Twinned Flame

Are You Worthy?

Sylvie followed silently behind the two males looking around the large foyer as Braxton led them to the side hallway. The hallway was decorated with family portraits and hunts. Hunts that consisted of wolves fighting bears, deer, boars and other wolves. Each is framed with a thick room with brushed gold and the pack symbol in the bottom center. Sylvie had only been in the main packhouse once before, when she was 16. Alpha Jackson had set up an elaborate party for her full moon ceremony in the estate gardens outback. He had invited all the top families in the pack and their kids to witness Sylvie get her wolf. Hugo dressed her up and she got to eat elegant food and be introduced to others in the pack for the first time. When the moon shined high upon the platform, its soft silver glow grew cold when nothing happened. The moon dipped in the sky, leaving Sylvie on stage, no wolf in sight.

Alpha Jackson had gotten so upset at the fact that he trashed the entire garden. He had sent the families away, destroying the decorations and even cracked the ceremonial cauldron that was going to be used to link her to the pack. He berated her, called her useless, yelling about all the time he had spent now wasted. He banished her from main pack grounds, reinforcing her rogue status. Sylvie shook her head, trying to shake away the memories as they stopped at a door towards the back end of the hall.

"In here," Braxton said, opening the door and stepping inside. The room had a large oak desk on the far right trimmed in gold and a red leather chair where Alpha Jackson was currently sitting. Bookshelves lined the wall behind him filled with small weapons and knick-knacks. Two wooden chairs sat in front of the desk. The rest of the room was bare, as if waiting to be filled with a couch or table.

Braxton walked over and stood next to the desk. Sylvie and Aelis followed, each taking a seat in the chairs.

"We're here," Braxton said, standing next to the desk. Sylvie stood in front and bowed low,

"Hello Alpha Jackson," she heard a scoff and slightly raised her head and met Dax's annoyed look.

"Yea, yea, hello Susan," Dax said, waving dismissively. Sylvie straightened up, looking around the room before pointing at herself.

"Um, my name is Sylvie," Dax glared at her and her face flushed with embarrassment. Aelis pulled on her sleeve to get her to sit down. She followed the suggestion.

"Yes. Sylvie. You know you've really garnered some fame during my pack's annual assessment," Dax said,

"An individual, a woman no less. With no family, no status, shawdy handmade equipment beat out my own recruits?" Dax forced a laugh, like he had just told a joke.

"You had three very powerful Alphas asking all sorts of questions about you," Dax slammed his fist on the table and pointed at Sylvie, causing her to flinch.

"What makes you worthy?" he hissed. Sylvie bit her lip, fighting back tears. Dax yelled out leaning back in his chair.

"I had to all but run from my own dinner because of you," He snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose,

"They questioned me about you, about my decisions for my pack," Dax said, throwing his hands up,

"And now you have my son wanting you to join him on his little ambassador trips," Dax said, propping his feet up on his desk and crossing his arms.

"If those twins and you, Braxton, just wanted an easy f**k, just ask," Dax rubbed his face with a sigh, reaching into his desk cabinet and pulling out a whiskey bottle.

"It'd save me the headache," he said, taking a swig. Sylvie could feel blood drip into her mouth as she bit harder, willing herself not to cry before Dax and them.

"What are these ambassador trips even going to do for you, Braxton?" Dax asked, eyeing his son. Braxton was standing straight arms behind his back.

"As you know, heirs are starting to show up in more and more public events. Heir and Alpha successions are coming and we need to create good relationships with other packs in the kingdom. Think about it. If we can have close ties with other packs now before those happen, we can influence when they eventually do." Braxton explained,

"And the rogue?" Dax asked.

"What better way to remind those of our accomplishments. Think about it. The 14th month m******e resulted in us acquiring a rogue pup. Having her join me will remind every one of our feats in the war, and what we have to offer after. A rogue we've trained to be strong, undefeated, and loyal to the pack," Braxton said. Dax nodded slowly, looking over at Sylvie, he eyed her, and she wished she couldn't shrink into the chair. A loud banging knock interrupted them as Duncan walked into the room, envelope in hand.

"Excuse me Alpha, you have a letter," Duncan said, setting the sealed envelope onto his desk and walking back out. Dax sat, grabbed the envelope and half shifted his finger to claw the letter open. He read it over and let out a laugh, tossing it towards Braxton.

"Looks like you have your first destination then," Dax said. Braxton grabbed the envelope, slid out the letter and read it over.

"Point proven then," Braxton said. Dax shot up and stood in front of Braxton. He jabbed his chest with his finger, growling.

"I am still the alpha of this pack, I still make the decisions here. Don't piss me off if you actually want to go," Dax said. Braxton smiled. His face splitting smile that pushed his cheeks up to squish his eyes, causing him to open them wider. A kind of smile that a serial killer would wear, a clown. He tilted his head slightly to the side and the act made Dax take a step back,

"Don't worry, father," Braxton said, and the room seemed to chill.

"I only wish to uphold the authority of Alpha Jackson of Bloody Dagger. Nothing more." Dax sat back in his chair and turned to face Sylvie and Aelis, who was leaning back on his phone.

"Aelis, thoughts?" Dax asked, and Aelis seemed surprised he was being asked.

"I think it could be beneficial," he said, shrugging. He looked at Sylvie, and she caught his eye.

"Plus, a hot rogue to kiss ass to Alpha's sweetens any deal." Sylvie had truly regretted getting into Braxton's car. This conversation felt like something she should have never been a part of, and honestly she wished she wasn't. From the degradation of Dax, to the objectification of Aelis, she felt suffocated. Braxton walked over and placed a hand on Sylvie's shoulder, and she looked at him. The smile he had seemed to soften as he met her gaze and she froze. The feeling of 'run, run, run' washed over her,

"Easy on the eyes, yes, but that's not the only reason. Remember that Aelis, before your ideas run wild," Braxton said, moving his gaze over to Aelis, who offered another shrug before going back to his phone. Braxton squeezed her shoulder before tossing the envelope back on Dax's desk.

"She'll need a seal to allow her into pack territory," Braxton said. Dax glared at his son before reaching into a draw and grabbing a Blooder Dagger seal. It was a pendant carved in gold that had the Pack's crest on it. Presenting it to other packs showed what pack you were a part of when entering without an official invite. Dax tossed it onto his desk and Braxton calmly grabbed it pocketing in.

"Always a pleasure," Braxton said. Dax leaned back in his chair, grabbing the whiskey and chugging a good bit before flipping Braxton off. Braxton laughed and pulled Sylvie up, leading her towards the exit.

"Let's see how far you actually go with this, you fucker" Dax called after them. Braxton laughed as he continued to walk out with Sylvie and Aelis, who trailed behind.