Virago

7. Rehan Cortel

My back stung like a bitch. I have had worse, but that did not mean this was anyway less. Had it been an ordinary whip, I would be up and bright by the break of dawn, but since it was silver, I was destined to be on the bed for at least a week to move.

But knowing Cailan, he would expect me to stand by him the next morning. The message sent by Trish did not help. That she-wolf just stared at me in disappointment with the same shade of eyes as her brother had and left.

I inhaled sharply as I turned to get myself a glass of water. The last time I received any punishment, Meira had been by my side to help me. But apparently, she was done being by my side.

I did not blame her. It was just another betrayal. Just like the one who welcomed the MoonSong pack into the DarkMoon territory. My father lost his will to fight when he saw who had opened the gates.

"Cortel," a familiar voice called. Before I could ask him not to come, he entered my tent and smirked at me. "Nice to see you too."

I grunted. "Why are you here, Snow?"

Axel Snow smiled widely at me before he removed his gloves and sat on the seat next to me. "To see you, of course."

I rolled my eyes. "I hardly think that you have fallen for my looks, Snow. Just tell me why you are here."

I knew how my face looked. Not to brag, but werewolves naturally had attractive features and me being an Alpha did not help. I did have a lot of females call me handsome and hot but I hardly suspected that this male came here to see me.

"Cailan is planning to bring that she-wolf back, Cortel," he said, his fox eyes glinting. "Seems like your plan is foiled."

I closed my eyes. I could not see the insufferable fool. "I had no plan."

"You let her go."

"Just a moment of my weakness."

He chuckled, and I opened my eyes again. "The Rehan I know will never have a moment of weakness."

"Then you did not know that Rehan at all, I see."

"So you admit that you have a weakness?"

I laughed harshly. "I would be an idiot if I say I don't have a weakness. Everyone has weaknesses."

Axel's icy blue eyes deepened. "And? What is that supposed to mean?"

I tried to sit up to his eye level, but my back failed me. "That means, Snow, I know what you keep close to your heart."

He blinked. "You possibly cannot."

I smirked. "Then you totally don't know me at all. How fascinating."

Seconds bled into minutes until he started to panic. The scent of herbs that the healer had patched me fled in the presence of blood. My blood seeped through the poorly tied bandages, but this was enough.

"What the fuck did you do, Cortel?"

"Nothing," I said. "Just thought of telling why you never shifted before anyone."

If his gaze could freeze, then my tent would be frozen that even the hellfire could not be able to melt it. "What do you want?"

"Our treaty, Snow," I said. "MoonSong is cutting the herb supplies for DarkMoon. You have enough herbs. Send them."

"I truly wonder how Roanne had a child like you."

My mother was the kindest wolf one could ever meet. And she paid the price for her kindness. With a dagger in her heart from the wolf, she considered her best friend.