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Chapter Fifty-Six
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2022-04-03 11:59:32I walked up and approached the stump slowly, unsure if I even wanted to proceed.
Just being here made me feel sick. Ever since coming back, I'd always purposely avoided this place, knowing it would dredge up memories that already haunted me more than enough.
And that's exactly what was happening.
I could see flashes of it all happening before me again as if it were real. An alternate reality where I was convicted of a wrongful death.
I saw the faces of the pack members as they stared at me with such malice, parting the crowd to let me walk up. I saw the Elders sitting in the chairs assembled in a semicircle... and, of course, Aleric and Thea. Thea who was seated in the Luna's seat.
In a daze, I continued to walk forwards, the large oak stump beckoning me on like an old friend. Had I become delirious? When was the last time I had even slept? The combination with my weakened state probably wasn't doing me any favours as it all felt so real.
Bu
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"Aria?" Cai asked, pulling me from my thoughts.He gently reached out and poked a finger between my brows, making me realise I was frowning."You've got that look on your face," he said. "The one that usually tells me you're overthinking something... Should I be locking the bedroom door to prevent your escape?"Instantly I relaxed, smiling a bit at his joke. I hadn't realised he'd learnt my expressions so well."I'm sorry," I said, as I stared into his pure golden eyes that had always made me want to melt. "...I'm not going anywhere, I promise. I... I want to be with you too, Cai."'Even if it's just temporary,' I finished in my head.Cai had been there at the beginning of my return, witnessing my worst moments and helping me even when my plans were insane or not his concern. He'd been there for me when I'd cried and broken down, unsure of who I was or who I could lean on. And it was true he'd ended up hurting me, but I'd hurt him t
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"...What did you just say?" I asked, my voice thick with disbelief."I said they've declared war," Alexander repeated. "They've said that if we don't release Caius before sunset tomorrow that they will officially announce their intent to bring him home by force."Less than twenty-four hours. I had less than twenty-four hours to free him or we would be initiating a war....And it would be my fault."It's not enough time," I whispered, the panic rising inside me once more. "...It's not enough time... It's not enough time."I took a step backwards as my mind continued to whirl. This was it. Everything had been leading to this moment and it was finally here."Is there anything else I need to know?" Aleric asked him.Alexander frowned as if he'd expected him to have a different reaction. "...No? Just that we received a letter from the Silver Lake just now... —.""You can go then," Aleric interrupted. "Thank you for te
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"Alpha... I am here today to confess my crimes of treason."The room around me became icy cold, a deafening silence hanging as no one even dared to breathe too loudly. All of them too shocked over my words.And, among them, seeming the most shocked and hurt... my father. I hadn't told him what I'd done. In fact, we'd barely spoken the last few months since we'd had that argument about Thea. Not because I was still angry at him, Goddess knew I was in the wrong there, but because I was ashamed. I'd tried to force him into doing something that jeopardised not only his safety, but my mother's also. Even in grieving, it was stupid.Tytus looked me up and down, the only person who hadn't been affected by my sudden announcement. Knowing him, his mind was already thinking of ways to turn whatever I was about to say into something that could benefit him."...Elaborate," was all he said.Strong. I needed to be strong."I...," I started, my vo
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“I… Rheyna Knight… of the once lost Silver Mist Pack,” I started, my voice barely louder than a whisper. “Hereby reject y—.” …But I wasn’t able to finish the sentence. Because I’d been wrong… so wrong. I could see that now. I didn’t recall that prior timeline memory to prepare myself for the pain I’d feel upon completing the rejection. No… I’d seen it as a reminder. A reminder of why I shouldn’t go ahead with it. And as his lips came crashing down against mine, immediately cutting off my words, this newfound realisation seemed so obvious. Why hadn’t I seen it sooner? It was as if something inside completely broke down the second he reached for me. Now all that was left was this connection drawing me to him. It was so incredibly strong, almost impossibly so. Like this was something I was meant to be doing. I didn’t have the resolve to resist him, instantly kissing him back. There was an urgency in my response as if I’d been starving for this. To just feel the sparks and desir
