Page 79 of A Warrior's Fate

It hadn’t been a direct question, simply a realization. And with it spoken aloud, the anger began festering until it usurped all other emotion so much that she swore she’d shift right here.

She jumped to her feet, sitting making her feel trapped and suffocated all over again. Her fingers were balled so tightly in her fists that her nails pierced the skin of her palms. Adrien stood a few inches above her as she squared herself to him, a little closer in size to her than if it were Kai. “Why would he do that? Why would he let me think that I—that I killed him?”

She almost wished her friend was lying, then she wouldn’t have the traitorous thought of ripping through the Alpha’s side running through her head, but Adrien wouldn’t make this up. Not this.

The Heir’s jaw was tight, and Isla saw even Sebastian was wearing something akin to the look of murder he’d brandished upon seeing her injured on the examination table.

“He wants you to stop looking. Stop getting involved. Pushing things,” Adrien said, and there was a hint of shame in his eyes. “He wants it all to go away.”

“He told you that?” When had Adrien spoken with his father?

“In so many words.”

Isla couldn’t breathe again, but this time, it was in rage.

She had to step away. Could feel her wolf restless beneath the surface of her skin, ready to lash out, but still stuck, somehow. Her eyes were focused on the ground beneath her as she paced a few feet.

“He sat there and looked me in the eye and let me believe that I’d killed someone?” She thought her teeth would shatter from how tightly she’d clenched them. “He was going to let me torture myself for the rest of my life—for what? Did he think I’d call the reporters? Tell them what happened? I wouldn’t have said anything.” She looked up at Adrien who remained in his spot, whose expression hadn’t changed. Who hadn’t fought anything she’d said. “He doesn’t trust me.” Not a question, a statement, and again, one her friend neither confirmed nor denied. Isla shook her head, face twitching as she fought between scowling and sobbing. Lukas was alive. “That’s cruel.”

There was no response.

The three remained in a tense silence as Isla continued her movements against the backdrop of the setting sun. As she continued her tirade beneath her breath. As she fought to hold herself back from storming the Pack Hall. Tore through every memory she’d reminisced upon. Every subtle detail of recent events she’d reminded herself to go through.

She knew the Alpha could be ruthless, that he had a job and owed her nothing, but to let her believe something like this…

All to keep Lukas a secret and prevent inciting panic?

“Did you get rid of the dagger?”

At Adrien’s words, Isla snapped her head up, then subtly glanced at her bag that was close to his feet. “It’s somewhere safe, yes.”

A line feathered in Adrien’s cheek, and he nodded in acceptance before taking a few steps towards the black fabric coated in dust.

“Wait!” Isla called, and Adrien halted.

His features were hard when he turned to her. So much so, that he looked more like his father than he ever had in his life. “What’s going on, Isla? You’ve been so off since you came out of the Wilds, and I thought it was all from the Hunt, from Lukas going missing, but it’s not just that. It never has been.”

Isla bit down on her tongue.

She wanted to tell them everything. About Lukas, the Ares Pass. About Kai. But she couldn’t. She’d promised. “It’s nothing.”

Adrien shook his head. “No. No, it’s not.”

She sighed. “I…I can’t tell you.”

“Why?” Sebastian had taken a few steps towards her, the two closing in.

“Because I can’t. Not yet.”

“The Alpha of Deimos couldn’t stop asking about you at the feast,” Adrien started after some hesitation, and at the mention of Kai, Isla whirled around to face him. “He saved you during the Hunt, visited you when we were with you in your room. You didn’t bump into him before you came to the Gate. You were with him. Somewhere.” His voice had been charged with understanding, rung with epiphany, as he encroached on her further, and Isla felt her chest tighten. “I thought he was just looking at you to get in Io’s graces, make a statement in his new position, I didn’t know—but it’s more than that, and I should have been able to figure it out from the way he looked at you. Because I’ve seen it before.” He stopped a few inches away and said without a hint of uncertainty, “Because he’s your mate.”

Sebastian laughed.

Isla felt like the ground had just caved in, and Sebastian laughed. But he was the only one laughing, and he seemed to realize that fact quickly.

His eyes darted between his best friend and his sister—now engaged in a silent standoff—his jubilant features gradually falling into those of shock. “Wait, you’re serious?” His eyes were wide as he put himself in Isla’s view. “You found your mate?”

Isla barely spared her brother a second glance, holding Adrien’s stare instead. She didn’t know what she was trying to read from it, or what she wanted to convey with her own. Part of her wanted him to elaborate—to learn how Kai had looked at her that should’ve been a dead giveaway to him—but she knew from his later words, it would only dredge up horrible memories for the Heir. Memories of the day his chosen mate’s fated one had shown up to challenge Adrien for her claim.

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