Chapter 41: Into the Darkest Part of the Forest

There was a heated tension between us. Hestia and I are officially at war now.

I could no longer feel dominated by her. After all, I have my own privilege and advantage. When I first met her, she made my knees wobble, my breathing hitched. When her gaze met mine, I was always the first one to break eye contact.

But not this time. Not for long—not when I goddamn wanted to kill her and my mate, Alpha Brandon. They are the reason why I’m on the brink of death every shitful hell of a night.

I wanted to choke her until she could no longer feel the need to breathe. As soon as I held her gaze like a hawk to a snake, his eyes held a glimmer of knowledge. A secret she was eager to share.

Hestia pushed away my hand that held her and stared at me lowly. “I’m not here to lecture about being a slut.”

“You don’t need lessons anyway.” I tilted my head in mockery. “Anyway, what the hell are you doing here, then?” I asked, my arms folded in my chest. Zarion went behind me and rested his hand on my waist, claiming his possession. Me as his ultimate sole possession.

His protective stance sent me on cloud nine. I could feel his dominating presence behind me while staring at his brother, Alpha Brandon. I do still have someone on my side after all…

Alpha Brandon, on the other hand, was smirking devilishly at us. At me. My eyes slitted when I saw him glancing at Zarion’s hand resting on my waist, as if it bothers him so much.

I didn’t know Brandon the Bastard also knew how to be jealous of someone he can never have.

“This is not for you.” He snarled at his brother. “Zarion, can we talk in private?” Hestia asked in a resolute voice. The way my blood boils because of her sudden change of tone…hoping to seduce him.

Now I’m sure I want the need to crush her neck at this rate.

“No, let’s talk right now. My girlfriend wants to hear what you want to say.”

Alpha Brandon let out a bark of laughter. “Girlfriend?”

“Yes,” Alpha Zarion answered without hesitation. I could feel my cheeks blushing. I felt like a teenager all of a sudden–which indeed I still am!

Gosh, since when did we agree that I am his girlfriend? He never brought up this topic. It’s a lie, okay? Zarion’s just trying to protect you.

I frowned at my own thoughts.

Alpha Brandon’s smirk falls off instantly from his lips. I could feel the tension between these two even when this is all about me.

“Cassidy is my mate. She’s not your girlfriend,” Alpha Brandon said as a-matter-of-fact.

“And Hestia is your wife,” Alpha Zarion countered, mimicking the tone and style of his brother.

“I could die breaking the rules, Brandon. How about you?”

Please, just stop it, Zarion.

He’s trying to put up a fight. I could not afford to see him fight in this state. As far as I know, these two went here to talk. And I hope we can benefit from that talk.

“Stop it, you two.” Hestia shifted with delicate grace, “Zarion, I have important information for you about the witch that you had long sought.” Zarion froze behind me. I could feel his body shifting, my heart beating erratically against my chest as soon as I heard that.

“The key to unlocking the mysteries that plagued you for decades. Aren’t you excited to hear it, Zarion?” Hestia muttered in a beckoning, alluring voice.

I gave her a glare, but this bitch doesn’t really know her place. Her words danced in the air, capturing Alpha Zarion’s attention like a siren’s song. Fight, Cassidy. Fight!

Looking back at him, I saw the hope that flickers within his chest as if it was pushing aside the tendrils of doubt that entwined his mind.

“Aren’t you curious, hmmm?” Hestia insisted, and I knew that she’s playing. But what game is she brewing?

My eyes slitted at her. What game are you up to, Hestia?

“What is it?” Zarion breathed in a curious voice. “Tell me. Now.”

My heart sank. Hestia got his attention. She won.

Of course, he has been in a quest for so long about this witch. He did not succeed up until now… and now that Hestia has something that he hasn’t known, he will do everything just to squeeze the juices of information she got.

Hestia smiled widely and nodded at her husband, Alpha Brandon. “Let’s go to the Misty Forest. I will tell you about the witch's information.” She paused and glanced at me. “But it’s up to you, though. It’s not my loss. It’s yours,” she whispered the last two words like a venom.

Of course, every snake has its own venom. And my skin itches because of her voice. Her presence itself irritated me so much that I badly wanted to take a bath to wash it all off.

“Damn it!” Zarion said and thrashed inside the cabin, his voice almost shook the interiors. I could see his ragged breathing, the way his chest went up and down as if he was on the verge to explode.

“Baby, please, calm down…” I whispered, trying to soothe and calm him down. I don’t know why I am using a pet name, and somehow, I did not regret that. I even blushed at the thought of me and Zarion calling each other as babe. When I made him look at me, I spoke to him with the softest voice I could utter. “Let’s follow them. We won’t lose anything, right? Besides, you’ve been trying to get in contact with the witch. You can’t let this opportunity slip in our hands.”

“But it’s Hestia,” he hissed, whispering. “She’s cunning as fuck and we don’t know if she was just bluffing or not.”

“Whether or not she’s bluffing, let’s just see it for ourselves,okay?” Zarion just gaze into my eyes. “Okay?”

Zarion nodded and kissed my lips like how a bee does to a flower. “Thank you.”

I bobbed my head and rested it on his chest. “Let’s go, please. I wanted to get even with them.”

His mouth formed into a devilish and dangerous smirk. “Me too.”

As Zarion and I ventured into the heart of the forest, a chilling realization dawned upon me.

This is a trap.

This. Is. One. Hell. Of. A. Trap.

“Fuck, this is a trap!” I snarled as footsteps receded. It was just a feeling after we arrived there, I know.

But deep inside, I’m pretty sure of it.