Defiance

2.9

Chapter 29

Aldric

My hands had become bloody by the end of the training with Hunter. We battled all day and I knew it was well past midnight, but we continued to fight. I didn't even leave to eat lunch or dinner - all I did was practice fighting with Hunter. I let Hunter fight me, I let him attack me, but I never let him win. I knew he was angry at me for accepting Elysia and I knew he might never forgive me for it.

"Are you finally done?" I snapped at him.

I grabbed his fist in my hand and then pushed him back with a single hand. Hunter growled and attacked me again and again. I was only being defective but it seemed he was far more furious. Finally, I attacked him and Hunter fell in the other direction.

"How can you fucking accept her? After EVERYTHING?" Hunter screamed.

"The same way you will always accept Aura."

"Cut the bullshit, Aldric! - That bitch -"

"Do not call my mate a bitch."

"What? You're going to fight me on that too even when I'm right? That bitch is the reason I lost my best friend. I will call her a cock-sucking whore  -"

Too far.

Before I even realized, I had jumped on Hunter. A single blow and there was blood down his nose. Another punch. Another punch. I didn't even realize how many blows I gave Hunter until he coughed up blood.

"You will respect Elysia - do you understand me, Hunter? I don't care what you think she has done or what you have against her. She is my mate. She is above you and because you consistently talk shit like this, she will always be above you!"

I pushed him back on the ground and stood.

I was tired of this.

I just wanted to see Elysia.

"Are you ever going to let them know Cara is dead because of your mate?" Hunter suddenly hissed as I was leaving.

I stopped in my tracks.

"What - you think I wouldn't figure it out - the only outsider who could've known is your precious little mate. You know what the pack will do if they ever found out - even you wouldn't be able to save her -"

"She didn't know anything because I didn't tell her anything," I hissed and turned around. If they even suspected Elysia, I knew how badly things would end. I had to ensure my wolves never find out. I tried to ignore the knot in my chest and grabbed Hunter again, this time by his throat. "And the next time you threaten Elysia will be the last time you still have a voice."

My grip on his throat tightened. Suddenly, I didn't care if was my best friends or if we grew up together. I finally pushed Hunter aside.

I walked back to the Vani Cabin.

The truth was I finally understood her point of view - how could I ask her to not defend her people? Even if witches had been horrible to Elysia, the truth was, she was still a witch. It wasn't a question she would side with them and I would never want her to choose between me and her witches.

I just wanted her. I just wanted to be with her.

But what she did was unforgivable by my people. She went against my back and told mortals that wolves were coming. She had told them. She had... but how could she not? My wolves were going to attack.