Cleo's Heart Decisions.

Promises, Warnings, Threatenings!

Two strong men, two sides, two worlds colliding for the same woman... Who is going to be the winner?

~some hours later, too early in the morning~

Austin’s pov

I am staring outside my window the big, black lake and wipe some more tears from my eyes and cheeks.

It is still dark outside. The sun is soon going to set but the clouds won’t help a lot…

It is still raining heavily, even the sky is mourning for her…

My one and only little sister!

I am still shaking and I can’t stop crying! We have no news till now and I am freaking out for her! I have felt nothing to be honest… We are supposed to have a strong bond because we have the same blood running in our veins and I felt it when she shifted for the very first time and now when she was in pain because of that asshole!

So… I think Cleo is alright or… She is out of danger but can I be completely sure?

The condition I saw her in, is always in front of me, I can smell her blood, I can see it on her pale, wet, dirty from the mud body, I can’t forget her lifeless expression and my wolf keeps on howling like crazy from that moment!

He is asking for his sister and I am losing my mind! I don’t know how to deal with it, I can tell him nothing to calm him down!

It was the first time in my life that my heart stopped beating and I was so scared, desperate and angry!

It was the first time I saw her in reality and not from a photo or a video and I had never imagined I would be in so much pain…

I was there… I…

Killed some of them with the other guys while Alexander’s wolf was above Cleo! He was trying to keep her warm and safe from any rogue that could try to hurt her more.

I wish we could take her with us here, I wanted her with me, I needed to make sure that she was going to be alright but we couldn’t risk it, Alexander was right…

Our pack is too far away and we had no time! She had to go back to them and fortunately, Finn came in time, he was way too fast and this gave us some more hopes! I owe him, I really do! At the beginning I didn’t want to trust him but Alexander insisted and he took the decision to do everything without my agreement.

You see… The night Cleo became the pack’s new Beta and Finn talked with that son of a b***h in the forest, Alexander was there, he listened to them and he felt that Finn was honest and he really wanted to take care of my sister! He believed in him and when Finn stayed alone, Alexander appeared to him and…

Told him everything!

I think you can imagine what is happening from that night… Finn is helping us, he is Cleo’s silent yet discreet supporter and we feel better, Alexander is not in so much tension, my mom and grandpa are not so worried, I am more optimistic and the rest of the family is more patient but things changed again tonight!

I have no idea how on earth this happened! All I know is that if we were late, she wouldn’t be alive and this hurts like hell!

From the moment we came back, I am locked in my office! I haven’t taken my bath, I haven’t changed clothes and I am walking up and down like a lion in a cage! I am a mess, my body is covered with dirt and blood, my hair is still wet and I feel cold because I am terrified. I can’t be alright when I don’t know how she is and the same goes for Alexander as well…

I have never seen him so lost, furious, desperate and scared in his life!

He is locked in his room as well but for a different reason than me… I am devastated and I know he is too but he is also trying to protect all of us from his anger and rage! He was ready to kill two guards that dared to ask us what happened and how Cleo is! His mother and sister got in the middle and he stopped or else we would have funerals in some hours from now and I understand him!

He chose her about seven years ago, he and Axel, his wolf, accepted Cleo completely and from that moment he is trying to be patient and wait until she is ready to deal with the truth and come here to us!

We could have kidnapped her but we didn’t want to shock her and break her heart! We wanted to wait for her to shift and get trained because her safety comes above everything and Adira…

She has been doing an amazing job all these years! She made her so strong, she pushed her to become the best and we owe her everything! She is our secret angel and… I hated her for years but now… I really love her, my aunt is our savior, Cleo’s savior and I am happy she is not alone anymore and she has Finn to help her and give her the strength she needs to continue!

I can’t imagine how broken and scared she is right now, I am worried about her as well! I know what Cleo means to her and I respect the bond she has with Cleo! Even my mom has no problem that Cleo loves Adira like her real mother and my grandpa says that Adira is a small miracle for us because she has been standing on our side from the day everything began!

And now that I mentioned them…

My mother is sleeping, they drugged her again because she had a very strong panic attack when she felt Cleo’s pain and Alexander’s mother with the doctors got scared! You see… My mom is mostly a ghost all these years! She is mourning for two, my father and my sister and I know she won’t get any better until Cleo comes to us!

My grandpa is staying on her side like every single time and his expression when I came back and he looked at me is always going to chase me. He was a wreck, the strong man I knew was nowhere to be found and this killed me because he was always my rock! I lost my father, I never met my sister, my mom couldn’t stand on her feet and help me when I needed her but my grandpa was always next to me! I know I always had my friends and the rest of our family and even the pack but it was not the same thing…

I close my eyes and sigh heavily trying to forget how much my heart hurts and leave my head fall back. I take some short breaths with more tears falling from my eyes but my phone rings and I jump up panicked.

I rush to my desk with shaking legs and take it in my hands with Kevin’s name appearing on the screen. My wolf screams in agony for me to answer the call and I bring my phone close to my ear breathless and then press the button.

Please, have good news for me, I am begging you!

“Austin?!” he exclaims immediately and I sigh trembling.

“Do you have any news? What happened?” I ask in hurry and place my left hand on my chest above my heart.

I am going to die today, I promise you!

“William called me! It seems that Finn or Adira told him to call and inform me and so he did! Cleo got out of the operating room! That bastard gave blood, her condition was crucial but now they can say nothing! We have to wait!” he explains and I sit on one of the chairs in front of my desk gasping.

Um… Okay, I guess it’s good the fact he gave blood and she made it till now but I am not alright yet! I won’t be until I am sure she has woken up and she is out of danger!

“Thank you Kevin! We owe you!” I mutter moving back and forth.

“Don’t even mention it man! Oh and… One last thing!” he says in sympathy and I freeze.

“Yes?”

“William is coming to get me! I am going there, he said I am Cleo’s friend and she would want me there… You know this is definitely Adira’s job… So, I will be informing you with texts whenever I can! Okay? Tell Alexander, I am sure he is a wreck!” he replies and I sigh emotional ready to break into sobbing.

This is a big relief for me and for him, for all of us! We know we can count on Kevin! With him there, nobody is going to touch Cleo because Adira and Finn have to be discreet and act ‘casually’ but Kevin is not under cover, he can go against that bastards and he is really strong!

“Thank you! I am going to tell him right now and… Please, don’t leave her alone Kevin! Don’t leave her side!” I say quickly and stand up.

“Don’t worry bro! I am not leaving her with them! Now I have to go, alright?” he murmurs and I groan in agreement.

“Inform me the sooner!” I state and with this we end our call and I run to the door.

I need to tell Alexander!

I get out and bang the door by mistake but I don’t care and I can’t stop for even a second! His office is right opposite of mine and I knock the door like crazy although I am sure this is going to trigger his anger again!

I take a deep breath the very next second when I listen to him growling warningly and stiffen nervously. He is worse than I had imagined, he hasn’t calmed down at all but hopefully my news are going to help him a little bit.

I open the door timidly and bite my lower lip from the condition his office is, I mean this is terrifying…

He has broke everything is here! His desk, the small table from the living room, the couches are turned upside down just like his armchair and the other furniture and he is sitting on the floor in a corner with his back touching the wall and a bottle of whiskey in his hand.

His hair is messy, his chest is still covered with Cleo’s blood that has dried and is going up and down, his jeans are wet and his expression is dark yet heartbroken! His eyes are not the usual grey color, they are almost black and he is staring at…

Cleo’s necklace, the heart from amethyst with the music box in it!

Yes, she gave it to him… She has accepted Axel and now the only thing that has been left is Cleo accept Alexander as well!

I take some steps inside the room and close the door behind me as carefully as I can. I don’t want to make much noise and annoy him more, his nerves are a mess and it’s like playing with fire for me to be here now but I can’t wait to tell him!

“If anything happens to her…” he states breaking the silence and I feel my skin shivering from his low, scary, wild tone.

“… I will kill them all and I will bury him alive!” he continues and I walk to him slowly with my breath cut.

He means it, he is not lying! He is able to do anything when it comes to Cleo and I am impressed he is still here and he hasn’t go there to kill that asshole!

“I know brother and I am going to stand on your side as always but she is strong! She can make it and I came to tell you that Kevin called…” I whisper as I sit next to him and he hands me the bottle to take some sips.

“Yes?” he asks worried and moves a little bit with his head snapped to me.

I nod wiping my lips and lock my eyes on the necklace. He is holding it with his right hand, it’s in his big palm and he has cleaned it up, it’s precious to him and how could it not be when this is symbolizing her heart?

She gave it to him, it’s his now and he is going to take care of it like a treasure!

“William is going to take him! I guess Adira and Finn ‘thought’ of him and William found it a good idea to inform him and go to take him to the pack!” I explain and look at him.

He nods in understanding and I tap his knee softly. I can’t see him like this…

“The operation is over, he gave blood and now we have to wait! Don’t worry, she won’t leave us now, she did it…” I continue and he exhales heavily while closing his eyes.

I don’t like this ‘silent’ treatment of his… This means only troubles!

“What are you thinking?” I ask worried and he brings the heart closer to me.

I smile to him melancholically and he clears his throat. His confident expression is back again and I am already in alert waiting impatiently for him to tell me. He is thinking of Cleo but there is something else here…

“I took some decisions!” he state and I stiffen awkwardly.

What did I tell you?

This is not good…

“About what?”

“Cleo is coming here the sooner and the end! I am done being patient! I made my plan!” he replies firmly and I shake my head nervously.

He is determinate and it’s the first time he is so… Imposing about it!

Usually, he was the one that wanted to bring Cleo here smoothly because we had to keep mine and my mother’s existences as a secret and also because he wanted my sister to take the truth easily but now…

His patience is gone and this is scary! He is a very clever man, I know him better than anybody else but I am sure that things won’t run smoothly, not at all and he doesn’t give a s**t about it!

“And what about our revenge?” I ask confused, he turns to me and smirks in such a wicked yet hard way that makes my blood freeze in my veins.

FUCK!

“Don’t worry brother, I haven’t forgotten about it, I will never but as I told you I have my plans…” he whispers and I lean closer to him with my eyes never leaving his.

“Our revenge will take time to make them suffer even more…”

~at the same time, Diamond Heart Pack, hospital~

Thor’s pov

The operation is over for almost two hours now and nobody has come to tell us a thing from the moment two doctors got out to tell us the basics! We just know she made it but we can’t be sure about what is going to happen next! They are giving her Etan’s blood gradually because they do not want to pressure her organism as she had lost too much blood and we are praying for her to accept it without complications!

I am getting crazy and waiting is killing me! I don’t know how I am being discreet and I haven’t killed anyone and most specifically two people, Etan and Adira!

Alright, I feel much better from the moment I told her I know everything and she is extremely silent and distant! I am pleased to say she is scared and now I can blackmail her and make her do anything I want her to! She can’t be a problem for me anymore, she can’t do otherwise or else I can tell Cleo and this is the last thing Adira wants!

She doesn’t want to risk it! Cleo is going to hate her, she is going to push her and that bastard away and then… She is going to have only me!

Yes, I have to say this is a big temptation! I would like to tell her everything and in this way win her again, make her understand and forgive me, maybe love me and let me kill them but… I am not sure because I don’t want to break her heart! This is too much, at least for now!

I have to admit they love her although monsters like them are supposed to feel nothing and I am impressed! Okay, they never showed something else, especially Etan! Cleo was always his entire world, she is the only weakness he has and he was never saying no to anything she wanted! From the other side, Adira was stricter with Cleo but they had a very strong bond! Cleo was telling her everything, she had no secrets and I am sure about all these because I was one with Cleo! We were talking about everything together, we were behaving like we were in love since we were kids and everything changed when I found out the truth!

I mean… Mine and my pack’s fame are in danger because of what Etan did with Adira’s help! Having a mate that came in this world from a rape is not the best thing I could have asked for and I feel ashamed!

I am fighting with myself and the truth all these years! I found out everything about six months after I had turned 16 and I had my wolf! I knew Cleo was my mate already and I was happy but one night I found Etan drunk in the forest! He was so drunk that he was talking to himself, he was laughing, he saw me and I was worried about him but he was in his own world and told me he was regretting nothing… I was confused, I had no idea what he was talking about and I asked him what he meant and then he told me…

He said that he had raped someone and Cleo was not Adira’s daughter but his and that woman’s!

I run away too shocked and dizzy, I told nobody about it and I couldn’t believe it for some days! I thought he was just too drunk and he was telling me stupid things but when I calmed down, I remembered something basic and I got convinced…

You see… Adira and Etan had been missing for about six months back then, I mean the period of time Cleo was born! They had gone for a trip and Adira’s mother with my grandparents were replacing them! I don’t know why they were gone for so long or what they had told to my dad, I never wanted to gain suspicions so I never asked but I am sure Cleo was about one month old when they came back! This means that Cleo’s mother got pregnant one month after Etan and Adira had left and I am sure this is more than enough to be sure, especially if you add that Cleo has only Etan’s eyes and nothing else from him or Adira!

So yes! They are the reason I didn’t want her and I still have no idea what to do!

I mean, I really want her, I have to try and accept her but things are complicated! I am thinking about everything these last hours and I am getting confused!

I marked Lillian, my parents and pack knows that she is my mate and if I tell them the truth, I will have problems and I don’t want this to happen, not now…

“Doctor!” Finn exclaims and I jump up in alert with Adira and Etan doing the same from opposite of me.

My heart stops beating as one of the youngest doctors we have gets out from Cleo’s room and I walk to him with Finn right next to me.

At least he is here because I wouldn’t have stood Adira and Etan on my own! William left some time ago and he didn’t tell me where he was going, not that I care but I am just saying…

Finn is my savior these hours and I am glad he is here although he is not talking to me and I am sure he hates me!

“How is she?” the four of us ask him in union and he raises his hands to make us stop and relax.

I don’t know him so well, in fact he is the doctor I know the least and I can’t read his expression! He is serious and very professional and I don’t know what to expect from him!

“She had lost lots of blood and we got scared but she is accepting her father’s now and we are optimistic! She has a very strong organism I have to say, I think we won’t have any problem but let’s give her some time!” he replies and I sigh relieved.

With the corner of my eye I see Etan hugging Adira emotionally and I turn to Finn that is smiling so brightly for the first time! He nods to me firmly and I clear my throat turning again to the doctor that has his eyes locked on me the whole time.

I don’t know why but I think I don’t like him at all and he surely feels the same way with me.

Weird…

“I am going to inform you when we have any news…” he states and I nod in agreement.

He turns around and gets in Cleo’s room again leaving us alone and more hopeful that before.

I decide to ignore completely Adira and Etan and sign for Finn to follow me outside the hospital for a while! Now that I am sure Cleo is getting better, I need to know what happened to her and only he can tell me! He was the first that saw her and brought her back!

He follows me in silence without protests and when we are outside some seconds later, I point some trees close to us and lead the way.

It is still raining, the clouds are too dark and dense above us but the rain is not as strong as it was some hours ago! I don’t care I am getting soaked and neither cares Finn, he knows we have to talk and it is serious…

I feel his eyes burning me although I feel cold suddenly and my skin shudders… I feel he has lost his temper and I can say nothing to excuse myself for what I did! He was right after all, his words came true!

I regret it now and Cleo is going to hate me, I broke her for good!

We stop under an old oak and I turn slowly to face him. I am shaking as I find him already staring at me with his hands crossed in front of his chest and I stiffen coughing.

Alright Thor! You have to ask him, we are talking about your mate here and you have every right to know what exactly happened to her!

“Um…” I start and pause to take a very short, sharp breath.

“How did it happen?” I ask from almost inside me and before I realize it, he is pushing me back growling wildly.

SHIT!

“Are you for real” Are you really asking me? You have the audacity to ask me like you do not know what happened and she couldn’t fight them in the end?” he asks through his teeth with his eyes black from anger and I shake my head in despair fighting with some tears that want to fall from my eyes.

He is right, I am shameless but…

“I told you everything! When I arrived at Stella’s house, I found her almost unconscious in her human form! She was fighting the last rogues when she felt that pain and she did anything she could to kill them! She collapsed when the last of them was lying on the ground dead!” he continues more furious than before and I nod defeated as the tears fall from my eyes.

She is so damn strong and brave damn it and look what I did to her! She called me but I blocked her! I wasn’t there to support her but I made things even worse, I wanted her to suffer and this put her life in great danger!

“How could you do this to her? Why? What did she do to you asshole? I told you that you were going to regret it and you almost killed her! If I was late for a little bit longer, she wouldn’t be here right now!” he growls pushing me back again and I stumble losing my balance.

I can’t defend myself, everything he says is true and I am unforgettable for what I did to her but… I didn’t want to, I…

“I… I got angry! She wanted to leave me and…” I mutter breathless and he pushes me again pinning me on the tree’s trunk.

“And she is right! She is doing the best thing!” he screams losing his self control and I get ready to shout and tell him to stop but two scents hit my noise and I turn to the direction they are coming from.

It’s quite dark although the hospital has lights all around it and the raindrops are really annoying and don’t help my vision but it doesn’t take me long to distinguish the two faces and I know the one scent anyway!

It’s William and…

I don’t know the other man but I think I know who can it be, it’s…

THAT JERK!

I can’t believe my traitor brother brought him here and my blood starts boiling in my veins! Some seconds ago I was feeling extremely cold and now I am burning! My wolf is howling ordering me to kill that asshole that dared to set his foot in my territory and I totally agree with him!

That asshole dies soon!

This is his fault as well! He convinced Cleo… He told her to leave, I am sure and he wants her for himself but she is mine! I am her mate and he is not taking her from me, he is not touching her again and if I have to kill him, I will!

I push Finn away from me as he has already understood my intentions and rush to them with my eyes locked on that dirty dog! I am trying to ignore my stupid brother because I am going to deal with him later and when I am one meter away from them, I raise my right hand getting ready to punch the jackass.

I put every power I have in me and growl when my fist reaches some inches from his face but he grabs it like a flash with his left hand and gives me one strong kick on the stomach.

I leave out a loud groan from the sudden pain and close my eyes with my breath cut but I gain my thoughts quickly and get ready to reply to him when I am being pulled back from Finn and William takes a step forward.

I can’t believe he is betraying his own brother for that dog!

“What are you doing here?” I ask harshly gasping and trembling feeling ready to shift and do my best to set myself free from Finn’s hold.

“I came here for Cleo!” the asshole replies coldly like nothing has happened and this gets on my nerves even more.

He is playing with me, he is provoking me and I can’t kill him right here and now!

Nobody must know but what can I do to him?

“You have no place here! Get the hell out of my territory and stay away from my mate!” I growl and manage to push Finn away from me with William now blocking my way.

“You have no place here pup! Look what you did to your ‘mate’! Don’t challenge me! Go and play with someone else and stop using your Alpha tone to me because I have Alpha’s blood as well!” he says through his teeth in a low yet warning tone and I push William away growling.

All I see is red, my wolf wants to take full control and kill him but I am holding him back for now! I can’t do this here, no, this is not what I want! I will have my time with him and we will be together! He is going to bleed and he is going to be helpless!

I grab him from his shirt’s collar and he does the exact same thing immediately without losing time. We are inches away from each other, our eyes are throwing daggers, I feel like I am on fire and I can’t control my body anymore!

It’s the first time I want to kill someone so much and I am so angry but he doesn’t seem to be scared! He is in the same state of mind with me, he wants to kill me but I won’t make him this favor!

“Why? What is going to happen, if I keep on challenging you?” I whisper harshly and he smirks with his eyes black.

His wolf is almost here, I feel him…

“I am going to tell everyone!” he states firmly and I narrow my eyes tightening my hold around his shirt’s collar.

“Are you threatening me?” I whisper outraged and he presses his lips together taking one step closer to me.

This asshole is crazy! He has no idea with whom he is messing but I am going to make him pay!

He is not taking my mate, he is not staying here because I say so!

Cleo is mine and only!

“I am warning you kid… Stay away from her because…” he begins and I open my eyes one step away from shifting with his words triggering the beast inside me.

I can’t believe he is so damn shameless to come here in my pack, my house and give me orders like he is the boss and he decides!

I am the Alpha here, we are talking about my mate, my Beta and what I say goes no matter who the hell he is! If he hadn’t come to take her, nothing of these would have happened!

I did everything because of him!

“Because what?” I ask running out of the last sign of patience and he pulls me closer with my forehead touching his.

The asshole!

“You don’t want me as an opponent Thor Walker! And… In that case…” he states and smirks again in a wicked yet confident way that pushes me to my limits.

“I will be your worst nightmare!”

******************

Hello my dear friends!

This is the 15th chapter and I gave you some more hints and I revealed more (well, the heroes did)!

I really need to know your thoughts and feelings so please let me know!

What do you think about this chapter? What about everything Austin said? What about Kevin's call? How do you feel about the revenge Alexander is talking about, what about his plan? What do you think of Thor (he is paranoid I guess) and everything he said? And how do you feel about what Finn and Kevin's behavior? What is going to happen next?

Thank you very much for everything, your love, support, commends and impatience in order to read the next chapter! I also read all the comments and I try to answer them the sooner so I am sorry if I am delaying it sometimes because my memory is not very well, I am reading everything and I love it! I am trying my best so please continue showing me how much you want more and commend and tell me your opinion!

This is it for now, I will see you again in the next chapter or in my other books! Until then stay safe, smile and have fun!

I love you all very much,

                       Marie!