Chapter 36 Chapter 36
Violet
I thought I had finally found a new friend, new people to hang out with after Nate.
I thought Cassie was my friend and her brother, though rough and arrogant, was not a bad person. Not entirely.
But that was my fault for thinking so.
He had warned me countless times to stay away from him. There was literally nothing about him online.
Yet, I had been stupid enough to rush to the first person who smiled at me. I sniffled and let the tears flow freely down my eyes when the cab was finally away from Elijah’s place.
And the tears just wouldn’t stop coming.
What had I even expected? His sister had told me that girls were used to throw themselves at him, that he was used to get all the attention from them.
Why the hell did I think I was any different? What made me assume he would even look at me?
The first time he gave me an orgasm, his words had been to prove that he was not a good person, that he was a monster. And today, he proved it again.
I had thought Gavin and Tyler were my friends…that we had formed a friendship in the car while looking for Cassie.
That somehow I had wriggled a space for myself in that tightknit group. How stupid of me?
The more I recalled the past events, Elijah’s words…I found more and more reasons to blame myself.
It was even more painful to think I had just given myself over to him, lapping up the attention he threw at me like a puppy that had been abandoned by its previous owner.
No wonder, he had brought up Nate and how hung up I was over him. He could see how love starved I was so he could do the bare minimum and I would still worship the ground he walked on.
A pained sob escaped my lips and I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of the oversized hoodie. Maybe, they were right.
Cassie was younger to me and I should have known better to let her go to that strip club. Maybe, she got further motivated to go out alone by herself at the graveyard after our visit to the grave.
The rogues had attacked us on the way back home, when Elijah and the others wer around. What if the rogues had attacked her if she was alone? What if something bad would have happened to her?
I was blaming myself and wasn’t even aware of when the cab stopped outside my home or how long had my mother been knocking on the window.
“Violet! Where the hell have you been?”
I had no answer to give to her as I paid the cab driver who took off. Mom lectured me as well as fussed over me as I quickly wiped the unshed tears, trying to look as normal as I could.
“Are you going to tell me what happened? Did you run into Nate or something?”
She kept asking questions I didn’t have the answer to, not a well thought out one either way. Dad rushed out of the home upon hearing her shouting loudly and immediately checked me for injuries.
“Calm down, Miranda. She is shaken. Let us get her inside first!” Dad pulled me closer and we all went in as I tried to think of what to do next.
The weight of the biggest of their worries settled on my shoulder once again. I had promised them help and alliance with Elijah.
Now, I didn’t have the strength to face him again. Not after I heard his men call me all sorts of names while he just listened to them.
Maybe he believed it too. And I knew how much he loved Cassie. No way was he going to help me or my pack.
However, I didn’t let the tears fall, not in front of my parents. They didn’t need to know about my stupid heart when they were fighting to keep the pack alive and safe.
I sighed and explained where I had been, what I had done minus the freaky sex with Elijah. They didn’t like him either way so it was easy to brush it off as me just trying to win his trust over by bonding with his sister.
My mother didnt seem very happy with my approach and neither did my father.
“I am sorry, I fucked it up. I wanted to help the pack by securing an alliance.” I began but dad gently took my face in his hands and cupped it.
“You worry a lot, dear daughter of mine. Yuo dont have to try anymore with that cruel and arrogant alpha either way.”
My ears perked up at that.
“You found an ally?” I asked hopefully.
“Not really. But I hope to find an ally soon. I have reached out to a few alphas in the neighboring states as well and a few businessmen so I hope for something fruitful. Hopefully, Alpha Deveraux will agree.”
“That global tycoon living in some huge castle?” I wondered aloud.
Growing up, we all had heard tales of the lavish lifestyle of the Deveraux and how filthy rich they were.
“Yes, our pack is not even a small fish for them so hopefully, I can weasel away without offering your hand in marriage. So don't you worry about saving this pack, Violet. Your father is capable enough to do so without dangling his daughter’s life as a carrot.”
He gave me reassurance but I still felt worthless. First Nate threw me out and now Elijah too hadn’t said a word about the alliance or the Emerald project so far.
“I wished I could do something” I muttered helplessly.
Dad gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze and repeated. “You have done enough. Now get some rest, your mother was going to rope me in for your movie date that you ditched but you can enjoy now.”
Mom gave my dad a sideways glance but he quickly gave her a peck on the cheek and hurried for a meeting.
Meanwhile, I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore and crashed into the bed. I had been awake for over 24 hours and my brain couldnt function so I let exhaustion consume me.
I slept the entire night and was only awakened by the sunrays obscuring my face.
Pulling the pillows over my face, I tried to hide but mom’s voice woke me up.
“Come on, you can’t keep sleeping all day. We're going to have lots of fun today.”
Fun.
That word immediately made Cassie’s face swim in front of my eyes and I jumped up. She was hospitalized and I had promised to visit her everyday.
But then I recalled Elijah and the way his warriors called me names while he just listened, silently agreeing to them.
And I shoved down that painful memory before it would engulf me again.