The Beast's Possession
52: Bane knows better.

**Aife

pov**

I had a hard time understanding my own emotions, but I actually felt sorry for Bane. Seriously, I had to have some humanity left in me if I felt sorry for that beast of a man.

Gulping, I pointed my finger at another plant as I tried to hold back the tears, just imagining how awful it had to be to go through something like that and whispered, "I take it you think the father did it?"

Vanessa's eyes turned glossy and she nodded her head. "Bane couldn't enter the territory anymore. He tried, trust me, he tried plenty of times, but failed. It was nothing but the proof we all needed she was gone. We already knew her father wasn't a good man, but he was a man of his word. So, yeah, since she just vanished from the face of Earth, that's the only logical answer. She's dead."

"Goddess have mercy," I muttered and quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks.

Deep down, I was still sure he wasn't a good person, possibly never truly was, but I wouldn't wish something like that upon my worst enemy. Even if the enemy was Bane.

"Keep this a secret. I trust you, Aife. I wouldn't disclose this if I didn't, so please, don't break my trust. I told you this only to warn you that he's broken. I'm sure he's struggling and trying his best, but sometimes, even our best isn't enough. Bane knows that better than anyone."

And again, I faced the temptation to lay out the truth about who Bane truly was. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs until Vanessa could see past the mask he was wearing. But I didn't...

Maybe I was too emotional, maybe I felt sorry for Vanessa and the illusion she, along with her mate, had built about how Bane was.

Either way, I decided it was better to keep my mouth shut and see how things progressed. Besides, if I ran my mouth, I wouldn't only face way harsher punishment, I would also kill any chance I had to escape his claws.

After a while, once we both calmed down, we broke the silence that dragged out and started discussing the flowers Vanessa had planted.

Some of them were exotic, some I didn't know existed, but a few were ones I knew a thing or two about. I told her about fertilizers my mother used to mix herself and Vanessa actually pulled out her phone to write down some notes. When there were no flowers left to discuss, we started sharing funny stories from our childhood.

This was the thing I felt about her earlier - around Vanessa, I could be free and stop fearing saying the wrong thing. She was so easy going and non judgemental that it was a pleasure to stay around her.

Vanessa got a little too carried away telling me a story about how she and her brother had ruined the dinner for the entire pack, and I was almost positive that I could die laughing if she didn't stop talking.

I knew she was near the best part of the story when her face lit up, but before she could tell me more, the joyful expression faded from her features and a scowl appeared again.

Knowing why she sulked, I glanced over my shoulder to watch Jason and Bane approach us. I faked a smile and waited until they stopped in front of us.

"It looks like you ladies found common grounds and are having fun here," Jason announced, grinning from ear to ear.

Bane, his usual grumpy self, crossed his arms in front of his chest and added, "yeah, without us."

More than anything, I didn't want to ruin this for Vanessa, so I shoved the hatred aside and turned to Bane. "We were talking about some funny stories from our childhoods. Feel free to join us, the more the merrier." Bane's eyes widened as a look of disbelief crossed his face. Thankfully, he was quick to mask his emotions so no one caught on my unusual behavior.

"Don't mind if I do, since you're done discussing the roots, I'm happy to join," Bane announced with a spark of mischief dancing in his eyes.

The moment I noticed he was up to something was too late. Bane grabbed my hand, pulled me off my seat, took my place and then pulled me to sit on his lap.

My cheeks were burning bright red. I was trying to fake being nice, not in love with the beast. He had to have done this on purpose.

Seriously, if Bane didn't announce this was my punishment for whatever he didn't like I did, I would go mental very soon.

Glancing at Vanessa, I noticed Jason had done the same thing. But, unlike Bane and I, those two were staring at each other, lost in each other's eyes, whispering something so quietly I couldn't hear a word. Bane wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me a little. When his lips brushed my earlobe, I barely held back from emptying my stomach.

"Let's give them some space and go on the walk? How does that sound?"

If Bane wasn't Bane, I might have seen the action as endearing. Those moments were rare, but he knew how to come across as caring and romantic. Too bad he was an absolute piece of shit, right?

I knew I tensed in his arms, but I couldn't help it. Every time I had to spend one on one with him froze me to my core.

Bane brought his hand to my back and rubbed gentle circles, "breathe in, breathe out. You froze up, it can't be good for you. Remember to breathe and calm down."

And of course, at the worst moment possible, the love birds broke out of their stupid trance and Vanessa reached out to grab my hand. "Aife, are you okay? Do you need water? Should I prepare a bed for you to lie down? Maybe you need a doctor?"

My throat dried up and tears instantly filled my eyes. It had been so long since the last time someone felt genuinely worried about me that I couldn't help but be emotional about it.

Bane kept rubbing circles on my back as he spoke on my behalf. "Vanessa, please let her go. She needs to breathe and calm down. She hadn't had the best time in the past, everyone's fighting their demons and she just happens to have some worse than the other. Right now, she needs some space and peace. Can you give her that much?"

Vanessa instantly did as Bane told her and broke out of Jason's hold. "We will return to check on you in a couple of minutes then. You sure you don't need me to call a doctor for her?"

Bane shook his head. "No need for the doctor or checking up on us. I think it would be better if we left and headed home. It's best for her to be surrounded by something familiar. Besides, I really don't want her to have a massive panic attack and realize she doesn't know where she is when she comes back to her senses."

Vanessa glanced at Jason, clearly pleading with him, but for once, her mate didn't break. "Not this time, love. Let him deal with it, Bane knows better."

Maybe I was imagining things, but it sounded as if Bane's name dripped in venom when Jason spat it out. If I got a chance, later I would ask Vanessa if she could find out if anything happened between these two.

"I will give you a call once we get back home, Vanessa. I'll get her a phone and save your number there first. You'll get your chance to gossip some more pretty soon, but now, we really need to get going."