CHAPTER 34: 34

XAVIER

"What do you mean training sessions with her? Are you developing feelings for her?" Brian asked, a smile tucked at the side of his lips.

"You like her, don’t you? That is why you became suddenly uninterested in Ivy and the marriage plans." Brian continued even though I did not indulge him.

"I can say the same for you too, Brian. Why are you suddenly interested in what I do with her if you don’t like her as well?" Maybe it was time to address the elephant in the room.

Brian paused for some seconds. I was certain that he was thinking through his next words.

He knew that expressing how he felt towards Nylah could leave him with scars to remember never to covet what is mine.

"If she wants to train, then I would be in charge of that myself. I brought her here after all. I must ensure that she is comfortable." I finished.

"All I am saying is that you are focusing on the wrong thing. Getting married to Ivy was our only ticket out of the never-ending war, but you blew it all for what? For a mere female who does not even have basic combat skills." Brian quipped, but I was sick of hearing his words.

"Stay away from her, Brian. I won’t warn you again," I replied, and he raised both hands in mock surrender.

"So? What happened to her? I heard she broke down while you were training with her?" Brian asked, and I gritted my teeth. How did word get out so fast?

"Surely, you did not go too hard on her?" He asked with a knowing smile.

"What is it?" I replied, knowing fully what he meant by the smile.

"It is not what you think. I can tame it." I added defensively, but he smiled even more.

"You and I both know what happened the last time it took over you? You destroyed everything in your path, and it took the previous healers who are now dead to get you back to your normal self." He reminded me, and I clenched my fists.

Yes, I have been having the urge to attack, but I have been keeping them well under check. I didn’t want to be reminded about the last time my wolf took over me, bloodthirsty.

It was a nightmare I never wanted to remember, but somehow, I always ended up talking about it.

"It is in the past. It will not happen again." I replied curtly. If only Brian would leave me the fuck alone!

"Well, if you say so, the elders are waiting for you. They want to discuss the marriage." Brian finally changed the topic to something more annoying.

All I wanted to do was be by Nylah’s side when she woke. I did not want to talk about Alpha Dmitri, the marriage or what will befall the pack if I decide to back out.

"Can this wait.?" I asked Brian with a sigh but I got a quick "No." In response.

"Can I send you to relay the message to them?" I asked again and Brian shook his head as he walked behind me.

"No boss. You brought this upon yourself when you agreed and you will face it yourself. It seems they have lots of questions for you as well. Brace yourself." He nudged me from behind and I let out another sigh of frustration.

Whoever said this role was an easy one?

We got to the meeting hall and the elders were waiting just as Brian said.

"Sorry, I came as soon as I heard about the meeting." I apologize for my lateness.

"We called you here to clarify the rumors we have been hearing and have even confirmed to be true. About your marriage to Alpha Dmitri’s daughter, Ivy." The first elder spoke.

It was hard to read his expression so I didn’t try much.

"Do you really want to end the feud between both packs by getting married to her?" Another asked and I realized that I have never been good with information.

"Yes, that was the initial plan but right now I am thinking about fighting back. Alpha Dmitri is known to be cunning and deceptive. He might use his daughter as a means to get into the pack to gather information and destroy us and I can’t let that happen." I replied. Trying to explain as much as I can.

They nodded thoughtfully at my words before they first spoke again.

"So how do you plan on fighting back? His army us way more than ours and they are well skilled too." I could see traces of worry on his face.

"That would be sorted out. In due time. And I will try to pass every information I can to you all." I said, meaning my words but on second thought, I did not want to bother the old men about the matters of the pack.

Since the last war, they have been traumatized and still recovering from the significant losses. Telling them more havoc that might befall the pack soon might add to the pain.

And they can barely do anything to help out in their current state since the last war beat them down.

"Continue resting well elders, I have to go now." I got up from my seat and excused myself with Brian following behind.

"That went better than I expected." He remarked and I nodded. I wasn’t expecting it to go that smoothly as well.

"So, what now?" He asked.

"Well, now, I go to see Nylah," I replied, feigning ignorance of what he meant by the question.

He was probably referring to what I planned to do to defeat Dmitri since I chose war over peace but I didn’t want to talk about war anymore. It roused my beast in a way I did not like.

However, there was one person who did the opposite to my wolf and it was none other than Nylah. And I needed that feeling more than anything.

That feeling of safety and peace that she exuded. I craved it.