Misery

Chapter Nine

  A few days had passed and things Persephone never thought would come to pass, had. For one she had never thought she would find an alliance with the Centurion pack. Wanting to taste revenge for what had been done to the Berserker  Pack. But the truth had been revealed. A truth that Persephone never expected.

 The Ragnar brothers (she still didn't like the beta asshole... even if he'd begrudgingly apologized once it was revealed who she was) had told her about how they had taken their own revenge on the Centurion pack... They too had come from the Berserkers. Their former pack had been the largest. Multiple pack houses spread over the mass of the territory. It was a reason so many packs needed to work together to fully take them down. Centurions alpha had attacked their pack house. Resulting in the death of the Ragnar brothers father. In turn once strong enough, he'd come to challenge the Centurion Alpha. Freed the pack from a tyrant.

  Distant relatives to her as well it would seem... How they had realized what pack she was from was her wolf. The golden wolf of the Roth bloodline. The alpha wolf blood. To say Felix and Atticus had both been surprised when Alpha Ragnar had gone on to his knee and sworn to protect and fight for the rightful queen.

Persephone had barely had spoken enough with her mate to qualify as a conversation... And after so many years of hiding, of not letting anyone know who she was, or the blood that ran through her veins - it was all exposed. Not that he hadn't started realizing the moment she said Persephone was her name. Of course he had known the names of the royals. It only seemed to fall further in place when he'd felt that his destined was from the Berserker pack...

 Still. Despite new revelations, and the promise of at least two packs behind her, 'team' effort wasn't anything that she'd been used to. So far survival had been the game. Her true identity hadn't been revealed to the Centurion pack. Only the brothers and their gamma had known. Not wanting to put her in further danger. They hunted her hybrid form. But had word gotten out that she was of the royal bloodline - that she'd had the Alpha title passed to her... Their would be an even larger hunt for her head.

 Felix had tried talking to her more - but Persephone had become rather good at finding excuses to slip away and avoid conversation. Since he had marked her she could sense his emotions better. Guilt and frustration being the main ones. Him on the other hand - he'd be able to more clearly feel what emotions played in her. The distrust. Hesitation... Inner conflict... The loneliness. Once she marked him she'd more clearly be connected. But was trying to avoid the mate bond. Avoid strengthening it. He was a stranger.

 If you'd maybe talk to him, he wouldn't stay a stranger - Valkyrie growled in her mind bitterly.

 Persephone sighed back to her wolf. She was afraid of all the things that could go wrong. I now you're afraid Seph. We all are. But we need him. We need mate... It was constant with Xena - just as it was with Valkyrie. Of course they knew.

 Our mission is likely suicide. I don't want more to die because of it. It's why I want to do it alone! she argued with the beasts in her. We will die before we even get started. If we're lucky we might kill one.. But alone... It'll just be us charging t to slaughter. I don't want to have just existed... and then die. It was Xena again. It could have been a beautiful moment. Sitting in the bay window looking out at the beautiful view. But no. Her beasts had to give her hell again.

 Just existing? She scoffed.

 Yes. Existing. Not living. We've had no one. Since our family has died we've been alone. Please.. Seph... Let us do more than exist. Please... Valkyrie's voice was soft. Pained.

 A knock caused her to jump. So much in her argument with her beasts she failed to notice the approach to her room. But in an instant she knew who it was. His scent wafted into the room causing her breath to hitch. "Persephone, are you okay?" - once more he'd felt her inner turmoil.  He was hesitant as he stood on the other side of her bedroom door.

 "Yes," she reflexively snapped. Wincing as she felt the pain through the mate bond. Please Seph. Just... Try... She heard him hesitantly starting to step away... Next her voice was lower, pained -"No..."

 He stopped. She could hear that much... Silence between the two mates as both seemed to be contemplating what to say... What to do. Her beasts called to his. She knew it. She could feel it. As did he.

 A step back. Hesitation once more. Then the sound of the doorknob turning. Persephone looked out of the window. Avoiding meeting those eyes of his... Those deliciously dark eyes that held so much warmth... And emotions that terrified her. Go to mate! Valkyrie demanded shortly. But Seph remained rooted on her spot. Her breath hitching after she inhaled another breath. It was overwhelming having him so near. She might not have listened to her beast in going to him. But she hadn't snapped at him to get away, or rushed to go to another room.

 Slow. Step by step, like someone moving with trepidation. As if one move to fast would startle her into flight. Not that she'd given him any reason to think otherwise. Her whole body tensed for only a moment as his warm hand slowly slid over her shoulder... Gently he pulled her into a hug and sighed as she turned into his chest, nuzzling into his heat. Allowing herself to relax for the first time  since they met. Inhaling deeply once more. His head dipped and burrowed his nose into her neck. Persephone bit down on her bottom lip, a light moan expelling at the feel of him against her mark.

  They didn't know each other. She'd been fighting her beasts since the moment they met. She tried denying him and the bond... But as his arms encompassed her, she felt safer then she could ever remember being. More complete. "The mate bond is... irrational," her voice lacking amusement over the fact. Trying not to lose herself further in the moment. In the closeness. It felt to intimate. He was to close... to real...

 His chuckle was rich. Intoxicating and beautiful. It was enough to cause a shiver to run up her spine in desire... The richness of his voice daring her to look at him, "most things in life worth having are irrational my queen."

 She snorted at being called his queen. That wasn't something that she felt like. A queen...  More comfortable being called a rogue... Finally she lifted moved... Felix straightened. Looking down at his mate as finally, her eyes met his. A smile curled his lips. Her eyes dipping to his lips. Dragging her bottom lip between teeth. His hand lifted to brush along hers, "the moon goddess truly blessed me."

 Confident. That was how he sound with those words. A blush coloured her cheeks, scoffing again, "oh please. I doubt it's a blessing."

 Another chuckle sent a jolt of desire through her. Breath quickening. "I have been gifted a mate. It is a blessing. One I thought I'd never experience after so long..." his face had dipped down closer, "you are everything and more than I could have ever hoped. And I pray that I  will have the chance to prove how much you mean to me..."

 Her words had been lost as once more there eyes met. Overwhelming was the love and adoration that came from Felix as he looked at her. She was afraid. Afraid of letting him in. That she'd have someone new to lose... "I'm afraid... If I have loved anyone, they have died. I... I don't think I could survive that again."

 All Felix and his wolf wanted was for her to trust them, to open up to them. To lay whatever burdens she had upon him so he could help. "I wish I could promise that nothing terrible will happen if you accept me into your life. Life is... Messy. It can be brutal and violent and ruthless... Usually the best things in life come with some kind of risk... I would risk everything for any time the moon goddess blesses me with you..."

 At least he's honest Seph, Xena purred. Appreciating he hadn't tried to sell her a lie. She knew he was right. She knew life was unpredictable, and she knew it was a merciless mother fucker. Did she want to give into the bond? Leap off that metaphorical cliff... That final thought made her laugh... Leaving Felix looking at her quizzically.

 "I just..." laughing again shaking her head with a sigh, "was thinking... If I had the balls to take a leap of faith, if you will. You know. Leap off the metaphorical cliff..."

 His own laugh joined, "well. I mean. We've both literally jumped off a cliff. Well. Waterfall... Same difference..."

 She laughed harder, before his hand lifted her chin. He was beaming, "you have the most enchanting laugh."

 Her laughter stopped, looking into those delicious chocolate eyes of his. Whatever she was going to say died on her lips. Lifting up onto her toes as she reached an arm around his neck. Licking her lips again before tilting her head up, his own moving down until he captured her lips.

  Perhaps she expected gentle. Tender. But she was the reason it was nothing like that. It was heat. Fire. Passion... Scorching. Setting a fire of need. His hands brushing along her neck, sliding up until he cupped her jaw. Pressing into her with his own hunger. His growl pressing into their kiss, her mewl of pleasure stoking the need to fully make Persephone his... Her hands sliding under his shirt ready to remove it...

 Someone cleared their throat at the door and Persephone jumped back. Felix growled and reached to pull her back but she squirmed with a blush running up her neck and colouring her cheeks. Looking to see Atticus looking thoroughly amused as his brothers head snapped towards him with a snarl. "Hey, don't get pissy at me. You left the door open. Just be thankful I'm so kind as to come in here before you start making puppies and kittens for the Centurion Pack to see," he looked thoroughly pleased with himself.

 "Could have closed the door instead," Felix grumbled.

 "Thanks asshole," Seph tried to dismiss Atticus. But it was to late. He'd seen her blushing and embarrassed.

Atticus grinned wickedly, "I didn't know this little p***y cat knew how to blush... Good to know."

 Persephone flipped Atticus her middle finger as Felix dragged her back into his chest. Why did he have to interrupt us? Xena grumbled. Seph scoffed - wasn't it you that was swooning over his ass the other day? Xena became quieter instantly.

Giving his brother a hard time was always Atticus favorite pass time... And he'd grown fond of Persephone so easily. "I'm totally not driving tomorrow if you are both going to be doing it like bunnies in the back..."

 The small female grabbed a book she'd had near her and chucked it at Atticus, "f**k right off Atticus!" She tried sounding angry. But happened to be more embarrassed and  amused.

 It was a strange feeling as the brothers started bickering... And she joined in. It felt like...

 Family...

 Something she hadn't had in a long time...