Chapter 21

-Betrayal

Anna's POV

His head is in my lap as I run my fingers through his sooth thick black hair. He is not asleep. I can feel it. I can feel the anger and dread coming out of him. This is not something that I ever thought I will see in him. Isn't his sister being alive a good thing? Something is definitely wrong. Something big must have happened. What is it? What happened that shook Bane like this? Seeing the Big Bad Alpha lying down in my lap is scaring me.

If Alika is alive where is she? Why isn't Bane trying to bring her back? If she is alive why didn't he know all this while?

What about his friend James? How does all of this concern James? How did he come into the picture? What does he mean by Bane killing his mate? Maybe the world will believe it, but I don't think so. Bane would never do such a thing. Not to James when they are close friends. I don't think Bane is that fucked up.

I sigh and look down at him. He is looking at me now. Staring at me with those sea green eyes. They are not dark like they are most of the time. I cannot predict the emotions in his eyes. He seems lost. Completely lost. Now, this is scaring me. Never did I think that I will see him like this. This vulnerable and this sensitive.

My right-hand moves down to his jaw and slowly lays down on his cheek. His beard has grown out like a five O'clock shadow. My thumb caresses his lips. For a minute my eyes linger on them and them go back to his eyes. He is still staring at me, now into my eyes. So deep as though he is searching for something. For his relief, for his soul, in my eyes. And we just stare, I don't know how long.

I press my lips against his as I bend down giving him a soft kiss. I look up and he is still staring at me. I move my lips to his forehead to press a kiss there. I hold his face as I do so. I move my and whisper.

"Everything will be fine. Everything will work out." I run my hand through his hair. "I trust you. I don't know what it is, but we will work it out." I kiss his lips again. "Remember, we are a team."

I stop talking. There is silence again. A long silence. The crickets in the field are roaring louder than usual or maybe it's just silence that's making it sound louder. The moon in the dark sky will be full in two days. My fingers are still in his hair and I feel sad. It's not mine. This sadness is not mine. It's his. I feel as though my heart is heavy. These feelings are his that I am feeling rush through my body.

Looking down at him, I can only think of what might have happened that caused him so much pain. It doesn't sit well with me and my wolf seeing him like this. I want his sadness to disappear. I cannot ask him when he is such a state. Although a whole lot of scenarios and questions run through my mind as I think of the fight and the words James spoke.

Did Bane kill him? Or is James still alive?

What does he mean by Bane killing his mate? I don't think it might have happened. From what I got to understand from the past few days that I spent with Bane, I know for sure he didn't do it.

What did James tell that had Bane so worried?

Something is happening and I have to know.

"Bane, please. I want to know what happened." I follow him around the room as he puts on his clothes. He wouldn't tell me anything.

"No." His simple response. "I will deal with it."

"But I want to know. This matter obviously concerns me and it nowhere seems like it's a small issue that can be solved easily." I say as I follow him in front of the mirror as he combs his hair. Although he seems like he s less interested in doing it. I stand beside the mirror. I moved forward and put my hand on his, stopping from his current action and making him look at me. "Whatever it is I want to fight with you."

He throws the comb down as he looks at me. His hands find my waist. "I am pleasured to hear that. But I don't want you involved in this matter." He holds my face and makes me look into his eyes. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course, I do." I reply with all sincerity.

"Then trust me when I say this, I got it covered. Whatever it is, I don't want you fighting with me, I want you safe." He plants a light kiss on my forehead and before I know it he leaves my arms. He goes to the door and turns around. "Stay home. I don't want you leaving the house and wandering the woods. They are not safe anymore." He says and leaves.

My heart feels heavy. He is not giving away anything. His eyes, his light sea green eyes are full of restlessness. I can't bear to see him like this. I sigh and walk to the bed before dumping myself on it. I put my face in my hands.

Everything that happened in the past twenty-four hours comes back to me.

The ceremony.

The dance.

The attack.

Then Bane...

God, I don't like seeing him like this!

All I know is just that His sister is alive and James, his once friend is trying to kill me because he thinks Bane killed his mate.

What if Alika is his mate?

No! Bane wouldn't kill his own sister! James is wrong!

Maybe I am wrong. Maybe Alika is not James mate but somehow related to this whole situation.

I gulp and lick my lips thinking about everything. I think of the ways I can find out what happened.

The Beta would not give away anything. He would not betray his Alpha. But it's worth a try. Maybe I can ask him. I know that by now Bane must have ordered everyone not to tell me anything. He would keep me in the dark as long as possible. But he is the only option available to me unless I can sneak into the dungeons to know what's happening.

Okay. I can do this. I know that if Bane finds me there... Oh, I can only imagine.

You have to do this! My wolf says. Oh, there she is. Always up for an adventure, ready to get me in trouble.

We will!

I get up from the bed and open the door. Going down to the hall I don't find Jane, our cook, which means the coast is clear. I reach for the front door but am stopped by a voice.

"Luna." I curse and turn around only to gasp once I see who is standing near the entrance of the kitchen. It's Josh. I instantly smile at him.

"Oh God! You gave me a heart attack!" I say walking to him. He smiles coming to me. Giving him a hug I pull away to look at him. "How are you? How is your grandma?" I ask.

"Oh, she is fine. I am just my handsome self as you can see." I laugh at his reply. "So, I heard that the ceremony thing didn't go well last night." He says plopping on the couch. I sit on the chair opposite to him.

"The first half went well I should say."

"Lot of drama in the second half?"

"Lots of it." I shake my head answering his question thinking about it.

"I didn't get a complete information about it though. Alpha called me last night and told me to come here as soon as possible."

I sigh. "I can only imagine. Even I don't know what is happening. All I know is that the one who attacked me last night is Bane's friend in the past, James and that his mate is killed by Bane. I don't believe it though. I don't think Bane would ever do such a thing." It's impossible.

"That's it?" He asks curiously. I think of whether I should tell him about Alika or not. This is a sensitive matter. I can't put out information like that. As a Luna and his mate, I have to think logically.

"That's it."

He purses his lips and looks down for a second before looking at me. "Anyway. What's more important is that you are safe?"

I smile back at him.

"Now, can I ask where were you sneaking off when I saw you earlier?" He asks and I give him a sheepish smile.

"Nowhere," I whisper.

"Oh, come on. You know you can tell me."

"I was trying to go to the pack house area to the dungeons."

"Dungeons?"

I nod my head.

"For more input I guess."

I smile nodding again.

"Well I am your bodyguard, so I have to follow you. But, first I think you should have breakfast."

"Okay," I say getting up from the chair and following him into the kitchen.

We start talking about normal things. I flip the pancake on the pan talking about how stressful the next few days are going to be. Then I start wondering why Jane did not come today. She is normally here early morning. I take the pancake from the pan and put it on the plate then stop what I am doing once I see the Beta coming in and tackling Josh to the floor.

What the hell?

I let out a gasp from his sudden action.

"Jake, what are you doing?"

"Luna, stand back please." He says punching Josh on his face again. I am in complete shock to even react to what's happening. I move forward not listening to Jake's words to try to stop them, but before I know it I feel Bane's hand on my waist pulling me back.

Bane? When did he come here?

What is happening?

"Bane?" I look at him not understanding why he is not stopping what's happening in front of us. He moves away from me to go to Josh. He bends down and picks up something from Josh's hand, who is now bleeding and coughing. He looks like he is about to pass out. Bane holds up what he took from Josh's hand and I see it's an injection filled with some fluid.

"Check his pockets." Bane orders Jake. Jake does as ordered and pulls out another two of them.

"What is it? What's happening?" I can't help but ask. Bane comes to me and kisses my forehead.

"He has tried to kidnap you." I gasp at his answer completely shocked.

"No. No! Why would he do that?" Bane rubs my arm trying to calm me down.

"He is working for rogues."

I cover my mouth with my hand. I couldn't believe it. I thought of him as a friend.

"Take him to the dungeons." Bane orders.

"Why would you do that?!" I shout loudly at Josh. I feel so betrayed.

"I am sorry." Josh couldn't even look at me as he answers.

"I trusted you." I feel a tear fall down my eyes.

He suddenly punches Jake and tries to move away to escape. Such a stupid move. Bane immediately holds him by his shirt, it's as though he predicted Josh would try to escape. He punches the injection into his neck. Josh was supposed to inject me with it, but he is the one that got it. He faints in two seconds. Bane leaves him and he falls to the ground.

Bane turns to me and before I know it he punches the wooden shelf in the kitchen in anger. I flinch.

"Get him out of my house. Now!" He orders to people behind me. I see Jake and our Gamma taking Josh out of the house.

Once they leave, it's only me and Bane. He quickly takes two steps and holds me in his arms.

Oh, they are such heaven! I think to myself.

They are. My wolf agrees.

"My sweet." He whispers kissing the crown of my head.

For a minute I forget everything. But then it all came back again. This is just the beginning. All our friends might turn out to be enemies. There is only one person that I can trust now.

It's Bane. I promise to be in his every step.

The battle has just begun.

A/N:

Hey my cute dumplings!

How are you all? I know, I know, it's been sooooooo long since I have updated. There are a few reasons for which I didn't, but I don't want to give you any excuses or bore you with my personal life. I just want to say I am sorry for keeping you all waiting for this long.

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Please do comment what you think. Your comments are the ones that inspired me to write after this time.

Please VOTE and COMMENT.