“Why, mother. Why did you have to tell me, why didn’t you keep it to yourself?” I was on my feet now, unable to sit still with the horror coursing through me.
“I thought you would have wanted to know.”
“You thought I would have wanted to know that the man I love… was my brother? My voice cracked on the last word.
“You aren’t supposed to love him.”
“Don’t you dare tell me what I am supposed to do it is my feelings; you have no control over it. Do not think for once that because you made a foolish decision, then I would too; I am not you.” The anger felt good, cleaner than the despair threatening to drown
- me.
“Yet you are following my footsteps; you are falling in love with the wrong man, and I am forced to watch you. You may think I hate you; carry on, but what I do, I do to protect you.”
་
“No. You’ve never protected anybody but yourself; you are selfish, and I once regretted calling you that, but it was true; it had always been about you. These past few days I had been so happy; I knew it would end too soon, but I never knew you would be the cause.”
“Am I the cause? What did I do wrong? Is it the fact that I brought you into the world or the fact that I know what is right for you and don’t want you hurt?” Her voice rose to match mine.
“In the process of trying to keep me ‘safe‘, You had hurt me more than anyone had, and this time, I would never forgive you.”
“Don’t say that. I was only doing what I thought was right.”
“Right for who? For me or for you?. You don’t need to answer that; it had always been about you; your dream of freedom became mine too, but still, you always wanted more. He would have killed you when you attacked Alaric, but he didn’t. I really hate you right now, mother.” The words burned like acid on my tongue, but I couldn’t stop them.
Her expression crumpled. “You think you do now, but soon, you will understand that I was only trying to help.”
“Keep your help to yourself. From now on, if you need an audience with me, you queue in line with others waiting to be heard by the Queen. Do not stop by my place; I do not want to see your face ever again,” I spat, each word a deliberate wound.
I turned and walked out, not looking back even when I heard her sob My vision blurred with tears as I strode through the corridors of the pack house.
I wandered aimlessly through the pack house, tears blurring my vision. The walls felt like they were closing in, every corner threatening to reveal Kaius’s presence. I couldn’t face him–not now, not like this.
Eventually, I found myself in the old changing rooms near the training grounds, long abandoned after the new facilities were built. I sank to the floor in the corner, drew my knees to my chest, and finally let myself break.
I don’t know how long I sat there, sobs wracking my body, before I heard the door creak open. Quickly, I wiped at my face, trying to compose myself.
“I need some quiet time; leave now,” I called out.
“It’s me, Elowen.”
1/2
Chapter 127
Frost’s familiar voice brought both relief and fresh anxiety. I couldn hide my state from him; he’d see right through any pretense.
He approached cautiously, crouching down to my level when he reached me.
“What happened? Who hurt you?” Concern hardened his voice to something dangerous.
“Is not that,” I said, looking away.
“Then what is it?”
I glanced toward the open door, painfully aware that anyone might walk by and hear us.
Chapter Comments
LIKE
POST COMMENT NOW
< SHARE
