Maybe I would never understand politics. But one thing was still unclear to me. If you had a chance for peace, wouldn’t you take it? To avoid the horrors and bloodshed of war, wouldn’t you try everything to negotiate for peace?
I didn’t understand why Brandon wouldn’t agree to at least talk to Albert. We could stop this looming war between us once and for all. We could crush this rivalry.
I tracked him down and found him staring outside a window, the only one in the room. In his hand was a glass of white wine, half full.
“I’m not going to change my mind.” He broke the silence as I walked up to stand on the other side of the window. I leaned against it, looking at him.
“Can you at least tell me why?” I asked quietly.
“If I negotiated for peace, you would be in that truce. You would never be allowed to come here again.” Brandon told me and downed the rest of his wine.
“Isn’t that what you want?” He doesn’t want me, right?
He set his glass on the windowsill and edged closer to me. I backed away and was surprised when my back hit the window. He put an arm on either side of my body, invading my personal space.
“I thought that’s what I wanted. But now I’m sure.” Brandon met my eyes and cupped my cheek in his big hand. “I want you.”
My heart accelerated, beating so rapidly that I knew he could hear.
“I want you, too,” I whispered, utterly at his mercy.
He leaned in so close our noses were touching. I held my breath, waiting for him to kiss me.
“Albert and I disagree on many things and you are one of them.” He let his hand drop but his body was still close. I was a little disappointed he didn’t kiss me.
“I don’t understand.” I raked a hand through my hair.
“He doesn’t know you’re the Luna of my pack. And if he finds out, I’d bet he’d want you to reject me. You’d never become a member of my pack.
“Uh, actually. . . Albert already knows.” I fidgeted with the hem of my dress.
“What?” Brandon’s nostrils flared in anger.
“I sort of might of accidentally told him about you.” I bit my lip and winced. He was not taking this well.
Brandon shot away from me and I instantly missed his warmth.
“Why the hell would you do that?” He snarled.
“It was killing me. I couldn’t keep it from him.” I defended.
He punched the wall, causing his wine glass to fall and shatter on the mahogany floor. I jumped, startled.
“Either way, now that Albert knows I took you, a war is long overdue.” Brandon crossed his arms, his arm muscles rippling under his suit jacket.
“We need to get rid of our bad blood between our packs.” I said, nearly begging. “I can talk to Albert, I can tell him everything.” Brandon looked out the window again, his eyes following the stars shimmering in the sky. It was a beautiful night, the sky clear so we could see the crescent moon in full clarity.
“The only way to have peace is to go to war.”
“What?”
“The only way to peace is to go to war.” He repeated.
The only way to peace is to go to war.
It was a paradox. How could peace exist without violence first?
But it didn’t have to be that way.
“Wolves will die. From both packs.” I reminded him. Our last war claimed way more than fifty, the count so high I couldn’t keep track of the deaths.
“Jason and I talked about it and we agreed to invade in two days. The arrival of my parents complicated things so I’m waiting for them to leave.” He explained. Of course he would wait for his kind parents to leave.
“So they don’t realize what a cruel person you really are?” I challenged.
“So they won’t be caught up in the fighting.” Brandon glared at me.
I didn’t reply. I took a deep breath and exhaled, a wave of tranquility taking over my mood.
Brandon took a deep breath too, making his chest puff up with air and releasing it through his mouth.
“Someday you’ll understand why I’m doing this.”
Don’t count on it.
*****
I found myself in my own bed, staring at the ceiling.
I shot up, my memory completely blank.
Why couldn’t I remember anything from last night? I wasn’t that drunk, I only had a couple sips of that red wine. The last thing I remember was Brandon and I arguing about the war.
How did I end up in my bed? Did someone carry me here?
Someone knocked twice on my door and I cleared my throat. I secretly wished it was Brandon so I could ask what happened last night.
“Come in,” I said and a woman with white blond hair and a dark blue dress entered.
My face lit up in recognition. I remembered her! She was the one who tried to free me from the castle. Her name was-
“Angela!” I exclaimed.
She nodded, “Word has spread that you’re here. I met with Alpha Albert last night and he told me that he’s planning to free you at three. He wants you to go near the boundary line and wait for him there so he can-”
“Wait, wait, wait,” I said quickly, shaking my head violently, “I’m not going with Albert.”
“You want to stay with Alpha Brandon? Are you sure?” She asked, widening her eyes to purple orbs.
I nodded, “Brandon was a heartless jerk. He was cruel and selfish and I hated him. I wanted to kill him at times. But then I got to know him and I don’t know if it was real or not, but I know that he’s changed.” I sighed. I had to accept my fate, I couldn’t run anymore. “Brandon Jackson is my mate.”
It wasn’t love, not yet, but I was falling fast.
“But he killed your parents and kidnapped Harper!” Angela objected passionately. I closed my eyes at the harsh reminder. Brandon had sent a spy to trick Harper and kidnap her. But he didn’t kill her.
“He’s changed.”
Angela looked away and nodded once, “I have noticed a change in heart. We found a rogue near the border and instead of killing him then and there, he sent him to the prison.”
Well, at least that was something.
“But that doesn’t condone all of the sins he has committed.” Angela hissed, obviously angry that I chose to stay. “He doesn’t deserve a happy ending and he certainly doesn’t deserve you.”
“Haven’t you ever seen someone change?” I asked and locked gazes with her. Something passed in her eyes and she looked a little more empathetic.
She walked to sit on the end of my bed, “Jason was different when I first met him. He was impulsive and aggressive, just like his brother. They said he got into fights with the other wolves almost everyday for no apparent reason. He lusted for blood and they said that he lacked any form of control. But once he found me and we marked each other, he became more. . . mature. He still loves to fight but he knows control.” Angela explained, staring into space. Then she looked at me with wise eyes.
“So to answer your question, yes. I have seen someone change.”
*****
“Can we do something with our wolves today?” I asked Brandon and he tensed.
“I guess. . . it’ll be okay.” He agreed and I smiled. I ran to the door leading to the outside, eager to step onto the grass.
“It’s cold outside.” He shouted but I ignored him and opened the door. I didn’t care. It felt like I’d been trapped in that golden castle for months.
I was stunned to see snow blanketing the ground. It was snowing lightly, snowflakes landing in my hair and melting on my skin.
It’s only been two days, right?
“What day is it today?” I asked curiously. Brandon wrapped a soft, warm coat around me and grabbed my pale hands to slip mittens onto them.
“December 1st.”
“Oh.”
“Come on,” He grabbed my hand in his and led me into the snow-covered woods. This was the first time he let me go into the woods. He probably thought I was going to run away or something.
And maybe I would have. . .
. . . but not anymore.