251- When Instinct Is Not Enough
POV Aldren Valmorin:
“Our age difference is negligible for a wolf, my dear.” I pointed toward the door. “The meeting room is more comfortable.”
“Thanks. Those bright lights kill me—I don’t know how you put up with that shit,” he said, heading out.
I locked the door by biometrics and went toward the back, passing some of my collaborators, among them Felibér. Wearing his uniform, the traitor with pale skin and curly brown hair smiled, showing yellowed teeth, and made a brief bow.
I summoned every ounce of dissimulation in my body to be cordial with him, while wishing to disembowel him.
Once locked in with Edric and my aquarium, I allowed myself to unleash every curse word known on Earth to vent my rage, since no one could hear us there.
“Holy fucking shit from the depths of hell!”
“What the fuck happened?” he asked, sounding concerned as he sat in one of the chairs.
I drew a deep breath into my lungs and braced my hands on the counter, remaining on my feet.
“I told you Kehin gave me a name before being imprisoned in Noctheria, and then Orion gave me the same name.”
“A traitor? Who’s the son of a bitch?”
“Felibér. His intentions still aren’t clear to me, but it involves sabotage to smear my name. He doesn’t agree with the distribution of duties and income. A piece of shit. I was forced to hide cameras all over my fucking village—do you know what that cost me?”
“I do. And the problem isn’t the money.”
“No, it isn’t. It’s the fucking exchange of favors. For humans, it’s enough to call some company and—like magic—your life is solved. But here, brother, in our territories, there’s no way to shove just anyone in.
We were self-sufficient and organized not by choice, but by survival.
If our existence were revealed to the wrong person, we could be wiped out by the armed forces of extremist rulers.
As long as everyone had leverage over everyone else, everyone survived.”
“The plan is to find out who’s with him, right?”
“Exactly.”
“You’ll manage. You always do.”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
Exhausted, I decided to sit across from him. My friend looked at me with a mix of curiosity and concern.
“How do you think they’re doing?” He meant the sisters.
I reflected briefly, and the realization hit me like a slap in the face.
“Look, I’ll explain what’s going to happen. First, they’ll cry and hug each other until they suffocate. Then Lunara will update her on her life, and finally, they’ll talk shit about me.”
Edric burst out laughing.
“Lunara has nothing against you, Aldren. You gave her what she wanted. Now there’s only peace.”
I raised my arm onto the table, offering him my hand.
“Ten grand says I get roasted by the end of the conversation.” I shook my hand, encouraging him to bet.
“No fucking way I’m betting on that shit.” I shook my head, proving my point.
“That’s it. I’m fucked, Edric. Completely fucked.”
“Where’s my super-confident friend? I must’ve lost him somewhere…” He moved his eyes around the small room, pretending to search.
“He stepped out. He’s planning how to cage Elowen again if she decides she wants to go to Eldoria,” I simulated.
“Aldren, you shouldn’t worry about that. Lunara was instructed not to give her sister that kind of incentive.”
A small spark of hope lit up in my mind. If Lunara didn’t influence her, Elowen might choose to stay.
“You did that shit for me?”
“Of course I did.”
“Fuck, I want to kiss you.” I threatened to stand.
“Don’t even try.” He pointed a finger at me.
I bent over laughing nervously, and Edric joined me.
“I’ll only calm down when I get home and assess the territory.”
“Aldren, you’re not the platonic love type. If you’re like this, Elowen must be even worse.”
“What do you mean?” I frowned.
“Madly in love, man. Just look at you.” He had the nerve to use a mocking tone.
“Go to hell.”
My insult made him laugh, of course.
“Not today.” He crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, relaxed.
I was about to relax too, until I remembered another piece of shit.
“Edric, I was born to never have peace on this fucking Earth.”
“More problems?” he asked, incredulous.
“After all these decades, guess which flying animal shows up when I’m with Elowen?”
“No…” he hissed.
“Yes.”
“Fuck.”
“Now tell me—does Lunara think ravens are cute too? Or is it just my crazy bitch?”
My question made a smile creep into the corner of his lips.
“My bitch? Damn, that escalated quickly…”
“Edric, answer my question.”
“I don’t remember Lunara ever praising ravens, Aldren.”
I felt relieved, at least a little.
“We could drink, since we’ll be stuck here,” I suggested.
“That’s not a bad idea.”
“They’re going to take a while.”
“They are.”
I had decided, until I remembered my conversation with Orion.
“Better not. I might need to kill Felibér and his accomplices today. Orion will put the plan into action.”
“Suspicious of whom?”
“Everyone.”
“Even your beloved?” He used a suggestive tone, raising an eyebrow.
“Elowen is a victim. She was poisoned inside her own prison.”
A victim of bad luck, of my traitors, of me, of life.
Edric nodded.
“She must have suffered a lot. That’s sad.”
“Don’t pity her. She’s stronger than you think.”
“Yeah. My female says the same about her sister.”
“And she still manages to be kind, even after all that. It’s surprising.”
“Maybe I’ll get punched for what I’m about to say, but I’ll say it anyway,” he declared.
“It’s good you know we’re friends, but I can punch you in the mouth if necessary,” I warned.
“You don’t fall in love, Aldren. You fuck and trade favors. Do you know why you’re head over heels for my female’s sister? I bet those ten grand she’s your predestined mate.”
My heartbeat rose until I could feel it in my fingers.
“How did you come to that conclusion?” I leaned my forearms on the table, genuinely curious.
“It’s kind of obvious. I had my doubts about whether it was just sexual frenzy, but it’s very clear it’s more than that.”
Lying to Edric was not only unnecessary—it was impossible.
That son of a bitch knew me.
“I don’t think Elowen suspects the bond, so I’d appreciate it if you kept that information from your dear wife.”
“And why?” He frowned.
“Elowen hasn’t gone through the transformation yet. Her decisions still have more rationality.”
“But she’ll transform soon.”
“Until then, I’ll know whether she chooses to stay because she wants to, not because she believes I’m destined to her.”
Edric narrowed his eyes, understanding my point.
Unlike him, I had near-supreme control over my beast. I had lost it only rarely, and with her, it happened twice. Both times, someone was hurt: Teneris and herself.
“You want a fucking proof, don’t you?”
“One more.”
“Your flaw is overthinking,” he shot back.
“And yours is underthinking.”
“I can’t say you’re lying.”
The truth was that I was willing to do unimaginable things for that female, but I had stopped blindly trusting my judgment after being betrayed so many times.
If, soberly, I were her choice and our destinies were entwined, I would be ready to challenge any storm and cross any abyss;
For her.