Chapter 367: 2-3

“He’s not going to be awake for another two hours, Julia and Grant brought you a bag of-” he pointed with his chin to a small duffle bag near the sofa I was sleeping on. Reaching for it, I stood, “there’s a bathroom in the room to the left there,” he pointed down the hall. More than relieved that I wouldn’t have to leave and come back, I headed that way, entering the room I had when I was down here, I went straight to the bath turning on the show, the room filling with the steam from the water. Undressing I hop in, turning around, letting the hot water spray against my tired muscles, especially near my neck, before finally wetting my head. Distracted I washed my hair, conditioning as well, before stepping out, drying off and brushing my teeth, all while I thought over the Ryans – especially Connor. I just didn’t understand how anyone could be so cruel, to hit their own brother until he needed emergency brain surgery? What if Kieran had died? My stomach flipped just at the thought, he was so nice and kind, Kieran didn’t want any trouble yet Connor just… I shook my head. I would never do something like that to Ben… my eyes welled as my chest ached funnily. Kieran… when he woke up… there was a feeling in the pit of my stomach that made me uneasy and afraid. He already thought he was bad, that I should stay away from him… now that this happened; I knew he’d probably be pushing me further away, especially since it happened right as he dropped me off… Before I had even finished brushing my teeth, I had tears rolling down my cheeks… when I left the bathroom I stopped in my tracks. Tera was on the bed, face down; she looked up when I stepped out, her own face puffy, and eyes red. “Are you okay?” she asked. “No… I’m – I” I shrugged and she just nodded. “He’s okay now, Chelsea said,” she offered but I already knew that I was worried for a whole other reason and getting angrier. “Kieran really held your hand?” she asked her cheeks reddening. “How do you know that?” the words coming out sharper than I wanted, defensive and the small smile she wore vanishes. Her eyes widened, she glances at the door before looking back to me apologetically, “Connor was following you guys… he got upset that Kieran held your hand, touched you and didn’t hurt you, when he hurt Taryn,” she said weakly. “Your brother is no good!” I say shaking my head, “I would never do something like that to Ben-” “I know… my parents might be upset with what Chelsea did to him, but I think he deserved it, and even though he could’ve killed Kieran and he’s your-” she stops abruptly, jaw tight. I wait, “He’s your friend?” she asks but I think it’s meant to be a statement, but I nod nonetheless, “well… she had already punished him, but what he did was vicious and he disobeyed Gabriel’s order… he blindsided Kieran and could’ve killed him. Chelsea taking away his wolf was the right thing-” “What?” I ask my eyes wide as quarters, Tera just nods, “Yeah, she broke a few of his bones too, but she took his wolf away and all his memories… he doesn’t remember anything but what he did to Kieran and why Chelsea did what she did…” “Wow…” I mumble. “You don’t…” I stopped speaking to really look at her, she wasn’t happy, her face still held the worry, her eyes physical proof of her pain, but the words she was using… it – I was missing something. She didn’t, “You aren’t mad at Chelsea,” I state rather than ask. She shrugged, “not really, I’m sad that Connor was punished, and that Kieran is hurt… and you probably won’t want to be my friend-” “Why wouldn’t I?” I jumped in. “Because of how Connor treated Kieran… then he tried to hit you too…” a slow smile started to form on my lips and I shook my head, “I thought you would’ve been mad at me,” she looked up confused. “I used my gift on Connor,” I explained further. “It’s not like you used it on me, you thought he was going to hurt you…” I went to the chair sitting and pulling out a comb, “Connor said you…” she stopped playing with her fingers, “he said?” I nudged her on. “Well… that you won’t want to be my friend… since you’re you,” I cocked my head to the side. “Since you’re a princess… and Chelsea is your sister and she’s Queen,” I shook my head. “That doesn’t make any sense… I didn’t choose to be who I am, but I can choose who I’m friends with. Plus…I’ve never even had any friends,” I tell her, “Well no, I had Ben back in Middleburg.” She nodded, a small smile on her face now. I continued coming out my hair, “But as I was saying, I’m not mad with Chelsea… I mean I told him it was only a matter of time before he crossed her. Told him to apologize to you and her, and just be respectful but he was too angry… didn’t listen. I can’t be angry with her when he hurt Kieran… it’s not even the same thing. Taryn practically attacked Kieran. I’m sure Kieran only held your hand because he wanted too,” she said shaking her head, “But what do I know? I’m just a little kid, his bratty little sister,” she muttered at the end. Braiding my hair in one I stood to look out through the window, again only finding Gabriel and the same guy he was speaking too. “Where are your parents?” “They were here but left because Connor was starting to wake up and Jack said that Kieran wouldn’t be awake for another four or five hours,” I listened but hoped that they would at least come back before Kieran was awake. As I was packing up my brush and comb Tera fell into a fit of giggles and snorts, “what?” She shook her head, “its not funny, but it kinda is…” she said in between, “I’m just remembering last night, at the gathering…” she laughed harder. “I mean if that was me I would’ve just died or hid or something,” the words still had no meaning to me, “Well Lola and some boy went somewhere to be alone,” her eyes were the size of quarters, “but Chelsea brought it up at the meeting, basically telling everyone,” she giggled. “Her face was – she was so red!” maybe I had to be there… then again Kieran and I went to the library and we were alone, I went up the mountains and was with him alone then too. And in his room and even when we walked home, we were alone. With nothing left to do I sat silently, worrying my lip, wondering whether Kieran would remember me.