Chapter 27: Unlikely Alliances
1015 Words
POV: Xavier
Three days ago, if someone had told me I'd be standing beside Neon, working together, I would have laughed in their face. But here I was, watching Thelma stare at us from behind Luna's gates, and I could feel her confusion and betrayal through our mate bond.
I didn't blame her. I hated this alliance as much as she did. "She looks good," Neon said casually, as if he hadn't tortured me for hours just days ago. "Stronger than before. The twin bond awakening suits her."
"Shut up," I growled. "Don't talk about her."
"Touchy." Neon smirked. "You know, if you'd just let me handle this from the start, we wouldn't be in this mess. But no, you had to play hero and steal her away."
My claws extended involuntarily. "I saved her from you and her psychotic family."
"And now she's in even more danger." Neon gestured to the gathering packs surrounding Luna's territory. "Six packs already here. Three more coming. All because that power surge announced her location to everyone. At least when she was with the Tee pack, she was hidden."
"She was being used as a blood sacrifice," I snapped.
"Details." Neon waved his hand dismissively. "The point is, we need to get her out of here before this turns into an all-out war. And for that, we need to work together."
I wanted to rip his throat out. But he was right. The packs were closing in, and Thelma was trapped with her brother and an aunt who clearly had her own agenda. If I wanted to save my mate, I needed help. Even if that help came from the last person I'd ever choose to work with.
"Xavier!" Thelma's voice carried across the distance. "What is he doing here?"
I stepped forward, ignoring the pain that shot through my ribs. My father had done serious damage during our fight, and I hadn't fully healed yet. "Thelma, I know this looks bad.."
"Looks bad?" Her brother, Theo, moved to stand beside her. "You brought the man who was planning to steal her power and kill her. The man who tortured you. And you want us to trust you?"
"I don't want your trust," I said honestly. "I want you alive. Both of you. And right now, Neon has information we need."
"Information you could torture out of him," Theo suggested coldly.
"I tried that," I admitted. "He has some kind of mental block. Magic, probably from Marcus. The only way to get the information was to make a deal."
"What kind of deal?" Luna asked, her eyes narrowed.
This was the part I'd been dreading. "Safe passage for him in exchange for the antidote formula and information about Marcus's plans."
"You made a deal with a traitor," Theo said flatly. "You're either incredibly stupid or incredibly desperate."
"Both," I said. "But mostly desperate. Because in seventy-two hours, that poison in your systems will activate. And without the antidote, you and Thelma will die."
I watched Thelma's face pale. Through our bond, I felt her fear spike. She believed Neon about the poison. Which meant it was real.
"How do we know you even have the real antidote?" Luna demanded.
Neon held up the vial. "Because Marcus wants them alive. Dead, they're useless to him. He needs their blood, their abilities, their cooperation. The poison is just insurance. A way to force them back."
"Back to be sacrificed," Thelma said, her voice shaking with anger.
"Back to be useful," Neon corrected. "Marcus has evolved his plans. He doesn't want to kill you anymore. He wants to bind you. Control you. Use you as living weapons."
"Over my dead body," I snarled.
"That can be arranged," Neon said pleasantly. "In fact, that's probably part of his plan. Remove the mate bond by killing you, make Thelma vulnerable, then move in for the capture."
The casual way he discussed my death made my blood boil. But I forced myself to stay calm. Losing my temper wouldn't help Thelma.
"So what's your angle in all this?" Theo asked Neon. "Why help us? What do you get out of betraying Marcus?"
"Who says I'm betraying him?" Neon's smile was sharp. "Maybe I'm following orders. Maybe this is all part of a bigger plan."
"Or maybe you're playing all sides," Luna observed. "Telling each group what they want to hear while you position yourself for maximum benefit."
"That's a very cynical view," Neon said, but he didn't deny it.
A howl echoed from the north, closer than before. The packs were moving in. We were running out of time.
"We can figure out everyone's motivations later," I said urgently. "Right now, we need to survive. Luna, you can't hold this position against six packs. Maybe not even against two."
"My pack is strong," Luna said defensively.
"Your pack is good," I agreed. "But you're outnumbered and surrounded. Let us help. Let me help."
"Why would you help us?" Theo demanded. "We're not your pack. Thelma ran from you. You owe us nothing."
"Thelma is my mate," I said simply. "That makes you my family, whether you like it or not. And I protect my family."
Something flickered in Theo's eyes. Surprise, maybe. Or confusion. Like he couldn't understand why someone would claim him as family.
"This is a trap," Theo said, but his voice was less certain. "Everything is a trap," I said. "But some traps we have to walk into anyway because the alternative is worse."
Thelma was staring at me through the gates, and through our bond, I felt her trying to decide. Trust me and risk being betrayed again. Or refuse help and definitely die when the packs attacked.
"Thelma," I called out. "I know I hurt you. I know you have every reason to hate me. But please, let me do this. Let me protect you and your brother. After that, if you want me to leave and never come back, I will. But let me help you survive first."
"How touching," Neon muttered. "Are you going to cry next?"
- Writer
