False Confidence

United

Azriel Huang

The elevator felt smothering, the very air thick with tension.

Sasha stood between Wren and I, but I could still feel his presence. His scent was the only thing I could smell and his eyes were constantly on my mind. I could never forget the distinct storm grey of them, the hue mesmerizing and memorable. I knew that if it wasn't for the temporary alliance, Wren would try something, I could see it by the hatred in his eyes.

After all, our history wasn't one to cherish.

He didn't look all that much different, perhaps a harder set to his face and a stronger form but that was it. I risked a quick glance around Sasha's broad form, wanting to study his chiseled face one more time before the elevator opened. I bit back a gasp, making sure to keep quiet as I observed the thin pale scar that nicked his collar bone, the side of his jaw and then the up the end of his eyebrow. It wasn't a long continuous wound, rather like the blade had barely reached his warm caramel toned skin.

My eyes traveled upward, using Sasha's form to hide my stare. His hair had gotten longer, his voluminous, ink tresses falling a smidge longer down his nape.

My eyes finally searched for his own, wanting to shamefully revel in the storm, but his eyes were already staring directly at me.

A murderous glint swam in his glare but something different brewed beneath the blanket of grey.

***

The air was thankfully dry, but the scalding heat remained as a warm gust of wind cascaded against the rocky shore.

I stood silently at an isolated part of the cliff, the grand temple looming over me just s half a mile away. It's grandeur was nearly frivolous, the white stone of the building climbing up into the bright blue sky, arches and spires interwoven to the glinting dome that was at the center of the temple.

We had driven up at the crack of dawn, arriving with the swarm of other wolves gathering. It was an insane amount, the pack of vehicles parked at the bottom of the large hill that the temple perched on. The hundreds of differing scents swept through the area caused my head to ache but it was also intriguing. So many strong smells of powerful alphas and betas alike that I could barely note the salty expanse of water crashing below me.

The assembly was to begin in about ten minutes but I had insisted that Sasha and my mother go in before me. Sasha was reluctant but I knew no one would dare try anything, especially so close to the High Priestess and her giant temple that screamed power.

I sighed through my nose, inching closer to the edge of the hill that fell off steeply into the belligerent ocean bellow. I walked forward until the tip of my shoes lined up with the cliff, peering over, I observed how the grassy top of the hill gradually tumbled into jagged rock and then into aquamarine waves. It was a steep fall that promised death, but I was sure of my supernatural body. My stillness promised balance.

"I'd hate for you to kill yourself." A deep voice rumbled softly into my ear.

I flinched harshly, the jerk of my body causing me to waver forward. I bit back a scream as I began to fall, only for my descent to be cut off by a strong arm banding around my waist. The movement was lazy but precise, like the person was sure I wouldn't fall, as if it wasn't a possibility. The arm roughly flung me back, causing my steps to stutter as I nearly fell on my ass into the ground.

I quickly shifted my gaze up, not at all surprised to find Wren's gaze burning into my face. I fought off a shudder, a muscle in his jaw feathering.