Auctioned Mates Revenge
Chapter 81

Glenda's POV

Mate.

The words echoed through me as I let Matt kiss me as if he wanted to steal all the breath from my lungs. Mate had been such a distant idea for me for so long, like the faintest star in the sky, but I remembered how bright the idea had been when I was a little girl watching the way my parents loved each other with everything they were.

After Dan, Midnight, Larry's, and all the memories that I shoved to a deep dark corner in my mind, I had never thought that I would find such a person, let alone like this. Even if I were to find my mate, I was sure that everything that had happened to me, every scar and trauma would make them reject me, yet here he was, kissing me so desperately.

Matt was my mate. Had he always known? Why hadn't he said anything?

Would I have believed him if he had?

I couldn't resist. I didn't want to fight. After everything that had happened tonight, I just wanted to be safe. I couldn't remember feeling as safe as I had with Matt.

Mate, Alyssa said again, growling and pressing at the back of my mind.

"Mate," I heard myself whisper.

Matt stiffened against me and pulled back so our gazes met. His eyes were glowing a furious red, burning as he looked down at me. I felt his wolf staring at me as if I had called him to the surface.

His head tilted at a curious angle. His hand trembled and his jaw clenched, holding back words I probably desperately needed and wanted to hear. Why wouldn't he say anything?

Instead of speaking, he cupped my face and pressed another kiss to my forehead, but he said nothing. Was Alyssa wrong? Maybe she was just latching on to Matt because of the circumstances. I couldn't be sure, but Matt shrugged out of his jacket and placed it around me. He pulled me close and walked me back towards the truck where Chloe was seated, staring out into nothing.

Felix looked nervous, jittery. I could see the telltale signs of some sort of episode in him before he turned sharply and darted back towards the car that they'd arrived in.

Chloe looked up. Her eyes went from me to Matt before she sat up slowly. Matt shooed the paramedic away as she looked up at him.

"It's Tzipporah," she said. "And no, I don't have a nickname."

I wondered if she was putting on an act or if this was her real personality. I couldn't imagine the masks she'd worn while with Justin all this time. I couldn't imagine what a relief it had been to jam a knife into Justin and watch the light leave his eyes.

I felt a primal bloodlust wash through me. It was odd I didn't feel anything about Andrew or Jay's death. Even if they were traitors, I should have felt something.

Alyssa scoffed, We do not weep for trash or traitors.

"Tzipporah," Matt replied, "A pleasure to meet you in person. Thank you for what you've done for Renda and Emoni."

She glanced at me, "Is this the part where you drop me off at a shelter or tell me how it's going to be?"

"This is the part where I offer protection, a job, to help you return to wherever you've come from, and at least a place to stay for the night if you'd rather go your own way."

"I'm not f*****g you for my freedom or your silence."

"I hadn't planned on f*****g you either."

I didn't know what sort of language they were speaking. It seemed a bit too harsh for the situation. I couldn't imagine Matt talking to me or any of the women at Club Heaven like this, not even Owen. Maybe especially not Owen. Yet, his response didn't irritate her. She seemed almost pleased that he was mirroring her tone.

"That go for Alpha Asra and your associates?"

"Yes."

She tilted her head, "If not to f**k me, then what do you want?"

"Information. Everything you can tell me about Sinner's Haven, even if that's just an in with the women who work there."

She nodded, "Doable... Do I have room to negotiate?"

"Ask."

She smirked, "First, there's nothing for me where I came from. I don't think the wolves of Saber Ridge want me; otherwise, they wouldn't have sold me in the first place."

"But I wouldn't mind joining your little pack. Hell of a luna you have there." He squeezed me closer. My face burned as she eyed me, "She needs to know how to shoot a gun though and how to properly gut someone, though."

"I'll take it under advisement unless you're offering to teach her."

"I am. Consider it a pledge of allegiance."

Matt nodded, "And your other terms?"

"To be decided."

He chuckled, "For now, how about a nice, clean bed? Is there anything in the house you want?"

"I don't suppose I could have Justin's head?"

I looked up at Matt at a loss as he gave her a feral grin, his eyes still glowing red.

"I think you'll fit right in, but no."

She shrugged, "Then I'm sure you have enough money to get me something more than lingerie and heels."

Matt nodded and looked around, "I'll send you back to the hotel with Felix... when I find him. Emoni will likely want to go with Gordon and Grayson."

"And me?"

He looked at me and stroked my cheek, "It is concerning to be considering staying at Mordecai's, but the situation calls for it, and I won't be parted from you tonight unless you want to be."

I shook my head, "No."

"Good." He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Stay here while I find."

He turned away and walked towards the car they'd come in as Tzipporah let out a low whistle.

"Quite an alpha you've got there, Renda."

Alyssa growled with satisfaction as I turned back to Tzipporah, "Are you hurt?"

"Completely unscathed. How's your back?"

Everything ached, but I felt so distanced from it I didn't know how to answer her.

"My back?"

"The kickback knocked you on your a*s the first time. I can only imagine your back is burning." She tilted her head, "You did well you know?"

I swallowed, "Were you serious about teaching me... how to...

"Shoot a gun or gut someone?"

I nodded.

She grinned and pat the space beside her, "Why don't you take a seat, my young luna, and tell me about your plans for bloodshed."

When she put it that way, it made me nervous, but I sat beside her. She and Emoni were the only two people alive who knew I was from Fluorite now. She had spent years with Justin, luring him into a false sense of security until she could kill him. The things I could learn from her made my head spin.

"I suppose this is about where you're from," she said. "I don't think there are many people in Matt's fledgling pack that have a greater reason for blood yet unshed than you."

I nodded. Jay's words whirled through my mind.

"I would be honored to teach you," She said. "I would be honored to help you to your revenge as you have given me mine."

My lips twitched. It sounded so solemn, like a knight's oath from an old storybook.

"Where are you from, Tzipporah?"

"Saber Ridge."

My heart lurched and I looked at her. It made more sense than I ever thought possible, yet no sense at all. Saber Ridge hadn't fallen. They hadn't even been attacked. They were famous for breeding capable fighters and supplying neighboring packs with security. I wondered how much of the Warhammer Guard had been sourced from Saber Ridge. Even my father had thought about sourcing security from Saber Ridge. I wonder if things might have been different if he'd managed to do so.

What was she doing here? How had she gotten here?

"You're a long way away from home."

"Not so far as you," Tzipporah said, "Now, tell me about your quest, young luna. You're a bit on the thin side to wield many weapons, but I imagine you could become quite adept with a knife quickly."

I nodded, "I hope you're right."

My gaze drifted across the clearing to where Ben was standing and my hand trembled, imagining the satisfaction of driving a knife into his chest. I thought of my parents, my sister, and everyone else I had lost because of him. Because of money and greed and power games that had started long before I had even been born.

Would he even bleed? He was such a monstrous person I doubted it.

Tzipporah placed a hand on mine, pulling me from the increasingly bloody thoughts. I met her gaze and found them flickering with light.

"First lesson don't stare at your prey." I tore my gaze away as she grinned, "It will give them too much time to prepare.