They stood in the study and Nash was still in a trance with his fingers tightening around Lola's hand. Ash kept a close look on them both, making sure that nothing was to happen but even he saw the change on Nash's face.
"Coven?" Lola asked and looked at Ash who clenched his jaw with a deep scowl directed at Nash.
He let go of her hand in a swift pull and turned his hand over as if to look after a burn or a mark of pain but there was nothing on his skin.
Lola looked at her hand. Had she hurt him in some way for him to pull back like that?
She wanted to step back but caught herself and decided against it. One thing Nash was right about was the ways of leadership and she needed to start gaining their respect.
Without answering with words Nash raised his hand and gently pulled his fingers in towards the palm of his hand. The windows behind the desk opened- slowly with a loud chiseling sound- and a gust of wind blew in and circled Lola's head.
It was as though the wind danced around her but it couldn't be, it wasn't possible.
As living proof, it stopped in front of her face before flying towards her and over her head.
"What is this?" Lola asked. She hadn't met a werewolf that could do this before.
It was a beautiful smile that grew on his face, a more genuine one than the earlier wicked expressions that distorted his face.
"I'm a wizard," he explained, "not a werewolf."
Ash's head fell behind her and his shoulders shrunk.
Perhaps that information wasn't supposed to be public knowledge or maybe it was just Lola who wasn't supposed to know.
But now she did and she was glad to. Nash looked at her much more gently than before and hid his hands in his pockets.
"Maybe I was wrong," he murmured under his breath.
Nash's blonde hair reminded of Lola's with its highlights and the way that it under the light looked like the sun.
As though a switch went off in his head he started looking around frantically- turning away before turning back and his feet didn't seem to know which direction to take him in.
"I need to go- you um- you," he hurried over and grabbed the beer bottle, "you be careful and look after yourself, yes?" He said on his way to the door.
Ash got there before him and blocked the only way out.
"I- I need to go," he stressed.
"The only thing you need to do right now is tell me why you told her to be careful?" Ash said, he drew to his fullest size and made Nash look like a pebble in his path as he grew to cover almost the entire doorframe.
"Speak." He ordered.
Nash scratched the back of his head and tussled his thick blonde hair- he turned around and looked at Lola as he gulped down the last in the bottle.
The sadness in his eyes, when he gawked at the emptiness of the bottle, was shining through the nervous jitters.
"Now!" Ash growled impatiently.
"Alright!" Nash tossed his hands up and rolled his eyes. "Jeez, nobody taught you to wait your turn, did they." He wiped his mouth and walked across the carpet.
"I just mean with Jax... and the vampires,"
Lola stiffened like a tree in her spot and she watched Nash feel bad about knowing what he told.
"When I touched you I saw them, I saw them coming for you." He continued.
Lola stepped closer and reached out her trembling hands to grab onto him. She looked desperately and hoped he'd see the pleading in her eyes.
"What else did you see? Did you see when they will come?" Her voice was hoarse and quiet as hope filled her.
Just as quick as the glimmer of hope began to grow- just as quickly did it die when he shook his head and grabbed her hands. His slender figure wobbled closer and he closed his eyes.
A deep breath filled his lungs and his brows hunched, the wrinkles in his forehead became more prominent. A deep frown appeared on his face and whatever his mind was showing him was not a joyful occasion as evidenced by the strained expression.
He cracked his neck, his knuckles turned white and when he opened his eyes again they were black.
"I have to go." He turned around and stormed towards the door with his shoulders raised in a bow. But Ash didn't move, he watched as Nash tried to push him aside but without using his magic it was futile. And using magic on pack members was forbidden, especially on Alphas who could slit your throat before you cast your spell.
"Please-"
Ash interrupted and his eyes turned yellow as he stared down at the unthreatening wizard in front of him.
"Tell me or I make you." He warned.
Nash's back was turned towards Lola, she couldn't see anything except the threatening glare from Ash and his wolf.
"It's Jax," Nash said through clenched teeth. He turned and looked over his shoulder.
"Don't be so sure about his allegiance to you, it could very well be the last straw that sends you to your grave."
"Wait what?" Lola moved over the carpet just as Ash's canines extended.
"He's your Alpha and he loves her, he'd never do anything to hurt her and if I hear you spit these lies again I will have you charged with treason." Ash stepped aside after relaying the warning and Nash clenched his fists as he hurried out the door.
"Wait!" Lola called but the door slammed shut in her face and she turned to look at Ash who wasn't close enough to shut it- it had to have been Nash. She tried opening the door but Ash got in between and blocked her way.
"What the hell was that about?" She asked in an exhale and felt the world slowly crumbling around her.
The sun gleamed outside the window and the dark clouds were slowly being pushed aside as the beams took over. A warm coat laid over the houses and streets and it seemed the earlier threat of rain vanished with the clouds.
But inside the office was no warm feeling of early winter sun or the fresh air that would come when the breeze brushed through the trees and brought the smell of the leaves.
It was eery, utterly dark feels creps across their skin as they stood staring at each other, Ash and Lola, had they just found out another secret? Something that could help with the problems at hand? Or had Lola just been told that her marriage was not at all what she thought and that since day one it had been a game, a contract with the devil rather than a werewolf?
"Don't think too much about it. He's a drunk wizard, not really a reliable source," Ash said.
"Is there a possibility that everything has been a lie?" She asked.
"No."
"Don't lie to me, please," her voice was timid and fragile, "I know you're his family but I need you to be honest with me- is there even the slightest possibility that Nash's threat about Jax can be true?"
He was quiet for a moment, the wheels in his head turned like an overworked machine until eventually, a loud breath left his lips.
"Yes."