Welcome back.
1105 Words
I blinked as Jace came towards me, my heart raced, but seeing my hesitation and confusion he stopped a few feet away and instead kneeled beside my bed.
He released a shaky breath, his eyes wide with relief, he offer a lopsided grin.
“I’m so glad you’re alive Ivy, maybe as much so as Conrad.” He laughed but it sounded choked.
Agni came forward in the confusion, as I looked down at Jace, then up to the frozen Conrad in the doorway, his jaw was clenched and he look like he wanted to pummel someone.
“Conrad’s our mate, So what is Jace?” She asked, I was shocked at her question. Agni’s mind-link voice was louder then I remembered.
“You’re the wolf! You should know?!” I replied, annoyed.
“Well I wouldn’t put it past the goddess, but what if Jace is our second chance mate in case…” she trails off, her words make sense but I still ask.
“Ok but in case what?” My question is sharp.
“In case you couldn’t forgive Conrad’s temper, or his Pack for chasing us over that cliff.” Agni’s voice finishes in an almost whisper.
I exhale a shaky breath..
“She’s given me a choice, I can choose to rule eternity with Conrad or Jace, they share the same bloodline..” My voice shook.
It was a cruel choice, for both the brothers and her, when my instincts now pulled towards both of them, though Conrad’s felt weakened.
I felt for it, I turned my gaze from Jace, back to Conrad in the doorway, I gave a slight tug on the bond, the response from him was instant, he clutched his chest, his eyes met mine, the silver orbs flickered with hopeful warmth, and something inside me squeezed.
But I also remembered the smouldering rage that I'd had seen in those same eyes, when Jace lay before me in the clearing, after my hollow victory, I remembered the promise they held as I'd ran.
I dropped my gaze, to the hand that clutch his chest, even in the dimly lit room, I could see on the back of his hand a large circular drawing, a few lines connected to it, ran up Conrad’s wrist disappearing under his long sleeve shirt, something about it pulled at my emotions, other than being new, the change seem to hold an importance, not that I could know why, I’d never seen it before.
Someone squeezed my hand, It had fallen limply, off the side of the bed whilst I’d been pondering these thoughts, Jace’s grey eyes pierced mine as I looked down beside the bed, his two large hands engulfed mine, their warmth welcomed.
“Hey Ivy, I’m so sorry for what happened, I don’t mean to sound like a cockhead, but I would never have believed I’d have lost to an Omega, let alone a girl.” Jace’s voice shook, though he tried for humour, I could see the hesitation in his eyes.
I smiled at him, though I could feel every eye in the room on me, including Conrad’s it didn’t deter me.
“Well your ego can rest knowing I’m an Alpha now, so to survive me is something to praise.” I wink, my voice calm and lightly filled with humour.
Jace nods, his shoulders relaxing, he looks down at the hand his grasps like a life line, I don’t pull it away and he doesn’t let go.
I frown as I felt Jace’s touch, it’s warm and I can feel light tingles where our skins meet, but it’s not the same as I had previously felt with Conrad.
Nothing blossomed in my chest, no fire spreading through my veins from point of content into the rest of my body, my heart held a steady rhythm with Jace unlike the racing ribcage breaking flip flops, it did with Conrad.
Yes, Jace was my second chance mate, and I had love and respect for him, that Conrad had currently lost, he was handsome and shared similarities with his brother but he wasn’t that lost, hopeless, black wolf I’d found in the dreamscape.
He was a kinder, cheekier, more forgiving version of Conrad, but he didn’t feel like my other half, not the way I’d know instantly with Conrad, still the goddess had said I should give it a try.
I shook these thoughts as someone spoke to me.
“Ivy may I come in and ahh.. speak to you alone.” I followed the voice, it wasn’t commanding or full of suggestion as I’d been so used to, no Conrad’s voice was polite hesitant and unsure, I frowned at this.
I look to Mr Walsh, who looks murderous, as well as a barely restrained Florain and Jace at my feet who only smiles at me with a slight nod, I slump a little.
“Yes Conrad, you may come in, can everyone give us a minute.” My voice is cold and calm.
Jace is the first to move, he stands from his kneeling postion, he squeezes my hand gently, Conrad steps inside the doorway and to the side, letting Jace leave the room, Florain grumbles but follows Jace and Mr Walsh walks to the door, pauses before shaking his head with a huff and leaving to pulling the door close behind him.
I gesture to a chair beside Conrad, he takes the hint, grabbing it he drags it towards me, placing it next to the bed he sits, awkwardly straining for a smile.
As I watch him, I notice something, I sniff him, woodsmoke, whiskey, pine fills my nose I sigh at the scent but I sniff again, and something off…no.. I have to asked.
“Conrad are you a Beta now?” I frown as I ask, but he tenses and nods, no shame lies in his eyes but you can see something pains him.
“Why? How does one lose his Alpha status?” I press, Conrad straightens looking into my eyes as he speaks.
“It was the cost of my failure.” Is all he says, he doesn’t look away as he says this.
“Failure to who?” My hearts beating fast…as I wait for his answer.
“Failure to you Ivy, the cost of my pride, was my Alpha status, and I was happy to pay it.” Conrad replies, his voice doesn’t falter, though I don’t miss the nervous swallow.
My Mate was demoted for the betrayal of his mate and suddenly I understood as to why the goddess had sent Jace as a second chance mate, she was as angry with Conrad as I was.
I wasn’t sure how to continue, so for the moment, I just sat in silence with him.
Both of us gazing at each other like perfect strangers.
- Writer
