Kael's POV
Snowflakes fell like heavy curtains, cloaking the night in perfect white. The vehicle's interior was a capsule of warmth and chypre, a stark contrast to the death outside. I sighed, resting on the neon lit building with the circular drive-in—Velvet Inferno; a main attachment in her new life—the life she seemed too happy to risk.
The door opened, a man slid into the backseat, sitting beside me, and slammed the door. The hairs on my neck stood—alert. My wolf recognized his presence, his magic.
"Liam." His name left my mouth, my gaze still fixated at the window.
"Driver," His voice, calm and low, filled the air. "Take us to the mountains."
The engine roared to life. Soon, Velvet Inferno slowly faded away, sweeping past. I sighed and turned to face my second-in-command and childhood friend.
"I met Jade."
"So I heard." He said. He relaxed into the seat, disbelief tainting his features. "Heard she's a dancer now. Who would have thought she would wind up at such a place."
A cold grip of guilt tightened around my throat. I swallowed, my voice low, "She had so much potential." My mind conjured up a teenage girl—black geeky glasses, long black hair and a big smile revealing white teeth wrapped with braces. "She used to hate places like this."
Did I hurt her so badly that she had no choice but to seek shelter in the one place she despised?
I had thought, during those years, she was somewhere better; small yet comfy apartment, dream job and a found family.
My heart clenched painfully for a second. There it was again—the void in my wolf; the ache that had appeared the day after I had rejected her. Left her. I had tried everything to fill it, or at least push it away; it stayed nevertheless. A sigh escaped as I tried to keep my emotions in control; I couldn't allow anyone to perceive me as weak or emotional—it would be a blow to my authority.
"People change." Liam shrugged it off.
"You're right." My voice hardened; every trace of vulnerability was lost.
"Anyways," Mischief flashed in his brown eyes. His lips curled up in a smirk. "Heard you and her went up to a room. Was it a happy reunion?"
"Fuck you!"
He slid back, putting his hands up in surrender while still maintaining a smirk. "Easy now. I'm just asking."
I rolled my eyes and fell quiet. I couldn't stop myself from replaying her words, "send me to the gauntlet." I had wanted to change her mind. Had wanted to say no. Yet, I didn't. I couldn't.
Like she would listen to me.
"Spill." Liam breathed heavily. He moved closer, locking his eyes on me. "What happened up there in the room? From the look of things, y'all didn't bang."
"She wants to be a member of the pack." I dropped the bombshell.
"You say what?" His eyes went wide. "The last time I checked Jade was an omega. And a not-so-powerful one at that."
My eyes fell to the place her claws had dug into. The skin was free of any wound or scar; the only telltale sign of the injury was the trail of dried blood left behind.
"She had no magic." Liam recalled.
My wolf howled, reminiscing the coldness that had clawed through his essence when she had flipped me over; I had almost lost control over my emotions. I could remember the strength in her hands as she pinned my big hands to the headboard—she wasn't my little chosen anymore; she was stronger now, and had something to hide—something powerful.
"I don't think you should heed to her request, Kael." Liam continued, his tone concerned. "You broke her before in the past. This would be worse."
My jaw clenched in response.
My eyes stared ahead to keep myself from lashing out; the mountains were getting closer as the car drove deeper into the dark, lonely woods.
Somewhere a wolf howled—perhaps an omega from the Lost Blood pack.
"Inform the council of her trial." I said coldly. "If it's a trial she wants, let her have it."
"But…"
I turned Liam, eyes glowing red, and voice gruff. "Let her have it."
——
Jade's POV
"You did what?!" The enchantress, also a fellow dancer, in our midst, exclaimed. She stared at me as though I had lost my mind.
Maybe, I had lost my mind.
"Told him to send me to the gauntlet." I shrugged, reaching for a face wipe on the dresser.
Frayed velvet and cheap perfume filled the space, a stark contrast to the club's gilded lies. A large mirror, framed by blazing bulbs, was a mosaic of real lives—tucked-in Polaroids and ticket stubs sharing space with pots of glitter and stage makeup. The green room was what Mama Silk called it, although it had whitewashed walls, and none of its furnishings were green.
My eyes strayed to a corner, as I padded my face with the moist scented wipe, beside the screen. And I was that teenage girl again, lost and wounded.
The door bulged open. It was Mama Silk; fine and wise. Her eyes scanned the room for a second or two before they fell on, and her blue eyes saddened. She came forward, and I pressed myself into the cold wall with the need to disappear.
"Go… go away." My head hurt, everything hurt; physically and otherwise. I shuddered, not out of cold, but nerves. "Just go away."
She crouched down in front of me. Her hand reached forward and wiped my tears away. "Good thing I told Aurora earlier to take your place if you didn't show."
"I don't wanna be here." I sobbed. "I…"
"Hush, dear." Her voice was soothing. "Don't cry. Your tears would only give you a migraine."
"I don't know what to do."
"You will get stronger. Better." She assured me, holding my cold hands in hers. "You will become more than just an omega. Do you hear me?"
A pillow hit my face, bringing me back to reality. "Jade!"
"What?!" I snapped at the two girls seated on the couch as I neatly got the pillow.
"We've been yelling your name for ages!" The oldest; the enchantress, Aurora Bliss, had a glare fixated on me. "What were you thinking?"
The youngest of our trio; Becky Lee, had a small smile playing on her lips. "I swore you would catch the pillow before it would even scratch you." She shrugged, her voice flippant. "Well, I guess that's proof you wouldn't even last a second in the gauntlet."
Aurora had been the one who brought me to this place, to Mama Silk. She had found me wrecked by the dumpster and had offered to help, since then we've been tight. Months later, Becky came into the picture—bubbly and loud; Mama Silk's new tech guy, or girl rather—and she had fit in just fine.
"You're not helping, Lee." I threw the pillow at the 5'4 black teenager with the ghost blue dyed hair.
Becky caught the pillow with a smile and nestled it on her thighs. She then turned to Aurora who looked like she would shoot me dead. "Well, she isn't too happy about your decision."
"You're making a mistake, Jade." Her voice was firm, slim arms folded across her chest. "You may be stronger now. But, you won't survive in such a place. I know how you wolves' live. How you all work. And if Kael is as callous as we've all heard, he would put you against his best omegas, maybe even against his own beta. He will…."
"Relax," I groaned tiredly. "I'll be fine. Those Ironwoods won't know what hit them."
Aurora huffed, turning away to stare at whatever. I sighed and went to her, crouching down before her. I took her hands in mine.
I stared up at the blonde beauty, my voice reassuring, "He took away my pride, Aurora. Took away everything." I placed a finger under her chin, moved her head and brought her pea green eyes to meet my dark ones. "And you know, I won't rest till I return the favor."
A pause.
"I know, Jade." Her eyes gleamed. "I wish there was another way. I don't want you getting hurt or worse." She cupped my cheek. "I wish you'd stay and close that chapter of your life, Jade."
Becky came closer. She draped her arm around Aurora and pulled her slender figure into her smaller one, a big smile on her face. "You should take it easy, A. And besides if Jade says she's gonna be fine, why should we worry?" She gave me a small nod. "The girl is as tough as nails. Maybe she's even tougher." Her eyes gleamed with hope. "And I know she'll be alright. Right, J?"
"Right." I nodded slightly, my heart throbbing.
Honestly, my wolf had gotten stronger over the years. I had harnessed something powerful. Yet, it didn't ease the doubt picking at my mind.