Chapter 46
Nyah
Braxton holds out his hand for me. I take it, then let him lead me to the empty space next to him.
“I’m fine, love,” he says.
I looked deeply into his eyes searching for his wolf. When the color doesn’t change, I ask, “Are you sure?”
“I am,” he tries to reassure me but I’m still a little wary. Braxton leans over and kisses my forehead, washing away any worry or apprehension I had.
“His wolf is still here,” Skia informs. “I can feel him.”
“Hopefully, Braxton has put him in check since he hasn’t come through,” I responded.
“We can only hope, but if he does, mate or not, I will not let him harm us,” Skia vows.
“Nyah, are you talking to your wolf, Skia?” Braxton inquires, pulling me from Skia and I’s discussion.
“Yes, I am. She says your destined wolf is still here.”
“He is.”
Braxton grips my hand when I pull it back.
“Don’t be afraid, Nyah. There will never be an incident like before. Ballian and I have come to terms with things.”
“Ballian?”
“Yes, his name is Ballian. The Gods chose him for me. Ballian never wanted to hurt you or Skia. He only reacted that way because of Skia.”
“What the Hell is that supposed to mean?” Skia growls.
I frown. “What did he mean by that?”
“What he meant was, since the day you and Skia merged and you let her take over, she is wild with bloodlust.”
“That can’t be true. I did what I did to protect us,” Skia shrieks. “Megan and Fonda threatened us and our mate. Me ending their lives is what I was supposed to do.”
I jump in my seat as an unknown voice says, “Yes, that might be the case but once you and Skia had that first taste of blood in your mouth, you were ready for the next, which was Fonda and her cousin.”
“Braxton,” I whisper, confused.
“Nyah, the voice you hear is Ballian’s. I don’t know how this is happening, but nothing surprises me anymore as our bond grows.”
Tilting my head to the side, I ask, “So, if I can hear him, did you hear Skia earlier when you asked if I was talking to her?”
Braxton nods. “I did, but I didn’t want to alarm you. You were already looking worried.”
“I knew something felt different,” Skia quips. “And to you, Ballian, what I did you would do the same for Braxton. So, it wasn’t because of bloodlust but to protect my Alpha.”
“That’s not how the God’s saw it otherwise I wouldn’t be here now,” Ballian scoffs.
“This is all too much,” I say, releasing Braxton’s hand to rub my temples from having both of their voices in my head. “We need answers and the best person to get them from is Elder Nelah. We have to go see her.”
Braxton reaches for my hand as I stand.
“But why not go to our father’s instead of Elder Nelah? Surely your father had to go through the same thing with your mother...” he paused, then rose, “We know my father never had that type of connection with my mother.”
Placing my hand over his chest, I tell Braxton, “He probably did with your brother’s mother since she was his destined mate. My daddy never told Kenia or I the level of connection he had with our momma but since they were Ancients, it was probably the same. Hell, remember we just found out he and your daddy could talk through their wolves.”
“True,” Braxton returns.
“The reason why I say we need to talk to Elder Nelah is because whenever Kenia or I ask daddy about the closeness he and our momma had, it always seemed to bring sadness about him. We finally came to terms that it was because he lost his mate, the love of his life, too soon. So, we just brought up the happier times that the four of us spent together. That always perked him up.”
Braxton covers my hand with his. “While I never want to be in his position, I empathize with your father. I would be the same way if I lost you. No, actually I’d probably go feral, killing everyone I thought took you away from me.”
I couldn’t hide my smile. I should be appalled by Braxton declaring to take lives in my honor, but instead I felt the opposite.
“Now wouldn’t that consider him as having bloodlust?” Skia chimes in.
“No, that would be him vindicating his mate,” Ballian replies before Braxton, or I can.
“But I bet you will love the taste of blood from our enemies as you killed them,” Skia argues.
Braxton rolls his eyes. “Ballian go,” he orders.
“Yes, Braxton,” Ballian says before his presence vanishes.
Following Braxton, I tell Skia, “Skia, you can go as well. I’ll call for you once we’re with Elder Nelah.”
“Okay, Nyah but just call my name if you need me before then,” Skia declares, fading away.
“We’re going to have to do something about those two,” Braxton chuckles. “Ballian recognizes her as his mate and would protect her at all costs. Why are they coming at each other like this, I don’t know.”
“I don’t know either because she sees him as her mate too but one thing we have to get them on board with is they will not disrespect each other and they’re going to have to learn how to get along.”
“I agree. Go get your stuff and I’ll call Levi to get the car ready. We’ll meet with the department heads before we leave to give our directives for the next few days.”
So much for getting any work done at the hotel today. Before leaving, Braxton summoned the department managers to the first-floor conference room with their current department reports. We did not have to go to the main conference room because it was still being cleaned and stripped down.
As we entered the room, talk around the table ceased as all eyes focused on us. They were probably wondering why we were meeting here versus the other. Or maybe even discussing if one of them were going to be let go. We know the reason for the first and the second, no one was getting fired, so they could relax about that.
Braxton and I quickly went over the reports, beyond satisfied with the numbers as we expressed it to each manager. That seemed to give them a sense of relief as Braxton took over and told them he expected them to keep up the good work. Braxton then proceeded to tell them that he, Levi, and myself would be away from the hotel for an undetermined number of days, but he would have two General Managers from his other hotels to come in and oversee operations in our stead.
Standing off to the side, Levi raised his brow. I guess Braxton only told him that we were going back to the Pack lands but not why or for how long.
Although Braxton was happy with the managers’ performances within their departments, I knew he felt more comfortable with other eyes watching over his investment. Braxton did let them know the General Managers will be arriving later on this evening.
“Can I get their names to let the front desk know to be expecting them?” Melissa, who took over my old position, asked.
Braxton smirked. “No, you cannot. They are like secret shoppers in the retail business. You don’t need to know who they are. It could be someone checking into one of the most expensive suites in the hotel to the cheapest room. You will never know.”
I wanted to laugh at their bewildered expressions, but held it in. Honestly, I didn’t know if Braxton had General Managers coming or not because I never heard him on the phone requesting any to come but that didn’t mean he didn’t put in the calls while I was in the bedroom getting my stuff. If he did, I was fine with that and if he didn’t, I was fine with that also. It would be a way to keep everything moving smoothly under the false pretense.
We said our goodbyes, then headed out the hotel. Once outside, I asked Braxton, “Do you really have people coming?”
“I do,” he responded as we watched Levi speak to the valet. Braxton added, “We have been away from the hotel more than I like, and now I think it will be longer. Plus, with the threat of war looming over us, preparing ourselves and our wolves, who knows when we’ll physically be back. The General Managers I’ve requested to come will make sure things stay in tip top shape.”
“Well, that’s good to know,” I returned as Levi waved us to the car, then gave two of the valets a tip.
He got in the driver’s seat after the first valet opened the door for him while the other opened the back passenger door for Braxton and I. Once inside, the valet closed the doors and Levi pulled off. Braxton quickly laces his fingers through mine.
“Have the bodies been taken care of?” Braxton asked Levi.
Turning onto the avenue, Levi replies, “They have, Alpha. They should have arrived at the Pack lands over thirty minutes ago. I spoke to Alpha Lightfeather, relaying what happened and he said he will have his guards dispose of the bodies once they get there.”
“Good, good,” Braxton nods.
Levi and Braxton lock eyes as he glances through the rearview mirror at Braxton then focuses back on the road. Were they having some kind of mental conversation amongst themselves?
Apparently not, because Braxton sighs, “What is it, Levi?”
With his eyes straight ahead, Levi replies, “I feel like I’m out of the loop on something.”
“How’s that?” Braxton queries, side eyeing me.
Levi makes a right turn, then answers, “Why wasn’t I informed about us taking a leave from the hotel? Usually, I get a rundown on everything before it happens. You only told me to get rid of the bodies, then later to have the car ready for us after meeting with the staff. As your Beta, you’ve never kept anything from me, business or Pack wise.”
Swiveling in my seat, I face Braxton and frown. Why would he not tell Levi what is going on? Levi is his Beta and should be the first-person Braxton should convey with any developments as Levi said, business or Pack wise. From my expression, Braxton knew I’m totally on Levi’s side with this one.
Sensing my irritation, Braxton winks, kissing the back of my hand, then addresses Levi. “Levi, I do apologize if you felt out of the loop, but after the shit in the conference room, things took a wild turn when we got back to the suite. Things I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.”
“Things like what?” Levi counters.
Braxton clears his throat before replying, “My destined wolf emerging for starters.”
Levi’s eyes, round like saucers, dart to the rearview mirror with scrutiny. “Bullshit” he whispers.
Levi damn near swipes the car in the right lane when Braxton’s eyes shift to red and Ballian’s voice comes out of his mouth. “We don’t have time for bullshit.”
“Who the fuck is that?” Levi yells, jerking the car back into our lane, tossing Braxton and I in the back seat in the process.
“I’m okay,” I tell Braxton as he checks to see if I’m all right.
After he sees that I’m okay, Braxton moves to the edge of the seat as Levi asks again, “Alpha, Braxton who the Hell was that?”
In a calm tone, Braxton answers, “That was Ballian, my destined wolf.”
“He can talk through you. How can that be? I’ve never seen nor heard of anything like this. This is some scary shit,” Levi rants, going way over the speed limit.
I feel Braxton’s as well as Ballian’s Alpha dominance run through Levi after Braxton grips his shoulder with Ballian saying, “Slow down, before we get pulled over or even worse, get into an accident.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Levi utters, decreasing the speed.
“Thank you.” This time it’s Braxton’s voice coming out as he removes his hand, then scoots back.