Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Rhea
The library.
On the night of the mating ball.
I heave in a breath, but I don’t turn around. The slight creak in the chair tells me she’s shifted on her seat, closer to the edge of it. A slight buzzing sound emerges from her, one that would escape past if I weren’t a wolf shifter.
“Did I see you with the Alpha of Blood Claws?”
“No,” I clamp my lips tight, hating how my voice cracks with fear. I’m not sure. I don’t really know.”
“I think I’m certain it was him. It’s a hard face to miss, and now that I’m seeing you here, I recall very well you were in there with him and a couple of his people,” Her tone shifts dramatically, and for a moment, I don’t even recognize it. “What were you doing in there?”
My attention moves away from whatever I’m looking at. I stare straight at the wall ahead of me, pondering on what I should say. Alpha Elías did see me there.
But he was alone, wasn’t he? Or was I too caught in the rejection that I hadn’t noticed anyone else except him? Maybe there were more people by the door; maybe Catelyn was there as well
I can’t lie now, She’ll catch me.
“I–I was just” But I have no idea what I should say. “I was just helping out. I didn’t do anything wrong”
“I’m not saying you did anything wrong. Rhea. I’m just asking”
I feel the eyes bore into my skin. Somehow, every muscle in my body seizes. I wouldn’t say I like this situation, not this. And not at all.
I glance over my shoulder to catch a glimpse of her. This is not something I’d imagined or seen coming, not even one bit. And now that I’m facing this, I don’t know what to do. Should I even be doing something? I can’t tell anyone what happened between the Alpha of BloodClaws and me.
My fingers brush across a hard surface, and I look down to find a jewelry box. Quickly, I take it out and get off the ground before handing it over to her.
She opens it and looks at the jewelry within before keeping it on the side,
“Did you go to the library on your own?”
“No,” I want to stop this. Why is she asking me this? “They wanted some help.”
“Who wanted?”
I choke on my breath, “The Alpha
She shifts again, and I almost feel her eyes upon me. “And what were you doing in there exactly?”
Her questions don’t falter, and I feel the shift in her demeanor–it gets clearer and more precise. I turn my gaze back toward the things
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2304 FB. 11 AP D
Chapter PA
30%
1 bald still like a rock, unmoving
Rhea, answer me Were you helping them out or were you doing something more? She interrogates me, not allowing any wom to slip away. “Eliss and 1 were gether when we found the Alpha of Blood laws and his people in the library. You were there What were you doing?
“Nothing at all I attempt in relax my leathing, trying to keep the riding panic in my chest under control
Her blue eyes are harsh, her nostrile flaring her expression nothing bout a scowl. “Were you performing favours for him? Did you offer yourself to him?
I still myself as much as I can
“Answer the question. Rhea Were you whoring yourself to him in hopes of receiving a better life? She doesn’t stops. I’m soon to become the Luna of this pack and this house will be under my control I need to know if the staff working here are loyal to Elas and the pack or if they re harlots just searching to advance their lives through manipulative means”
In an instant, I shake my head, but even that, Fin barely able to do it in front of her. I do not like this and wouldn’t say I like where this is going, especially since she’s not finished yet. It seems like she will be when I tell her what she wants to hear.
7 wasn’t I would never do anything to disrespect the house and the Alpha and his guest or anyone”
“Don’t take me for a fool
1 swallow down the hurt and ache and gather the courage to face her. “I would never, ma’am,” I say slowly and carefully. “I would never
She watches me through hooded eyes, lethally still in the chair. “There’s something you are not telling me, is there not?”
“No. 1 sweat,” I need her to believe me. I need her to hear what I have said because I won’t ruin everything I have here just because of him. “There’s nothing at all. They just wanted some help, that’s all”
I break her stare for a second as the knot in my throat expands. I try to quell that panic down inside me but the burning feeling is hard to ignore.
Her blue eyes narrow dangerously, and she settles back on the armchair. She closes her eyes before she shifts a strand of blonde hair behind the back of her car.
“Well, then, run along now.”
I take my leave and step out of the room with my heart hammering in my chest. I walk a little further away before I let my breath out, air leaking through my lips.
It takes me a second to right myself. All the while, the fear in my gut doesn’t leave–if only for the time being. I wouldn’t say I like the way I feel inside. I am so terrified of losing everything I have, of being judged unfairly and quickly, of being thought lowly of. That last one holds the most pain.
I wipe my tear–stained cheek. I barely got through that confrontation without showing her the absolute truth. Because it’s weak, it’s so weak that I can barely acknowledge it inside of my head.
And it’s something that I can’t escape.
The rejection he gave me and how quickly he did it is lingering. It’s haunting me. I wanted exactly that, and I thought I’d get it over, but I can’t. It’s been a week, and there’s no casing.
No disappearance of the ache.
Not yet.
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23:04 Fri, 11 Apr A.
