Malcolm McLean

"You're getting weak, Malcolm." Uncle Alastair followed me into my office.

My veins still pulsed with the adrenaline of killing as I slumped into my office chair. Isabella has taken Alexine up into a room to get cleaned up. Damon was far quieter than usual. He hasn't spoken a word since we got inside the castle.

I saw him disappear down his quarters and knew he was heading to the bedroom. Uncle Alastair moved to stand in front of me. Instead of sitting down, he propped his palms on the surface of my desk and glared at me.

"Do you realize what you have done?" Uncle Alastair questioned. "These past couples of weeks that Isabella has made her appearance back into your life you have killed two lycan leaders. Do you think this will pass easily? Do you realize what you have done? The danger you have put the pack in?"

"I have every right to eliminate the threat that comes pounding at my door. My pack is my first priority." I said through clenched teeth.

I knew full well what the consequences are. I will have the King knocking on my door any second now. News will spread. I have not only killed just one lycan leader. I have also killed an international lycan leader.

"I'll take care of it when the time comes," I said dismissively but Uncle Alastair didn't catch the hint.

"I will not stand here and allow you to ruin this pack. Your father was weak and now you-" I had him pinned against the wall with my hands firmly squeezing his throat before he could finish his sentence.

"I will advise you to watch what you say next, Uncle." I seethed, my anger simmering underneath my skin.

His face turned red but I can see the strong flare of anger in his eyes. He tried to remove my hands from around his throat but I needed him to submit. Even if he was family, I will not take the threat lightly. Ever since Isabella's arrival, he had been constantly hostile and disrespectful.

I had no reason for him to scheme behind my back but it doesn't stop me from carefully watching him. His hostility had increased in a number of days and my trust for him is slowly shattering. Even I can sense something was off about him.

Uncle Alastair nodded his submission and I released his throat. He coughed and hacked until he could breathe again. I stood my ground and stared him down.

His blue eyes might mine for a brief moment. He whipped his head away from me and scampered out of the office. I sighed and ran a frustrated hand through my hair. Problems were crawling off the walls from left to right. I felt trapped and stressed.

Running my hand down my face several times, I moved to the small fireplace in my office. The rain had tapered off and now the air grew chilly with the hint of after rain mixed into the air. I placed my hand on the mantle and closed my eyes.

Slowly, I zoned everything out. Cleared my mind and allowed myself a brief moment of reprieve until I heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was my uncle again, I snarled a 'What is it' at the door only to have Damon walked in.

He looked downright angry still. Damon doesn't take well with abuse of power. He was a comical male lycan when he wants but there are days he can be downright as dangerous as I can be. Tonight, his face held no amusement.

I walked over to the cabinet and took out two glass cups before grabbing a bottle of nicely brewed Scottish liquor. Placing a glass in front of him, I popped the cap off and poured him a glass before pouring myself one.

"Did he really do that to Izzy?" Damon questioned, his voice cold and shaky with fury. He moved to pick up his glass cup to take a sip.

I nodded, "Pete tortured her the same way he did Alexine."

"Alexine..." Damon murmured, his eyes glazed over as if he was deep in thought. "She looks horrible. The female looks like she had gone through hell. Did you see the bruises on her body?"

"She's as skinny as a toothpick," I remarked.

Damon's eyes darkened dangerously before he lifted up the glass cup and swallowed the bitter and stinging liquor in one swig. I slid the bottle of hard liquor over to him with one of my fingers. He took it and poured himself another cup.

"He's a sicko. How come we never knew this?" Damon asked.

"Because Bella hid it well," I explained to him what I knew. By the time I was done, Damon was sick to his stomach.

"Bloody hell! I'm going to need more than just this glass bottle. Just the thought of what he had done, it makes me want to find a way to bring him back to life just so I can kill him over again." Damon growled, his fingers tightening on the glass cup in his hand.

"Just be glad he is dead."

"But that leaves us with Alexine," Damon said quietly.

I tilted my head to the side, "What do you mean? She will stay in this pack as long as she wants. I give her permission."

Damon shook his head. "The female is broken. Did you see the look in her eyes? She doesn't trust us."

"She trusts Isabella," I commented.

Damon shook his head. "Only her because Isabella knows what she experienced but she doesn't trust male lycans. Did you see the way she cowered away from me? As if I will inflict the same pain as that despicable and pathetic excuse of an Alpha lycan?"

I sipped my liquor quietly as I watched him. Never in my hundred years of living had I ever seen how rattled Damon was by a female. He never paid attention to females unless he needs to succumb to his lycan's desires. What about this female has my friend on the edge of his seat?

"Trust doesn't come easy. If you want her to trust you, you have to do things that will make her believe you aren't the men she had been surrounded with." I replied.

Damon blinked and looked at me. He seemed to remember who he was. Straightening a little he scratched at his nose awkwardly.

"I just think she needs someone to protect her."

"She needs a protector," I said in agreement.

"Right." Damon nodded.

"Someone like you." I pointed my glass cup at him.

He stuttered and scoffed several times before he groaned and slumping back in his seat.

"I don't protect. Females are too complicated and I don't want to get involved."

"But you already are," I smirked, seeing how much my friend was struggling to find reasons not to approach Alexine.

"She doesn't need me."

"I never said she needed you. She just needs a protector." I pointed out. Damon knew I had him there. He immediately assumed that I meant he should protect her.

"But if you want to, I think you will be perfect for her. She needs someone who is strong and trustworthy. For all the years that you and I were together, I know you are a male lycan of honor. You will never hurt her." I swirled the last of my liquor before setting my cup down on the desk.

"What are you trying to say, Malcolm?" Damon growled.

"What am I trying to say is that she's a broken female. It will take her a long time to heal. You could stand next to her and help her learn how to overcome her fears and find comfort in safety or you can watch from a distance. That my friend is entirely up to you."

Damon sat stunned for a while longer, staring at the corner of the room. After a few minutes, he shook his head and sat his cup down on the desk.

"I am not the male for this." He whispered quietly. "She needs someone who can stand by her side."

"Why can't you?" I found myself curious. I know that Alexine had sparked his interest. What I want to know was why he wasn't pursuing it?

"You know me, Malcolm. I don't want to get involved in situations like this."

"What are you so afraid of?" I questioned, leaning back and folding my arms over my chest. Damon ran a hand through his hair as I did earlier. He was growing agitated.

"I can't." Was all he said to me.

"In that case, I want you to take an advice from me. All this time, you have been telling me to listen to Isabella. Maybe this time you need to listen to yourself. Your pushing your feelings aside when you know something else is telling you otherwise." I offered. Damon met my eyes for a minute as he thought over my words. A second later, he looked away and walked out of the room.

I moved back to sit behind my desk and continued to look through some paperwork. Again, the past few weeks flickered through my mind. News will spread of Pete's death. The King will come knocking. I just hope that things will turn out the way I want them to.

A/N:

Many had asked if there will be a story on Damon. I am not sure yet if I will be creating one. I'll consider it but don't take it as a yes yet until the book is out. Lol.

Who would like a chapter on Alexine?

Leila