Chapter 99 - Hubby Xavier

[TW: Blood]

'So, missing Madeline already?' 

'Adrian, it's barely been a day. And also, I don't miss people.'

'Madeline doesn't fit in the category of 'people', she's Madeline.'

'And?' 

'Do you really think so little of her?' Adrian asked Xavier, a surprised expression on his face. 

They were speaking using their mind link as the hunt was drawing to a close. Their hunt had gone pretty successfully. 

Indiana definitely missed out on a lot when she stayed at Eudora. Xavier nearly felt bad for the girl. Keyword, nearly. 

But, that was one of the last things on his mind as of the current moment. 

Whilst the hunt was drawing to a close, it had yet to end. 

Adrian made a gesture at Xavier, signalling that the last prey was all his. 

The elk ran as fast as its legs could carry it, trying to escape the terrible demise Xavier had planned for it. 

Xavier caught up to the elk, ferociously puncturing its neck before it devoured the elk like a starved lion that had been freed from its cage whole.

Droplets of blood splattered everywhere. Onto the ground, on the stalk of the nearby trees of the forest. 

Minutes after, there was nothing left that remained of the elk. Not even its bones since Xavier refused to waste any food when on a hunt. 

Adrian licked his sharp fangs, getting a tad bit antsy himself. 

Usually, the pack would rely on teamwork to hunt a group of prey. Their resilience was nothing short of incredible; they had agility, speed, power, etc. They'd team up to kill, circling the herd so as to separate them. 

If the herd were to stick together, the wolves would be no match for them. The wolves would then continuously harry the herd and get it to reveal its weakest link, usually one of the smallest in the herd. 

The herd would try to defend their weakest, going on the defensive, unaware the wolves would be waiting for just one of them to break. 

If the wolves feel the need to retreat, they do just that, although they keep focused on the back of the herd, which causes the herd to panic. 

That was the cue for the wolves to begin chasing the herd, waiting for the one thing bound to happen - that weak link falling behind the others. 

The weak one struggles to escape the wolves' grasp, now surrounded by wolves. The rest of the herd's only concern was escaping, unaware and paying no mind to the one had fallen behind. 

Then, the wolves would begin devouring the weak link, leaving nothing behind.

Bones? All it took were two three bites before they were crushed. 

It was a huge pack of wolves, so this repeated itself until everyone was satisfied. Until all their ferocious appetites were calmed. 

This particular time, Xavier seemed to be in a hurry. 

Was there something particularly important for him to have to do everything so hastily? Hunts were supposed to be enjoyable when they were slow. It was not as fun when it was sped up.

Even Adrian noticed Xavier having this 'let's get it over with' attitude. What was up with him? 

He usually loved hunts. 

Alright, in all fairness, Xavier didn't love hunts. He didn't love anything. 

He liked them at best. 

Love? Pft! 

The great Alpha Xavier wouldn't be affected by such a force. 

Friendship? When did Xavier have any friends that weren't his colleagues as well as Madeline?

Madeline was the one exception to this, of course. Heck, she was a whole different category. 

Did he want to see Indiana's expression of missing out? Did he want to ensure Emilio was right where he had left him? 

Adrian doubted so. 

'Must be something else,' he reckoned, turning into his human form. 

By the centuries, he had gotten better at controlling his wolf self. Sure, he wasn't as versed as Xavier when it came to self-control and all that, but he wasn't horrible at it. He'd say he was quite good, actually. Compared to the others. 

Then again, he was Eudora's beta, so that was expected of him, but regardless, he was just as proud of himself. 

'Ehehe, I'm getting better at this,' Adrian thought to himself, a small smile on his face. 

He had to admit, he was quite excited to return to Eudora. 

His reason was unknown, but one could wager that this had something to do with a certain friend he had made back at Eudora. 

Madeline? No. Not her. 

Definitely not her, unless Adrian wanted to get on Xavier's bad side.

'Hmm, I wonder if Madeline thinks of me as her friend,' Adrian wondered momentarily.

'Does she? Ah, I should stop thinking about this.' 

Turning to Xavier, who was back in his human form as well, he asked, "Missing Madeline already?" 

Xavier turned away from Adrian, "No."

"You should make yourself sound more convincing before you deny things like that. It's obvious."

"Nothing's obvious, I don't miss Madeline," Xavier insisted, refusing he missed Madeline. 

Miss her? So soon? 

Did Adrian think of him as some lovesick puppy? 

"Tsk."

"Don't tsk me," Adrian said. 

"Watch your mouth, Adrian," Xavier said to his friend, a look of warning crossing his face. 

Adrian went silent. 

Sometimes, he forgot Xavier was Eudora's alpha. 

He was transported back to the past, when Xavier was still beta and he was still a measly delta. 

'I mustn't discredit myself so easily. Becoming a delta took effort,' Adrian reasoned. 

"I still can't believe you're alpha now."

"Adrian, I've been alpha for centuries now," Xavier said, tapping his foot on the ground. 

"What are we waiting for anyway?" Adrian asked. 

He had been wanting to ask that since a couple minutes ago. Everyone else were probably back at Eudora now, so what were just the two of them doing out here?

"We're having a breather." 

"A breather? When did you rest?" 

"Madeline says I have to take breathers since it's good for me," Xavier reasoned. 

Adrian couldn't help but gawk at Xavier. 

'W-what did he just say?' 

'Madeline said it was good for him? What kind of joke is that? It isn't believable. Geez, Xavier's insane if he thinks I'm going to believe him on this.' 

"You're kidding," Adrian said, a surprised look on his face. 

'Tell me this isn't true,' he thought to himself amusedly. 

'This can't be true.' 

Briar had to hear of this. This was crazy! 

He could imagine Briar's jaw dropping to the floor once she heard. This was unheard of. 

Xavier was an expert at shocking everyone around him at this point with all the things he's said. 

Adrian couldn't help but rub his eyes and pinch himself. He was dreaming. 

The day Xavier actually told him this was the days pigs would fly. 

Pft, Xavier sounded like a husband terrified of what his wife would do to him if he didn't listen to her words. 

If it was true, and Madeline had actually told Xavier this, he wanted to give her a high five. 

'Man, Madeline is amazing,' Adrian thought. 

Unfortunately, Xavier had managed to hear Adrian's thoughts. Why? 

Becaus of their mind link, of course! 

Adrian had purposely used their mind link and told Xavier he thought Madeline was amazing. 

And how did Xavier react to that? 

Adrian tried to get a glimpse of Xavier's face, that of which Xavier was obviously hiding from him. 

'Why are you hiding your face from me all of a sudden?' Adrian asked him. 

'Why do you feel the need to look at my face?' Xavier questioned in return, sounding bitter. 

Adrian simply wanted to see Xavier's probably priceless reaction to his thought. 

He envisioned Xavier looking all tongue-tied when he returned to Eudora. 

Xavier grumbled, "Let's head back."

Adrian was beginning to believe Xavier hadn't been joking about what Madeline said. Xavier wasn't the type to joke around, and he seemed upset now. 

Now why could that be?

Was he upset because of how the hunt went?

'That wouldn't make sense, the hunt went well,' Adrian reasoned. 

So he was right, Xavier reacted poorly to him thinking Madeline was amazing. 

Adrian fought back a gasp. 

Was Xavier being possessive of his just a friend? 

'That's not common, is it?' 

Unbeknownst to Xavier, Adrian was noting everything down to tell Briar later when he returned. 

This was too juicy for Adrian not to tell Briar. 

And anyway, he reckoned this was something Briar wanted to know as well. 

'So many things to tell Briar. Looks like Briar's going to be satisfied,' Adrian chuckled. 

However… What Adrian wouldn't reckon was Briar having made a new friend when he returned to Eudora alongside Xavier after their successful hunt. 

Little did he know that Briar too had lots to tell him about. He wasn't the only one with things to share. 

A friend Xavier wouldn't be particularly pleased about - Adrian as well. 

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Author's Note: Reminder, this is a fictional book.. Everything written isn't to be taken seriously.