46 - Hypocrite

THALIA ZAHARA.

“Thalia,” Emmag walked up to me, guilt written all over his face, “are you okay?”

“You suggested the lie? Why?” I did not let him breathe. I wished to hear more about the lies they have kept hidden from me and I will not stop until I get a satisfactory response. “How many more lies have you told to my face?”

“I don’t know what I was thinking. I was too blinded by my desire to protect you.”

“You didn’t know me back then, why would you have bothered about my feelings?”

“Because I uh…” He scratched his head. “I should not say this, but I’ll talk either way.” It seemed like the words that would be following that statement would not be very likable. I watched as his chest heaved while a thick breath left him.

“I have liked you for a long time, Thalia. The days Alpha Ezra and I spent watching and following Lycan Octavius were blissful because you were there.” His lips formed a shy smile and he looked away. “I looked forward to our stakeouts because it meant I’d get to see you. I know I am being extra weird right now, but the feelings I had pushed me to want to protect you. After Octavius rejected you, you were in too much pain and it could not be helped. I had to assure Alpha Ezra that we should keep the full truth of your situation from you.”

“I am angrier that I didn’t learn about the truth until tragedy struck. Don’t you get that part of my feelings? I hate that you two stood aside because of your mission and watched me and my family get slowly erased by the Lycan’s tactics.”

“I am so, so, so sorry, Thalia. I was not bold enough to allow my feelings to take the lead back then. If I had allowed it, perhaps we would be singing a different tale right now.”

I sighed. “What else are you two hiding from me? Are you trying to play a game with my feelings? I am a little fool unknowingly participating in a sick game of power?”

“What are you talking about?” He seemed confused.

My teeth gritted, not with anger, but with an exploding desire to figure out what to do with Alpha Ezra’s gestures.

“Why is Alpha Ezra talking about being mates? Didn’t you tell me that he wasn’t one to believe in such things?”

Emmag raised one of his brows. “Do you really think Alpha Ezra is lying?”

“Why?”

“Because I think so too. I think he’s trying to mess with me since he knows I like you. I don’t buy the whole sudden mate thing.” Emmag sounded certain. “Thalia, be careful. Don’t allow Alpha Ezra to sway you. I know he is a good-looking man, so it’s not difficult for him to attract attention. But, make sure he doesn’t sway you. Whatever he is planning might hurt you greatly in the end.”

“Huh.” Too late, Emmag. Too late. That man’s gorgeousness has been long etched into my soul.

“I won’t speak anymore about liking you,” he quickly added. “I can tell I have been pushed deep into the friend zone.”

“But…” My eyes narrowed. I could detect he had some unsaid words.

“But nothing.” He dug his hands into his pocket.

“But something,” I smirked. “You were going to say that I should not love Alpha Ezra, weren’t you?”

“Thalia, I have no right to tell you who to love. But it will be great if you are wary of the Alpha. It could get hard if you are too involved with him.”

“I knew you had something more to add,” I teased him while my coconut head chopped his advice away from my memory.

He grinned, his eyes smiling as much as his lips were. Then, he gestured at the doors and we walked out together.

“Is there anything else you want to ask?”

“Hmm.” The click-clack of our shoes filled the air. “I want to know if the wolf thing is true. Am I truly not wolfless?”

“I can’t answer that question. I don’t know what Alpha Ezra is thinking of in that regard. Maybe he saw something.”

“I see,” I whispered while my forehead bore creases as I pondered on Alpha Ezra’s claims about my supposedly dormant wolf. What could he have seen? Or…could it have something to do with that fireball that covered us during the heavy rain and that time we kissed at that Night Stream party?

“Why? Do you wish to have a wolf?”

I almost laughed. “What sort of question is that? Who in our kingdom would not want a wolf? It’s only my misfortune that I ended up without one. But, if it could end up happening, I would love to have a wolf. Even if it is for a few minutes, I want to know what it feels like.”

“It is a nice feeling. A supernaturally nice feeling.” His shoulder nudged mine. “As long as you are alive, there’s always hope that something will change.”

“Speaking of…” My chest instantly felt heavier. “The package you mentioned, where is it?”

“It’s in your former room. I can bring it over later. Are you sure you want to go through it now?”

“I am confused and curious about it. If I don’t check it now, my soul won’t be able to rest.”

“Do you mind me going through the contents before I send it over? I want to confirm that nothing dangerous is inside it.”

“That is okay.”

“Alright.”

We walked the rest of the journey in silence and I used that chance to prepare my mind for whatever I was about to find in the package while my anger towards Alpha Ezra and Emmag finally disappeared.

It was then I realized how much of a hypocrite I was. I just exhibited fury at Ezra and Emmag for lying to me, but I am no better. There is something I have kept hidden from them. I have even lied about it to their faces. It is only right that I wrong my right before I am found out. I would not be able to live with myself if I am caught with my lie. I know they won’t hate me too much for it, but I truly would hate myself.

“There is something you should know,” I gently started my confession.

“About what?”

“I have also lied to you and Alpha Ezra.”

He stopped walking and I did the same. His face showed great interest in what I was about to say as he asked, “Lied about what?”

“There is someone else.” My gaze fell to the ground. “There is someone I have been secretly meeting. He is from the Night Stream pack and I tell him about everything.”

“And by everything, you mean…”

“Everything we have been up to.”