Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Rhea
“Will you find the way, or should I take you there?” Marcella asks me as I reach the edge of the stairs.
I glance up and then at her, “No, it’s fine. I’ll go. Don’t worry, I’ll go straight there and nowhere else.”
“Go on then.”
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She watches me as I head up the stairs. She doesn’t trust me that I won’t go straight to where Aron is, where he has called me to talk about something–something I’m not sure about. I have a feeling that it’s about the incident the other night when he kissed me.
And just the memory of that kiss makes my lips go dry.
And the things he said.
He wants me.
I may be hazy that night, but I was aware of every word that came out of his mouth. And the more time passes, the more time I have to replay it inside my head, over and over again.
It’s both thrilling and utterly frightening.
As I reach the top of the stairs, my steps slow. My fingers go over my lips, brushing over them as I recall the kiss. It was something. Something I’ve never felt before.
My hand drops to the side of my chest as I breathe, the rapid pulse drumming inside my rib cage. A feeling that is entirely new twists and turns inside me. Something I can’t name.
I’ve seen him since then, but he hasn’t mentioned the kiss or that night or things he confessed. Nothing at all.
Sometimes I think it might just be a dream, a hallucination but I know well it wasn’t. He came to me and he did kiss me. It was real and it wasn’t pretend.
As I walk toward the direction of his office, I wonder if we’ll speak about it or not and what he’ll say, now that the clouds of rage in his eyes have finally dissipated.
Right before I reach the door, I hear sounds from the other side. He’s not in there alone. His friend–Kavos is here too and it’s his voice I hear.
“It would maddening to do such a thing,” he says, “And dangerous if I haven’t already said so.”
“And like I already said, it would be necessary.”
“Necessary for you, not anyone else.”
“I’m firm on my decision-” Aron replies. “And nothing can change my opinion on this. Don’t waste your breath with your futile attempt to convince me otherwise.”
“Do you not think it would be foolish if you bring the very girl that tried to kill Elias back there? It will raise suspicion. And it will be a lot harder to do what needs to be done.”
“Rhea’s presence will not change anything. What I promised Elias, I’ll show him. She’ll do as she’s told. It won’t raise any questions.”
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03.31 vved, 10 Apr
Chapter 58
It’s about me–not the kiss.
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I try to make sense of the words but I can’t. They’re talking about me, about bringing me back somewhere–back to the pack
house?
Kavos scoffs, his tone harsh, “You’re too confident about this and it will fall on your face. It’s not too late to change your mind and choose an alternative option. Leave her here, go south with me, and finish it the way we always have. There isn’t a need to play a game.”
He’s referring to something I have no clue about. But maybe I can gather what little I know and go by that.
Aron pushes out a breath, “I want her to see everything, see what I can do, and what I will do. She’s going with us.”
There are a few steps I hear after that and then, “You are acting on impulse, Kael, and we both know that.”
What did he just call him?
That name.
Again.
“Don’t tell me what needs to be done.”
After that, I knock on the door, unable to stand here any longer. It must have been a minute or so since I stopped, but I don’t know how long. All I know is I’ve listened to enough, and I need to enter. Now.
The door is already open and ajar. I push it and step inside before looking between them.
Aron stands against the dark wood table, both his hands flat over the surface while he leans in. His eyes meet mine, and the corner of his mouth curves.
“Little wolf,” he whispers, something like admiration tracing in his voice. “Come in.”
I stumble to obey him as I step into the room. I hear no creak beneath my foot but the sound of silence that has engulfed the room.
“You took your time,” Aron says.
“I, I was down-”
“It’s fine. Sit down.”
I look at the chair in front of me and then back at Aron, “Here?”
“Yes. Right there.”
I nod and sit down while the other man remains in the same position, his eyes coming down on me. His arms are crossed, and his face is clear with frustration.
“I should take my leave.”
“That would be for the best. Return with Liam and the others later tonight. We will discuss this further then.”
Kovas doesn’t say anything. Instead, he takes his leave almost instantly before closing the door on his way out. My eyes trail back to Aron, who moves away from the table and comes near me.
“There’s something I want to tell you-” he says, keeping his palm against the back of the chair. “There’s a wedding which I must attend. And I want you there with me.”
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09:51 Wed, 16 Apr
Chapter 58
“A wedding?”
“You heard me correctly.”
I crane my neck and look up at him, “Why?”
“Elias is getting married at the night of the full moon, and I need to be there.”
I stare at him, confused.
This is what they’ve been talking about before I came inside. He wants to kill him. Doesn’t he? That’s what this is about. Killing them, those people in the pack house, and taking over. My heart thuds.
“I don’t want to go,” I say, my thoughts too much to hide. “I don’t want to see them again.”
His expression hardens at my answer. “You don’t have a choice. I want you to come with me until-”
He pauses.
“Until?” I ask, waiting. “You want to kill them?”
“Yes.”
I take a sharp breath. He’s blunt and certain. And he isn’t hiding the truth.
“Why do you want me to come?”
“I want you to see.”
eyes while He circles the back of my neck with his large palm. A shiver rakes through me as I sit frozen, holding his steadying my breaths.
I give my head a light shake, “I don’t want to see.”
“It will make you happy,” He whispers. “Do you not want to watch them suffer? To see them broken and brought to their knees? To their deaths?”
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My mouth is dry. I want to look away and shrink back in the chair, but I don’t. My eyes remain set on him, captured in his dark gaze, which still makes me think he’s angry. And the way he speaks about this is different like he’s unhinged and obsessed.
I recall the letters I read last week, especially the last one I was able to read. His threats–the things he said about killing them. So many things.
I don’t want to go there again or see all of this happening, coming true, but if I don’t, I have a feeling that I’ll be forced. This isn’t a choice. He isn’t giving me one. He has already made the decision, and he’s only telling me.
“What happens after that?” I ask. “Will I come back here?”
“You will.”
I swallow hard, “What if someone hurts me? Catelyn hates me. She could do anything.”
“No one will lay a single hand on you,” His voice comes soft. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
For a moment, there’s a shift in his eyes. Almost. I can see something, feel something, but it’s not enough. It’s just a moment. And soon after, it’s gone.
“Okay,” I give in. “I’ll go with you.”
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