Page 58 of You Will Obey
“Areyoualright,dearhusband?” Charlene asked, as she stopped me in the hallway. Sanesé and Nicolette were at her side and all three had looks of concern on their faces as they gazed up at me.
I took her by her shoulders and kissed her cheeks, then my other two wives before speaking. “I need to speak to Elliot, but once I’m done… I’ll tell you what happened. But not now,” I said.
“We sense something has changed,” Nicholette said.
“I know, and I will explain, but not now,” I said and cocked my eyebrow to let her know that I’d answer her concerns in due time. She nodded and kissed me before stepping back. “For now, please gather with the pack, as I’ll be addressing everyone soon.”
“Very well,” Charlene said, and my three beautiful and trusting wives walked off.
I made it back to my bedroom and put on a pair of jogging pants and a black t-shirt. Since I’d no doubt be shifting in a matter of hours, it was always best to have clothes you could get out of quickly. I stared out the balcony doors, watching my backyard fill with wolves under the moonlit sky. The stars looked endless and so pretty, nature was something wolves never took for granted. Looking at it soothed my nerves. The brand on my ass no longer burned, but I hated having it there as a constant reminder of my defeat. On the surface, I looked cool, calm, and collected, because I didn't need anyone in my pack to catch on to how I was really feeling. Humiliated and enraged.
Elijah entered the room and looked at me. “Are you okay, baby?”
I sighed. “Waiting to hear back from Elliot about what Kendrick was going to do with Théoden.”
“Can’t he do something? I mean, isn’t he like… their… what did he call it?”
“Raja,” I replied. “And he can, if I understand the dynamics of his relationship with Kendrick. But since Théoden is a Knight and Kendrick is the actual King, it might be best to let him handle it how he sees fit.”
“By branding you, Théoden violated the alliance, right?”
I turned to him now and shrugged. “Fuck if I know. I never thought Théoden would do something like this. I can feel his essence inside of me, lingering, and I don’t like it.”
“Elliot will come through,” Elijah said.
I nodded. If he couldn’t, I had to figure out a way to spin this situation in my favor. I couldn’t afford to have my pack turn their back on me and Eli. Or even if they didn’t challenge me, I didn’t want to lose their respect. That was almost worse.
Elijah stepped up to me, hugging me, and kissed my neck and cheek, then my lips. He knew, because he was there when it happened. I’d have to tell my wives next. However, I wanted to wait to see if my circumstances could change. I’d much rather be able to tell them the brand was about to be removed rather than I was stuck with it. Right now, though, Elijah’s support was what I really needed. I was enjoying his mouth on mine when my cell phone began ringing. I pulled away from Eli to answer it.
“Tell me something good,” I said, knowing Elliot was on the other end.
“I need you to hear me out,” was the first words to come out of Elliot’s mouth and I didn’t like them.
“What the fuck, Elliot,” I said.
“Listen, I spoke to Kendrick and he isn’t going to have Théoden remove the brand bec–”
“Why the fuck not?” I roared into the phone, cutting Elliot off in my rage. I couldn’t believe what the fuck I was hearing.
“Would you fucking listen to me?” Elliot snapped back and I had to blink because it was the first time ever that he’d raised his voice to me. I didn’t quite know how to take it. No longer was he my underling or right-hand man. He was my equal now, an Alpha and Raja in his own right, and he demanded respect.
“Fine… what?” I said.
“Kendrick said by Théoden branding you, he bound you to Kendrick. Meaning, if you wanted to tell Ara to fuck off after this war, you can and Kendrick will back you,” Elliot said.
“Why can’t I tell him to fuck off now? What the hell is my pack supposed to do against these uber vamps? Also, Théoden didn’t help me out. Why should I honor that allegiance?” I asked.
“Well, this is the thing. Kendrick agrees with Théoden’s tactic to abandon us when we needed him.”
I scoffed. “I’m sure he would.”
“Deacon, he’s my mate now.”
I suppressed a growl, because I had to accept the fact that Elliot was obviously in love with Kendrick and wouldn’t tolerate me badmouthing his man. Same way I was with Elijah. “Go on, finish telling me why I’m stuck with this fucking brand,” I said.
“Bloody hell,” Elliot grumbled, but went on. “Anyway, like I said, he agreed with the tactic, but noted that Théoden did help us with Selena and you gained territory. The particulars aren't a concern to him, so don’t bother bringing them up. As far as he’s concerned, you fulfill your end with this current fight, and he’ll call it even. So, if you want to end your alliance with Ara, you can and you’ll have his backing.”
“Well, isn’t that peachy,” I retorted.