Solstice Howl

08

Fear is a trivial thing. A weakness that can consume an individual's entire life.

I was afraid of the dark as a child.

Not because of the darkness itself, but because of the monsters that can be lurking in it.

Those grotesque creatures that plague your nightmares- even as an adult. I was hysteric in my sleep, the nightmares so distinguishable, I couldn't retail them in fear of my own words.

Fear can be masked.

But some people, they can smell it even with your best poker face.

Right now, I have no doubts, Markus of the High Council, can sense my prominent fear.

He just doesn't know what it is that is causing me to quake in my own shoes.

"Do I need to reiterate?" His eyebrows furrowed, still recovering from the other-worldly experience we just endured.

Markus doesn't show emotion through his words like most common people, he shows it through actions.

A small body movement, like a clench of a fist to indicate he is furious inwardly, but appears calm on the out.

I cleared my throat, afraid that if I open my mouth, a croak will leave.

I've never felt this level of fear, he is the epitome of what I was taught to terminate.

Trained for years upon years, countless hours of incessant beatings all for what?

He'd kill me in one swipe of his talon- before I could even take a breath.

"You ask, yet you and I are both aware I know just as much as you do." I spoke with an almost timid voice.

A tremor of the upper lip.

"Then you are useless." Calm voice, but raging eyes.

I smirked despite the cold shivers running down my spine.

But he knows everything I do and vice versa, neither of us have the upper hand.

He dismissed me with his words, yet I stood stoic, motionless.

"I would like to negotiate the lives of my people... their freedom.

He barked out a choke of laughter, "You have the audacity to attempt to make deals with me?! Are you not aware with who you're talking to??"

I licked my dry, chapped lips in trepidation.

Maybe this was a mistake.

Alpha joined my side, his heat emanating throughout me as he grasped my hand in his and squeezed slightly hard- not hard enough to hurt, but enough to show his displeasure.

"Excuse my mate, she is a bit mouthy, she doesn't know anything Markus, with your permission, we'd like to leave now." Alpha was a vision of power, his eyes slightly hard gazing at Markus.

Nothing comes between a werewolf and his mate.

"Keep your mate in check for the remainder of questioning and you can leave as soon as it is over."

Alpha's eyes darkened, a warning of the rabid wolf lurking beneath his skin.

His entire being was against being disrespected, of being belittled. Yet, Markus of the High Council singlehandedly insulted his capability of controlling his mate.