104. A Moment of Truth
Another long moment passes between us and I was barely able to keep my composure. He doesn’t back away from me, his body’s heat scorching through my clothes. But try as I might, I couldn’t step away from him.
“I wondered why I was suddenly having these strong feelings, wanting to be near you. To hold you.”
His hands gently graze my arms, over my stomach, until I was completely embraced in his arms. His chest hitting my back and the electrifying chemistry between us exploded. He buries his face into my neck making me close my eyes in the wonderous sensations.
He then lets me go quickly, taking my hand and we rush the rest of the way to the cliff. I was slightly out of it as his nearness had completely overwhelmed me. As soon as I saw the drop, did I get my full bearings back.
I snatch my hand out his grip and stare at him with wide eyes. He walks a few more steps until he was nearly at the edge looking out to the lake beyond. The sky above was beginning to show the night stars as the sunset gave a dark orange and pink hue.
His solute was nearly cast in shadow as he stared out. I couldn’t bring myself to take another step as memories came crashing back of that night, I had been chased off this very cliff.
“It was right here where she did it. It was right here where you were pushed.”
“W-What?” I choke, my limbs shaking.
He finally looks over to me. “Hazel. She died right here.”
My heart felt like it stopped beating. What did he just say?
“She jumped off right here that day. The day that Slater rejected her. It was also here that you were forcibly pushed to your death…twenty years ago.”
My vision was obscured as tears fell uncontrollably. I just kept shaking my head as he starts to walk towards me again, saying the most vulnerable part of me out loud.
“It was here that my father had ordered those rogues to end your life, wasn’t it?” His voice was now shaking. “It was also here that you vowed to take revenge against him, against my people, against me.”
“S-Shane-”
“You vowed to Moon Goddess, you made a wish with your last dying thought, didn’t you?”
“S-Shane, p-please-” I quickly back away as he came closer to me.
“She brought you back through Hazel. So that you can take on that revenge.” He was getting closer and angrier.
“You plan to destroy us all. To do to us what he had done to you.”
My sobs came out ugly and broken as I nearly trip over myself to get away from his demanding presence. I flinch when he took my face into his rough hands, forcing me to look up at him. Tears brimmed his own eyes as he stares into mine.
“But despite knowing that. I still have feelings for you, deep feelings. Feelings that don’t plan to go away. Tell me, if I let you have your revenge, will that put your mind at ease? Will it put all of your people at peace?”
Tears slide down his face as he looks tortured and torn. “Will killing my father, Marcus…me…bring your soul the relief it has been searching for?”
“NO!” I sobbed out in despair, gripping his hands with my own. “No, I don’t want that anymore! I do’t want you to die, I don’t want anyone else to die!”
He sniffs as he gently wipes his thumbs on my wet cheeks. “Then what is it you do want?” He whispers.
Catching my breath, desperately trying to hold any more tears from falling, I look at him. “I just want to live. I just want to live a life that was wrongfully taken from me. I just want my people to be happy and safe, to be able to heal from what has been done to us.”
I start to cry again as he listens. “I just want to be with you.” I whisper.
He places his forehead against mine, closing his eyes, shaking with so much emotion. “I would have given it to you. Your revenge. If its what would make you heal your broken soul, I would have done it.”
I closed my eyes tightly. “Why? Why would you ever do such a thing for my sake? You would sacrifice yourself? Your own people…for me? That’s so stupid and foolish.”
He removes his head from mine and looks clearly into my eyes. “Maybe it is stupid and foolish. Maybe even selfish but it’s only because I’m in love with you.”
My heart twists in such sorrow at his words yet overlapping was pure joy. He was definitely foolish. He would risk everything he holds dear to him just because he wanted me to get the peace that I craved for those who were murdered by his father and Marcus. He had planned to die among his pack. To think he ever thought I could live without him.
“And not as Hazel, but as you.”
He pulls me closer to him, his fingers now tracing my cheek. “I love you…Safina.”
He whispers my name for the very first time, making me break down in sobs at hearing it coming from his lips. I let it sink in. Sink into my brain, my body, my very soul. It was the most sweetest, joyous, remarkable words that I have ever heard. It was like I had been waiting all my existence to hear them coming just from him. Only ever him.
And I couldn’t help but messily say back,
“I love you too.”