Chapter 56

My breath was stolen from me, and ice replaced my blood, chilling me from my heart.

Logically, I knew what he was capable of. To conspire with Alpha Raymond for the demise of my entire pack. His entire pack. The pack he swore to protect above all else.

He was capable of orchestrating the slaughter of those closest to him, no matter how big a part he played. Any part he played was too much.

But somehow, hearing that he wanted me dead still shook me to my very essence. That part of me that was still rooted in girlhood, the one that still unwillingly clung to my past.

I slipped back into who I used to be before this all for a blissful and haunting moment.

The child in me that knew him as my uncle, my confidant, my family, and knew he wouldn’t do anything to harm me. He would protect me at all costs.

Protect. To have protection. Be protected.

Something so foreign now it made me crumble.

My labored breathing and heaving chest brought me back to reality once I felt I was gasping for air.

I wasn’t a child; I wasn’t protected.

I realized that the blanket of shock I was holding since I found out Miles was behind it still weighed on me, however lightly. Maybe I pushed it away. Maybe I processed as much as I could. But now, this fully hit me. I grasped at my stomach as a cocktail of betrayal and anguish hit my and my former self.

“Simone?” Ezra said from far away, above a surface I was swimming under. “Simone,” he repeated; this time, my name rang through me and echoed through my ears.

“Oh,” I thought I said, but I couldn’t be sure the words formed out of my mind. “Oh,” I tried again, and it was more myself. I had finally found my breath.

My ‘uncle,’ the one who somehow harnessed power not of his own.

He wanted me dead. He asked Ezra to kill me.

I let that sink in and, with it, a hard, sharp anger that pushed away most of the hurt. I was comfortable with anger; I was familiar with it. I focused on the fire and the promise of his death until I could turn to look at Ezra. He had thankfully settled back into his calm composure.

“And?” I asked, I was unable to leave the hardness the anger brought from my voice. “Will you follow his orders?”

He sat back in the chair, his face more shocked than I had ever seen, than I thought possible from him. He was staring at me, possibly gaping if he could.

“Simone, really?” he asked. He sounded hurt and possibly angry.

“Just checking,” I murmured, my head dropped.

He was on the floor in front of me, between my legs, before I could process him moving. His warm hands cupped the sides of my cheeks, and I settled into them, feeling the weight of everything lessen, if only a bit.

“Simone, look at me,” he said, his voice the promise of thunder passing, a soft rumble telling you the worst was behind. I opened my eyes and met his brown and blue ones. “I am here to protect you.” I pursed my lips and he gave me his half-smile I loved. “Well, I know that wasn’t why I was here first.”

“But now, I will protect you,” he promised. “Always,” he added.

“Me too,” I whispered and leaned into his palms, putting a hand up to hold the back of one of his.

This felt right. Warmth and content, drowsy butterflies slowly glided through me, but a strange torrent of emotions pricked the back of my eyes.

“Simone—”

I sat up, hearing a familiar pair of footsteps I didn’t expect to be together—not up here. “Someone's coming,” I whispered. I need you to ask your brothers for one thing,” I added and whispered it to him.

“I’ll get it,” he promised. “Library later? If you can?” I nodded.

His hands were off me in an instant, and I was left with a coldness that rattled through me. All the warmth, even from the fire, seemed to seep away.

I stood and brushed my black dress off, taking a seat in front of my mirror, staring vacantly ahead.

A quick knock sounded. “Come in,” I called airlily.

Sam opened the door, and next to him stood Tia, who wore a wide smile and couldn’t stop bouncing up and down.

“Is this a good time?” Sam asked, looking around as if someone might be there.

I nodded and motioned for him to come in. I went to sit back in the chair I just vacated.

“I’ll be outside if you need me,” Tia whispered in a way that was all too loud.

“Thank you,” Sam told her, and I offered her a smile. Once the door was shut, he added only to me, “Very enthusiastic that one.”

I nodded again, with an attempt at a smile, but I was still trying to collect my scattered emotions. My first impression of Tia was that overly skittish Omega; the fact that she was even comfortable enough around Sam now was a huge improvement.

“I won’t stay long,” he said. “I know I’m not supposed to be here.”

“It’s okay; the banquet is probably in full swing.”

“It is,” he agreed and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to see you sooner.”

It really hadn’t been that long, but every day now felt endless and over too quickly at the same time.

“How are you?” he asked, studying me. The familiar kindness was there, but it was sitting over a hard, almost wary face.

I took a moment to respond. How was I?

“Okay,” I replied.

I was terrified, filled with adrenaline, hopeful, excited, warm butterflies danced with Ezra’s lingering touch, momentarily holding the dread that lingered since I saw Miles, felt Miles. It was everything at once.

Okay, seemed like a good middle line.

“Okay,” he repeated, or maybe he was agreeing. “Do you still intend to—”

“Yes,” I responded.

I might not be certain of my feelings, but of my plan, my vengeance… Of that, I was sure.

The challenge was going ahead, and if it weren’t… then Alpha Raymond wouldn’t be alive much longer anyway.

“Simone,” Sam said with a deep sigh.

“What is it?” I tried not to snap, but I thought we were past this, his questions, his doubts. I knew they still lingered, but I thought he was past asking me.

“Nothing new.” He shook his head. “I just hoped…”

“Any news?” I asked, trying to move on.

His lips formed a thin line. “Not really.” He shook his head. I’ve still been trying to mention it in passing, but…” He shrugged. “Nothing new; there might not even be enough of a backing,” he admitted; I could sense the hopefulness in his tone. I hated it.

“If there isn’t a challenge, then what?” he asked. “Will you pack a bag and come back with me? I’ll protect you.”

I shook my head slightly. “I have things to take care of here, but I will consider it,” I responded. It didn’t feel like that much of a lie, but I wasn’t sure why. He met my eyes with a mix of horror and sadness. “I will be okay,” I promised him. “I can take care of myself.”

He swallowed and nodded, but his eyes never left mine. “I will be there to support you tomorrow and every day after.” Sam stood and reached out a hand. I placed mine in his and shook it.

“Alpha,” he said, nodding lowly—a bow.

My lips curled into a smile, and the rightness of that title shot through me.

“Same goes for you; I will support you,” I replied, “Alpha Sam.”