Chapter 6

Allene's POV

“During the fight at the two seas that intersect the rogue kingdoms, you lost two of your closest wolves to Leonard,” I said quietly. “He killed them after ambushing them. There was no formal declaration of war before he carried out his attack on your wolves, who were only returning from a duel with another pack.”

Draven slowly raised his head to look at me, clearly startled by how I knew this. He walked towards his throne room while I followed and when I noticed the guard didn't follow, I could guess that he had told asked him not to though the pack's mind link.

Women were never privy to political matters. They were always kept outside such discussions. And for someone like me, someone Draven had known for years to be abused, to speak of this baffled him.

Once, he had wanted to help me escape from Leonard. That was after Leonard had humiliated and beaten me before the eyes of many during an Alpha gathering ceremony. But in the end, I had betrayed Draven. I had gone to the council and repeated what Leonard had forced me to say, that Draven had tried to harass me, that he had spoken of escape only to lure me away.

It had all been part of Leonard’s plan. He knew how his uncle treated me during Alpha ceremonies, the ones I was forced to attend with him to keep face.

Draven hated his uncle more than anything. It was proof enough that the throne had never truly belonged to Darius nor to Leonard.

“You do not have even one heir or child,” I went on when I noticed Draven was no longer giving me the attention he had earlier.

“Allene,” he called my name sharply from the chair where he now sat.

“What?” I asked, unflinching. “Do you want to call your wolves to throw me into the dungeons?”

I knew I had touched the worst subject he despised above all else.

“Darius killed your mate and your unborn heirs years ago,” I continued, my voice steady. “All in his bid to be crowned Alpha instead of you.”

He said nothing. He didn’t even look at me anymore. His gaze shifted away from where I stood before him, alone in his throne room I had followed him into without permission.

“You’ve been fighting for your revenge for decades,” I pressed on. “Yet nothing has worked. Your forces have dwindled. Your manpower has reduced. Doesn’t that tell you something, Draven? That you’ve been using the wrong approach all this while?”

Pain exploded at my throat.

My neck tightened in the next second, and when I forced my eyes open,gasping and clawing for air. I saw Draven standing directly before me, his hand wrapped around my neck as he tried to strangle me. I struggled weakly against him, my lungs burning.

“Don’t you dare, Allene,” he growled. “Don’t you dare insult me or my wolves. If Leonard or Darius sent you here as a spy to act helpless so I’d fall for it, you are gravely mistaken.”

“Leonard and I… aren’t mates anymore,” I whispered with what little breath I had left.  Better to tell the truth than for him to think I have been sent. I told myself.

His grip loosened instantly.

I collapsed to the floor with a dull thud, my chest heaving as air rushed back into my lungs. I saw his hand still extended toward me, hesitant and conflicted. As though he wanted to help me up but was afraid of touching me.

Regret flickered across his face.

But just as quickly, he masked it.

He stared at me once more, and then his gaze fell to my neck.

Leonard’s mark was still there.

Though it burned hot, Leonard had refused my rejection, which was why his mark still branded my skin. Draven had almost believed me but seeing it made him scoff, as though everything I had said had suddenly become a lie.

In a flash, he retreated back to his throne, reminding me that he too was an Alpha, with Alpha blood running through his veins. It was that same strength that was bred into their lineage that had made Leonard refuse to accept my rejection, believing he would survive the pain of it, even if I wouldn’t.

After a few moments, I gathered my strength and stepped toward Draven’s throne, wanting to be closer as I began to explain my reasons for being here. But I lost my footing.

I fell forward, bracing myself for the pain and for my head striking the floor.

It never came as Draven caught me.

He still cared. Just as he always had from the day he learned of my parents’ deaths, from the moment he began trying to help me escape the SilverFang pack. Just as he had always wanted my parents to do. To leave his brother’s tyranny behind.

Relief flooded my heart. It told me my plans might actually work.

But as I tried to steady myself, I felt warmth pooling in my lap and the unmistakable press of his body beneath me.

I looked down and I was seated on Draven.

He had caught me and in doing so, kept me from falling. Our eyes met, and for a brief moment, the world went silent. I couldn’t break it. I couldn’t even look away.

His eyes—gods. Hazel-brown and intense, holding mine as though he could see through me. Through the years of hurt. Through the abuse I had endured while waiting for Leonard to notice me, to value and love me.

My gaze drifted across his face, and then I saw his lips. So soft and full, tempting in a way I hadn’t allowed myself to acknowledge before.

I leaned closer, telling myself I would stop the second he resisted. Even for a heartbeat. I told myself I would only taste his lips if he allowed it, that this was a gift I was giving myself after years of neglect at Leonard’s hands.

I kissed him.

I expected him to pull away but to my shock, he didn’t.

Boldness surged through me. I reached up and held the nape of his neck, kissing him again and harder this time. He still didn’t resist. And then, slowly, he kissed me back, just as fervently.

Suddenly, he stopped, as though struck by lightning.

“We shouldn’t be doing this, Allene,” he murmured against my lips, his eyes still closed.

I pulled back slightly, cradled his face in my hands and looked straight into his eyes.

“No, Draven,” I said softly. “We should be doing this.”

And then I kissed him again.