JASON
"How are you feeling?" I asked Axel as he gulped down a glass of water.
"Better." Axel's voice was shaky. I cocked my head down and noticed the wound still hadn't healed. Axel could have died if he had not reached out to me when he did. Just thinking about it made my blood boil. Sofiane was stepping out of line a little too much. I wasn't even sure I could continue to pardon his madness as an aftereffect of losing Candice. Axel had been his former beta and if Sofiane didn't even take that into consideration when he gutted him, there was no telling how far the Alpha of Hobbstone was willing to go.
I turned to Pearl. "Why isn't his wound healed yet?"
"Give it a day or two. The residue of the poison needs to leave his body first. " Pearl replied.
"Jason, Don't worry about it. I have been through worse. I'll survive."
I placed my hand on top of his. Axel wouldn't say it but I knew he was hurt. "Well, I hope this kills every hope you have about Sofiane's comeback. He is not the same person and I am starting to think he doesn't even want to return to the person he once was."
Wearing a disappointed scowl, Axel pulled his hand away from mine. "He is trying to heal. I know he is. He loved Candice a little too much. Coming from that takes time."
"Was that why you gave him the liberty to make an attempt on your life? And even if Sofiane comes back, what happens then? You are now a Beta of the Crow. Are you going to double-cross me and walk back to Hobbstone? The same pack you deserted?"
"I deserted my pack and swore allegiance to you to protect Hobbstone from the convergence. I made that abundantly clear when I threw away my identity as a Beta of the Hobbstone. If Sofiane heals from this dark point in his life, I have to be honest with you Jason, I will leave the Crow to be with my proper Alpha."
My lip twitched hearing that. "You might be the only one that still has faith in your former Alpha. Even if Sofiane somehow rises from the ashes, he will have to converge with the Crow and if he doesn't, he'll have to be exterminated."
Axel shrugged carelessly. I watched him put on his shirt with difficulty. "I am pretty sure Alpha Lucien will be very disappointed hearing his son say that. "
"My father's soft ways was what ended him." I snapped back. "Don't tell me you have forgotten too soon that your pack played a huge role in the murder of my parents and half of my pack."
"That is precisely why I cannot stay Jason. Your father's convergence was built on trust and mutual respect. You on the other hand are hell-bent on forcing the entire supernatural community to assimilate the culture of a perfect society. Your idea of a perfect society is built on power struggles and fear. That is a rocky foundation Jason and I say this with all due respect but if you don't change the way you are running things soon, the power dynamics will change and you might as well suffer the same tragic fate your family suffered or worse."
"Axel!" Pearl gasped. "That was cold and insensitive."
Axel scoffed. "If you will not tell him the truth, I will." With that said, he stormed out.
I turned to Pearl soon after. She avoided my gaze and that only relayed to me that there was more that met the eye. I originally thought Axel only said those insensitive things because I had acted the same way during our conversation about Sofiane but Pearl's reaction sent a rather different message. "Okay, what is the big idea?"
"Nothing." Pearl hammered back. She banged her sterilized tools into the right boxes and finally turned to face me. "I just found what Axel said to be quite insensitive. You also seem to forget I am family and a painful memory like that shouldn't be tossed around for kicks. Your father was a good man and I am sure your heart is in the right place carrying his legacy."
My brows furrowed. My heart was in the right place? The way Aunt Pearl said made it sound like it was a precursor rather than genuine sympathy. "But do you agree with my methods?" I questioned and watched as her gaze trailed away from me. That was all I needed to be convinced that there might be trouble in my carefully constructed paradise. Knowing an answer would not be forthcoming from Pearl, I continued. "Wow. So you really think the same as Axel. You think I'll end up like my father."
Pearl sighed in frustration. "It's not that."
"Then what is it?"
"There is a prophesy going around." Pearl finally spilled. "Many individuals have come to the conclusion that you might be... the subject matter of... It's just a theory..."
"What prophesy?" I probed.
"The eyes of Cassandra. It says that there comes a day when grey smoke rises, a broken heart shall usher forth a destruction of power and a rise of a new god, the tyrant king."
"So they think I am the tyrant king?"
"Actually they believe it either you or Devin and while this might be totally unrelated to you, many believe it is damning that you and Devin have found your true mates within the timeframe the prophecy came and that those true mates happen to be human and Monarch respectively. A weaker species and an enemy's daughter. They fear it won't end well for one of you."
"Then it's time I put an end to this foul rumor," I said, walking towards the door.
Pearl gawked. "You are not going to do anything rash, are you?"
I gave her an indecipherable look as I opened the door. "Aunty, I'm a werewolf, not a monster."
Olamide sat outside waiting. She looked exhausted. So worn out that she barely even noticed my presence as I proceeded to tuck away a stray strand from her face and behind her hair. Her body jerked and predictably tried to slap my hand only stopping after our eyes met. The thoughts at the back of her head came back blank but I could feel she was flustered. "We should go now," I told her.
"What about Axel?" She asked, peeping into the surgery room. "He is going to be alright, right?"
"Of course," I assured her. "If it makes you feel less guilty. He left the room with a scowl that rivaled my brother's."
I watched a smile curve up her plump lips. It was the prettiest thing I had seen in a while, the way her smile extended to her eyes and tore deep into a part of my soul. It intrigued and bothered me at the same time. "I guess we should get going then." Then unexpectedly, she grabbed me by the hand stunning both me and my wolf, and led the way to the front door. Still reeling from the shock of how Olamide had latched on to my hand like we were a 'normal' couple, I opened the passenger door and gestured for her to hop in. She did and I banged the door shut. In the distance was Aunt Pearl waving at us. Olamide waved back despite barely knowing the woman. However, I was too preoccupied to do so. Just looking at my aunt, all I could think about was that strange prophesy about the tyrant king. Not to mention that Olamide's new and very much welcome behavior made me question things. Shoving the issue aside for a moment, I hopped into the car and started the car. Pulling out into the road, Olamide asked the obvious question.
"Are we going to the hotel?"
"You are. I have a business to attend to." And by business, I meant a one on one conversation with the eyes of Cassandra.
"Can't I come?" Olamide whined. I could tell she cringed seconds after she said those words. She didn't mean to sound desperate.
"It's just boring werewolf stuff. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Well, I want to come either way." Olamide retorted. "You do trust me to keep myself safe, right?"
I inhaled deeply, hesitating to speak. I really didn’t want to bring her to the house of the all-seeing eye. It would show to her that I had fears. A weird one that made me believe I would go mad if she was to die. But I was already keeping so much from her. Allowing her to go with me would be fair. Plus, being distant and keeping her under lock and key all day would only destroy all the progress and mutual respect we had built so far.
"Fine." I practically growled. "You can come. If you like."