Chapter 13 Happily Never After?
Josh
I’ve dreamed of finding my fated mate, the one person who would truly understand me. It’s pretty baffling to finally find that person and learn our goals couldn’t be more different.
I’m after love. Bane wants a means to an end.
The revelation hit me pretty hard for a few days. I spent some time wallowing and cursing his evil ex again, the one I suspect made him allergic to tenderness, dating, and emotions, and left only a tough shell out for victory behind.
Now, however, I have a plan. If only I could get this damn watch to work.
“Come on!”
I stand behind the counter of the coven’s store, surrounded by jars of dried herbs, glittering crystals, and other magical ingredients. In the center of the chaos sits a sleek black watch, the object I’m meant to charm.
With no customers around, I take a deep breath and channel my magic. Just like every other attempt, the power fizzles out, leaving the watch unaffected.
“Work with me here, you stupid watch.”
Sampling different crafts has shown me areas that aren’t my strong suit. Like charms. Experimenting hasn’t given me an idea of what I should focus on. But even if I never make another charm again, I am going to get this one right.
I grab a jar of crushed quartz on the shelf behind me and sprinkle a pinch of the glittering powder over the watch, hoping the natural amplifier will boost my magic.
As I focus my energy, I think about Bane—his arrogant swagger, his piercing eyes, his muscular frame that always makes my mouth go dry. Despite our rocky past, he’s mesmerizing. The small glimpses I get of the man beyond the cocky, stand-offish alpha have me aching to be so much closer.
The magic suddenly surges through me, swirling and coalescing around the watch. The power imbues the timepiece and gives it special properties.
Yes! It worked.
The bell above the door jingles as a customer enters, and I carefully slip the charmed watch into my pocket and get back to work.
I was really hoping my mate would Recognize me and figure things out on his own. But his priorities aren’t on love at all. He isn’t even stopping to consider it.
Fate can only do so much. I can’t wait around hoping things work out.
Bane’s on a deadline and searching for a strong wolf to partner with. If I sit around hoping he Recognizes me, he’s going to find someone else. I’ll lose him.
It’s time to come clean.
Once my shift is over, I need to find Bane.
~
Josh
I think about borrowing a car or getting a ride, then decide to run. Now that I’ve decided to confess, I can’t wait any longer. I need to get to him and take the chance.
When the imposing Iron Pack wall comes into view, I shift back into my human form. Probably better to approach as a human instead of a charging wolf.
I pat my pocket, feeling the weight of the charmed watch. Still there. Good.
Before I can take another step, a massive dark brown wolf bursts from the shadows and charges toward me. I raise my hands in a placating gesture. I recognize the gold eyes right as the wolf starts transforming into the man I know.
“What are you doing here, Fielding?” Bane growls.
I swallow hard, trying to find my voice. “I-I need to talk to you. It’s important.”
He doesn’t move his head, but his eyes roam to scan our surroundings. “You came unannounced. We’re being watched.”
“Can’t we go somewhere for privacy?”
“You shouldn’t have come.”
“Please,” I say.
The other wolf gives me a hard stare, then finally relents.
Bane leads us a different route than we went last time, not going through the middle of the compounds. We’re soon traveling down dark, winding corridors below the Iron lands.
Dark stone and chilly stale air surrounds us as we navigate in the dark. We reach a larger chamber, a place largely forgotten and unused. Bane has to find torches lining the walls and the tools to light them.
He brought us to an old dungeon for housing prisoners.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, suddenly feeling uneasy. “Why does the Iron Pack have medieval torture dungeons? Why did you bring me to a medieval torture dungeon?”
“You’re a wolf from another pack who showed up unannounced. This is the only place I could think of where we’d be given privacy without anyone listening in. It’s either here or where we were last time.”
“Elias’s office?” I balk. “No, thank you.”
“Cells it is.”
Dull wrought-iron bars line square pits that form bare cells. Rusted metal manacles hang from the ceilings. Mold grows, creeping up on the walls.
The cold, gloomy chamber is certainly intimidating, but on second thought, it isn’t so bad. I’d rather be a prisoner in one of the cells than visit Elias’s office again, especially if the Alpha will be there.
“Relax, man,” Bane tells me. “We don’t use the dungeons anymore. We live in cut-off, magically protected land with only one other pack that we avoid. Why do we need dungeons? This is what confinement looked like the last time the place was in use.”
I nod, trying to calm my nerves. This creepy place isn’t really freaking me out. It’s the situation. This really is not where I pictured having a heartfelt conversation with Bane.
“Spit it out,” he says impatiently.
Okay, I can do this. The place isn’t what matters. I need to tell him before it’s too late.
Gripping the black smartwatch tightly, I summon every ounce of courage within me. Bane’s eyes narrow as I present the charmed watch, betraying no emotion. The flickering torchlight casts shadows across his rugged face, accentuating the hard line of his jaw.
“Here, I charmed the watch myself. When there’s somewhere you need to be, it becomes heavier. The closer you get to your destination, the lighter it becomes.”
“Why did you get me a gift?” He glares at the watch, not taking it from me. “How many times do I have to say it? We aren’t dating.”
“We could be.” I swallow hard, meeting his gaze. “Don’t sacrifice your heart to get what you want, Bane. What if you could have both? Love and becoming the next Alpha?”
A muscle in his jaw twitches. “That’s not possible.”
“It is. I Recognized you, Bane.” It feels good to finally speak the words. “We’re true mates.”
When I come near enough to reach out and touch him, he raises a hand, like he’s afraid of me making contact. I can’t tell what he’s thinking.
“Josh... You can’t. Don’t...”
I’m not sure what he’s trying to say. Does he not believe me?
“You’re looking for a partner. I know I’m not the best fighter, but I’m willing to learn. You don’t have to search any further. I’m right here.” I reach out, my fingers grazing the fabric of his bomber jacket. “Just accept me.”
Bane’s usually confident demeanor falters. He looks almost vulnerable. “Josh, I...” He pauses, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows hard. “I don’t know what to say.”
Well, that’s not a no. He’s not laughing in my face. He seems more shocked than anything. There’s hope.
I push the watch into his hands. Willing him to accept the gift. To accept me.
Bane examines the gift, face blank as he runs his fingers over the smooth surface.
He holds the watch almost delicately, and my hope begins to build.
Maybe he’s considering what I’ve said. I can’t say how much time goes by.
Enough time passes that I’m almost used to standing here with my heart and the watch in his hands.
Then something changes.
Bane’s face hardens, his lips twisting into a scowl of disgust. “No way. You’re fucking crazy. You’ll never be my mate.”
“I already am,” I whisper as the despair threatens to overwhelm me. “We’re fated. We could be mates if we just accept the bond—”
“Fuck that. I don’t want you!” he growls.
He flings his arm and tosses the watch away. The sharp crack as it hits the rough stone wall echoes through the dungeon like a gunshot. The broken watch falls to the ground, the pieces scattering.
My chest tightens, and I struggle to breathe while my heart shatters into a million pieces, just like the gift he destroyed.
Unsure what else to do, I pivot and move to collect the broken watch. Hovering over the pieces, I fight back tears.
Bane’s harsh voice cuts through the silence. “Don’t make me the bad guy here. You’re unbelievable.”
Why is he so angry? Because I dared to want more than our casual arrangement?
“God, I shouldn’t have told you my chances to become Alpha were so good,” he mutters to himself. “All I was missing was the right mate. Stupid, so stupid. This was your plan the whole time, wasn’t it? I gave you the perfect opening to finally make your move.”
“Plan? What are you talking about?”
When I turn around, he’s standing to his full height. No more vulnerability. His fists are clenched, practically shaking with anger, and he’s glaring at me like he hates me.
Like I’m his worst enemy.
“Don’t play dumb. Aren’t you getting tired of acting innocent and pretending you care?
” he scoffs, shaking his head. “But dammit, I gotta give you credit here, this was your best performance yet. You even had me going there for a second. I almost believed you. But it’s so obvious you’re only crawling back now that I’m on the verge of power. ”
Power? What the—
“You missed your opportunity,” he spits the words in my direction. “I may sleep with you, but it will never be more than that. I refuse to give you another chance to break my heart.”
Bane waltzes away, leaving me in the dungeon alone.
Huh.
…
So. That happened. Um... what now?
Time to see myself out. The Iron Pack isn’t exactly hospitable and welcoming. Bane left me alone, but it won’t be long before someone comes to escort me out. Or they’ll decide to throw me in one of these cells.
But it’s hard to move, hard to breathe. I was rejected by my mate. It should be crushing. Instead, I’m confused. What the hell was he talking about?
He didn’t reject me because I wasn’t strong enough to be an Alpha. Or even because he didn’t like me. He… well, I heard what he said.
But it makes no sense.
I stare at the broken pieces of the watch on the floor. I was going to pick them up, but I don’t really care anymore. There are more important matters to attend to.
Like figuring out what the hell is going on.