Chapter 21
Kayla was a smart woman who could control people minds. It was a pretty cool ability, but she could not control animal mutants. Victor and Logan were not affected by her powers. I allowed her to try her abilities on me, and I did not do what she commanded which was just walking across the cafeteria and then back.
"So, did you and Logan meet… on calmer terms?" I asked wondering if she had to face the struggles I had to. She gave me a sympathetic shake of her head.
"No. Logan told me everything that happened with you and Victor and I am sorry it happened that way for you." she told. I shrugged and looked away.
"It seems he won." I replied. 'For now' I thought. She slid her hand over mine.
"When I first met James in Canada he was a bit rough around the edges. He told me exactly what he was and what I meant to him. I could accept him or reject him, but he also told me he would always be here for me even if it wasn't as my love. I chose him as my love." she told. Hearing her short story made me feel a soft sense of bitterness.
"Was it really that easy to just accept him?" I asked. She crossed her hands and rested them over the table.
"Yes. Because he was kind and patient with me. It took a few months to get use to him, but in time I did." she said with a smile. I sneered and looked away some and she looked down. "I know Victor is not James. I know he has embraced the animal in him long ago and so it was hard for you to accept him-"
"Because he chained me in a basement of his cabin for a very long time, because I wouldn't submit." I said sharply causing her to stiffen. I looked down away and shrugged. "But I feel your brother is the voice of reason for him which is why he so suddenly released me."
"So now you must make yourself his voice of reason. I would never forgive James if he did that to me. And I see it in your eyes that you haven't quite forgiven Victor for how he approached this and you still wish to be free." she explained. I looked down feeling beside myself.
"I do." I whispered. She nodded slowly.
"I do not blame you. You can't cage a hurricane." she said with a soft smile causing me to smile a bit.
"I didn't ask for any of this. I just wanted to live and be left alone." I told. She nodded slowly.
"I know. But just know I am here if you need to talk and whatever you tell me will be locked in here forever." she said pointing to her forehead. We will see.
Normal POV
"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Victor snarled.
"Easy, Victor." Logan said.
"No I am with Victor on this. Boss we don't need those animals on our team." Zero said looking at Stryker from across the round table who just looked at the two.
"Why not, we have two of them already here." he said motioning his head at Logan and Victor who now glared at their boss.
"They are not to be trusted, they are too impulsive and aren't easily reasoned with." Zero said aggressively. Stryker lifted his head now.
"And how is it you know this?" he asked. Zero looked mildly defeated and looked at Victor who just glared. "Victor's lady friend told us she knew a lot about how they operate."
And now Stryker had an idea already.
"Is she now?" he asked causing Victor to look from Zero to his boss with an unsure glare not liking his tone. "Fred bring her to me." Victor now growled lowly, causing everyone to tense. Logan grabbed Victor's arm stopping him from crouching. Fred glared staring at Victor watching his every move.
"Victor no. It will be okay. She will be okay." he said angrily in his brother's ear. Victor was not convinced though. He didn't want his mate caught up in any of his business affairs with this job. Stryker nodded for Fred to continue and he nodded and left. Victor's eyes followed him out carefully not liking where any of this was going.
Solara's POV
Kayla and I were talking more about ways to appear our mates the best we could, when the door suddenly opened. Fred came in marching up to me.
"Stryker wishes to see you." he said. I blinked some. That was the name of Victor's boss.
"Me, why?" I asked glancing at Kayla and then back up at the big man.
"He would like to speak with you." he answered. I was curious of what was going on. I separated from Kayla and followed Fred from the room and down a long hall. He didn't say anything to me through the entire walk, but he stopped at a door and let me in first. I walked in to see Victor and his team along with an older square faced man. He smiled and raised his hand.
"Ah you must be Solara. I have heard good things about you." he said. I moved further inside and stood beside Victor as if it were second nature, and I looked at the man.
"I have heard nothing about you however, Mr. Stryker." I replied and he chuckled.
"Well that's alright. Soon you will. My name is Colonel William Stryker. I am the leader and assembler of this team. I have heard you had knowledge about this type of mutant pack." he said. I stiffened knowing he was talking about the wolf pack and I looked up at Victor to see he was glaring hard at his boss, and I looked down for a second deciding on what I should do. I looked at Stryker.
"I know enough." I replied. He nodded and walked around the table towards us.
"Would they negotiate with me if I set up a meeting?" he asked. I shook my head.
"You are thinking like a human Mr. Stryker. You need to think like a mutant if you wish to get their attention." I told. He stared at me nodding as he listened.
"I see. Well their leader, Alexander Sasha Ivanov, has agreed to meet with me and to show him a sign of peace, you and Victor will accompany me to the meeting." he said. Victor's eyes widened and now the entire room was filled with protests.
"That's suicide, sir!" Fred said.
"You must have lost your fucking mind!" Victor snarled taking a step towards his boss, and I grabbed his forearm feeling how tense he was.
"You can't trust them." Wade said.
"It would be a bad idea going in with little to no military force." Zero said.
"Quiet! Quiet all of you!" Stryker yelled, and the roaring slowly calmed down. Victor shook his head.
"I will not put my mate in the middle of this. Jimmy could easily come with us to this little meeting." he said. Stryker shook his head at Victor.
"Three males would only spell trouble. Besides, it was his demand that he would meet with me if only Victor and Solara came." he told. Victor shook his head.
"We can't trust them." he said angrily.
"We need the man power. Ivanov swore the three of us safe passage into his territory. If something happens, I will have you all close and ready. We need an enforcing team and an all wolf mutant team is just what we need." he said. I was not entirely sure about this. "Victor either you agree or I can just take Solara with me, she seems pretty capable of taking care of herself since she survived you." Now I stiffened visibly and Victor's hands clenched hard into fists, his jaw locking up as if he was ready to snap.
"We will both go. Name the time and the place." I said. Victor snapped his head back at me and he looked royally pissed as if I had just went against his authority or something.
Author's Notes
Thank you, yolobookmagic101 for suggesting the name!