Scarlet Rogue (Book One)

Chapter Forty: Hobsons Choice

Kaelynn

Words continuously hit my ear drums as the chattering, or rather shouting, continues. I am listening, believe me I am, but understanding is another question. Should I ask? I would but maybe the questions are stupid. It's on me for not asking to join the meetings earlier, even Avery seems more clued up than me and she detests anything political. 'It's boring,' that's what she's always said, I'm inclined to agree. Although boring doesn't mean unimportant, not in this case especially.

"She's at the weakest she has ever been," Mark says.

How do they know? Why isn't anyone questioning it?

The office filled with grave faces acknowledge Mark's words leaving me evermore puzzled. As the conversation continues, the cryptic words keep firing at me. I listen to every syllable and read every face trying to decipher the code as if the words are an encrypted programme.

Beta.

Witches.

Recruitment.

Elves.

Retreat.

The accumulation of words seeming non sequitur. Needles in a haystack or a black cat in a coal cellar. Those would be easier to find than the meaning of the random words I gathered. The words quieten down and finally I am able to stop collecting words.

Chairs squeak and footsteps begin as the office empties out. The clock striking one in the background contradicting my belief that the meeting was hours long.

"You understood nothing," Ayden says once we are alone.

Was it that obvious? I should never have asked to sit in on the meeting, it's out of my depth. There are other ways I can help; my skills would be better utilised elsewhere.

"Don't worry, nobody else could tell."

I cock my head towards him unsure of what he means.

"The mate bond, I could feel all your nervous energy and overthinking."

"Sorry," I finally murmur out.

Poor Ayden, having to deal with all my baggage and now my emotions. If I had known marking would cause this, I would never have allowed my wolf out. Heck I wouldn't have let her out if I'd know she would have marked him at all. Despite being mad at Luana for her unwarranted actions, a part of me doesn't regret it and that scares me. It scares me that my conscience is so weak that killing or marking without consent does nothing to me. It scares me even more that Ayden isn't mad.

Ayden eyes lock into mine and he gets up from his desk, walking around to face me. His hands hold out inviting me to accept them, his lips curving to a smile and his eyes softening as I do. Following his pace, we stop at the peach couch. An odd addition to the office, Ayden wouldn't pick it, I'm sure of it. Kurt says it's a gift from Baden, Avery says Kurt bought it from a car boot sale and Mark, well he says not to believe Avery or Kurt. I'm left none the wiser on the matter.

It is a nice couch regardless; the soft fibres sit against my exposed legs and the peach brings a nice touch to the otherwise wooden office. Ayden sits next to me, his gaze having not left mine and his face giving little away as he shuffles closer. The gap between us closing to my internal delight. The close proximity always a welcome gesture to me and Luanna. Inching closer to me, his next movements come faster than I can fathom them. One minute I'm sat on the couch somewhere between excited and nervous and the next second I'm somewhere else with the same feelings heightened. Almost like being at the highest point of a rollercoaster before the dip.

Ayden's arms wound around my waist, my derriere on his rock-hard thighs and my legs lain on the sofa. Currents rushing through me as if the ride dips going through twists, turns and loops. My eyes looking down on his swirling dark brown eyes, likened to rich, dark Columbian chocolate. His fingers twist around my hair before placing a strand behind my ear, delivering the softest of brushes against my ear despite the rough skin.

Releasing his hold slightly, he says, "The Queen is weak for now, you killed her beta."

The sound of his voice coming out honey-drenched despite his sombre tone makes it hard to concentrate. Amongst his majestical voice and his god-like structure, I almost dismiss the statement when it registers a dog year later. My brows scrunch as I comprehend the information.

"Ruby was her beta."

Ayden's answer makes me wonder for a brief moment whether my imaginary wall doesn't keep him out my thoughts. More importantly, Ayden's words make no sense.

"But she's a witch?"

"Avery mentioned that. I was as confused as you initially. Although since the majority of wolves will only accept you as Queen, it makes sense to recruit other beings."

Thinking back to the random words I gathered, I ask, "She has recruited the elves too?"

"We're not sure, Baden is looking into it."

Beings rarely form a cross-alliance of violence out of choice, a peace treaty definitely, but one that will cost lives is a scarcity. The very thought rubs me the wrong way.

Do these beings even have a choice?

"Erisa has been retreating further inland, she's on the defensive now. If we don't attack soon, she will continue recruiting and we risk not taking back the Kingdom."

Attacking mom, how does that make me feel? It's all a misunderstanding, isn't it? I want to believe that but her actions contradict the words I've been convincing myself with for years.

"There's an Alpha meeting in a few days to finalise our strategy and then we attack," Ayden glares at me with his final words.

His eyes wide, threatening to never blink as if I would disappear into a bottomless quicksand and rightly so. Quicksand seems the easier option, either that or the ground swallowing me whole. Both would be appealing if I didn't have the warm, fiery touch of my mate burning my skin like a piping bowl of chicken soup.

Ayden's thumbs gently massage my jaw leaving the joy of sparklers lingering. I close my eyes to take it all in, my breaths coming out slow and deep and my core heating up. His breath soon against my neck sending goosebumps down my spine. As his lips touch my neck, the soft peck lights a thousand lanterns within me.

His lips travel north to my lobes., the intensity of the moment remaining. The hot breath a campfire and my ears marshmallows reacting to his every minute movement. His stance makes no further movements as he lets out a sigh.

"You'll have to pick a side soon," Ayden nuzzles into my neck avoiding my gaze.

"It might not come to that," I manage to murmur out, not fully convinced myself.

"I wish there was another way but there isn't." Ayden pauses, releasing his hold on me and sitting me back next to him. "She won't be walking out of our attack alive."

His words a pledge, one that is guaranteed and final, leaving me to make Hobsons choice.

Mother or my mate?