Garren’s POV:
“So, is the day decided on?” I asked Bianca calmly on my phone.
For hours, we went back and forth talking on the phone. I felt like she was hiding something important from me and deliberately diverting me from finding out.
“Yes, the council elders will see you in two weeks. Right now, they have a few things to handle,” she answered as I groaned in frustration.
Why two weeks?.
Why not tomorrow?. My lycan was quickly becoming attached to our mate. I was still in shock over how I had lost control and kissed her.
At first, it was just to make fun of her, but then I lost my composure and, in just a second, I wanted to feel her skin against mine and embrace her desperately. It was partially my lycan’s doing, but the other half was all me.
I wanted her far away from me, and I hoped the council elders would desperately want to pass judgment on her.
What was going to happen to me in the next two weeks? I had no idea, but thinking about it only made me nervous.
As it was, my lycan was already against the idea of handing her over to anyone. The only time he stepped down was when I reminded him of how Ian had killed our parents. But if he became more attached to her, his desire to be with her would only grow stronger, and he wouldn’t let me or anyone get in his way of having her.
“Garren, are you there?” Bianca asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Yes,” I answered, then cleared my throat. This was the first time I was acting like this while talking on the phone with Bianca.
“I’m sorry, I was just wondering what the council elders could be doing that is so much more important than passing judgment on our enemy’s daughter,” I said.
“Garren, I’m sure you are wise enough to know that they aren’t busy; they just gave you an excuse. Yesterday, when they received the news of the girl being in your custody, they decided to let her stay there for as long as she can until Ian and her family come through for her. In short, they want them all to reunite before deciding what to do with them,” she answered as I angrily growled.
“That wasn’t the plan, Bianca,” I said in a displeased tone.
“I know, dear, but there is nothing we can do. Once the council elders decide, their decision is final. You and I can never change their minds,” she answered.
I furiously stood up and kicked my chair in anger, breaking it.
“Garren, is there a problem?” she asked in a loud tone.
“Yes, there is!” I screamed in my mind, then groaned loudly.
I wanted to tell her the truth. I wanted to confess that Roxanne was my mate, but my mouth couldn’t open. My lycan was fighting me over us coming out with the truth.
Telling her about our mate would make the council elders’ decision change, but it would put our mate’s life in danger.
“Back down, I won’t tell her,” I said silently and took a step back.
My head was slightly aching, and my breath was beginning to get labored.
“I dare you,” came his warning.
I swallowed hard, then answered, “No, I just hate the thought of having an enemy’s daughter close to me and in my damn castle.” I lied.
“Oh, I’m so sorry for what you are going through. But I promise you this, we will deal with her as soon as possible and avenge your parents’ death, as well as the members of the coven whose lives were lost in the fire Ian’s men started,” she said softly.
“Okay,” I answered calmly.
“I’ll keep you updated on their decisions and discussions as always, so take good care of yourself,” she whispered.
“Thank you very much, Bianca. You take care as well,” I answered, then disconnected the call.
“Never, ever do that again!” my lycan warned.
I moved in the dark and went to look outside the window. Although the only light in our territory was that of the moon, I could see everything clearly because of my vampire vision.
“It makes no sense how you are trying to protect the daughter of your enemy,” I muttered.
He was quiet, but I could feel his emotions.
He wanted her badly.
“Just keep in mind, it’s either our revenge or her. We can’t have it all,” I reminded him, then walked to my desk, knowing fully well where he would stand if it came to choosing between the two.
I looked at the phone on my desk, then slowly picked it up.
After I had asked Thelma to clean her up, she found her cell phone on my bed, which she handed to me.
I pressed the power button and swiped on it. I was surprised when it was easily unlocked after a few minutes.
A lot of women and men had passwords on their phones. Their privacy was their first priority. Why, then, was she different? Was she innocent or did she just not care at all?
I went to her gallery and instantly began checking her images. The first few pictures were of nature: some trees, animals, and flowers. As I continued to browse through, I could see that some pictures were of the warriors training. I frowned and held the phone tighter when I noticed that one warrior was in all her training pictures.
Although the man didn’t seem to know that she was capturing him, the one next to him, who I recognized as her little brother, seemed to notice because he was smiling at the camera.
I scrolled down and smiled when I saw her pictures. In all of them, she wasn’t smiling, and she seemed uncomfortable. Whoever was capturing her was very bold, or he had to force her to stand still.
I looked at the other pictures furiously. They were Ian’s and his mate’s. There was no way I couldn’t recognize them. For years, I had done my research on both of them and their children. They were faces I could never forget, even if I was blind.
I was about to crush her phone when I stopped myself.
“Crushing her pictures would be a waste,” I whispered, then went around the desk and touched the mouse to my desktop, switching it on.
I knew it was a stupid thing to do, but I just wanted to keep at least one of her pictures. It was going to be like a trophy to me, knowing I was the one that sheltered her family.