35. Malix

Ever since that day, the battle we fought and the things I said....I've regretted that day ever since. From the moment I saw her in those woods close to dying from a wound that would have surly killed any body else I knew that she was special. I was young back then and ignorant of the outside world. The lycan pack didn't talk to outsiders, or interact in any way. My father was the only one at the time who would leave for unknown reasons. I used to beg him to let me come with him when I was little but he refused.

Then one day he stopped leaving and lead us deeper into the woods, further isolating us from the outside world. I know now that it was because of the attack on the silver moon pack but still back then I hated him for it. I thought him a coward, scared of change. Scared of humans even though we were half human ourselves. I was mad at him for not allowing us to be apart of the world. For not letting us live our lives freely, always restricting us to the woods.

So when I found Rav which was The name Raine had given me back then i was introduced to the outside world. She was proof that the others of our kind were not to be feared. Though she never spoke about herself or her family it didn't matter. I used to watch her paint forest scenes. The way she took something that I had once thought mundane and boring and made it into something beautiful. She thought our way of life was amazing, often telling me she was jealous. She longed to disappear from the world. It was odd we were complete opposites I wanted out and she wanted in. It made me wonder what had happened to her to make her think like that. What had she gone through to want to disappear?

Thinking back on it now I knew deep down that she longed to escape. I often saw in her eyes so much pain. I had written it off as something small, something insignificant like not getting along with her parents or something. Never would I have imagined that she had been suffering to such an extent for so long.

The night she came to warn me still burns inside my mind. I had grown up with stories of Raines misdeeds. I knew about Driaks evil and knew that he was part of the reason we hid in the forests. So when she told me that he was basically a father to her, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't handle that my father had been right. That the girl I had so clearly fallen in love with had used me. She didn't even get a chance to warn me about the attack. The second she revealed her true name I saw red. I assumed that the whole thing had been a ruse to gain information about my pack. To find a way in, to murder us just as she had murdered so many others.

I attacked before she even had a chance to explain herself. It that moment I hated her, hated that I loved someone such as her. Hated that I had fallen for such an obvious trap. Blamed her for getting my hopes up about the world outside. Our battle didn't last long. She was a protege, a genius in fighting. She wasn't stronger but that didn't matter, she was smarter. She knew how to turn other's strengths against them. It didn't help that I was taken over by my emotions.

She stood above me as I lay there unable to move thinking that I would die, that she would kill me just as she had killed so many others. However she just stared down at me a sad lonely look in those stunningly beautiful blue eyes. Eyes that had lost all hope. I couldn't look away as she silently pulled a mask from her bag. As she put it on I saw a glistening tear roll down her cheek as her face disappeared behind it. A white mask of rain drops that hid the pain of years of abuse.

The years that followed I tried to move on tried to forget. I tried to except my life as the heir to the Lycan pack. She didn't attack the pack that night but I knew it was only a matter of time. So we started moving the pack every few months to make it harder for her to find us. I never told my dad about my friendship with Raine he only knew that she had attacked me. I suspected that he knew more then He let on though he never said anything.

I didn't see her again til almost four years later. I had been hunting with the pack when she attacked us. She was alone in human form and wearing that Erie mask. She was different then last time, more ferocious, more deadly. I tried to talk to her, tried to reason with her. Apologise for back then but it was almost like she was beyond hearing. Beyond comprehending what I was trying to say. Almost like she was not the one in control. Like she had completely let herself be taken over. There was no getting through to her back then. I knew that if we didn't escape she would kill us without hesitation.

It wasn't easy but luck was on our side that night. In the middle of our fight a howl sounded calling her to retreat. I never found out the cause for the retreat but we were in no position to investigate it. after seeing her like that, seeing the intent to kill in her eyes I knew the last four years I had been lying to myself. Fighting something I knew to be true. After that fight I left the Lycan pack to search for her. I looked for a year learnt all that I could about her and her abilities. I needed to be able to beat her to the point where I could make her listen to me. Make her hear what I had to say. I had to help her, save her from Driak.

For a year I searched. Some said she had gone into hiding others believed her dead. I wanted so badly to find her to tell her how I felt. Half way through the second year my father found me. He ordered me to give up my search. We fought and I told him everything. That was the first time I'd ever seen a softness to his eyes. In our pack he was one of the few who knew what it was to feel the bond of a wolf. He was also one of the few that knew what it felt like to loose that bond. I'll never forget the words he speak to me that night.

"If you truly believe that Raine is the one bonded to you then you will know in your heart whether she is alive or dead. Look to that bond if you know whiteout a doubt she is still alive then believe in that bond. Believe that the bond will bring you both back together."

His words were true I knew she was my mate. From the moment we met we shared a bond that could only be that of mated pair. I knew she was still alive and even though I had no idea where she had disappeared I believed fate would bring us back together.

At least that's what I thought. When my father told us of what had transpired with the red eye pack and that Vericus had been mated to Raine, I couldn't believe it, Didn't want to believe it. I know what we have is the bond of mates but how could two males be mated to the same female? It was unheard of. I started to doubt myself and what I felt for her. That's why I asked Sloane about his mate bond with Cora. I thought that maybe hearing it from him might shed some light on what I had felt for Raine for so many years.

It didn't change anything however I still feel now as I felt before talking to him. I know without a doubt that she is my mate. Vericus may be king but I refuse to give her up without a fight. Even if it turns out she doesn't want me I will be by her side. I'll never let her out of my sight again.

I sat beside her on the bed, her blond hair spread out in waves. I could still taste her lips on mine and missed the feel of her body beneath my own. After so long, so many years to finally feel her skin against mine. It was like a dream come true. Of course it was cut short with whatever Driak had done to her. Cora had said that Kandra or rather Raines true self had been locked inside her mind, yet Raine herself had warned Vericus against touching her. She had told him that if he did something bad would happen.

Did that mean something bad would happen to him or to her? Not to mention Driak had apparently implanted some sort of sirens power within her to lure him in. It just didn't make sense, none of it made sense if I'm honest. Clearly I could touch her but what was with the reaction inside her mind. Was that Kandras way of trying to stop Raine from being with me or was it something Driak had done?

I was so happy when I found out Raine had been found I almost couldn't contain it. Now seeing her, seeing that three clawed scar on her soft skin made a low growl rumble in my chest. I'll kill that bastard for what he's done to her. Experimenting on her using her. Why didn't she tell me back then? I could have done something, I would have taken her away from him. Often I saw her staring off into the distance a sad expression on her face. If only I'd realised it for what it was.

I shook my head, there was no use dwelling in the past. She was here now and no matter what I would stay by her side. Leaning down I kissed her forehead where her new scars started and left the bedroom.

I had no doubt that she had come here for a reason. What the reason was I guess I'll find out when she wakes up. The safe house was a complete shambles. I didn't know how long Raine would be out but I knew she would need food. Heading outside I grabbed the bag id left on the ground on my way in. Sloane had given me everything from provisions to bottles of water. I also had it packed full of spare clothes and a hunting knife. The provisions consisted of basically protein bars since it was easy enough to hunt real food as a wolf but the protein bars would do for now.

Just as I was about to go back inside the phone Sloane had given me started ringing. It took me awhile to figure out how to answer it since as a Lycan we didn't exactly use mobile phones but I eventually go it to work.

"Hello."

"Malix it's Sloane here did you manage to find Raine?"

If I told him no he was likely to send someone else out to help look. It was better if he continued to trust that I was doing this for his brother rather then myself. Plus this way if Vericus does come back I can lead him on a wild goose chase.

"Yes she's at one of the red eye pack safe houses."

"Why would she be there? She has to know we already checked all the safe houses for Driak and whatever else that could lead us to him."

"Either your boys missed something or she's just here to rest the night. Any word from Vericus yet?"

"No I'm getting worried there's no way he would be gone from the pack for this long."

I remained silent pensive. Torn between two worlds wasn't as easy as I thought. Sloane was a good guy true to his pack and his brother. Even though I'd only known him for a short time I could at least see that much.

"Don't worry I'm sure he'll turn up eventually."

Though even I knew it was a lie. When I thought I'd lost Raine I was gone for a year. I doubt Vericus would be any different.

"Either way concentrate on your own problems leave Raine to me. I'm sure Driak isn't finished with the red eye pack."

"Yeah thanks Malix I'll ring again in a few days."

"Yup."

I hung up sighing. What is your end game Driak? Was this really all just so you can die? Surely there was easier ways to go about it. Is that really all there is to this so called curse? The gods are fickle creatures, would they really be happy with how long this has drawn out? If only there was some way to contact the moon goddess. I clenched my hand around the phone. It's said that ever since this whole thing started the ability to contact any of the gods was lost to all sups, but what was the reason for it? Why did they abandon us? Why did she abandon us because of the actions of three individuals?

None of this was right, none of it made sense. There had to be more to all of this, but what was it. I growled, why trap Raines true self inside her mind? And what was with Kandras words to Vericus. It was never his burden to carry? I thought Driak was the one cursed so why would she say that? I had so many questions and yet if I asked Raine would she answer them? Guess there was only one way to find out. One thing was clear though no matter what her answers we were in this together.