CHAPTER FOUR

Kaile's POV

"Thank you, Madam Cassandra, you can leave", I dismissed her after I had given her my instructions about Eve.

She bowed and left. After she left, I let myself sink into my thoughts. The image of Eve smiling as she called her name flashed in my mind and I couldn't stop myself from smiling as well. Eve, the name really did suit her, the people I knew with that name had the most beautiful smiles.

"Kaile", Reuben called, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I hadn't realized when he came into the room.

"What is it?", I asked.

"We've found the rogues we think you had a run in with", he said.

"That's good, well have we questioned them yet?", I asked.

"They're dead", he said in a matter of fact tone.

"Dead?", I questioned.

"Yes", he answered affirmatively.

"Where did you find them?", I asked.

"A little way past the inner boundary pass, almost in Ravenwood territory", he said and I furrowed my brows.

"Ravenwood territory? Well how did they die? Could you tell?", I asked.

"It looks like they offed themselves", he answered.

"What do you think about this?", he asked.

I was silent for a few minutes as I pondered over his words.

"There's nothing to think about it", I told him.

He looked at me with an incredulous expression as if I had just said something ridiculous.

"Really? You don't even wonder why they killed themselves?", he asked.

"Why do these rogues do anything?", I said dismissively.

"They probably thought Eve was an easy target so they attacked her and I came and fought them off, that's it", I told him and I noticed his eyes squint in confusion.

"Eve?", he asked.

"Oh, yes, Eve", I repeated.

"Is that her name?"

"Hold on, I thought you said she couldn't remember anything?", he asked looking at me confused.

"She doesn't", I told him.

"Then?", he asked but then the look of realization took over his face.

"Oh. Oh"

"I gave her the name", I said softly.

"Oh hell no!", he snapped.

"Reuben!", I called warningly.

"No! No, Kaile, you do not get to do that, you do not get to just give her that name", he barked.

"Reuben, it's just a name", I said softly, trying to calm him down.

"You and I both know, it's not just a name!", he snapped.

"We both know what that name means to us, means to you!"

"Yes, I do!", I snapped.

"I know very well what that name means so that's why if I can say it's just a name, it is just a name", I tell him.

Reuben stared at me silently for a few seconds.

"Fine, why are you giving her a name in the first place? She's leaving isn't she? I heard she had her last doctor's appointment this morning, she's fine now, she's on her way so why are you helping her with a name?", he asked, staring seriously at me.

"She's not leaving, Reuben", I told him calmly.

"What?", he blinked at me.

"She's staying here. She's going to be working here, I just finished talking to Madam Cassandra to find something suitable for her", I told him.

Reuben scoffed as he looked at me with an unbelieving expression.

"Let me ask you something, Kaile, what is it about this girl?", he asked.

"Reuben, don't start", I warned him.

"No, honestly I really want to know. Does she remind you of her? Is that why you're doing all this? Is that why you took her in? Why you are going as far as giving her her name?!"

"Reuben enough!", I snapped.

"You don't even know her!", he shouted.

"Then what would you have me do? Throw her out?!", I shouted back.

"She doesn't remember anything, she has nowhere to go...."

"For all you know, she could be lying to you!", he shouted.

"She is not", I said calmly, trying to rein my temper.

"You really believe that?", he scoffed.

I looked at him,

"I do", I said firmly.

Reuben stared back at me.

"Ok", he said finally, in an exasperated tone just as the doors opened and the other council members began to file into the room.

Reuben didn't look at me as he took his seat at the council table, next to mine. I took a deep breath and sat down at the head of the council table. I glanced at Reuben who was still not looking at me.

"This meeting can now begin", I said in a low monotone.

"First of order of business, we've found the rogues who...", Reuben paused, casted me a side glance before continuing.

"... was involved with the alpha in the brawl a few nights ago", he continued.

"Oh good, did we find anything out from them?", Darius, one of the lords on the council asked.

"They're dead", Reuben said blandly.

"How?", Darius asked.

"We do not know", Reuben answered simply.

"Well, do you know anything? Is anything being done? The rogues are becoming more and more audacious lately, they've even gone as far as attacking our alpha"

"I wasn't attacked", I cut in and everyone at the council table turned their attention to me.

"I just happened upon them and got involved in a fight, I wasn't their main target", I told them.

"Still-", Darius protested.

"Besides I don't think we've borne a lot of brunt of the rogues attacks anyway and I am sure Reuben is doing everything in his power to keep it that way", I said with a note of finality that seemed to shut him up.

The silence that enveloped the entire council table for the next few minutes was so thick you could almost touch it, until Linus, another one of the Lords, who was older, cleared his throat.

"You have received an invitation, my alpha", he said.

My ears perked at this.

"From who?", I asked.

"Simon, the alpha of the Isis Pack", he answered.

"To his mating ceremony, he is getting mated", he added.

There was a burst of cheers around the table.

"Wow, that is good news indeed", Darius said and the other council members nodded their heads in agreement.

"Indeed it is good news", I said.

"Alpha Simon and the Isis Pack has always been a good ally of ours, of course I'll attend his big day to share in his joy. You can confirm my attendance to them", I told Lord Linus who bowed.

"Yes, my alpha"

"Speaking of ceremonies and mating ceremony, my alpha", Darius began and there was a hush that fell over the table, even I listened with dread to what I was already sure his next words would be.

"Should we perhaps arrange to have the moon priestess conduct a ceremony as well? For you? A moon ceremony to find a mate?", he said and there it was, what I knew was coming.

It would be strange if they didn't bring up my lack of a mate even after hearing about Alpha Simon's mating ceremony. As much as Alpha Ezra and I had bad blood between us, it was the one thing my council members admired him for, he had a mate, I didn't.

"No, I believe we should let the moon goddess to do her thing at her own time", I said emphasizing my finality on the matter.

Darius relented and bowed his head but I knew this was only temporary. How long before he came at me again?