Chapter 15 15
RANDOM FACTS: Every history book in Garouhil speaks of a Korvas— which in truth are only about five books but the main point is, this Korvas, does not exist.
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Kael Veyne teaches the class I’m in, but I can’t focus.
I’m not sure why, but I can’t.
And maybe it’s because for the first time, he teaches, “What do you know about the war?”
It’s a question that catches me off guard— and everyone is. Mostly because it’s a very old question that has been answered almost all of our lives that even I knew because it was taught before I fully zoned out.
Someone answers. They give the generic response everyone knows.
The Myrkr Stríð is a war that happened after certain Supernatural beings decided that they would show a race called humans their true selves in order to enslave them, causing other supernatural creatures to see it as a challenge which ended up becoming a full blown power battle.
But a certain powerful Alpha came in, picking the rest of the wolves that had survived the war and drew a ward to keep other supernatural beings from crossing in.
And they have been safe ever since here in their bubble.
“That is incorrect.” He says.
Naturally, that causes an uproar. It’s obvious his pheromones are not overwhelming this time because everyone’s head is up and they’re having opinions.
He lets them ramble— and for a moment, a tiny moment, I think he will turn to look at me but he doesn’t.
He doesn’t spare me a glance as he listens to all their yelling and screaming and when they realize he has no plans to interrupt them, they all go quiet.
It’s minutes after the noise that he says, “Do you believe that there are others like you outside the wards here? That the wards… are keeping you safe from them entering?”
“No.” Someone says. “And yes. We are all the wolves left. After Korvas—”
“Korvas?” My own voice surprises me.
It clearly surprises everyone else because they turn to look at me, the person speaking though they look confused as they nod, “Y-Yes.”
Wrong name. Wrong name.
The word rings through my head like an alarm but Kael doesn’t correct them as they face him, continuing their statement, “After Korvas saved every wolf during the war, he used his last breath to keep the ward up to protect us from extinction—”
“What makes you all so special that he would have saved you in the first place?”
That does not settle in well.
But no one answers until the class ends.
The second it does, everyone rushes to leave while I watch him, unsure of what to do, but the second I start to go close enough, an unwelcome face steps into view. “You should be on your way home.”
A thought to bare my teeth and lunge straight at his face flashed through my head but I ignored it, rolling my eyes as I say, “What? He plans on ignoring me?”
“Yes.”
What?
My brain seems to short circuit, but it’s only for a second— because I don’t want to let myself wallow in those thoughts. If he thinks ignoring me will help him in any way, then fine. He should fucking enjoy it. “I do not want to see you in my house. If I do, I will kill you.”
He doesn’t show me any emotions physically but I hear that same mockery Kael would have given me as he says, “Of course.”
I ignore it.
But my head attacks me on my way home.
Why is he ignoring me?
Is it because of what happened?
Or Aaron? Is he angry?
Silent treatment? Me? ME?
It plays through my head like a siren, threatening to rip into my skull and pull out my brain, but it all stops when I walk into my house and freeze at the door at the sight of what’s in front of me.
Rowan rises from his seat, his hands out to placate me. “Riven—”
I ignore him as I walk up to the person who should not be here— Claire, forcing her upwards as I hiss, “You don’t fucking understand English? Or what? You just want him so badly because you’re jealous I finally have someone on my side that’s not you?”
Her eyes widen, tears instantly flooding them as she tries to sign but I don’t let her.
My hand around her wrist tightens, digging hard into her skin as I snap, “Just fucking shut it.”
“Riven—?”
“It’s all your fault!” I turn to yell at Rowan, hoping to hurt him but I feel the tears falling down my eyes to my cheeks first instead, my heart already breaking as I say, “He’s here because of you. You coming back here—”
“Claire? Claire!”
Another voice rings through the living room. The moment I turned my head to see who it is, sharp pain rings through my head as my cheek burns.
Ariadne yanks Claire away from me, pulling her into her body as she turns her attention back to me, her rage clear as day as she hisses, “I told you to stay away from her!”
I wince, turning away with my eyes closed but Rowan steps in front of me, the voice he uses far more different than the one I hear him use. “That will be enough, Miss Montgomery. I will advise that you leave. Now.”
My heart feels like it’s going to rip itself out of my chest in seconds as I look forward again, my eyes falling on Claire. Her eyes move from Ariadne to me, a torn expression swelling in her eyes.
As she’s being dragged, she’s shaking her head.
Her hands stretch out, strangled cries leaving her lips.
A sob almost leaves my lips as I watch her being taken away as my legs begin to run after her and beg for her forgiveness but the second they go past the door.
I see him.
Astoria.
My blood runs cold as I stop, every nerve in my body screaming at me to run. To go as far away as I possibly can. “Get out.”
His eyes center on me. “I am not in your house. As you asked.”
All of a sudden, every emotion I have fought down piles up in my chest as I storm to him, my eyes burning from the pain of it as I say, “Call him.”
He doesn’t blink. “No.”
A tired pant leaves my lips as I rake my hand through my head. The tears are hot and humiliating and they won’t fucking stop. “Why? He only comes when he wants to fuck me? Is that it?”
Rowan’s voice sounds strange again. Strangled. “Riven—”
I push him out of the way as I walk back into the living room heading to the kitchen. My hand reaches for the first ceramic plate that’s close enough before I slam it on the wall. “If he is not fucking or threatening me, then he’s staying away from me now that my heat is gone!”
“Riven. Please—”
I take a bowl and throw it at the door. “I need him now! Call him! Call—”
The words stop in my throat, the anger I’m feeling suddenly dissolving and giving out to a crippling pain that has me crumbling to the floor, more tears running out of her eyes. “I feel like I’m going insane. Nothing is going the way it should. It feels like I can’t breathe anymore. I don’t even know what I’m doing.”
Arms slowly wrap around me, pulling me to their chest as the voice says softly, “One at a time, Blue. One at a time,”
“But how can I?” My voice sounds like I’m choking on air as I hiccup, my hands trembling as I cling onto my grandfather. “When all of me wants him to come and make it all better?”