A Worthy Wolf?

Chapter 12 - Raven

The grass beneath my feet was the only thing keeping me grounded. I had kicked off my ballet-style pumps as we sat down upon one of the garden swings within the beautiful packhouse gardens. Niko’s words were echoing within my mind. It felt like they were ping-ponging off the walls of my skull. Payments for the levels of my betrayals...

Did Brayden have no shame? No morals? That was truly sickening. Not only was he offering this payment for if I was to betray him in these ways, but he also needed some form of evidence. I did not even want to think about what.

Niko had spoken, and having seen the paling of my skin, and my mouth falling open in shock, he had fallen silent. He had not spoken since. He sat in silence. His eyes focused upon the floor. ‘Probably guilty. Sick fucker.’ Sable snarled.

My insides knotted in angst. My wolf was not wrong. Niko may well have told me of this, but he had also agreed to it. Guilt may have been eating away at him when in our presence, causing him to speak out, but the truth was still there. He had agreed to try to make me betray the man I was set to marry in as many ways as he could in order to gain payment. Earn himself money. A sickening realization hit me. He would sleep with me for money... Did that make him any better than a hooker? Wait. Did that make me any better than a hooker? Was that how Niko saw me? Or Brayden? My future husband was willing to allow me to be used as a prostitute in order to test my loyalty. Tears pricked at my eyes.

I would never allow myself to betray the man I was with. But the point was still there. Both men had considered me that way. So lowly. Like I meant nothing. I had always thought Niko was a good guy. I didn't know him too well because of the fact he was a few years older than me. Closer in age to my brother than me, but with the fact he was on the same sports teams as Teddy, I got to meet him at many of their parties. He was friendly. Not quite as rowdy and boisterous as some of the other teammates, he often sat in the quieter areas of the parties where I found myself, and we had found ourselves chatting on more than one occasion. Always so focused upon his warrior training. But, I guess that was what got him to where he is now. An all round good guy, or so I thought. Seems my good-person radar was well off, on both counts. With Niko and Brayden. They were both class A assholes.

“I think I want to be alone now.” I told him, knowing as much as I needed space, I didn't think I had the strength in me to walk away. I felt weak from the shock. I needed time to process everything, and come up with some sort of plan.

Niko turned to me with a saddened expression. “Please Rae, give me a chance to explain?”

“I am not sure what there is to explain.” I snarled. “You told me, which, yes, do not get me wrong, I do appreciate or I could be marrying a total f*****g nut job, who may well be spying on me forever. And most certainly never trusting me. That is not the marriage or life I expected.”

Niko gently shook his head. “It is not the life you deserve either, Rae. Look, he is not a man you want to be involved with.” Niko said softly.

I could not help the snort that slipped from my lips. Was he for real? After what I had just learned, I think it was safe to say I did not need to be anywhere near the man. “No shit.” I snapped.

“I mean it. Even without this s**t he asked of me, I think you are better away from him with the things I hear.” His words make me look at him with curiosity. Was he hiding more?

“What does that mean?”

“Warrior Training Brotherhood.” He muttered under my breath, bringing a gasp to slip from my lips. I don't think that was what I had expected his answer to be. Maybe a hidden second wife... or his plan to try to steal my father's title or some crazy s**t, but being involved with the notorious brotherhood? They were dangerous, weren’t they? In fact, they were not spoken of so much... Surely Brayden was not involved in such a society...

‘Why not? Because we know the guy so well?’ Sable said bluntly. ‘And we already did a wonderful job of judging his character.’ She added, and a cold chill spread over me.

“Are you sure?” I demanded.

Niko shrugged. “Not something he would likely confirm, but at the same time, I have heard enough. Not something I would like the idea of you getting involved with, Raven.”

I gave him another dirty look. “Do not start acting like you care, Niko. You f*****g agreed to the whole f*****g thing. You know as well as I do how sick that agreement is. So, in agreeing to it, you were as much to blame as him!” I snarled, and he looked back at me with a sad expression upon his face. He knew that I was right.

“Because if I hadn’t, he would have found someone else. I tried to say no.” He said softly, and another cold chill washed over me. “He cursed me a few times, called me useless, and said he would find someone else. I would rather know you were safe and agree than have someone out for the money...” His words faltered, and I realized maybe I misjudged Niko's involvement after all...