The Beast's Possession

**Bane pov**

It turned out that Chris had built one impressive communication web with the other packs. From what I gathered, he had visited a few of them and kept the contacts, just in case.

Apparently, he also told them all that my pack and I freed him from the chains of a tormentor, so, to my utter amazement, the surrounding packs didn't view me as a monster at all. They viewed me as a hero, not someone who brought pain and destruction.

"So, what you're telling me is that-" I didn't get to finish as he butted in and finished the sentence for me.

"I stayed in contact only with the pack leaders that listened to my story. Only those, who understood why I idolized you and why I believed that what you did was the right thing. Everyone else could get fucked for all I cared." He walked right next to me, chuckling at every thing that left his lips.

I still wanted to send him off, but the little bugger didn't listen to me. No matter how many times I told him that staying away from me would be the safest option, Chris insisted he never sought safety or a way out of trouble. Someone like him could become a great asset to my pack, but now, I risked losing him if shit went down. There was no saying what could happen once we found the Lycan king and told him what was happening behind his back. Sadly, this was a risk I had to take, no matter how reluctant I was about it.

"Anyway, how about we talk about something more positive? Like your mate," Chris perked up like an excited kid.

I wanted to laugh at him, but seeing how happy he was and how much he wanted to ask questions, I couldn't bring myself to break his spirit. Clearly, his life hasn't been the best journey, so who was I to kill the excitement of his inner child? "Ask away," I grumbled as I scanned the surroundings.

For a while, Chris just hummed under his breath, as if deep in thought. My entire body still hurt like a bitch and walking proved to me more challenging than I assumed, so his insistence on having a conversation was a welcome distraction. "What's her name?" Chris asked.

"Aife," I replied without thinking.

"How did you realize she is your mate? I have heard about mates, those are pretty rare these days and most people can only tell tales about the mate bond, so maybe you can explain how it feels? Goddess, I hope I have a mate somewhere out there and she's just as eager to meet me as I am to meet her."

The more Chris spoke, the harder the realization hit me.

I wasn't paying attention to his question earlier, perhaps that was why I ignored him, bringing up mates. Honestly, it was devastating to think about this topic. Aife wasn't my mate. She was someone I kidnapped, abused and then chose to claim as mine.

I didn't know if I was ready to admit all of that out loud. I was, however, very damn sure that she was it for me. She was the only one I wanted, the woman I hoped I could grow old with.

"She's not my mate," I muttered the reply, hoping Chris could let go of the topic.

But of course, the curious little shit never dropped the topic. "Wait? She's your Luna, but she isn't your mate? How is that possible?"

From the corner of my eye, I could see him staring at me, wide eyed. He wasn't paying attention to our surroundings or where he was stepping, so I was sure he would fall over something or trip if he didn't get his shit in order soon. "I chose her and she chose me. That's how she became my Luna," I answered.

My words weren't quite the truth I wish I could have told him, but until I was ready to admit everything, I would rather stick to the pretty, stupidly happy scenario.

"Well, that still sounds pretty fucking amazing, honestly. I bet she's very pretty if she managed to catch someone like you," Chris chuckled and nudged my side.

I, by all means, was no catch and I knew it. While I might have had some advantage looks-wise, I wasn't the man every woman dreamed of getting with. I was temperamental, grumpy and my patience was as thin as a paper sheet. And yet, against all odds, Aife still wanted to be with me. Or at least I hoped she did. For all I knew, she could be planning her grand escape during my absence, so there wasn't much I could do except for trusting her.

"You got that wrong, buddy," I chuckled. "While you're right saying she's pretty, those words don't do her justice. Aife is breathtakingly beautiful. The most stunning woman I had ever laid my eyes on. And as for the catch thing - in our case, she's the catch. I'm the lucky one."

I knew I probably sounded like a lost puppy or lovesick fool, but I didn't care. Every word that left me - I meant it.

While many people called me a beast and a monster, she found the strength to look past it all. I never thought of myself as someone who could be tamed, and yet, she managed to do just that.

For her, I was ready to do anything. I wouldn't just die for that woman, I would kill for her. Anything she wanted, I would do it. At this point, she was the master and I was the puppet she controlled.

"She has you wrapped around her finger, doesn't she," Chris laughed.

"Yeah," I breathed out and joined in, laughing away the initial awkwardness that statement washed over me.

As we neared the forest line, we discussed some more things about my pack and what Chris would like to do if he chose to join us. It looked like I was about to gain another amazing warrior and he would bring in his mother, who could do some accounting work for the pack.

That was great news. And not only because our numbers would grow, but also because by the time we would return home, I knew Aife would have made some changes. I noticed how eager she was to make the pack system more fair, so I was excited to see what she could do.

After all, I did tell Zion that Aife had full control to change anything she wanted for as long as it wouldn't endanger the pack members.

Stepping outside the forest felt both amazing and stupidly painful at the same time. While I was happy to get out of the shadows that hid us, the sunlight hitting us felt like a damn attack. Since I was so full of silver, my body struggled adapting to everything. So, my eyesight wasn't the greatest and the sun literally blinded me.

"Here, let me help you until you can see," Chris grabbed my hand and pulled my arm around his shoulders so I could lean on him.

"Thank you," I muttered.

"No problem, I've been in your spot once, so I know how that feels," he announced and started walking forward.

I didn't ask more questions. It was clear Chris didn't want to provide more information or explain himself, so I let him keep the secrets. One day, he might be ready to talk and then, I would listen. It just wasn't today.

"The pack we're heading to are the first ones to be visited by the king. He is planning to stay there for a day, so by the time we reach the border, he will be there. Alpha Jordan promised he would bring the king to the border to meet us. I hope you don't mind that I spoke for you, but I told the Alpha that you need to discuss a very pressing matter with the king and it has to be in private."