The Beast's Possession
61: Way better than this futuristic dump.

**Zion

pov**

"Na, man, you can't be serious," I gaped at Bane as he spun around and walked to the window of his office.

I knew him, probably better than he thought.

Others viewed him as a man with no conscience, but he had it. And it hit harder than anyone could imagine.

I had seen his ups and downs, I had seen the struggle and the holes he dug for himself. In one way or another, I had watched Bane dig his own grave plenty of times.

"As serious as one could be," Bane announced, sounding defeated.

And he really was. It had been years since the last time I watched Bane get so excited about someone. Years since his eyes followed someone's movements with such precision without letting others know he was interested. Bane liked Aife in his own, twisted way. Funny how he hadn't realized that yet.

And while I was all for supporting my best friend, I wasn't sure if my support was the right thing in this situation.

Aife was different. Not in a sense as a woman who came from two Alpha bloodlines, no. She stood nowhere near the egoistic and prideful Alphas.

She was pure, raw, real, in all senses of the words. Her reactions were genuine, she worried about others more than she did about herself, and she fucking cared. God, did that woman care.

I hated how much I hated wanting to see her next to Bane. She could change him, she could bring the best out of him and show him true happiness.

But then again, I also knew better than others that one's happiness didn't depend on other people. It had to be found within. And why would we subject Aife to basically becoming a live-in nanny for my best friend, his traumas and emotions? "I know I will regret ever saying this, but are you sure? Like completely sure that it will be better for her to go with Killian?" I asked as I took a step closer to Bane.

"Yes," he barked without thinking.

"But will it be better for you? Can you picture yourself letting go of her? And don't give me that bullshit about you not caring, because we both know you do. Fuck, Bane, you care. A lot." I kept pushing him. Unless my best friend managed to pull his head out of his ass, nothing would change. He wouldn't grow or change as a person if he refused to embrace the change in question.

"Take that soul-searching bullshit of yours and leave. I don't have time, energy and patience to deal with your crap. Not now and probably not ever." Bane barked at me.

I could hear a tiny hint of his Alpha tone coming to the surface, so I had to back away. If I provoked his beast, it wouldn't end pretty for me, which in turn would take many things away from that poor girl. She had no one but herself and she even didn't have her wolf. So, it was best if at least one person remained in her corner. And if Bane refused to be that person, I had to step up. "Alright, if you say so," I muttered, spun on my heel and left him.

The moment I stepped outside the office and heard him lock the door behind me, I knew what to expect next. Bane would drink himself stupid until he would lose any remnants of emotions and feelings. My best friend was a complicated creature, refusing to feel and always doing anything to stay numb.

Although I hated it, I had to let him be. The truth was that Bane was a grown man and he didn't need a babysitter to tell him what to do. If he wanted to self-destruct and sabotage every person who tried to help him, it was his choice. Now, I had to focus on Aife.

First things first, I had to get her out of Bane's room as soon as possible. I would prefer it if she didn't have to leave, but the Alpha's word was the law.

Except, I didn't intend to toss her with the servants, they would eat Aife alive. Instead, I planned to offer her my bedroom and I could crash on a sofa or something like that.

Once I reached Bane's bedroom, I didn't knock on the door. I entered, knowing damn well she wouldn't be asleep. And she wasn't.

Aife sat on the bed with a pack of ice against her cheek. She tried to smile at me, but it was clear that it pained her, so she gave up.

"He got you good, huh?" I tried to remain light-hearted and joked around.

Aife chuckled and shook her head, "yeah, that he did."

"At one point, you just get used to it," I muttered and shrugged as my eyes took in my best friend's bedroom. It had no personality, much like Bane. "I got a hook to my jaw the other day too. Comes and goes in waves, you know." To me, it was nothing. But for Aife, it was a big deal as she stared at me wide-eyed, completely caught off guard. "Get used to it?" She finally spoke. "Since when getting used to being abused and mistreated is a thing? He assaulted you and you don't feel a bit of anger towards him?"

Aife kept growing increasingly more annoyed with each word that passed her lips. I got why she felt this way, she was an outsider after all, but I sort of wished she would understand things better too.

"You don't seem too angry about that shiner on your cheek," I quickly pushed all attention on her to see if she would react at all.

Aife's shoulders slugged as she forced out a breath. "I can't be angry. He didn't mean this, he didn't want to hit me. I saw it in his eyes - shock, regret, pain, and then, fear. Bane didn't mean to hurt me, it was more of my fault than it could be his, so I can't be mad at him for something that basically is nothing but consequences for my actions."

Strong, kind, beautiful, and absolutely stupid. Yeah, that summed her up pretty nicely. While I didn't want to be the person who put her down, Aife had to realize something was terribly wrong with her.

I got her point of view, I really did, but the issue was that she sought her blame in something she hadn't really done. Made me wonder how good her home life was. Usually, people blame themselves after years of mistreatment and being blamed by others.

Making a mental note to pry a little later, I offered her my hand.

"What are you doing?" She flashed me a weak smile.

"Bane wants you out of this room as soon as possible. I'm fulfilling his wishes. Kind of. Well, almost, okay? He wanted you with the servants, but I can't let that happen so you're going with me. Come on, you will love my room, it's way better than this futuristic dump."