Athindrya

Chapter 16

AZAI

Azai hated having to leave Ivy. Alden had been howling in protest ever since they were too far away to smell her. She was so incredible and beautiful, he found it difficult to concentrate when he was around her.

He was desperate to know more about her. What made her laugh. What made her sad. What her dreams were. What made her smile. He had almost caught a glimpse of it when they were talking in the woods. He could only imagine how her face would light up when she smiled whole heartedly.

She was strong. It was clear to anyone. But she had also built up walls around her. Azai wondered what must have happened to her for her to be so secretive and closed off. She hadn’t wanted to talk about her old pack whatsoever. She had shut him down immediately.

Anger started to boil inside him. If they had hurt her in any way, he would tear them all apart. How could a pack turn on someone so kind?

It didn’t take a genius or a mate to know she was a kind soul. She might try to hide it behind her harsh and abrupt exterior, but he just knew it was exactly that: a façade. He could still see the shock on her face when he had kissed her forehead. Her eyes had widened and her cheeks had a faint red tint to them. It had taken everything in him to control Alden and himself. She really was incredible.

He remembered Kiza talking about her. She had met Ivy without knowing who she was and had taken a liking to her straight away. And if Ivy had his sister’s approval then that was already something less to worry about. It hadn’t taken long for Kiza to realise who Ivy was to him. But then again, he had never been good at hiding his emotions from his family.

Speaking of family, he was going to tear Zakai to shreds. That boy needed to grow the hell up. Funny how twins could be so different. Kiza was mature and responsible, while Zakai still acted like a f*****g pup.

Realising he had arrived in front of his office door, Azai took a deep breath before walking inside. Shane was leaning on the wall behind his desk starring daggers at the two males sat in front of him. All three of them looked up when Azai entered and bowed their heads in submission. Though some more than others. Zakai was apparently too important to show respect? Well that wouldn’t fly. Azai let out a dominating growl. He rarely used his Alpha force, but he would not be insulted by a pup.

Zakai reluctantly obliged. Satisfaction ran through Azai. Now that that was done, he strode towards his seat behind the large and imposing desk. Shane stood still behind him, his eyes not leaving the other pup known as Halton.

“Right does someone want to tell me what is going on here?” Azai was sat with his arms resting on the desk, just like his father had done when reprimanding him when he was a pup.

“They’ve just come back from the pack hospital, where Elaine had to give them both stiches, after an argument.” Shane’s monotone voice broke the silence.

“It wasn’t an argument! That bastard called me a f…” Zakai began shouting, but Halton was quick to interrupt.

“You’re the one who threw the first punch! I was just defending myself.” He retorted in indignation.

The two wolves continued to argue as the tension rose in the room. Both were soon standing, fists clenched at their sides.

“ENOUGH!” Azai’s booming voice sounded, supressing all other sounds. The two wolves sat themselves down sheepishly.

“Halton, you go first.” Azai wasn’t keen on the guy in the first place, he was an arrogant wolf who bullied others. Unfortunately, Azai couldn’t be seen playing favourites with his brother.

“Thank you Alpha. Well Shane was partly right. It did start as an argument. It got heated pretty fast, and all of a sudden Zak’s fist is hitting my eye. So I had no other choice than to defend myself. Again Shane is right when he said we both ended up at the hospital but it was not my intention.”

Azai nodded, his cold expressionless façade was up, but inside he was fuming. Halton had always had a way with words. He had been able to charm his way out of similar situations at school and with other arguments that weren’t taken to him. But Azai wouldn’t be fooled.

“Zak. Your turn.”

“Thank you Alpha.” He gritted out. “There is a key piece of information that Halton is conveniently leaving out in his tale.”

“And what would it be?” Azai knew to prepare himself.

“I punched him because he called me a faggot.” Zakai spat out.

Azai had not been expecting that at all. Alden roared in anger. How dare this mutt insult his brother like that? Azai was having a hard time controlling himself. And apparently, he wasn’t doing a good enough job because Halton’s face suddenly lost all colour. The fucker was cowering and retreating as far back as he could into his chair.

Now he understood Shane’s reaction. Azai slowly stood up. The look in his eyes was lethal. He knew because he could sense his eyes changing back and forth as he fought with Alden. He slowly paced round the desk and bent down so he was towering over Halton.

“You ever speak like that to my brother or anyone again and I will personally chase you out of my pack lands.” His voice was barely above a whisper. He was about to announce the punishment the bastard deserved when Jax came bursting in.

“I’m sorry Alpha. But the rogue is missing.” Azai hadn’t told Jax that Ivy was his mate yet. He knew Jax didn’t trust her, which saddened him, but he wouldn’t add another secret to his friend’s list.

Wait. Did he say Ivy was missing????

Finally! Alden screamed.

Azai rushed out the door, yelling at Shane to finish dealing with Halton.

Jax was right behind him, ready to find ‘the missing rogue’. Azai mind linked Jax to go search the town, while he went straight to her room. Her scent was barely noticeable, there was also another faint scent that lingered, but it wasn’t one he recognised. Panic flooded through him. What had happened to her? Alden was just as frantic as he was, so there was no use in asking for his help. A frantic wolf didn’t think clearly.

We need to find her! She could be hurt! We should never have left her out of our sight! When we get her back, we lock her in the room! Alden was frantically rambling on, subsequently proving Azai’s previous thought.

Plus, since Caitlyn, Alden had regressed into virtually nothing, so his mate manners were a bit off.

Azai needed to think clearly. He blocked out Alden’s incoherent rambling and set off into the woods. He tried desperately to get a hint of her scent, but nothing. He mind linked Jax about his progress, but it was the same. Nothing.

It was Azai’s turn to be a little frantic. What if he had lost her? He didn’t think he could go through that again. Then out of nowhere, Kiza’s voice was in his head telling him she might’ve seen a glimpse of Ivy going in the direction of the pack house.

Hope sparked up and he was off again. This time back towards the pack house. He climbed the stairs two at a time. He came to the landing and saw her. She was opening the door to her room, completely unaware of what she had done to him. His heart was beating so fast in relief. Alden was acting like a pup who had just found his favourite toy, jumping up and down.

Thank the Goddess she was back. He took a moment to watch her. Her fluid movements as she was about to step through the open doorway. Her hair was up in a bun, displaying her slender neck, framed by wisps of black stray hairs. Her tanned skin was so inviting. What was she wearing though? But before she could disappear again, he lost it.