Chapter 126: Of Time-Ticking Bombs
[SICARIO]
"Alpha—" Elodie called out to Jer, as the pack leaders walked out. The wake had ended and she didn't want to be on the wrong side of Jer. Sure, she didn't truly care, but she had a show to keep going and she had to give her best performance.
Perhaps that would cement her position in the pack and even get Jer to change his mind about the empty beta position.
Elodie had been eyeing that position earlier, though right now, she wanted it, come hell or high water. There was no clear reason as to why she was so desperate about it, but just like her sister Hawi, Elodie Kane never did things for the sake of it.
"Thank you, for what you did earlier. I never thought you would stand up for her. I can make you the beta, but only if you promise to be loyal to the luna and protect her like every beta is expected. You will make sure she is safe and well-served whether I am around or not.
"Can I trust you with that, Elodie?" Jer asked and Malika raised a brow.
Malika knew how this would end and she loved it, even though she was looking at Jer skeptically as if to ask him if he was sure about the decision he was making. It may have seemed a calm decision, but it was a dangerous one at the same time.
Making Elodie the beta was a decision so crucial, that it would be irreversible, and Malika knew that from the onset. She had been around wolves long enough to know the consequences of everything that went on with them.
Once made a beta, the only way someone could be demoted was by death. That meant that if Elodie was the betta and Jer someday wanted her gone he would be tempted to kill her and that was a terrible idea, given Malika's interest in Elodie.
"What I did earlier was stupid, Jar. It was in the moment, and I really didn't mean to hurt her. I didn't understand how Dom could be dead in such a short time. I was in shock, but I will take full responsibility for what I did.
"If you give me the beta position, I can swear on my life to never leave her side and be her protector. I can promise to always be there for her. I will always defend her and take good care of her.
"I know you will too, but what I mean is if you give me that position then I will do whatever it takes to make sure she doesn't lack," Elodie said sincerely as she looked at Malika.
She loved the protector's rainforest scent and being this close with her, it was making her feel a lot of things. Elodie Kane had never thought she would ever want to protect anyone more than she wanted to protect Hawi.
However, as she stood there beside Jer and Malika, she could see the one person she would protect with her life, the one person she would go to war for, and the one person whom she would stand up for, even if it meant going against Hawi.
Perhaps Elodie was crazy for that, but she was a woman in love, a woman who wanted to protect that which was hers, and more than anything, she was a woman fighting her self-control, and trying her very best not to grab the woman beside Jer and elope with her.
Oh, but Elodie Kane was going wild from breathing Malika in, and her wolf was struggling to get control. If she wasn't careful, she would be breaking Jer's neck in the process, which wouldn't end very well for her.
Well, with Malika on and by her side, she would definitely be safe. But then there were so many things that were attached to that idea and Elodie had to think straight.
'Bloody bastard gets to be with my woman,' Kane thought to herself as she felt her wolf getting antsy. However, she couldn't deny what she was feeling at the moment anyway.
She hated that Jer was holding Malika's hands.
Elodie hated that Jer got to see Malika all the time. She hated the idea of Jer going home to Malika. It was not sitting right with her and for a moment, she was shocked at how possessive she had gotten of a woman who could clearly protect herself.
Now that she was getting a close-up look on Malika's face, Elodie realized that Malika still had smudged lipstick from their kiss earlier. It was strangely calming to her and she loved seeing Malika in that state, really.
Of course, Jer probably assumed that it was because of Malika's fear and outburst, but that was Elodie's doing, and boy was she so proud of it.
She had expected Malika to fix it, but seeing her there with her smudged lipstick was a reminder to Elodie that there was more to the both of them than met the eye. Perhaps Hawi had been right about these two and there was something there right?
"Damn," Elodie whispered and Malika smirked at her knowingly.
Jer, who was still thinking that Elodie was worried about her fate in Jer's hands since Jer was back, looked at Elodie, with soft eyes, as though he was telling Elodie, that there wasn't much he was going to do to her.
Oh, but if only Elodie Kane cared what Jer thought of her, especially now that she was having the pleasure of watching Malika bite her lips invitingly. If they weren't careful, the both of them would end up on a bed before the evening ended.
That much was certain.
"I am glad, because I can only trust you in the pack right now. Dom is dead, the alpha is in the dungeons, and the list of people I trust has been officially reduced to three. I hope you won't betray me, Elodie.
"You can have the role. There is no need for a ceremony since we are in a funeral wake," Jer said and Elodie just nodded in understanding. She loved what Jer had done for her. Now the only thing she needed him to do for the both of them, was to leave.
"I will be at my best, I swear it, Jer," Elodie said and Jer believed her.
Well, he had known her for a long time and if there was anyone he was sure wouldn't hesitate in protecting the woman he loved, then Elodie Kane had to be it. Oh, but if only he knew that Elodie was accepting the role for herself, so she could spend more time with Malika.
"In that case, your first task is to take care of her right now. I have to go talk to Alpha Rukiya and sort something out before we trigger a war that is unnecessary," Jer said and Malika held onto his hand, like she wasn't ready to let him go.
Elodie let out a low growl, though she looked around her as if she was trying to sense any danger, even though the danger she wanted to be gone, was right there with them.
As if she wasn't aware of what Elodie was doing, Malika held on tighter to Jer, making sure to move closer and closer to the point that Elodie just couldn't take it anymore. Before Elodie could say or do something she would regret, Jer spoke up.
"I'll be back as soon as possible, baby."