CHAPTER 19

The scenario continued playing over and over in my head, and my ears kept ringing.

Storm was holding the elderly woman's hand, which was now squeezed into an enraged fist, while he stepped in front of me, his wide shoulders directly in front of my face. All I could feel as the moment dragged on was the pressure of Tinley against my arm and Willow's arms around my waist.

Storm then pushed the elderly woman's arm away. Storm had blocked my view, so I couldn't see her, but I was itching to see the angry expression on her face.

I then forced myself to cry.

On cue, my tears started to fall like a river. My cheek did sting, but I refrained from crying more because of my strength of character. The storm turned after I sneezed.

His eyes were wide before he suddenly focused on my face, his lips clenching as I watched his eyes soften and take on a slight gloss. I blink a lot as tears continue to roll down my cheeks as I look up at him with trembling lips.

Storm turns her back on me.

The old woman said, "Get away from that outsider girl!" I kept crying because I didn't know what else to do after hearing a sudden, loud scream that quickly filled the entire house. This woman was too much and quite strong, which I found extremely puzzling given that she appeared to be in her fifties.

Everyone was looking at us, even though Storm and no one else spoke aloud. Tinley let go of my arm as Willow continued to hold me tightly. At this moment, Willow and I were both in tears.

After a protracted period of silence, Storm said, "Godmother, she's a guest!"

The woman's features twisted fiercely as a result of his firm tone. "Not a guest, an intruder!"

Erica clung to the elderly woman out of fear that she might reach out and assault Storm, and Storm did little more than shake his head. I couldn't hear what was going on, but I could sense the tension in the air from Storm's tense and strained body gestures, such as brushing his locks back and sliding his hand to his hip, as well as from the elderly woman's finger that was constantly pointing back and forth at Storm. I had no idea what they were talking about specifically, but I was eager to hear it.

I was genuinely excited to hear what they had to say.

Storm then made a second round, this time focusing on Tinley. She tensed up as he looked at her, as did Willow, who was crying next to me but whose head had just popped up and who I was now holding in spite of my own forced and somewhat phony sobs.

Storm yelled out Tinley's name in a shrill voice with a tone that, for some reason, made me jump because I didn't even believe he was capable of using such a tone. He's typically cool-headed, but right then, it felt like he was the picture of seriousness. He was screaming at Tinley, but why? What role did she play in any of this?

Tinley was compelled to jump in response to Storm's cry, and she awkwardly pulled at Willow while shaking her head repeatedly. I held onto Willow tightly. I clung to her tenaciously.

I asked Tinley, who continued to pull at Willow, who was desperately clinging to my waist, "Where are you taking her?" Tinley was still pulling at Willow. The little brown eyes of the poor girl begged me not to let Tinley take her as she clutched me, and her eyes were a brilliant crimson. I then tightened my grip on her. I was already spanked for standing up for her, so I might as well continue to do so.

Storm reached for my shoulder and said, "Mawee, leave Willow. Come with me, she said in a firm but gentle tone. I turned to face him, tears still streaming down my face like a caged bird trying to escape.

I gave him a headshake.

"She's scared, Alpha. I can't just leave her. Someone might hurt her again." I noticed the elderly woman staring down Erica with a frown on her face, and I could tell they were having a hard argument in their brains.

I can tell you that Willow won't be harmed by anyone ever again. Tinley will look after her.

Willow squeezed my hand one more time before leaving with Tinley, who also squeezed my hand before removing Willow as I reluctantly released my hold on her. Jude observed the two as they departed the room and vanished into the crowd. When Storm encouraged me to follow him once more by tapping on my shoulder, I complied.

I continued to make myself cry even after passing Erica and the elderly woman, who gave me a very unflattering look. I had mastered the art of artificial sobbing during my assassin training. My sobs persisted as my tears spilled nonstop.

I didn't realize I was in Storm's office at the time. He requested that I take a seat on the lounge chair after lighting the candles that were hanging from the lounge chair holders. I did. I continued to cry as well.

Storm let out a big sigh before approaching me and kneeling at my side with a light. I slowly raised my gaze to the sky to face the storm. I turned to face him as his dark eyes locked with mine, his face covered in swirls and shadows from the weak candlelight in this office. He fixed his eyes on mine, which were undoubtedly red from all the sobbing, and before I knew what was happening, he had raised his palm to my face.

My right cheek and the area under my eyelid were also wet, and Storm softly dabbed them away with his handkerchief. He moved extremely slowly, never in any way hurrying. I snorted while keeping my gaze fixed on him, and as he touched my left cheek, I gasped in agony.

Storm only said, "Her slaps hurt, I know," and I wanted to ask him if he believed that phrase to be consoling in any way. If he did, he was mistaken; it wasn't. "I'm sorry, Mawee, that this happened to you."

I interrupted him and asked, "Why was she beating Willow?" disregarding his apology, but he didn't answer; instead, he concentrated on stroking my cheek. It kept hurting, but thankfully the ringing in my ears had lessened somewhat.

Then Cassia, a maid, entered. Storm moved away from me to take the dish that she was holding from me. Before she could go closer to me, Cassia looked at Storm, lowered her head, and then abruptly fled. Cassia's eyes met mine as she took a stride toward me.

Storm returned, this time carrying a bowl, and he knelt down by my side once again while removing the cloth from the basin.

I questioned, "What's that?" as Storm gently lowered it to my cheek. I grimaced and wanted to get away right away since it hurt even more than the slap had. Storm pressed it closer to my cheek when I did.

It's an herbal concoction for bruises that helps with redness and scarring. Don't move. This will help you heal."

Scarring? I was itching to yell, that old savage! I'll send her to her grave if she leaves me scarred, I swear to the moon. A fast pass to the land of the dead is probably what she needs, and I'll make sure to provide it to her. She is tampering with the wrong girl.

"I'm really sorry about everything you not only witnessed but also that happened to you tonight. It was embarrassing, to put it mildly, and I am deeply ashamed that you, my guest, were assaulted by my Godmother. I pray that you forgive her and me."

I don't. I got slapped in front of everyone by that elderly woman! I am not, under any circumstances, going to let that slide. Just wait; I'll exact my retribution.

Once more, when Storm brushed the cloth against my cheek, I became aware of the neem scent for the first time. The pain gradually lessened as a result of the herbal mixture.

I yelled indignantly, "Why did she beat up Willow, Alpha? I think I have a right to know that considering I just got slapped for defending the poor girl!" I'm not going to give up on this. Nope! Not for nothing did I suffer severe embarrassment, possibly a little disfigurement, and phony tears!

I stretched out and took Storm's hand in my own. He was applying pressure with the towel and the herbal mixture with his hand. He immediately came to a complete halt and turned to face me. I lowered my head just enough so that we were looking directly into each other's eyes, and I gripped Storm's hand firmly for what felt like my very life. His hand became rigid in mine as his black eyes shone and his irises darkened.

I refused to let it go.

Storm's eyes traveled over my face and landed on my own black eyes as I pulled a sob from my throat. Something raced through me as he continued to look into them. He parted his lips as if to speak, but no words emerged. Despite this, he kept staring at me, and when he gently blinked against me, I suddenly felt an electric shock. I resisted the urge to lean down and press my lips against his because I was worried about how he might react.

I continued to hold his palm to my battered face while gazing into his deep-black eyes with a rising desire to ingest them. I gently stroked the back of Storm's hand with the pads of my fingertips while he let out a loud exhale.

The cloth Storm had been applying to my face suddenly fell uncontrollably over my lap as Storm leaped away from me.

Erica's voice called out to me, "Mawee, are you okay?" My neck snapped to the doorway where Storm had hurried to his sister.

That's when I realized Erica had just interrupted and damaged whatever it was I had just shared with Storm. Great!

Erica hastened to my side and sat down next to me after setting what appeared to be a box on the table. With his hands tucked behind his head and his eyes turned away, Storm occupied practically the entire space in his office while standing away from the chair. The cloth was removed from my thigh and set on the table by Erica.

Erica began by taking both of my hands in hers and tenderly holding them while saying, "Our grandaunt won't apologize, so I am here on her behalf to do so." She shook her head as she observed the apparent swelling on my cheek. Please forgive her and us, and don't even consider leaving us as a result of this incident. "She's a hardheaded traditional lady, and sometimes she can be a bit too much to handle, but my baby brother and I are deeply sorry for the humiliation and hurt you faced at her hands today."

I shook my head and said, "But Erica, why should I stay in a place where I am not wanted?" in an effort to make it appear as though I was genuinely wounded after she had just made the ideal opening for me to crawl my sweet self into. I have to carry out the suggestions she brought forward.

My right cheek was stroked by Erica's hand.

Please, Mawee, even if you can't forgive her, at least stay until we find your family and deliver you safely to them, because since you were found on our pack, you have become our responsibility. I know she said hurtful things, but it's just her who doesn't like your presence here. You don't have to leave because of one person.

After a while, I shook my head in agreement as she begged with her eyes. I was dragged in for a hug by Erica. She hugged me for a long time before releasing me. I heard the ringing of her earrings.

Getting up, Erica

I stared at her as she pointed to the box and said, "I have to leave now, Mawee. The feast was cancelled, and there's a huge mess, but I left this gift for you as a token of my apology to you."

I lied, saying, "No, I don't want anything. I adore presents. Receiving gifts is my love language, yet I had to act modestly in this situation. I really don't need anything else, Erica; your family has already provided me with food, housing, and clothing, as your grand-aunt indicated.

The only thing I'm giving you is this gift, so you can't refuse me, Mawee said. "No, Mawee. I insist! Besides, today is the full moon, and it is a tradition in our pack to give someone a gift, so you can't reject it. Besides, my brother was the one who gave you all those things you mentioned."

Storm jumped in, "Mawee, please accept Erica's gift," without warning. "Please,"

I nodded and feigned hesitation as I thanked Erica. Returning the nod, she turned to face Storm. Before leaving, she kissed his cheek from above.

I was left alone once more with Storm.

I observed him as he paced around his office since I was at a loss for what to do. We were in an unpleasant stillness as I observed his shadow extending over the floor. As he paced more, it grew. It moved at a steady pace.

I exclaimed, looking down at my palm rather than at Storm, "Was I wrong?" I desired to break through the chasm of silence that had developed between us. I noticed Storm turning. Was it improper of me to step in and assist Willow?

I turned to face Storm as he took a breath. He was fixated on me. I looked back at him.

I started to say, "No, Mawee, you weren't wrong, and if I had been present when it all happened, I would have stopped her too," but Storm cut me off before I could finish. But Mawee, just because your intentions weren't inappropriate doesn't mean that what you did was.

My mouth almost fell open. What?

I said, my eyebrows arched in an inquiring manner, what did I do?"

"Mawee, stopping my godmother with Erica or me is very different from you doing so."

I argued, unwilling to hear another word from Storm, "She would have killed her if I didn't step in!" What I'm hearing right now is beyond belief.

I'll never look at what she did to Willow and say it was right, whether or not she's family, regardless of whether she was right or wrong. If she was wrong, then she was wrong. Her ties, bonds, or relationships with me will never be able to change that. "Mawee, I am not saying that my godmother was right. No, she was wrong. I in no way support or encourage violence," she said.

I firmly asked, "Then what are you saying?" as he drew near, halting by the table.

There is a hierarchy in our pack, sadly, and she is an Elder. I am saying that it was not in your position to stop her, Mawee."

For that one, I allowed my mouth to remain open.

I wish I had arrived sooner to stop this whole tragedy, but some things are just meant to be.

He said, "Why did she beat her Alpha?" I interrupted him by getting up. He refused to respond to the one question I had been posing since he took me into his office, as evidenced by the tightly closed lips and stern expression on his face. "Alpha, I have a question for you."

Storm gave a headshake. Sadly, you have no business knowing that particular answer; therefore, that is the problem, not the answer to your inquiry, Mawee.

My cheek suddenly began to sting once more. His response sent waves through me like a blade deftly slicing through the heart of its victim. Why does everything that involves Storm and his pack have to be unfortunate? My hands slid to the side, and I turned my head away.

I thought knowing what she did would help me sleep better at night, but unfortunately, when humiliation begins, sometimes I guess it just never ends. "Funny how you tell me what your business is after I got slapped in front of your pack and family for defending a helpless girl that you should have been there to protect to begin with."

I sped past him by moving quickly. I'm done for the evening. I don't care if it's my business; I'm simply tired right now. Storm is free to keep his responses to himself. After a much-needed long night of sleep, I'll figure out how to solve this mess tomorrow.

I make a head turn and give him one last look. He is averting my gaze. I fix my attention on him.

"After all, I'm sure that if I were linked to your pack like everyone else, then I wouldn't need to beg you to tell me anything because then I would just hear it," Storm says as her eyes meet mine. "Unfortunately, this pack is not mine, and unfortunately, as your godmother said, it doesn't matter whether you dress me up in pack clothes, give me pack food, or give me a room in your home; the fact remains that I am and will always remain an outsider girl." I forced a tear to fall from my eyes down my cheek before abruptly turning away and lowering my head. I reach out to touch my swollen cheek. "I clearly understand where I belong."

I can immediately sense Storm being overtaken with remorse. The air changes, and I grin inside, pleased that my conversation may or may not have given him cause for regret. I didn't suffer extreme humiliation for standing up for a helpless girl just to have him shove it in my face and say it had nothing to do with me. Let him chew on that.

Poor Ava, even your best efforts to be a good person fall flat, so perhaps you should just continue to be calculating and manipulative. I always seem to have more success doing that.

He yells my name in a rather dull yet concerned tone as I exit, "Mawee!" I don't even think about him.

Before I quickly leave the office and leave him to deal with the guilt I'm sure I just caused him to feel, I make sure he hears my cries.

I don't feel very good about what I just accomplished, though, for some reason.