While the message was clear, Page was the one that wanted details. She wanted to know what was going to be put into motion for her. Would it be worse than it was then? Page didn’t want to imagine. “The kids will be okay though, right?” Page wanted confirmation.
The witch was hesitant. “You have to do the right things. Stay loyal to their father and everything will work out. Don’t lose hope.”
Page really didn’t like the ambiguous answers that she was getting. She wanted to know what it all meant, but witches were known for their circular answers that seemed to fall in onitself. Page hoped that she would be able to figure out what it all meant, before it was too late. She knew that she had to help Randall and saving him was just what was on her mind. Even if something happened to her as it was warned to, Page still wouldn’t change anything. She wanted to make sure that Randall was okay. She could deal with whatever came next.
She stayed with the witch a few more days, helping her gather herbs far away that were hard for her to get. Page didn’t believe her for a minute that the old witch needed help. She moved around just fine, but she kept her there for something. Since Page didn’t know what it was or the reason why, she figured that it was best for her to not think about it too much.
When Page was feeling better, stronger than she had felt for quite some time, she made the trek out of the woods and back into civilization. The witch had made it clear that she had to go help Randall. He was in trouble somehow and she was supposed to help him. How though? Page didn’t have a clue. It was going to make things worse for her. She was walking into something that wasn’t going to be good. It was hard for her to think of much of anything, besides what it was going to be like when she saw him again. It would all be worth it, Page was sure of it.
Chapter 17
Randall
Randall knew what to say to his brother’s question. It probably wasn't even a question, more just him screaming at him and telling him then he had messed up. It wasn’t the first time Randall had heard it, likely wasn't going to be the last. He had a feeling that he had messed up when he had challenged Ethan, but it just came out. He pissed him off and maybe that's what he was trying to do the whole time. Randall could take a lot of things, but he couldn't take anybody talking about Page. The idea that Ethan would ever have her just made him sick to his stomach and, of course, the only thing to do in that scenario was to challenge him. That's how his people dealt with problems.
“I asked you, Randall, what the hell were you thinking?”
How was he supposed to answer that? He was thinking of that stupid man getting his hands on Page and if Randall had to kill him to make that never happen, then so be it. Ethan thought that he deserved some kind of vengeance and if that was the case, Randall had to give them what they both wanted. Randall had no intensions of backing off. It wouldn't be easy, but he still believed that he would come out on the right side of things. After everything that they’d gone through and all they had to do to be together, Randall wasn't going to forget about it. He wasn't goingto give up and he couldn't leave her to do it on her own. There really was no other choice but to take out the man standing in their way.
“I did what I had to do, Ben, and I would do it again if needed,” Randall admitted.
Ben just shook his head and told him that he was an idiot. Usually, he just let his expression do the talking, but this time he felt like he had to get the words out. Randall didn’t know how he was supposed to feel about it. He didn’t think that he cared. “It had to be done, Ben, and you know it.”
Ben scoffed, “You don't understand guys like Ethan. He is cold and calculating. He is the sort of shifter that you watch out for because you don't know if they're going to get you from behind or not. Trust me, Ethan is not going to play fair. I know you, Randall. I know that you think there is this equality in the world and fairness, but there really isn't. He's not going to fight you face to face. It's going to be some side devious way that you don't see coming. And if you're not careful, he will kill you. I don't know if I'm going to be able to save you this time, Randall...” His brother's voice died off and Randall could see for the first time that Ben really was worried about him getting killed.
It did not feel right what Ben said, but what was he supposed to say? There was obviously some danger involved, but Randall liked to believe that he could conquer anything or anyone. If it meant that he got back to Page, how could he lose?
The idea was set, and he told Ben that it was likely the best thing that he could do. His brother was dubious, even more so than he was. Randall was sure that there was something more to worry about, but he couldn’t. He had to focus on winning so that he could get to Page. He still had no idea what was going on, andhe had to get his eyes on her, make sure she was okay. She would be having his pups soon enough and Randall couldn’t wait.
“You were the one that brought him into our lives. Maybe you need to think about why that is. I didn’t drag him into our lives, Ben. You did. You weren’t happy with what you had for your family, so you wanted to add more of us. I guess you realize now that he is not going to be as easy to control. You haven’t had years of practice on him yet,” Randall bit out. His brother shouldn’t have gotten all of his anger, but he was seething, and it was getting thrown his way.
“I don't know if I'm going to be able to save you,” Ben repeated. Randall didn't want to hear it, not again. He was sure that Ben wasn't listening to him. He was stuck in his own loop. Randall wasn't afraid. Maybe he should have been. He had a small inkling that he was deep down, but he couldn’t show it.
“You don’t have to save me,” Randall insisted.
Ben scoffed and shook his head. “What would happen if I just let you go?”
That question threw Randall off, because he knew that it wasn't something that his brother wanted to do. It would make him a liar, something that he didn't even want to think about. He told the truth always and going back on his word would be hard on his conscious. Maybe that was probably the thing that brought the most alarm to Randall. What did his brother know that he didn't?
“You can't let me go, Ben. You know that. I thought you had me in here to keep me safe and now you want to let me run off after I have challenged someone? What about all that nonsense that you wanted to keep the reputation of the clan?”
Ben sighed. “I would like to keep our reputation intact, but I would rather keep you alive. I almost lost my sister, and I’m notabout to lose my brother too. I don't know why you guys insist on putting yourselves in the worst positions. Why don't you get out of here before tomorrow? We will say that you escaped. This doesn't have to be the end for you.”
Randall paused. “Do you really think that it will be the end for me?”
His brother didn't have to answer, he could see it on his face. Ben thought that Ethan was going to kill him. Why did he think that?
“You really don't have any faith in me?” Randall asked, only slightly wounded but pretending to be even more so. While he wasn't the best fighter, it felt like he was being vastly underestimated.
“You are underestimating him. You do not understand how crazy Ethan can be. Trust me when I tell you it is better this way. It is better that you take off and go find her. But just know that you can't come back.”
“I can't come back?” Randall asked, just shock was all he could muster. He knew that his brother cared too much about what others thought, he never thought that he would completely turn his back on him. When he asked as much, Ben told him again that it wasn't his decision.
“You know I don't want you to go, Randall. I didn't think Page was good enough for you, and I was going to find you a better mate. I should have listened to you when you came to me back then, but I thought it was just a young crush that wouldn’t last long. I didn’t know that you would go to the extremes for her years later.”
Randall just grinned with understanding. “I didn't know that I would go to this extreme either. I guess that I just couldn't let her go. I will take on Ethan too, kill him if I have to keep her.I will do whatever is necessary to keep her, brother. That’s what you just don’t get,” Randall said.
Ben just shook his head. He was upset that he had to even keep talking about it. It was bad enough when he suggested once that Randall leave. It was worse and worse every time he had to say anything. It made him wonder if he was doing the right thing or not. Randall could see that his brother was torn and to be honest, so was he.
