A Secret Whisper

Metas sat on the floor next to Myranda's bedside. He held her hand and tenderly kissed her left temple and eye where she landed on the ground. From time to time he would close his eyes and focus the best he could, but his lack of sobriety made it harder for him to heal her quickly or properly.

Joss was still gone, and despite what he had said to Silas, he went to fetch Jyriah immediately. He didn't mind lying to a cowardly man (calling someone a man is considered the highest insult in their culture and rarely said out loud).

The Alpha was grateful both that Joss went to get help, and also that he left him with his mate where they could be alone together. It was the closest and longest they had ever been in one another's company, and Myranda was not awake to enjoy it.

"I will make him suffer for hurting you, my Luna. Not today or tomorrow - but soon," he promised softly next to her and kissed the back of her hand affectionately. "You will be the best Queen in our history. I believe we will rule fairly and make all of this better together," Metas smiled weakly as his inhibitions were quite low, and due to that his eyes watered more than he wanted them to.

"What he did to you will be repaid ten-fold. I swear to you, my sweet" he went on tenderly and smiled at her beautiful face that healed quickly thanks to his presence and soothing kisses he had planted on her temple and face.

He heard the doors open, followed by the stamper of many feet - if he had to guess, they belonged to three people.

Metas was correct. Joss, Jyriah, and Gerald helped themselves into the bakery's front, and then to the back where the living quarters were.

"Silas did this?" Jyriah asked darkly the moment he could see his sister's swollen face that was slowly losing its 'puffiness'.

"Yes, and he will be repaid fully with interest," Metas replied without looking to the fiery red and black haired male that spoke behind him.

"I told Syrana not to tell him about tonight....She promised she wouldn't" he urged.

"She may have said something by mistake, or let something slip at the wrong time," Metas suggested and sighed heavily.

"Is it true - will she not believe you that he did this? Even with witnesses?" The Alpha asked while his eyes stayed glued on his mate's face.

"No chance. I swear he has some magical charm, or maybe she just doesn't want to believe it. Either way - she wouldn't believe me, especially since we just argued about him a few hours ago. I left pretty angry, too. We are not trusting, Metas. Our parents made sure we wouldn't be. It's hard to believe in things we can't see - I'm sure you noticed that with my baby sister," Jyriah said and approached her slowly.

"Why didn't you just kill him?" He asked a little accusingly.

"...because it wasn't the right time. It would be used against me, and label me a coward, or worse - a usurper unfit to rule. I must beat him with my own recognizance and in front of the many wolves of our pack. Would you respect a leader who killed his rival behind closed doors?" Metas asked to answer him.

"Why do you have a good answer for everything?" Jyriah retorted with a playful huff, and once more let humor shield the sadness that bubbled in his stomach.

"I have had my entire life to think about this and planperfectly. I learned from every moment Silas used to embarrass me or hurt me in public, and I don't play into his tricks or games anymore" Metas answered with a calm demeanor.

"I have to leave before she wakes up. Tell her that you saved her - if she knows how much I care for her, she'll do foolish things to save me, when I put myself in those dangerous positions on purpose. Myranda has valor and honor - she'd seek me out to repay me," the Alpha added.

"I can't refute your logic. What do we do about Silas?" Jyriah asked with concern.

"We should make sure someone has eyes on the bakery at all times. If Silas returns, one scout goes to you, and the rest of us step in immediately," Joss suggested suddenly.

"I can keep my eyes on this place. It's my station anyway. I'll get a few guys I met from the party last night to help me. You have allies now, Metas," Gerald said from Joss' side.

"Do you think we can keep her safe until after Operation False Vows?" Jyriah asked as he looked to his mate and now friend.

"Yes. We only have to last a week or so. I think with the amount of people in support of this revolution, we should have enough eyes and ears to keep lookout," Joss assured with a nod.

"Very well. I trust you three with my, and her life. Silas is going to try to make it look like I was being unfaithful to Lara. Gerald, you and I need to get back to her before the round change, and before I don't have an alibi anymore," Metas said, and then kissed Myranda's forehead one last time before he leaned down and whispered into her ear, and then kissed her cheek.

"We should regather at the place and discuss set-up for the coup tomorrow night. Same time - and make sure to have eyes on Myranda in case Silas pulls his tricks again. It will be restless night for me until this is over. No more drinking until we celebrate..." he said to himself more than to his company.

"Let's take the back-halls" Gerald suggested as both he and Metas left the room, and before the Alpha agreed with his friend, he lingered on Myranda's gentle face and smiled again.

'One day, I will wake up to her face everyday, and the suffering will be worth it. Just a week or so, Myranda and we can begin a new era for our kingdom,' he said to her silently and then fully turned to leave.