Chapter 9

Spencer

I checked the first floor three times. My bag was full of candles, scented bags and incense. But there was one room I had yet to check. And I've been standing in front of it for the past five minutes. My hand trembled when I reached for the door handle. I pushed the door open. The room looked exactly like it did five years ago. I smelled of roses and cinnamon but more like the stuff in the bag, not like she had been sleeping here every night. I focussed on my task first, opening every window before I searched through his things. Maybe I should have let Idris or Andrew search his room instead of me. But Andrew divided the floors, he wanted me to be here. I started with his clothes, which seemed less invasive. I found four scented bags in there. While cursing I threw them away. And went through his desk next, but since he had an office downstairs not much was in it. I found two bags underneath his pillow, alongside an incense on the nightstand.

I opened the drawers on the nightstand, flicking through the books to be sure. Two photographs fell from between the pages. I leaned down to pick it up. The first one was a picture of me. But not from the time when we were young. It was me at my college graduation. How in the world did he get that picture? The second was a picture of the two of us. Me on his back as we laughed. I let out a trembling breath, my hands shook as I put the pictures back in the book.

After calming myself, I searched the other nightstand. I checked the room four times before I figured I had found everything.

I sat back on the bed, grabbing the pillow and hugging it to my chest. I took in a deep breath; his scent was still in there and it made Kai purr inside my head. I put the pillow down and stood up. I sucked in a breath as I saw Axel, standing inside my room across the street. I couldn't move, I was frozen on the spot. If he would look this way, he would see me standing here. But he didn't. He sat down on my bed and looked around. I don't know how much of my scent still lingered there. I just hopped into the room earlier this week for barely ten minutes. He was clutching something in his hands, but I couldn't see what it was. I heard Idris coming down the stairs. I looked away from the man in my room, grabbed the bag and headed downstairs.

"I think I got everything," Idris said, placing a full bag on the table.

"Me too," I said.

"This is insane." Andrew fumed, throwing two bags on the table. "They are insane."

"I found the most in his bedroom."

"Me in the office." He ran a hand through his hair. "And my guess is Idris found the most in the library. Those are the places he spends most of his time."

"What do we do now?"

"It will be up to Axel to punish them, he's the Alpha."

"When do we tell him?" Idris asked, glaring at the bags on the table.

"This weekend. Eveline and Marianne are visiting their old pack until Sunday night."

"We should be careful. Their contact, who provided them with the Belladonna, is from the Northern pack."

"They won't get closer than three feet of him."

"They must've planned it for a while." Idris dropped into a chair, rubbing his hands over his face. "I guess they wanted to do it before your eighteenth birthday, especially after he gave you the necklace. Eveline must have thought you were going to be his mate. I can't believe they did this to Axel."

"What's going on here?"

Our heads snapped to the doorway. Axel was standing there, his hands stuffed in the front pockets of his jeans. He looked pale as he glanced between the three of us.

Axel

I spent a few hours at Miles and Lore's place before I got restless. My dad's strange behaviour on the front of my mind. I told them I was going for a walk and before I knew it, I was in front of Deacon and Idris's house. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath, vanilla and jasmine filled my nose. It calmed me instantly. I knew I should stay away for now, but I couldn't help myself. Or Astrix couldn't, it was him who guided me here. Purring Mate once again my mind.

I knocked on the door. No answer. I knew Deacon was in the city getting everything for the surprise party but where were Idris and Spencer? I sighed before I walked away. I talked to a few people before my feet stopped in front of another house. Spencer's parents' house. I looked up at her closed window. I knew she wasn't staying here, but I wanted to be somewhere familiar. I climbed the vines up to her room, not caring if anyone saw. I pushed the window open and hopped in.

It was obvious she hadn't been here in a long time, but her scent still lingered. I took the necklace out of my pocket and clutched it in my hand as I surveyed the room. It was all getting too much, my knees buckled, and I sat down on the bed. It was like a cloud of her scent rose up from the bed and overwhelmed me. I hadn't sensed her in years and now my mind and senses were going into overdrive. I did not ever want to lose this scent again. I never want to lose her again.

Our Mate.

I believe you. I whispered back. I knew it in my heart, I knew it for years. I didn't know how it was possible, but it was. Was it possible I had two Mates? I never heard of it but there is a first time for everything. She will never accept us. No with Marianne here.

Marianne needs to leave.

I agree. But even then... after everything we have done to her. She hates me.

She loves you. She's just hurt.

I hope so.

I smell her. She's close by.

I frowned and stood up. I glanced out the window to my house. That was weird, every single window was open. My father didn't just order me out of the house because he needed to air out the house. I climbed out the window and jumped down, my knees cracking a bit from the impact. But I straightened and made my way over to the house. Even the front door was open, I could hear several voices inside and the mouth-watering aroma of vanilla and jasmine.

"I can't believe they did this to Axel." I heard Idris say. I stepped into the dining room to see him sitting at the table. Spencer next to him, with a calming hand on his shoulder and my father in front of her. Closed bags full of candles and such lay on the table. What the actual fuck?

"What's going on here?"

The three of them whirled at me, looking shocked. My father came forward, starting to push me outside. "I told you to leave. You shouldn't be here."

I pushed his hands off my shoulders and sidestepped him. "This is my house and you're here with my Beta and my -" I swallowed, my eyes going to Spencer. She tilted her head, taking a step closer.

"What do you smell, Axel?" She asked quietly, but not weakly. Her tone of voice told me she needed a real answer. For what I didn't know.

I took in a deep breath, keeping my eyes on her. "You." I breathed. Mate. Astrix growled softly. She flushed and looked away. Idris stood up, clearing his throat.

"Let's head into the garden, just to be sure." I opened my mouth to object, but he simply said. "We'll explain it outside."

"I should give you some privacy," Spencer said.

No! I was happy I wasn't the only one who thought so because Idris took her hand and my father said. "No, you are as much a part of this as the rest of us."

Part of what? Spencer nodded before she followed my father outside. We sat down on the lounge chairs and my foot started to tap nervously as they communicated silently with each other.

My father rolled his shoulders and looked me straight in the eye. This was something serious.

"I believed for years that Marianne wasn't your true Mate." I couldn't help but glance at Spencer, who was twirling a ring around her finger. "But you looked happy, even though I didn't like her. So, I let it go. When I noticed you were unhappy, I started researching. It wasn't until you became Alpha that I had the time to dive into it. I found messages on Eveline's phone that suggested foul play. So, I went to Spencer to ask her to hack into their phones and laptops." He took in a deep breath, his hands were trembling as anger radiated off him.

"Spence got through their security this morning." Idris continued. "Eveline must have planned it for a while because sometime around your eighteenth birthday, they started to give you a potion, once a month. It contained a rare type of Belladonna, in that potion was rose and cinnamon extract. It can make a wolf think the wrong person is his Mate."

Spencer's voice shook a little as she spoke. "The bags you saw on the table were filled with things that smelled like roses and cinnamon. They were placed all around the house. Some were in plain sight like the candles and incense, but the scented bags were hidden in the couch, your bed, the closet and such. Eveline made sure every part of the house smelled like that, so the potion had the best effect."

Astrix had been quiet in my mind. Probably trying to sort out everything in our minds, like me. I remember the first time I saw an incense in the house. "The first time Eveline had lit an incense it was the day after my birthday." I ran a hand over my face. "All that... for a bit of power?"

My father glanced at Spencer. "Spencer thinks they poisoned me, to get me sick enough for you to become Alpha and Marianne would be the new Luna."

"FUCK!" I jumped up and started pacing. "Will the potion wear off?"

"I believe so since they need to give it to you monthly. I think it will take at least a few weeks before it wears off completely."

"Isn't there a way to flush it out?" It was like I could feel it crawl through my veins.

"We can ask the doctor if there is such a treatment."

"You should treat carefully, Axel." I stopped pacing to look at the woman I love. "Idris said you've been more..." She searched for the right word. "Defiant towards her. And now they are at the pack where their contact lives. I'm worried what they will do when they get back." Fear laced her words.

"We won't let them get to him," Idris said, clasping her hands in his.

"Idris is right." My father said, hugging her. He looked at me. "We'll go to the doctor first, see what she can do. In the meantime, you need to decide how you want to handle the situation. Since Marianne is technically your Mate." I scowled. "You Marked and married her, son."

"I can dissolve both of that easily with the proof you collected. I will think about the best punishment, for the both of them."

"Alright." He stood up. "Let's go." He started to walk inside, but I couldn't move. I didn't want to leave her. Idris whispered to her that he would wait in front of the house before he walked with my father inside. Leaving me and Spencer alone for the first time in five years.

"Spence -" I breathed as she stood up. I took a step closer to her, cupping her jaw softly. She closed her eyes, leaning into the touch.

"Not now." She whispered. She opened her eyes, her ocean-blue eyes making my breath hitch once again. "You have a lot to process. I'll talk to you later." She reached up on her toes and kissed my cheek. It took all my willpower, not to toss her over my shoulder and march her straight into my bedroom. She moved away and when she was at the door, she looked over her shoulder. "I'll see you at my surprise party?"

"You know about that?"

"Idris and Deacon are as subtle as an elephant in a glass shop." She chuckled and I wanted to bottle up the sound. I walked over to her, cupped her cheek again and leaned down to kiss the corner of her mouth.

"I'll be there."

"Good." It was barely a whisper. That simple sound made my cock twitch.

Spencer

I arrived at the doctor's office a few hours later. Andrew had texted me, telling me they were flushing out his system. Not only did they cleanse his bowels, but he was also now on a blood purification device. The nurse let me in without any questions. I guess Andrew made sure I could get in if I wanted to. Axel was asleep on the bed, the purification device connected to his arm. I sat down on the chair next to the bed and caressed his hair back.

"I've missed you so much," I whispered, tears rolling down my cheeks. I crawled on the bed and curled against him, burying my nose in the crook of his neck. I breathe in his intoxicating scent. "I don't hate you, I could never hate you." I brushed my lips against his neck. Not long after, I fell asleep.

I woke up in the middle of the night. I tilted my head to see him still fast asleep. I smiled softly and placed a kiss on his cheek before I slipped off the bed. Axel's father was asleep on the chair next to the bed, a book in his hand. I closed the book and put it on the table before covering him with a plaid. Then I slipped out of the doctor's office without a sound.

Deacon not so subtly shoved me out of the house the next morning after breakfast. Telling me I needed to go for a run, to let Kai stretch out her legs. I grinned at him before I did just that. I was running for a few hours, the sun getting lower again when his scent hit me. I turned to see Astrix walk up, his shiny black fur a huge contrast against mine. Kai was howling in delight in my head as he walked over. His steps were hesitant, it made me smile.

Astrix nudged his head against Kai's shoulder like he did the last time. But instead of getting into a run, she lay down on the grass. Astrix looked down at us, not sure what to do.

Are you just going to stand there? I asked Axel.

I wasn't sure if you wanted us to.

I huffed a laugh. I crawled into your bed last night without you knowing, I think if Kai invites you to lie down with her, she wants you to lie down.

We watched as Astrix looked down at us for another moment before he laid down next to us. Kai let her head rest on his big front paws while Astrix put his head on our back.

I knew you were with me. Axel said softly. I always know when you're nearby.

I smiled, closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of our wolves snuggled close together.