Chapter Twenty — Six
James POV
It was evening when we were done with Jaby. It might sound like we stayed in the cell for way longer than necessary, and it was true. We had taken our sweet ass time with that Jaby guy.
By the time we were finished with him, nobody could have possibly recognized him even if they found him alive. I could say it so confidently because I, myself could not recognize him. He was a bloody mess and a dead body. We had tortured him until his voice gave out. And enjoyed it immensely, without any regrets or guilt. Hearing him cry, shout and scream in pain gave me a sick pleasure.
I had remembered Linda's soft cry for help that night. How she had laid there without being able to move. Without being able to help or protect herself. What would he have done if I had not come on the right time? It's not hard to guess. And this fucker would have enjoyed it. I knew that much. So how could I let him go off easily, huh? How could he have expected any less than worse from us? Especially after knowing well enough whose mate she was. He deserved everything we did to him.
He deserved it all.
He deserved my anger. He deserved Michael's rage. He deserved the pain.
When he took his last breath, I made sure it was for screaming one last time. We were next Alphas of Blood Moon pack. And our pack was known for its leading Alphas. Known for strong and ruthlessness.
And when we decide to show our real selves, our cruelty and our ruthlessness, everyone steps back and shudders in fear.
We cleaned up the mess like dad had asked us to and buried his body remains. Apart from that, we called servants to take care of anything that we might have left behind.
“Everything should be clean and spotless Or.” I warned him. The servant was smart enough to take the hint about what my 'Or' means.
When we were walking back to our house, Michael spoke.
“Right now, I want nothing more than to have Linda in my arms and hug her senseless.” He said. I should have felt jealous or at least angry. Instead, all I felt was like joining them. And I agreed with him.
I hummed my agreement.
“Me too. I wish I could have her under me. Or above me. Or just close to me. I wonder if she will let me.” I told him.
He smirked mischievously at my words.
“She will. Surely.” He said but then his mischievousness dimmed.
“I just hope that she is in a better mood now. I had spat some real shitty words at her before. I just never thought that she would take that as r — rape.” He said. His voice stammered on the word — rape.
Somehow I sympathized with his words. For some strange reason, I reached out and patted his shoulder. He looked at me like I had lost my mind, but then his eyes softened a little when he saw the expression on my face. I would agree with his “losing my mind' thing. We had never got along in the past. But nowadays, I had seen myself agreeing with him one way or another. Most importantly, I had been believing in him lately.
It seemed so surreal. In the past if someone had told me that I would be getting along well with my brother then I would have laughed at them but now, it seems natural.
We walked back to our house and walked inside it. Without even saying anything, it was a common understanding that we would meet Linda first. Try to convince her to forgive us. I just hope that she would not go bat — shit crazy at the first sight of us and do something which in return would make us want to hurt her.
None of us would want that.
We walked in a comfortable silence, until we nearly reached her room. Also, I had to pinpoint a note in my head that we needed a new room where she could stay with us. All of a sudden, I tensed. I was expecting to hear Linda throwing things here and there or the sounds of screaming, but I heard nothing. It was all too silent.
For a second, I became paranoid. Did she manage to run away? What if she decided to harm herself knowing that she had to stay with us now? God, I hope not.
And then another question hit me, what if she decided to reject us even after we had mated?
No. That can not happen.
No. It would not.
Thinking all of this, I quickened my steps. I saw Michael giving me an odd look when I sprinted past his side and reached for Linda's room.
I threw the door open and heard a startled gasp. My eyes moved towards the voice where I saw Linda. She was plopped on the bed, looking dazed and alert. A hint of fear in her eyes, was there as well which disappeared when she saw who it was.
I crossed the room and was in front of her within seconds. A second later Michael was there as well.
We both knelt on the ground and grabbed one hand each. Looking into those beautiful two blue eyes, I felt my heart drop a beat.
She did not look furious at the moment, but her eyes were glassy like she had been crying earlier. When we took her hands in our hands, she did not flinch back. Which was a good sign, I guess.
I stared in her eyes with as much as a gentle look I could muster.
“I am sorry, Linda. I really am. I never thought that whatever happened between us, would hurt you the way it did. But all I was thinking that moment was to help you, somehow. If I knew that it would affect you this much then we would never have done it.” I told her. Michael nodded beside me.
“James right, Linda. We would never have done it if we knew you were against it. Please don't leave us. And please forgive us. We will do anything to make up for our mistakes.” He said. Linda sniffed a little and I noticed a pair of tears trailed down her cheeks. She snatched her hands out of Michael's hand to wipe her cheeks. Then she looked at us.
“I heard there is a concept of rejecting mate.” She said.
Fear spiked in me and Michael flashed me a concerned look as well.
“Linda...” I said.
“Is there or not?” She asked me firmly.
Michael squeezed his eyes shut, and I wanted to do the same. Still, I held in the urge to do it. Instead, I squeezed her hand. Returning her attention to me.
With so much difficulty, I let the words out.
“Yes. Yes, there is but...” I stopped speaking.
“But you do not want me to reject you. Right?” She asked. Her voice stern and thick. Like she was holding back tears. It made me and the wolf feel worthless. Someone inadequate, who cannot even take care of his mate.
“Yes.” Michael answered instead of me. Linda started nodding like she had made a decision.
I was dreading what I would hear from her, but a voice interrupted everything.
Adan's voice.
“I apologize for disturbing you but both of your presence is needed in the field. Immediately.” He said. He forced the “immediately” a bit too hard. I glared at him, but he did not even as much as lowered his gaze. He looked tensed and dead serious as hell.
Which was unusual.
He jerked his head towards Linda.
“Her presence is needed as well. We had found ten bodies. And she is our prime suspect.” He told us and the hairs on the back of the neck stood.