Page 98 of A Broody Mate for the Human

Chapter thirty-two

Tension

*RAFFY*

“Shebetrayedus,”myalpha bellows. “Your sister betrayed us. Alpha Troi will pledge war on us. She had one job to do—marry her chosen mate. She could have become a ranked member by mating to the beta. She could have had a good life, but she chose death.” The alpha’s eyes are turning to slits. “I want her head to offer it to Alpha Troi as a peace offer!”

“No,” I exclaim when I can see the warriors surrounding my alpha.

“What did you say?” he hisses.

“I’m… she is my sister,” I say, the blood in my veins running cold. “My responsibility. If anyone kills her, then I want to do it.”

My alpha contemplates my words, tilting his head. “You have served me well,” he says after a while. “Just like your father, you’ve always cherished the pure bloodline. Your sister tarnished your family’s legacy. Get rid of her for me.”

I nod. “Of course, Alpha.”

I scramble to my feet, my heart beating so fast I can’t even hear or feel anything else. It pumps my blood through my veins, making me see stars. I stumble over something soft, almost dropping to the ground again.

“No, no, no,” I mutter. “I didn’t. I didn’t. Please, Goddess, don’t let me have done…”

I feel warm arms wrapping around me. “Raffy…” The voice is distant, but it reaches me. It’s like the fog in my mind gets cleared, and slowly, the enticing scent of lemon and fresh mint reaches my nostrils.

Don’t…I hear a voice in my mind…hurt…

Nero?I ask breathlessly.

But he is gone fast, hiding in the depths of my mind. It’s not uncommon for rogue wolves to get weak and lose their ability to talk and connect to their humans, but it’s rare for them to find their strength again.

I’m feeling beyond confused. As the fog around me settles, I notice I’m standing in the middle of the clearing in the forest Dave and I walked through. We took a break here and got some rest. I must have fallen asleep.

The scent I took up earlier is gone, too, but I couldn’t have imagined it… could I?

Dave’s arms are wrapped around my middle. “Thank you,” I mutter, still feeling breathless. I turn around in his arms and pull him into a hug. I just need to feel his warmth.

“Are you feeling better?” he asks worriedly. “It looked like you had a panic attack.”

“So that’s what happened?” I tilt my head. The inability to breathe, the terror… the loss of control over my emotions. “How did you know?”

“I have experience,” Dave tells me, and something about his words makes my chest clench. “Did you dream?” he asks me.

I nod, feeling my nerves getting the better of me again, but somehow Dave’s presence and touch keep me grounded. “I… Esme… my sister refused to marry that old-ass creepy beta. My alpha was furious, saying they would declare war on us and that it was all my sister’s fault. He said a lot of mean things about her, how her only worth was to be married off… and… that he wants her killed to remain at peace.” I pause. “I offered to do the job, instead of the guards.”

Dave stays quiet for a while. When he looks at me, I expect him to look disgusted or angry, but instead he looks at me full of worry and understanding and with a hint of pity. “Raffy.” His tone is serious. “Your last memory is the one with Stella.”

I nod carefully.

“How did you know that it’s the last?”

“It’s the last I actively remember,” I point out. “It’s hard to explain, but I just know.”

“Right,” he says. “And Esme was with Stella. You didn’t kill your sister.”

I let his words sink in. He is right… the last time I saw her, Esme was still alive, but… “But I wanted to,” I whisper.

“I don’t think you wanted to kill her,” Dave mutters. “I think you wanted to get to her before the guards did.”

“That’s an assumption.”