Word Count: 1681

~Avia

It's virtually impossible to look anyone in the eye.

I've taken up almost permanent residence on the couch since Isaiah left this morning. It wasn't too hard to brush him off, considering he was in a rush to get to his meeting, and barely muttered a goodbye to me before he was out the door. Had I wanted to reveal that we are mates to him, I could have.

But of course, I didn't.

This means nothing and so much all at once. It means nothing, because of the rebellion. I mean, Malin would be done with me if she knew my mate is the Alpha whose life she is trying to ruin. But...but he's my mate.

Can I really let this information change anything? I made a vow to the rebellion that I can't easily go back on. But I've been thinking about my mate for a long time, wondering when they would come into my life.

And now they have arrived, at the worst time possible.

"You look sick."

I look up, glaring at Zire. Nobody in this rooms knows, but me. Isaiah doesn't even know. And now I'm sitting with this burden, not knowing whether I should tell him or not.

If I do tell him, I know what my fate will be. Isaiah won't just let me go once he knows the news. He will expect me to stay, to be with him, regardless of what his father has to say about it. I'm not sure if I can take that risk, but I also don't know if I can keep his secret for very long.

"I'm fine," I snap, tugging the blanket up to my chin. Zire frowns, making me exhale, not wanting him to start asking too many question. "I'm sure you had a wonderful night."

"I did actually. Cherry-"

"I don't want to hear it," Mari growls from the other side of the room, where she stares absentmindedly through the window at the mountains. She's given up on complaining about how small this place is and how much she would rather be trapped here with anyone other than us.

Zire's eyes narrows upon her. "Walk away then."

"If you think a girl of her rank is going to settle from some random guy who Isaiah felt pity for, you're as stupid as you happen to look," Mari replies, not even bothering to look at Zire as she talks to him.

Cherry, who sits at the small dining table playing cards with Savea turns, mouth gaping open. I think we all know Mari isn't just being protective of her friend. She wants someone to push for a reaction, regardless of how vicious she has to be to get it.

"Mari!" Cherry admonishes.

"You're not going to make me feel bad for working for my position instead of having it handed to me by my family," Zire bites back.

As much as he's obviously falling into Mari's trap, it's the first piece of entertainment I've had all day since Isaiah's left, and the first escape from my own mind which has only been focused on my mate. It's also a benefit listening to Zire try put the rich and entitled Mari in her place.

"Not that you have family," Mari says, the laugh in her tone making my fists curl, and I'm not even Zire. I can only imagine what she would say if she knew my parents perished in a fire caused by Isaiah's father. She would likely smirk and make sure to bring it up later to dig into me.

"You are all so boring," Elise yawns, looking up from over her book in the chair next to the couch. "Can you all shut up so I can read?"

Mari rolls her eyes, deciding Elise is far too large of a big of a target for her current mood, so stalks into one of the bedrooms, slamming the door promptly behind her.

"I'm sorry Zire, Mari struggles in large group situations," Cherry excuses worriedly, tying her blonde curls back behind her. It's a painful reflex of Cherry's to witness. Too often she makes excuses for the worst people.

"She doesn't intimidate me, it's fine," Zire shrugs.

"Who does intimidate you?" Savea asks curiously.

Zire's eyes drag to mine. "Kenna."

"Me?"

"Kenna? Seriously?" Elise splutters, looking at me distastefully. She's obviously personally offended that she hasn't been given such a title by Zire. "She wouldn't know a thing about intimidation if it struck her in the face."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Zire exclaims, collapsing beside me onto the couch. I push him away with my knee, pulling myself to the other end of the couch. He is able to annoy me with such ease I'm considering it to be his only talent. "Kenna is wonderful at the art of manipulation, aren't you?"

He's challenging me. The lazy grin on his face needs slapping off, I think, especially since he's walking on a fine line, about to reveal to everyone who listens in keenly that I'm not actually Kenna and am a member of the rebellion.

"I got this job, didn't I?" I respond cautiously.

"And when is it you go home again?" Elise asks, placing her book down so she can give me all of her rather unwanted attention. I admire how she doesn't even try to hide that she doesn't like me, and that she wants me out of here as soon as possible.

I shrug. "A few weeks."

Isaiah hasn't been pushing for me to go home. In fact, he's made it clear he wants me to stay for as long as possible, so I'm not feeling pressured yet to get more information in a limited amount of time. And now, considering he's my mate, everything has been complicated. I just hope that once the rebellion has been successful, Isaiah and I can run away together to another Pack and live our lives as anyone other than ourselves.

But what about Kadrick? I physically wince. I'm going to have to deal with that soon too.

"Wonderful," Elise muses, her smile causing me to roll my eyes. Her transparency is getting boring. "And then everything can go back to the way it's supposed to be."

"Elise, are you just jealous of me because Isaiah wants to fuck me?" I demand.

All the soft murmuring in the room dies down as everyone's attention shifts to Elise and I's conversation. I don't even regret saying it, because Elise is getting on my last nerve, and knowing Isaiah is my mate, I don't exactly want to hear her tell me she is going to marrying him. Especially since she may very well get her way.

"Oh Kenna dear, I don't give a damn about who he wants to sleep with," Elise draws sardonically. "He's going to be marrying me, not you."

"He still hasn't proposed..." Savea notes, smothering her smile as she pretends she is still concentrating on her cards.

Even Zire chuckles.

"Savea, I wouldn't talk to me about marriage when you're engaged to a commoner who Mari's parents are going to murder, right after they murder every significant family in this Pack," Elise snaps.

I watch her quietly, seeing the anger simmering in her eyes. For someone who is as much a part of these powerful families, she sure hates everyone associated with them. That's why Elise confuses me so much. She hates everyone, has no friends and wants to marry Isaiah, and yet doesn't at the same time.

"Her parents aren't the killers," Savea responds sourly. She sounds sure, but I know she is trying to stick up for her friend because she loves Mari. None of us may share the sentiment, but I admire Savea's loyalty. "You're all wrong about that."

When her gaze shifts to me, I look away. I'm sorry Savea, I can't back you up on this one.

Elise snorts. "Sure we are."

"Leave her alone, Elise," Cherry snaps. Everyone in the room's eyes collectively widen. Cherry rarely raises her voice, or gets angry at anyone. Years of dealing with Elise has been building up, and considering how terrible we all slept, it's coming out now, and it's not pretty.

"You're all as bad as each other, you know?" I find myself saying. They all come from the same background, and all contribute to the same problem. "What's the point of arguing over who is worse?"

"You think you are so much better than us Kenna, but you come from the same life, are here for the same reason as we are. The Alpha," Elise reminds me.

Oh right. Kenna.

"You shouldn't marry him...Not when you don't love each other," I respond. I'm not sure why I'm even wasting my breath arguing with Elise. She knows she ultimately wins. She will get her marriage, and she will get Isaiah.

"This marriage is as advantageous for him, as it is for me," she responds, picking her book back up. "What do you want him to do, wait for his mate?"

My jaw clenches.

Without another word uttered, I get to my feet, striding to the door. No one says anything as I shove my boots over my feet and shoulder my jacket on, flinging the door open.

The wind whips my face as I walk out, but I don't stop, until the snowy blizzard consumes me.

🧡••🧡

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I have a brand new story called IMMORTAL PRINCE now available on Radish, and soon on Wattpad (:

"Tomorrow, we don't have to speak of this again." I hardly know what I'm asking. I just know I want whatever it is.

He watches me with an intensity that I know only he is capable of. "Put my hand where you want me to touch you."

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