Chapter 14

KIAN 

As much as he hates to admit it, he needed her. If it wasn’t for her quick thinking, there was a high chance that Alec would have caught him. He had also seen the flash of anger and jealousy in the other man’s eyes when Xavie had approached him, his inability to communicate made him rely heavily on non verbal cues, he didn’t know how much he needed her until that moment. 

It wouldn’t hurt to trust her a little more, it was just a hard thing for him to do and if past experience had taught him something, it was never to trust anyone. He cuts in front of her before she leaves. 

He started signing even though he knew she couldn’t understand but he was desperate. “You’re right about me not trusting you but I will try harder.” 

She stared at the movement of his hands, probably trying her best to understand what those hand gestures meant. “You know I don’t understand you right?” 

“What Alpha meant to say is—” Tint interrupts, making her way into the room. He was so relieved by her presence that he didn’t care that she was eavesdropping. “He is sorry, trusting someone hasn’t been his strong suit for a long time now.” 

He glared at Tint, feeling offended at the totally unnecessary part she decided to add. 

“I don’t know you that well and you have no reason to believe any word I say but I understand what you are feeling and going through. You have also been hurt by this man just like Alpha, you two need to set aside your differences and trust each other for this to work.”

“Malia was my best friend. I want Alpha Alec stripped of everything he has and pay for the pain he caused a lot of people. We can only achieve this by trusting each other, Alpha, you can start by telling us if you found anything in Alpha Alec’s office.” 

While he felt both their gaze on him, his eyes were only focused on Tint. He didn’t want her involved in this, it was too dangerous and he already failed his sister, he wasn’t about to fail her too so he ordered her to leave. 

Tint looked back at him with shock written all over her face, she opened her mouth to beg but he shook his head. Accepting defeat, she nodded her head and left them alone once more. 

“Let me guess, you don’t trust me enough to tell me right?” Xavie scoffed then proceeded to brush past him to the door. 

His eyes widened at how she misunderstood him and without thinking, he pulled her back. She lost her balance and slammed back into him, he didn’t mean to pull her back that hard but sometimes he forgets the strength he processes. His hang gripped her waist, stilling her before letting her go and taking a couple of steps back. 

Xavie clears her throat before speaking. “We don’t have to do this, Tint is right. We barely know each other and asking you to trust me is apparently too much to ask, the truth is…I don’t trust you too.” She admitted, peaking at him from beneath her long lashes. 

He suddenly had the urge to tell her how much her red hair suits her pale skin, it brings out her eyes more…where the fuck did that come from? He frowned, pushing the thought from his mind. Anyone could pull off a red hair, so there’s no need to sweet talk her into staying—what was she talking about again? 

He strolled over the nightstand drawers, he brought out a journal and a pen. He wrote what he wanted to say on it and held it out for her to read. “Let’s start over” 

When she nodded in agreement, he wrote more, telling her he found nothing in Alec’s study and how he didn’t expect him to keep any evidence of what he has been up to laying around in his office and how an idea occurred to him. He also told her what he thinks about Alec and the fact that he might be attracted to her, if they explore that, she could distract him while he tries to scoop into his castle more, especially places in the castle they wouldn’t normally look at. 

Once she finished reading what she wrote, she closed the journal and handed it back to him. “I don’t think I can do it, I hate him so much… I don’t want to be around him…and—” She paused, like she had said too much. 

He wrote back. “It won’t be easy, take time to think about it.” 

They parted ways after that, he excused himself from the room and went to his study to get some work done. With the whole impending war looming over them, this made him realize how much he needs a Beta and fast. He avoided the issue for a long time because the betrayal from the old one still stings. 

At first he didn’t want to believe his Beta would betray him like that, his partner, someone who fought alongside him for many years. When he found out he was having an affair with his mate. His heart was crushed! He was nineteen all over again, listening to his first mate tell him no woman would ever want him, no matter how good looking, wealthy or strong he is, no woman wants a burden. 

That stuck him deep within his bone especially when it was proven over and over again how right she had been. Pushing the painful memories out of  his mind, he rang the council chambers, summoning them for a council meeting. He relaxed back into his chair as he glanced outside the window, straightening up to see clearly when he glimpsed Xavie and Hilda from the courtyard, making their way out of the premises. 

He watched her, his expression thoughtful even to a point of confusion, he wasn’t sure if he could trust her but he found himself wanting to try!