Chapter 159 Bonus Chapter One

Chapter 159 Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Nine
TEN YEARS LATER

SALEM's POV 

I giggled at the sound of Freya and Sage arguing in the hallway. The two of them always had something to bicker about.

It stressed Mama because she wanted them to get along sometimes. I stepped out of the room, and they stopped talking. 

Freya marched up to me, swinging her blond hair over her shoulder.

"Salem, what do you think the baby is going to be?"

I scoffed loudly as I realized what they were bickering about. 

"I can't believe that's what both of you are arguing about so early in the morning."

"Just answer," Sage marched forward, crossing her arms.

"I don't know, okay. And besides, it's not our business."

"It certainly is. She's our friend."

"Your friend," Freya corrected, and another bickering started.

"Don't you get tired of arguing?" Zayn's voice came from the end of the corridor, and both of them glared at him.

"Mind your business," they snapped at the same time and vanished into Freya's room.

"I don't know how you deal with them," he said as he walked up close.

"By listening"

"I can't...at this rate, I wish it was one of them that was sent away and not Leo."

My heart froze at the sound of his name. Zayn didn't notice, or he chose not to say anything. 

Nobody spoke about Leo. Not about where he was or why he left. I heard a few rumors, but I wasn't certain what the real truth was.

All I know is that he disappeared. That day after the dinner, he was gone. Just after he had looked at me for the first time. Not with hate or that anger I was used to. He smiled at me, and as young as I was, it made me feel really happy.

But the next day, he was gone. His room was locked, and nobody was saying anything about why he had left. I didn't ask questions even though I was curious.

Year after year passed, and my curiosity died, but I never forgot about the boy who walked with shadows.

"Earth to Salem," Zayn waved his hands in my face.

"What did you say?" I smiled softly at him.

"Do you want to come with me to training, or are you going to run off to wherever it is that you disappear to?"

"It's called exploring Zayn. And it's so much better than fighting," I made a disgusted face. 

"Sure. Is Nathan going on this exploration with you?" I flushed at the mention of my boyfriend's name.

"Look at you, as red as a tomato. He should ask for your hand already."

"We're taking things slow and don't tell anyone," I warned him, and he laughed.

"I won't. See you later, Salem," Zayn waved and walked away. I stood alone in the hallway, going over the conversation between Zane and me. I stepped into my room, but decided that I needed some air.

I walked out of the house, strolling through the main grounds, and the scent of soft flowers reached my nose, and then it gave way into the thick forest. Tall trees shadowed my path, and I took fast steps down the lonely path.

The sound of water flowing called to me, and I hastened my steps. 

Slowly, I stripped out of my clothes and waded into the water. I shivered at the coldness as I submerged myself. 

As my body adjusted to the temperature, I began to wade in the water. Swimming has brought me a lot of comfort in the last few years. 

And since I’d found this river just off the border, I couldn’t stop coming. 

When I was overwhelmed, tired, happy, when I needed some time alone, this was my place to run to, and I always felt better whenever I swam.

Another good thing was that nobody ever came here. Except for Nathan, when he was free to join me. Otherwise, nobody ventured out to these parts. Not even the guards, because father had declared it off-limits.

I didn’t let anyone know this was where I ran off to because I’d receive a long lecture about obedience.

But especially because Mama would be so worried. She had a thing against my disappearing for extended periods, and it had everything to do with the kidnapping as children. 

It was brave for her to risk herself for us, but it had left her paranoid, and I hated that I was part of the cause. My parents actually. 

The ones who didn’t want me except as a plot in their ridiculous plans to take over Mama's pack. 

Mama had been honest with me in a way that didn’t hurt my feelings, but I remembered enough to know what happened. 

And despite that, she didn’t love me any less. Even father. They’d both taken me as their daughter and treated me no less than they treated Sage and Freya. And for all things, I’m grateful that I stumbled into this pack. 

A rustling in the bushes jostled me. My ears perked as I listened for any more sounds, but none came. I approached the riverbank cautiously, suddenly getting the weird feeling that someone was watching me. 

I reached for the clothes that I’d neatly laid out as my eyes scanned the trees. I heard the sound again, so soft that you’d almost miss it. 

“Nathan?” I called but got no response.

I pulled on my pants. 

“Nathan, if it’s you, then you can come out,” I called out again, but it stayed silent. 

I bent to grab my shirt, and then I saw it. A blurry movement in front of me. I reacted too late. Someone slammed into me, sending me flying backwards and crashing into the wet ground. 

I balled my fists, ready to throw a punch, but firm fingers stopped my attack. I struggled under the weight that was now pressing me into the earth.

“Who the fuck are you? Get off.”

“Stay still,” the voice growled at me, and a shudder went through me, and my body obeyed. 

My vision focused on his face, and I stared at the dangerously handsome man above me. His lips pressed into a thin line as he stared down at me with disapproval. His face was unrecognizable, but those eyes… they were familiar. 

Too familiar. 

It had been years, but I could never forget them. 

“Leo?”