, confused by her reaction to a man she had walked beside for half a year, afraid of all the consequences that awaited her once she returned to her cousin and her cousin’s husband, she lost all composure.
Anna wept.
Her head fell on Reyland’s shoulder as he sat at the kitchen island, his gaze far away.
The image of Marian touching him without restraint flooded into his mind.
He shook his head sadly, his heart heavier than he could ever recall it being in his life.
She was not herself.
He mused.
At least Anna is awake, aware, alert.
Marian was…what was Marian at that time?
Delirious?
Maybe…let’s leave it at that.
Her kiss before she had flashed out of his house came to him.
Maybe…
He reflected, but refused to go beyond that.
“I’m tired, Anna,” he said out loud.
“Go. Tell your cousin you want to go home for New Year’s. Come back in the spring. Tell her you miss your family,” he coxed gently as he rubbed her back.
Anna sniffled and raised her face to Reyland’s
“I’m so sorry, Reyland. I’m sorry,” she replied, her voice weak as her eyes searched his face.
“Like I said,” he commented neutrally as he wiped the now stilled blood from his nose, his body still inches from Anna’s, “I’m the one who said no.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of my Alpha and Luna. Okay?” he concluded reassuringly.
“Can we…can we still be friends?” she asked meekly, her mind moving forward.
If I can't be his mate, I can be his friend.
If I am his friend, I can still try to help him see…
Help him see himself in a better light.
She mused as she gazed imploringly up at the wolfless prince.
Reyland leaned to the side casually, resting his elbow on the island.
“I don’t know, will you slap me any time I don’t let you speak?” he asked coyly.
Anna broke into a wide smile, despite the tears still falling from her eyes, and despite the heaviness that had spread from her heart and mind into her body.
She nodded vigorously.
Reyland raised an eyebrow, and she gasped, giggled, and shook her head vigorously.
“Then I have no objections,” he commented gallantly.
Anna threw her arms around his neck; it would have been impossible for her to hug him by the shoulders.
“I love you, Reyland,” she called out happily.
He smiled softly. “I love you, too,” he rumbled, hugging her warmly.
\==========
Dax was making the rounds at the Christmas lunch. Corien was beside him.
The Luna was seated at the high table set for pack leaders and their special guests.
Beside the Luna, to her left, were Dax’s second wife, Zara, the Luna’s cousin, Anna.
Then Diane’s and Zara’s sons, young pups, both in their teens.
As the Alpha moved between the tables, pack members, greeted him, laughed with each other, talked, and moved about. The more senior wolves, raised cups and toasted the Alpha as he passed by.
He would stop and have a drink with those who did this.
The atmosphere was lively and highly charged with positive energy.
The pack was at full strength and everyone was making merry.
Byron, the pack doctor, was seated at a table packed with older wolves.
Gravan was nowhere in sight.
Marian was…approaching the Alpha with a gait and at a pace that made those she passed fall silent and his personal guard, step forward.
Eight feet in front of her Alpha and before a quickly quieting crowd, Marian knelt, on one knee, and bowed her head.
“Alpha Dax. I, Marian Storm, have returned,” she stated loudly.
The whole compound was silent.
“For what purpose?” he asked formally, his eyes not shifting from her bowed head as he stood tall in front of her.
“Punishment!” Marian responded firmly.
“For what crime?” he inquired; his tone neutral.
“Leaving the pack grounds without permission!” Marian announced, loud and clear enough for everyone present to hear.
“Oh? But that penalty has been taken,” Dax replied, his voice steady.
Marian paused.
She inhaled, raising her shoulders, then exhaled heavily, but did not raise her head.
“Then…Reinstatement!” she stated at the same volume.
“Oh?” Dax droned.
“You? Will fight for us?” he asked her slowly, deliberately.
“Yes!” she replied confidently.
“You? Will defend our borders?” he asked inquiringly.
“Yes!” Marian declared.
“I will decide on this. For now, rise, Marian Storm,” he commanded; his eyes fixed on her.
Marian rose, her gaze still on the ground.
“This wolf wandered off at the New Year Moon and has returned at the Remembrance,” Dax announced to all present.
“She will live with us, eat with us, train with us, as she always has since the battle was fought.”
“The price paid restores all her privileges. However, recent transgressions are still being weighed.”
“Until such a time as the council makes its decree, Marian Storm is to remain with the pack as…” Dax turned his head slightly toward Corien, without glancing back at him.
Corien stepped forward, his eyes glazed over as he linked with Dax.
“Marian Storm,” Corien droned, his strong voice vibrating in every head and heart. Marian’s head snapped up.