A Worthy Wolf?

Chapter 16 - Brayden

I was growing tiresome. I had heard nothing from the waste of a space warrior. I had expected something by now. I wanted answers and I wanted them soon. I mean, the warrior had agreed to the plan. Of course he had. Senior warrior or not, I always assumed he would. He was a man, and Raven Throncroft was a beautiful she-wolf. What man would not jump at the opportunity to get close to her, and get paid for it?! But what was taking him so damn long? Was he getting too close? I found myself pondering.

Oddly, the thought did not anger me the way that it should. I do not think it would surprise me. The man was only acting upon his instinct if that was the case. She would be the one to blame. She was the one who was soon to be wed.

Despite my regular doubts about Raven, I knew that, in the meantime, I needed to be organized for the possibility she may surprise me and be more virtuous than I expected. As much as I was not expecting it, I supposed there was a small chance that the warrior might return to me empty-handed. No proof of betrayal. The woman who was expected to become my bride may not betray me as all other women in my life had done before her, and I had to be prepared for that.

The call from Joel, my friend and our pack Beta pushing me for details of the wedding only reminded me of that. “So, it is all done then?” He pushed further after my many attempts to dismiss him. Anger flared deep within me.

“No. What is the f*****g rush?” I snarled. “The agreement has been met, is all.”

“Well, the least you could do for the girl is an engagement party. I imagine it would be expected by her pack, would it not?” I faltered at my friend’s words as he continued. "I mean, after all, she is the only female of rank currently, is she not? So until one of their upcoming Alpha, Beta etc. becomes mated, then she is one to celebrate. Let her have her moment, Bray. Do not be an ass. You were not going to make something like this a minor event were you?"

I swallowed quickly to hide my guilt. I mean, I did not intend to make it a huge event. It was a wedding I did not even want. Was the girl really wanting a fuss? She seemed like the no-fuss sort of girl, right?

"Brayden, you cannot expect a she-wolf, especially one of rank, to marry and it be a non-event. They want something to remember! Give her something. It is meant to be a special day. They would expect it to be a special day. Even the engagement when it is announced..." Joel's words had me questioning everything now. Was that something expected of me? If they wanted all of that, should they not be the ones to arrange it?! She was their pack member after all. The one they were treating so preciously. The one who was about to betray me...

The final thought flickered through my mind without me even realizing it. "Seriously, you know, as the husband-to-be, this is your chance to prove you are up to the job. You are already under ranked considering her position in pack. They could have refused even considering you for her." Joel said, and his words hit me like a wrecking ball. None of that had even come into my mind. We had taken so damn long to come to an actual agreement on the marriage, I did not linger long enough to discuss anything further. Hell, I did not even linger long enough to fulfill my promise to Raven in seeing her on my visit. I had had enough of their pack. The atmosphere was suffocating. I needed to escape. Besides, I had things I needed to do...

As for me not being good enough for her, I never saw that as an issue. She was not the Beta, her father was. Rank was irrelevant. I earned my respect, and have done time and time again. Raven did not under rank me in anyway. But the expectations upon me that my friend mentioned weighed heavy upon my mind... “An engagement party?” I had demanded of my friend, and he had chuckled. I knew from there on in, I had only put more pressure upon myself. Despite the test that may be occurring behind the scenes, I needed to act like all was normal up front. Act like I was excited about the prospect of making Raven my wife, and if Joel believed the next step in doing that was creating an engagement party for her, then I decided that was what I would do. I would show them all I was the perfect husband to be. It would make revenge all that much more sweeter when it came to proving Raven was not worthy...

Our pack were experts at hosting events. I could have something thrown together in no time. I sent an email with a date to her parents and Alpha, allowing them to do the great deal of work in sharing the details with those they wished to invite. And I would hand all arrangements to a pack omega. Delegate. And then take the praise for myself when the evening came. If the precious little Raven wished for a big night, she would have one. How that night went would all depend on the information provided to me by a certain warrior.

First, I needed to see what this warrior was capable of. I was sure I sensed reluctance in his tone as we spoke and that had confused me. I just hope he did not back down on me. I need to know what this she-wolf was capable of.

‘The girl has done nothing to show you she is not worthy. She is not Bella, you know?’ My wolf grumbled angrily. My body tensed at the mention of her. I had tried so hard to block all thoughts of her. The she-wolf meant for me. My childhood sweetheart who had so cruelly torn my heart in two.

‘But she is a she-wolf.’ I hissed, my irritation and anger coursing through my body at the memory of losing Bella. The pain of her leaving me. I would not be hurt like that again. Was there any harm in protecting myself?