Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Xander, Lila, Brian, and Bella were looking at Reiya intently as she finished explaining everything that had happened to Alexa. She turned to Bella, meeting her gray eyes.
“I know it’s a lot to ask. Do you think you can try to help? My Lee is talking to Grandpa Sage about it. He’ll be the one to train you on what to do.”
Bella nodded her head without hesitation. “Of course. This won’t be dangerous at all for me. However, there is risk for Alexa.”
“I agree. Brian, can you help with her body temperature again?” Reiya watched as a smile spread over his lips.
“I should be able to help her better now that I don’t have a barrier around my inferno.” Brian could see the appreciation in Reiya’s eyes. “How is she?”
“Putting on a brave face like she always does.” Reiya listened to Xander snort.
“Just like her mother. You always acted like you were fine when you were hurting.” Xander gave her a crooked smile and Reiya only shrugged her shoulders.
“I guess she gets it honestly.” Reiya smiled softly.
“Brody and Chelsie went to speak with my mother about this. We also wanted to warn them about Erebus, since he is threatening my father’s life.
” She sighed and shook her head. “Just a normal day for our family.” A wry smile spread over her face.
They had to laugh off these moments, because her family was always going through some sort of trial.
Xander laughed. “Your family always has things to deal with. Remember, right after the demon war, Hunter had to leave again to deal with the packs in the north?”
“Yeah, I remember. There was a brutal war with a species called the sheya. I don’t remember all the details, but I know it was a big enough problem that the northern packs all joined forces.
The Alpha’s Council up there reached out to my brother for advice.
They had found a werewolf pup at one of the enemy camps and weren’t sure what to do with it.
” Reiya smiled. “Hunter went up there and ordered the packs not to kill the baby, and he tasked the largest pack up there with its care. I think it was the Sulfur Pack. It’s been over twenty years now.
I need to ask my brother if he ever heard any more about that situation.
I know it was a big mess. And let’s not forget Lucie’s fiasco with Beryl and Erebus. ”
“Well, Bella, you were bored before, right? You will never be bored again.” Brian laughed as he flashed her a bright smile.
“I just wanted people to talk to … but excitement sounds fun too.” Bella smiled with a small shrug.
“Were you incredibly lonely?” Lila asked softly.
“Well, no. I mean, I had Shiva there.” Bella averted her eyes.
She didn’t want to say anything bad about her life with Shiva.
It was just that Shiva wasn’t always a big conversationalist. Shiva liked to talk but did not like to listen.
Sometimes Bella just wanted to experience more of the world.
“Anyway, I’m ready to start learning what I need to do. I want to help Alexa as soon as I can.”
“Thank you so much, Bella.” Reiya smiled and motioned for Bella to follow her. Brian also followed them out of the room and Reiya glanced back at him. “You know gramps isn’t going to let you stay.”
Brian chuckled. “Of course not. I’m not you or Alexa, the favored ones,” he teased.
“Brian!”
Brian turned to see Ryker walking his way with his arm around Raine. He looked back at Bella and Reiya as he considered what he should do.
“Gramps isn’t going to let you stay anyway. You know where we’ll be.” Reiya smiled at Brian and watched as his gaze settled on Bella.
“Don’t do anything dangerous … please.” Brian watched as a sweet smile spread over Bella’s face.
“I won’t be doing anything dangerous for me. Though it would probably kill you.” Bella winked at Brian with a sweet giggle.
Brian loved her laugh, her smile … yeah, he was beginning to love everything about her. He followed her with his gaze as she walked away with Reiya. With every passing moment, the pull was getting stronger for him, while she remained oblivious to his struggling temptation.
“Who was that?” Ryker asked as he looked at Brian.
Brian finally looked away and turned his attention to Ryker and Raine. “We have a lot to talk about. Let’s head to my office. This needs to be discussed privately. But I have a big job for you, Ryker. And I’m hoping I can selfishly ask Raine to help as well.”
“You know I will help you in any way I can.” Raine looked around. “Where are Alexa and Mikah? And who was that woman with Aunt Reiya?”
“Like I said, we have a lot to talk about.” Brian smiled and nodded for them to follow him. News of his mate couldn’t get out right now. It would be weird for him to bring his fated mate here when he’d taken a chosen mate. This would all need to be kept secret until the time was right.
Mikah bit into an apple as he leaned back into the chair. He looked over at Alexa, curled up against Ken on the couch, his arm around her.
“I have a joke about paper bags.” Mikah grinned and then shrugged. “Eh, never mind. It’s TEARable.” He chuckled as Ken snorted.
“Oh, come on, that one was funny. Look, even Alexa cracked a smile.” Mikah sighed as a wry grin formed over his lips.
“Why do paper bags never win poker games? Because they always fold.” Mikah laughed loudly and nodded his head at Ken.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean anything by it.
I actually have a lot of respect for paper bags. One could call me SACreligious.”
Alexa giggled and tilted her head up to look at the paper-bag head above her. “You don’t have to wear that.”
“I know I don’t. I want to. No accidents for you. I’d rather wear this than put a blindfold on you.” Ken ran a hand along Alexa's side.
“Right. Blindfolds are for the bedroom.” Alexa heard Ken take in a sharp breath as Mikah choked on his drink.
“Nope, that one is below the belt. That is nothing like me KRAKEN jokes.” Mikah held his sides as he rumbled with laughter. “Oh come on, even Ken knows that one was funny.”
“I’m so sorry I left you alone with him for so long. He is unBEARable.” Ken smirked in his paper bag and listened to Mikah laughing.
“See, that’s the spirit!” Mikah looked at Ken and then frowned. “I need to make you a mouth hole.”
“It’s fine for now.” Ken wasn’t a fan of the paper bag.
It was stuffy and very limiting. But it was worth it so that his mate could cling to him like she was.
He didn’t want to upset her accidentally.
If it was going to take a while, they might need to figure out a better mask besides a paper bag.
For now, as long as he got to feel her warmth beside him, it was worth it.
The sweet sparks that tingled between them were comforting.
“Thank you,” Alexa whispered as she gripped Ken’s shirt and leaned into him.
“It would have been really hard for you to leave me right now, after … everything.” She didn’t want to be afraid of Erebus, but it was the feeling of being helpless around him that scared her.
Both times she’d seen him, she hadn’t been able to fight him off.
And after what happened last time, she was shaken up.
It lit something inside her, though. She felt her feral beasts inside her rage, demanding his blood.
She wasn’t afraid to fight him. She just needed her powers and her beasts.
Still, Erebus was crazy. And he had shown he was able to get to her.
It was comforting being next to Ken, even if she couldn’t see his face. She could smell him and feel his heat. She could hear his soothing voice and feel his soft touch. Her beasts needed this, and she needed this.
“Lex.” Ken looked down at her through the eyehole of his mask. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. Your father needs to tighten his security up here. You know … if you were at my place, he couldn’t find you. I wonder if it would be better to take you there.”
“No,” Alexa said firmly. “What if Erebus thinks I’m with you when he can’t find me?
He will kill someone in my family. I’d rather him get to me than hurt or kill one of them.
” Plus Alexa was already working on a plan.
The next time Erebus showed his face, she was going to leave him with a sting of her own.
Ken closed his eyes, his frustration clear on his face.
It was all hidden behind the paper bag, though.
In order to fully protect Alexa, he also needed to protect her family.
He couldn’t let anything happen to them because he didn’t want her to hurt like that.
He knew just how unhinged Erebus was, though.
If Erebus was threatening to kill one of her family members, it would only be a matter of time before he followed through.
He needed to find Erebus … and fast. But how?
How could he lure Erebus out without using Alexa as bait?
“I’m hungry. Should I bring up dinner?” Mikah asked.
“Yeah, I’m hungry too. Although I’m really in the mood for a sack lunch.” Alexa smiled, biting her bottom lip. A low groan came from Ken’s chest as Mikah winced.
“Your jokes aren’t funny, Lex. They ruin my appetite.” Mikah shook his head in disgust.
“Funny … they increase my appetite.” Ken peered out through his little opening so he could look at his beautiful mate.
“Keep your tentacles to yourself, Squidward. Not in front of me. I’m getting out of here.
I’ll just bring up a tray of food.” Mikah quickly descended down the stairs.
When he was about halfway down, he slowed.
He balled his hand into a fist and slammed it against the wall.
Erebus had touched his princess again … one too many times.
His beast was raging inside him. He was trying to control it, but it was finally getting away from him, which was why he’d volunteered to get food. He needed to clear his head.
Mikah descended slowly, taking one step at a time as he tried to manage his breathing.
His fingers were trembling, his eyes flickering in color.
He felt an uncontrollable urge beginning to take over him.
He knew this feeling. It had happened before.
He needed to stop it before it spiraled out of control.
Mikah wanted Erebus’ blood to be spilled. But that wasn’t even enough … he was the one who needed to drain it from his body. He wanted to personally rip the deity apart and watch the life drain from his eyes. It was only this thought that could soothe him. He would be the one to kill Erebus.