Chapter 6

ALPHA XAVIER

I got back from Sue's grave, anxious to meet Isabel, and determined to punish her for embarrassing me. Running away from your mate on the day of your mating ceremony speaks volume. It's a public notice that you've rejected your mate and would not be forced into that union. 

I was certain that word would have gone out that Dario tried to give his daughter away to acquire military aid and she ran away. 

If Eira knows it, then everyone knows about it in all the kingdoms. Yet, something Eira said made me feel she may have been right. I had developed deep affections for Isabel the first time I saw her. Her looks, her innocence, her naivety touched a part of me but then, why did she have to be Dario's daughter?

"Xavier, you have to take it easy. You have that look." Valerian stood before me refusing to give way.

"What look are you talking about?" I looked him in the eye angrily. He just stood there, refusing to back down and refusing to give way either. He held my gaze and it looked more like a staring contest.

His lips gradually curled into a smile, which also triggered mine. "That's what I thought." He shook my hands and hugged him.

"How's she doing? Marita said Alaric and Renata found her." 

"Yes, it was a long journey, when they found her, They rode west to get me and Thalia, and we all went north to search for Cedric and Astrid." He pulled me aside so we could have some privacy.

"Thank you, thank you for finding her." Valerian was my most trusted beta, we had grown up together and have saved each other from the cold hands of death countless times. It was me and Valerian before others came, he was one of the strongest werewolves I've ever seen. 

We had challenged the last Alpha, Damian, when he became too brutal and corrupt, selling the pack out to the highest bidder and seducing and bedding the mates of pack members. 

"Where's she now?"

"She's at a boarding house." He was watching all of me as he spoke. I guess he was searching for clues as to my intention with the girl.

"So, what now?" He finally asked, I guess he didn't like what his mind read of my body language and decided to just ask the question instead.

"What now? It's simple. I'll have her thrown in the dungeon until my mind is made up on what I want to do with her." I was still speaking when Valerian led me to a private quarter where we usually have pack leaders meeting.

"About that, Xavier. Why do you think she ran away in the first place?"

"Well, at first I thought it's because she didn't want to honor her father..." I trailed off, while I tried to wrap my head around it again. Was I letting my emotions override my better judgment?

"But....?" Valerian asked, I guess the doubt was obvious on my face.

"Marita told her just before the mating ceremony that I plan to carry out my revenge on her for Sue." When I was done speaking, I noticed that Valerian was just looking at me. "Well," I shrugged my shoulders, "you know I had an encounter just now while I was at Sue's grave. They killed her for no reason, I'm still trying to figure out who she could have offended? You were there when we discovered that Alpha Damian was in bed with Dario." I suddenly became tired.

"Xavier, if I may." He paused as if deep in thought. "I want to play the role of a devil's advocate. I only got to know you were taking a wife on the eve of your mating ceremony, all you told us when we rode out to honor Dario's Belleteyn festival was that you wanted to explore and have fun. So you can't accuse me of being biased towards her as I didn't even know about  her before now, which---" he was still speaking when I cut in.

"What is your point Valerian?" I demanded.

"My point is this, since we found her and all through our way back home. I have been having this nagging feeling that I can't figure out. Isabel is a very beautiful girl, naive and innocent, that much is evident for everyone to see who has eyes."

"You are not making any sense Valerian, you are boring me to death with your long words." I interjected.

"For pet sake Xavier, give me a break. Give her a break. That's all I'm saying!" He yelled.

"Why should I do that?" I asked softly.

"Why shouldn't you, put yourself in her shoes. If you were told your wife-to-be was going to kill you because of something you didn't do, would you really continue with the marriage? The poor girl was probably scared to death and running was the only option on her card since her father chose to sacrifice her to save himself."

"You don't know that!" I yelled back at him but something didn't feel right. "This devil's advocate you are playing at has gone too far. She's my wife and I'll do with her as I see fit."

I was clearly not in the mood to entertain any thoughts that didn't include making her pay for what happened to Sue. 

"Once upon a time we're a master strategist that employs stealth in everything he does. Now," he shook his head. "You've allowed revenge to cloud your judgment."

I laughed for a while, "Is that still part of the devil's advocate?" What he had said struck a chord within me.

"No, but it's the truth. Why don't you take some time to get to know this Isabel girl and don't be so bent on revenge. You are probably all she knows." There was something in his voice that suggested something.

Valerian has always been my confidant, I used to be the voice of reasoning while he was the rash one. But, it seemed we traded places ever since Sue died. He became the voice of reasoning while I became vindictive. 

"I see," I nodded slowly.

"Xavier, you have that look again." He raised his eyebrow slightly.

"What look?" I was not sure what he was talking about but I knew I was moving the muscles on my face.

"The look you usually wear when your mind's made up and you just want the other person to stay clear of you." I smiled and nodded my head. "In the name of all that is good Xavier, take a break. I don't know why Marita allowed you to go visit Sue in the first place. Whatever happened to Sue is not her fault." He added with a compressed shout.

Whilst he spoke, I pondered on why he was defending Isabel. Coming from some other person I would understand, but why him? Why Valerian? My lips curled into a mischievous smile.