Chapter 9 Border Trouble

• Kael's POV
• “I've never seen you this bothered, Kael.” Azrael commented, watching me from his lazy position on the couch as I gazed outside the window.
• “What do you mean?” I drawled, not bothering to turn back or counteract his words.
• “Look at you. Your wolf. I can smell him pacing on you—was there a problem or attack I wasn't aware of?” He pointed out, sniffing the air like it could give him exactly the information he was looking for.
• ‘He’s still here? I respect your logic for picking him, but any more bickering from him, and I might resort to sealing his lips.’
• “Ryder says hi.”
• Azrael lets out a scoff and immediately puts his legs down on the ground.
• “Message gotten, boss. The last time you said those words, was the last time I got to see through my left eye.”
• I chuckled, and finally turned around. “Next time, think twice about trespassing into someone's territory with silver in your pouch.”
• His jaws clenched, almost like my words burned him.
• “I thought we agreed never to talk about my past again.” He frowned, legs tapping the ground like he was anxious on what next I would bring up.
• “Then, stop giving me the platform to do so. You made a mistake, and you've paid it with your loyalty.” I stated, running a hand through my hair as I walked up to my desk and sank into the chair with relief. “Besides, Ryder's a protector, not a killer.”
• “What does he think about the new girl then?” He suddenly brought up, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
• I froze, brows furrowing as I waited for what he was hinting at.
• ‘Tell him to keep her name off his lips while he still can.’
• “What new girl?” I pushed further, testing my limits.
• “Oh, don't act like you can't remember!” He chuckled, standing up to his feet dramatically, “The one that's been basically cursing at the walls every morning! The punch bag girl—”
• Of course I knew who he was talking about. I just didn't think he'd have a distinct memory of her.
• “—the one I was assigned to break few months back.”
• “Not break. To mold.” I corrected, looking up at him with warning.
• He raised his hands in surrender, chuckling when he realized that I was now glaring.
• “I keep telling you this. I don't want to find out one morning that someone was used as a punching bag, Ryder won't hesitate to take disciplinary actions.”
• Ryder growled at that, almost sounding like he was approving my decision to let him handle the punishments of defaulters this time.
• Last time, let's just know I made things less painful for a start.
• “Whoa, whoa, I don't encourage bullying, besides I’m not much of a fighter.” He rubbed his chin in that thoughtful manner again. The only difference this time was that the look on his face was serious and intrigued.
• “What did you notice?” I forced the words out of my lips, ignoring how Ryder wasn't comfortable with the conversation.
• “Well, since you asked.” he started, “She’s always willing to learn. She's fast, but not with her fists. Only talks when she gets intrigued about something. 20 percent of the time she had the chance to talk, she questioned the heck out of my training.”
• I bit back a chuckle, “And?”
• Pausing for a moment, he watched my reaction, smiling slightly before adding, “She kept asking about you. About the possible chances of impressing you enough to like her.”
• “What?” I blinked back surprise, clearly not expecting those words.
• ‘I thought she hated us.’
• ‘I know Raya well enough to know when she lies, but this? This doesn't sound like her at all.’
• ‘He wouldn't dare.’
• I narrowed my eyes at him, noticing his lips twitching, and immediately moved to him with burning eyes, “Azrael!”
• “Alright, alright! She didn't say that!” His hands were in the air once again, laughing nervously when he noticed I wasn't backing away. I frowned when my chest felt heavy all of a sudden.
• Why did that sting a bit? It shouldn't, but it did for some reason.
• Strange.
• “Did you notice something about her today?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.
• I exhaled softly and nodded slowly. “I'm only sharing this with you because you're the closest here to me. And because I trust you enough to do well with this information.”
• “Of course, Kael. I'll honor my word, always.” He vowed, pressing his hand over his heart—the weakest spot in our bodies to prove his point—a promise until death.
• “Her wolf…” I whispered, looking at the ground in wonder as I recalled the moments from earlier, biting insides of my cheeks when I remember looking into those beautiful, fierce hazel eyes. “It's not an Omega.”
• “What? I thought you brought her in weak and dejected. You said she smelled like an Omega.”
• I clenched my jaws at his strong choice of words.
• “Yes, I did. But today, her scent changed. It was stronger. Very strong.”
• “Like…a beta?” he asked slowly, the disbelief evident in his voice as he waited for my answer.
• And when I didn't answer, his eyes widened as if immediately picking up what I was hinting at.
• “No. Way.”
• “I don't know yet.” I quickly countered, running a hand through my already messy hair again, “if it could change the first time, it could definitely change again. We can't be too sure until we find out why.”
• “Does she know?” he questioned as his eyes gleamed with a strange look.
• I shook my head, remembering the shock on her eyes when she finally got her wolf back, “I don't think so. She was too excited to notice anything.”
• “So, what do we do now? Put her to test with other warriors?”
• I threw him a look instantly.
• “Fine, I'm just trying to help here.” he sighed. “Give your orders and I'll go through with it immediately.”
• I paused, inhaling sharply as I felt Ryder slowly taking over me.
• “Shit, that's not what I mean—”
• “I was going to, anyways.” Ryder growled as my lips moved, “I want all the information on Raya. What her life in her former Pack was like and why she came here in the first place. The last thing I need is a threat in my territory.” My eyes moved to his face instantly.
• He gulped and looked away, “An—and what if she isn't one?”
• Good question.
• What do I do with little one after all this?
• I opened my mouth to reveal my intentions, but suddenly paused when something shifted inside of me. Something odd. The balance was completely thrown off.
• “Something’s wrong.” I stated, noticing Ryder was itching to shift for a run all of a sudden.
• Azrael's pale green eyes widened as his wolf slowly grew dominant in his features. “Border trouble?”
• ‘There are five of them. One of them is ours.’
• “Yes.” I growled in frustration, closing my eyes briefly to take in the view of the advancement near the borders.
• Shocked, my lips parted in disbelief when I saw the last person I shouldn't be seeing there, glancing around with the same helpless look that was being plastered the first time we met.
• “And Raya just happens to be involved.”
• My hands clenched up into clawed fists beside me as I made my way towards the door.