Chapter 61 Impact
Ruel's POV
“Sit.” I say, and although my tone is flat, Elric knows there's no room for objections.
He stands still, his eyes on me. My jaw tightens when he doesn't move at once. His disobedience is deliberate and I know it because his gaze is studious like he's trying to get me to snap.
“Are you that scared of me now?” I ask, irritation slipping through my tone.
Ruel scoffs. “You wish. And stop talking like I've ever been scared of you. You don't have a bone in you I can't break.”
My lips tilt upwards. He doesn't have his usual jovial tone but just having him crack a joke is enough.
But then Elric's eyes drop to the table. Immediately, without sparing my action a second thought, I reach for the physiology books which are still open.
Preventing Elric’s gaze from lingering too long, I place the beta books neatly on top of the alpha one, covering it like I never opened it.
Elric's gaze snaps back to mine. He exhales and finally sits, the old chair creaking under his weight.
“You’re hiding things again,” he says. “Don’t do that.”
I lean back slowly then say, “I didn’t mean to hide anything from you.” I watch him for a moment. His jaw is tight but he still doesn't say anything about what we both know is on his mind.
“I was surprised too,” I say calmly. “When I found out Ira is a stray.”
I know we've spoken about this before but we couldn't get deep in it as his attention was needed.
“When did you find out?” He mutters.
I release a sigh. “You've asked this before.”
“You never gave the answer.” He responds.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say.
“It does,” he snaps. “And you know it does.”
It only does because you feel I've known all along. You want to know how much I trust you by how long I kept a sensitive secret from you. That's only going to mislead you.
“It’s irrelevant.” I blurt out.
“Do you still trust me?” Elric says, his words proving my thoughts as he leans forward.
“Yes,” I say at once. “I do trust you.”
“I don't.” Krist hisses inside me.
“Then tell me precisely when you found out.”
“Knowing when I found out changes nothing.”
“It changes everything,” he argues. “Because timing tells me how bad this is.”
I don't say a word.
“All these years together and you don't trust me? It makes me feel like I’m standing on thin ice. Then it means I've been stupid to think you'll have my back no matter what. If you can't trust me, you can't defend me if ever the time comes.”
“You are making a big deal out of nothing.”
“And you are invalidating my feelings. When you are the one who kept something so sensitive from me. You also didn't tell me she was is your mate until I figured it out. You also didn't intend to let me know about this.”
I breathe out through my nose while Krist stirs with unease, not liking the conversation.
Elric’s gaze drops to the books on the table. “What kind of stray is she?”
I glare at the door behind him, staying quiet.
His eyes flick back to my face. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
I still don’t respond, regretting telling him to sit. I should have allowed him leave.
“That’s why you won’t tell me when you found out,” he continues. “Because if you do, you'll have to say how you found out and then I’ll know what kind of stray she is.”
I feel Krist bare his teeth inside me. “Send him away,” he growls.
Elric lifts his head. “How do you even know she’s a stray?”
I turn away slightly, staring at the wall. “I can't just send him away. He’s my brother.
“He is not your mate. He's not the one who need our greatest protection.”
He would never betray me.
“Everyone betrays,” Krist answers darkly.
“Her hair,” I say.
Elric frowns. “And what about it?”
“It’s white.”
He stares at me. “No, it’s not, it’s red. You’ve seen it yourself.”
“I know what I saw,” I say quietly.
“Then explain how,” he demands. “Because the last I checked, there's no trace of white hair on her. Or… did you have sex with her? Is that how you knew?”
“I can’t tell… And of course I didn't sleep with someone I'm trying to break off a bond with.”
He scoffs. “So you know her hair is white, but you can’t tell me how you know. Do you hear yourself?”
I do, and I hate how much sense he's making.
To explain would mean crossing a line I cannot uncross. It would mean exposing something that should never leave my mouth. Exposing some that will give me a hard time with my wolf.
Only one kind of being with white hair cannot hide their true form when they when they slip into that deeper state… no matter what they use as disguise, A shift into sempyr state can make them transparent, unable to hide.
But that mostly happens to young sempyrs who haven't learned the art of it.
“Ruel.” Elric's voice drops. “She isn’t just a stray, is she?”
My spine stiffens, my sight sharpening as Krist glares at Elric.
“No. Don’t answer that.” Krist warns, his doubt multiplying when Elric shakes his head.
“This is insane.” he says running a hand down his face.