Chapter 35 : Another Side of Xavier

Karenina

Karenina sat quietly in her room, accompanied by the soft morning light streaming through the window. Her hair, a dark brown that shone brightly in the sunlight, was gently combed by Helga, bringing a feeling of peace that she had always enjoyed. Karenina had always loved moments like this, remembering how her mother had combed her hair and how she had found comfort in her gentle touch.

As she sat with her eyes closed, her mind drifted back to the previous day. She remembered how boring she had been when she had been stuck in her bed all day and night just to rest and recover from her injuries. The only thing that broke the monotony was Xavier's sudden visits to her room every three hours. Although it was only to give her the power of a deep essence aura on the wolf side of her, there was something in the way he looked at her and kissed her that made her feel it was more than just an act for her recovery. After that, she would be haunted by guilt, and she would feel as if she had betrayed Rylan with her attraction to his older brother. She finally stopped lying to herself and accepted that she was physically attracted to Xavier Westwood. She would find reasons to defend it, to justify that any girl would find him hot and sexy, to feel herself hypnotized by his handsome good looks and his kissing skills. Damn, he really knows how to turn a woman's head with his kisses!

When she was not sleeping or receiving visits from Xavier, Helga, who always disappeared when he arrived, would sit next to her and listen to her stories. Although he was the more talkative one, Helga seemed genuinely interested in his conversations and stories. She felt they were building a strong friendship.

She sighed contentedly, felt the warmth of the sun on her face, and loved the gentle feeling when Helga brushed her hair. But she couldn't get the worry about her friends out of her mind. How were they? Had Xavier's messenger already found them and were they on their way to the territory of the Westwood Pack?

While she was thinking about Xavier, she was also thinking about his new mate. Karen was disturbed to know that the Alpha of the Westwood Pack might be spending time with his new mate as Luna Westwood. She felt that way without knowing why or thinking too much about it. It was just a feeling she had, and her sigh turned to sadness.

Helga felt Karenina's change of mood and heard her bitter sigh. She continued to comb her hair attentively, then asked hesitantly, "Are you feeling unwell, Luna?"

Her back was straight as she tried to comfort her servant, "Oh, I'm fine, Helga. I'm just a little worried about my friends."

Helga tried to reassure her, "Alpha Xavier will surely find them and bring them back to you, Luna."

She was silent for a moment before she asked quietly and somewhat anxiously, "How is the relationship of Xavier with his new mate?" Her breath caught as she waited for Helga's answer.

Helga frowned, slightly unsure. "Luna, I'm not sure what..." her words were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. The door opened slightly and a small girl with big golden brown eyes appeared.

"Karenina? Are you well enough to see me?" came the soft voice of the little girl, unsure of her welcome.

A smile broke out on her face as her eyes looked at the girl. "Of course, come in, Rain. I've missed you." Then she rose from her seat, stopped Helga's caresses, and opened her arms wide to welcome the little ten-year-old girl.

The oak door was left wide open, and an excited Raine stepped inside, into the arms of the woman who was like a big sister to her. Raine was pleased and comforted by the constant attention from Karen, who was like a warm big sister figure to her.

"I was worried," the little girl admitted, leaning in slightly to look into eyes that were the same color as hers, although Raine's eyes were more like radiant gold, following the features of Xavier and Rylan.

Karen smiled softly in response, "I'm fine, Rain. I'm stronger than I look, you know." She winked at the young girl, creating a moment of intimacy between them.

Raine returned the smile with a small chuckle, feeling relieved, as if the burden she had been carrying had been lifted a little. Now she felt safe in the love and warmth of the people around her.

She was actually a little surprised to see Raine here. She knew that Xavier was her brother, and that Raine was his little sister, along with Rylan, but Raine was much closer to Xavier than he was. All this time she thought that Xavier hated her and treated Raine like a pet. Since Rylan and Raine had the same mother and Xavier hated Rylan, Karen felt that Xavier hated Raine as well. Raine and Rylan's mother was only a low Omega who did not have high status, unlike Xavier's mother who still had noble status.

She had always disagreed with Xavier's views on the value of someone other than a pureblood werewolf with a pure bloodline and high birth status, but looking at Raine, she knew her views had been wrong, at least to a point. Why else would he let a small child run through his territory unsupervised without fear of harming her?

Curious, Karen was determined to find out more about the mystery that was Xavier Westwood.

"Rain, why don't you sit with me and enjoy the sunshine?" she asked as she prepared to get up. "Let me get you-"

"Don't push yourself, Luna. I'm happy to help," Helga interrupted, and before Karen could stop her or argue, Helga had already picked up a large pillow and placed it in front of her.

"Uh, thanks, Helga," Karen said, not used to being served. She was a little annoyed that she couldn't do it herself like she was used to.

Nodding her head with a slight bow, Helga kneeled down a few feet behind Karen to give them some privacy to talk.

"Helga? Why did you come all the way out here?" she asked as Raine sat down on the pillow she gave her and smiled at the view outside.

Helga was momentarily surprised. "To give you some privacy?" she asked, unsure.

Helga was having a hard time adjusting to her new Luna, not thinking about rank and constantly confusing the she-wolf. Helga knew that she was more curious than she should be and shouldn't concern herself with thoughts that had nothing to do with her and her duties, but she was still puzzled by her strange behavior.

Karen waved a dismissive hand at Helga. "This is nonsense. You can talk to us, can't you, Raine?"

Turning her smiling face to Karen's maid, Raine nodded in agreement, having no problem talking to anyone and everyone.

Feeling a little uncomfortable, Helga moved to kneel next to Karen, who was sitting on the small sofa. She remained silent, not knowing how to start the conversation, but Karen decided to join in. She needn't have worried, because Karenina had already started talking.

"Raine, how did you meet Xavier, your brother?" she asked, wanting to understand why Xavier kept Raine, knowing Xavier's dislike for someone of lower status.

Raine brightened up, admitting that she loved her brother dearly and was grateful for him protecting her.

"It was a long time ago, Karenina. I lived in the Moonlit Grove with Rylan and my mother before she died, as you know. My father, an Alpha of the Westwood Pack, lived apart from my mother because he had to fend off attacks on his territory. My mother died a few years later in an attack by barbarian rogues in Moonlit Grove. As a result, Alpha Darren and Beta Blake Mason, who was your father, died, and I lost my voice at that time. Karenina watched the little girl carefully, looking for signs of sadness. Her heart twisted at Raine's story, for it hurt her, too, to lose her beloved father. But she saw that Raine was still happy, as if her past could not hurt her any more than it hurt her now. Karen was happy to see that happiness, and nothing else could make her happier.

"One day, however, I found Brother Xavier, badly injured in the barbarian attack, because he had come to visit me and Rylan." Here Raine's smile faded, telling Karen more than words how much the man meant to the little girl. Such intense devotion, Karenina thought, made her wonder how it could have happened.

"Raine brought him food and water to help Xavier recover while Rylan helped keep him safe." Then the smile returned to his face right before her eyes. "Xavier didn't hurt Raine or Rylan or say anything cruel. Maybe for others who only see Xavier as a cold and cruel Alpha, they only see his outward character as a form of self-defense." There was fear in Raine's eyes now, making her wary of the next part of the story. "A group of rogues attacked the inhabitants of Moonlit Grove and hunted me down." Karen wanted to hug her, to wipe away the fear that was still in her eyes, but she remained silent, not wanting to intrude.

"I tried to run to Brother Xavier and Rylan, but the wolves got me." Karen's breath caught at what Raine's words implied, and she felt she could guess where this story was going. "I don't remember when Brother Xavier rescued me. I must have blacked out, but when I opened my eyes, Brother Xavier was there, holding me. And I've been with him ever since."

Raine smiled brightly at the memory as her mind drifted, filling in the blanks the little girl seemed unaware of. Xavier must have revived Raine with her father's relic sword, she muttered, then froze. Raine was dead! Looking at the little girl, Karenina felt tears press against her eyes as she imagined such a vibrant girl being taken from this world. And Xavier had saved her, she remembered.

Karen had seen a different side of the true Alpha of the Westwood Pack. Xavier's ability to save a little girl, even if that child was only his half-sister, showed that he was not as cruel as Xavier had made him out to be. Her heart began to melt as she thought of Xavier as a loving and caring older brother, like a strong single father. Karen had always thought a man who could raise a child on his own was an extraordinary man with a sweet side.

Ever since she had come to his pack house, she had seen a softer side of Xavier, and now she felt confused about how to view him.

Obviously, her previous assumptions about him had been proven wrong, at least to some extent. Xavier was a kind and considerate man who cared about her injuries and his little sister. Karen smiled softly without realizing it. She snapped out of her reverie when Raine's voice interrupted her.

"Karenina, will you come outside with me?" she hesitated before answering. She was still in pain from her recent ordeal. Her back still felt uncomfortable, and her more serious shoulder injury was beginning to improve, though it was far from healed. Helga and she had seen that the wound on his shoulder, which had been so deep and wide, was probably half as deep and not as wide as it used to be after the scab had come off during the morning shower, causing the wound to bleed slightly.

However, seeing the excited and happy expression on Raine's face, she could not refuse her request. If she was careful, she would be fine, she thought.

"All right, Rain. You lead the way," Karen finally agreed.

Raine gave an excited yell before leading Karen to follow. Staring into Helga's eyes as she rose from her chair to follow Raine, Karen whispered so Raine couldn't hear her, "I'll be fine, Helga. I'll stay calm. We're just going out for a little while to get some sun. I swear, if I'm locked in here one more day, I'm going to scream!"

"I'll keep you company, Luna," Helga said.

She was determined to make sure Karen didn't get too tired or hurt herself. But on the inside, she was a little confused as to why Karen was asking for Alpha Xavier's mate. Naturally, she knew that she was talking about herself, didn't she? Despite her confusion, Helga didn't bring it up because she felt it was none of her business to talk about it.