Chapter 79

"The fuck you'll go meet him!" Brenna screamed at her mate. Her eyes had gone wolf and her claws were out. Judd had hoped this discussion would go a little more rational but well – he should know his mate better by now. They had been fighting over this again and again through the day, ever since Judd had gotten the message that said the Ghost wanted to meet him.

"Brenna, I have to go. He needs my help. Many Psy helped us during the Pure Psy attack. I…"

"And Kaleb Krychek was not one of them. This is not about Psy and changelings it's about him and us." The distinction was important. Brenna knew she couldn't make it about Psy and changelings. But she was desperate to keep her mate out of the reach of a man, everyone knew to be on the brink of snapping.

"This is important. It might concern all Psy," he tried again.

"Then find another way. I won't ever let you near that bastard again. He fucking sold you out after you saved his life." Brenna tried hard to calm down enough to have a discussion instead of just screaming how insane that idea of her mate was.

"He didn't harm me and he probably wouldn't have. It would have gained him nothing. He just used the fact you didn't know that."

"Oh yeah and that's ok? What fucking Psy logic is this?" She was still beside herself with rage and fear for Judd.

"It has nothing to do with logic. He's no longer Silent. And Alja was something to him that…" He considered for a moment how to explain it so Brenna would truly understand. Then he decided to use the same approach he had on Hawke. "To put it with changeling terminology: He was afraid for his mate."

It didn't have the effect of making her understand. Instead it just enraged her more. "Bullshit! Psy don't mate!" she barked at him.

Judd just looked at her with raised eyebrows, something inside him quickly heating up at her careless words.

"Oh come on Judd, you know what I mean…"

"No I don't," he replied as calm as possible, but his voice came out louder that intended. "Do you deny that a Psy can feel to that extent without changeling assistance? Is my emotion worth less than yours?" A part of him knew those words would only lead to further escalation. Another part just didn't care that it would, because he was… – He was angry and hurt by her words, he realized surprised. Mating her was the best thing that had happened in his life. That she would even hint at his emotions not being the same as a changeling's seriously rubbed him the wrong way.

That moment it knocked on the door.

"Not now!" Judd growled.

But Brenna shouted: "Come in!"

The door opened and Hawke entered the room watchful, catching the tension.

"You called Hawke into this?" Judd was too surprised to even react angry.

"Yes, I called Hawke into it. Since you refuse to listen to your goddamn mate I'm having your alpha pull rank."

"You sure fight mean today," Judd more growled than muttered under his breath.

Hawke was surprised to see the usually calm Psy so upset. What had Brenna thought, when she told him earlier, she desperately needed to talk to him? He had enough on his plate already and no interest in getting involved in his pack's personal matters. "This better not be a domestic problem." He snarled annoyed.

"He wants to meet with that homicidal maniac again," Brenna pouted.

"The Ghost. Have you thought about this?" Hawke began. "The man's batshit crazy. And from the looks of it, he's not regaining any of his sanity right now. Today he let Alja attend to one of his speeches – in a wedding dress."

Brenna had expected him to voice his opinion far less hesitant. "So, just tell him not to go." She didn't even mind, she sounded like a stubborn child.

Hawke took a deep breath. "I can't Brenna. If Judd thinks it's what's best for the sake of the Psy and us, he has to go. You grew up in the pack. You know soldiers have to go into volatile situations."

"What?! … Yeah, I'll remind you of that next time your mate is the one to head out and meet a cardinal crazy person," Brenna spat defiantly.

Hawke was surprised at the bite in her voice and her eyes that refused to go back to human even in the presence of her alpha. She hadn't been acting this way since her recovery from her abduction by the Psy serial killer Santano Enrique. But he did understand what went through her mind, so he addressed Judd next. "But Judd, you should consider your mate's worry too." Hawke hadn't said it, because he thought Judd needed the advice, but to calm Brenna. He had even expected Judd to understand that. But what he got in response was a positively feral look. He clearly had stirred up a hornets nest.

"Now you're questioning my ability to mate or truly care for my mate as well?" Behind Judd various pieces of furniture had started to float above the ground.

Something must have hit a nerve with the former Arrow who was usually the role model for self-control. Hawke didn't like this knew vibe of tension in the den, especially not from his most levelheaded people. All of this was just another sign how tense the whole situation had become and how much it already affected his pack. It was all a fucking mess. But he'd have to trust that his people would be able to endure that tension and still function as a pack. So, as much as he wanted to fix it for them…"I don't think this matter is currently something I have to deal with. And I don't want it to become such a thing, because I really don't want to have to act as your alpha in this. I fully believe both of you are capable to settle this alone, as mates."

With one last glance at the floating furniture he left their quarters, because he really did trust Judd. No matter how angry he was, he'd never allow his abilities to slip and hurt his mate.

Brenna knew that too, so the moment Hawke was out of the door, she shoved Judd in the chest with changeling strength.

"Get your fucking TK under control! Now! You don't get to get this angry over something stupid I said. I know you feel nothing less than any of us. I know how you feel about me. And yes, I also know how you feel about that psychopath: You consider him a friend and you think he's what you could've become. And I know you're probably the only one who has any influence left on him and that it all makes perfect sense – logically." At the last word her voice broke and tears welled up in her eyes. She angrily tried to blink them away. "But that doesn't mean I'll have to agree with you meeting him, or that I have to fight fair, or that I have no right to be fucking angry with you!"

Judd paused. He hadn't wanted to make her cry. Of course not. He hated it, hated himself for it. He stepped closer to her, forcing himself to ease the furniture down. Then he lifted a hand to stroke her cheek. She didn't pull back but didn't lean into the touch either. "But you'll still be here when I come back." It was half question, half statement and he had never heard himself sound so tender and so upset at the same time. Hopefully she didn't think this was an easy decision for him, because it was one of the hardest things he'd ever done.

"You'll have to see..." she stated in a failing attempt to sound cool. Then she gripped his shirt and pulled him in for a short rough kiss, scratching his chest through the fabric in the process, because her claws were still out. "And since you know so much about mating, I'm sure you know, you better not get hurt." With that she stormed out of the room faster that he could react.