Chapter 84 - The Unforgiving Luna

"Like the one in front of you?" She smiled and I pulled her to sit on my thighs.

"What have you been up to today?"

"Just looking around" she sighed "And meeting alot of sweet people here"

"I see you enjoyed it"

"I did" she said "Ever since I turned eighteen, I didn't know how to be myself. I was always pretending. Making sure I said the right thing and making no slip ups in my identity reveal and making sure to impress everyone so my foster parents will continue to be good to me"

"Did they ever hurt you?" I stroked her back as I asked her. Goddess knew I won't have mercy on them if they did.

"No" she chuckled "They were nice, maybe?"

"Maybe?"

She chuckled again, watching my face as she answered "No. I wanted to see what you'd look like if I said that"

"And what did I look like?"

"Like you were going to hurt them if they weren't nice to me?"

She was right.

I let my hands drop to her waist as I held her "I won't forgive anyone who messes with you. Not even myself"

There was silence between us for some seconds then I felt her hands rubbing the back of my neck to my ear, a soft growl rumbled in my chest as we held each other's gaze.

"Are you seriously not going to eat something?" She asked, changing the subject.

"Not if you've brought it to me yourself" I smiled and released her from my hold as she took the food towards the sofa and placed it on the table.

I followed her, sitting on the sofa with her next to me as she set the food in front.

"Dig in"

"I don't mind being fed"

"I do mind!!"

I chuckled at her reaction "Then eat with me"

"Charlotte already stuffed me up with food. I'll throw up if I eat more"

"I see" I nodded and started to eat while she watched me.

I could see there was something she wanted to say to me but she was hesitant and I didn't ask because I knew what it was.

"Is there something you want to say to me?" Alas, I couldn't help it. I couldn't watch her like that.

"Yes, Kieran" she answered "It's about Grayson. We haven't talked about him"

I couldn't swallow the food in my mouth when she mentioned him but I had to. Forcefully.

"Can we not?"

"We have to. He already killed the King"

"And he will be dealt with, accordingly"

"How?"

"I don't know yet but you have to trust me that he will"

She sighed, definitely not satisfied with that. I watched how one of her legs were shaking and she bit her fingers as if there was a lot on her mind she was keeping inside.

"Hazel?" I called her and she looked at me "Do you know why I didn't take you back to the palace?"

She shook her head.

"Because I didn't want you to be in an environment that is so chaotic. At least for now. We still have time. I want you to be truly happy even if it lasts only for a second. I want to at least see you like that, once. I want you to take a break from all of the stress you've been through."

"You want me to do nothing while Grayson is out there?"

"I'll deal with Grayson. I promise you. I know he must have done some really bad things to you. I know all of it and I know how you feel--"

"No, you don't" she stood up and I sighed, going to her side. There was tears in her eyes when she looked up at me.

"Grayson is mine to kill!!!" her eyes were filled with determination and something else. A cruel glint. "I want to pull out his heart with my bare hands and hang it somewhere, somewhere I could always see it. As a trophy" she swallowed and released a breath.

Her reaction told me she had indeed found out the truth about her family. Something I had only figured out hours ago.

She seemed really angry. Like she had been hiding all of her pains all this while, like she would burst soon and when she does, it won't look good one bit.

"Grayson killed them" she started, "All this while I suspected the King but it was Grayson. He killed-- h-he killed my parents"

"And you want me to just sit here? I can't Kieran. All I can think about is how to destroy him. I cannot bear to see him getting what he wants. I want him gone. I want him to feel the same pain I felt, the same destruction he caused me but it seems impossible" she shook her head "He killed his own father! He is a monster who cannot even feel. How am I supposed to deal with someone like this? Tell me!"

"There is one way to deal with a monster." I held her shoulders gently as I told her "It's by becoming one yourself. Is that what you want? If you're not going to think about me then think about Ryan. He wouldn't want to see you become a monster, Hazel. He will always want to see his sweet sister who cares and worry about him every second. Do you want to lose your only family for revenge?"

She bit her lips and stepped away from me. I could she was thinking about it.

She swallowed as she looked up at me then stormed out of the room.

I knew it would take a while for her to calm down after that burst out earlier so I let her be. I didn't follow her even though I wanted to.

"Keep an eye on her" I sent a mindlink to Williams and fell back on the sofa.

Everything was going well just a while ago but mentioning Grayson ruined it. It was what I had been avoiding. I also wanted to kill him myself.

I didn't want to think about all of the things he must've made her do in the time he had taken her. He must've tried to cleanse her for the sacrifice.

I hit the glass table hard and it shattered in front of me but at least it helped me deviate my thoughts from him. Thinking about it made me want to rush up there and kill him but I still have to be rational.

If I was going to kill him, then I have to make sure there are no mistakes.

My eyes fell on the laptop and the flash drive that was still in it. I picked it up and skimmed through the videos.

I did find something. Something that could overturn this game.

Like I thought, Ethan had a reason for giving this to me. This is something he could've used for himself but he gave it to me instead and I couldn't help but wonder what he would want in return.

It must be something equally precious.

....

Hazel's Pov.

Tears filled my eyes as I stormed my way out of Kieran's office and just... took off.

I found myself in a garden filled with beautiful and vibrant flowers. There was a bench so I just sat and took in a deep sigh.

I closed my eyes as I tried to remember it all. To remember that night.

Waking up from a bad dream and thinking nothing of it. Coming down the stairs, smelling blood and finding Mom... dead and there was Dad too and I had thought Ryan was dead too.

That night was traumatic for me and I had always tried not to think about it but now I let myself remember everything. It was still so vivid in my mind.

How everywhere had looked.

The pain I felt when the realization hit me that I had just lost everything. Although it'd felt like a dream then. I prayed so hard it was but no, it was very real that when everything sank in, it hit me hard.

I felt my heart tightening in pain. As if someone was squeezing it.

It was better when I knew nothing but worse and horrid when I found out they had actually died because of me. Because of the blood I carried within me.

I fu-cking didn't ask for it!!!

Why do I have to be so unlucky and get my parents killed?

I let the tears flow down as much as I did want to, remembering my promise that night.

I would hunt and kill whoever was a part of the assassination. I will kill them all!!!

I will make sure I have their blood on my hands and remember that moment for the rest of my life.

Would it feel satisfying then?

Would I not feel this pain that I feel anymore?

Would I be able to let go of everything?

I couldn't help touching Kieran's mark on my neck. He was right though.

I have to become a monster to beat Grayson. I have to give up on the people I love for revenge.

Was it worth it?

"Freya?" A finger flicked in front of me and I blinked twice, releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding as I looked up to see who it was.

"Ryan?" I called. It was only him who still called me by that name.

"I've been calling you for a while. What were you thinking about?" He took a seat next to me and I looked around, wondering how he was able to find me here.

"I uhmm.... wanted to see Kieran and happened to overhearf your talk with him so I followed you here"

"Oh," my lips parted "You heard everything?"

"I heard just enough. I was right there when you left but you didn't see me"

"Guess I was too engrossed" I faked a laugh and stiffened when Ryan placed a hand on my shoulder.

We stared at each other for a while and I saw him swallow, the corner of his lips then stretched into a slight smile.

"In the last two years, even though we've grown and had been apart. I don't think anything changed between us"

"That's a lie" I said and he laughed.

"We were always fighting two years ago but now--"

"I cannot bear to fight with you" I completed.

"Because of Mom and Dad? Or because you want to play the role of my Mom and act mature and not pick on every little thing and make sure I am always happy"

I glanced at him with a smile "You got it"

He laughed "I don't mind you yelling at me or hitting me. I don't mind you acting like my mom even though I'm just two years younger."

"Are you sure?" I smiled, a suggestive look on my face and he quickly shifted away from me a bit.

"I know you're going to abuse this right"

"Why not?" I chuckled. "You just gave me permission to hit you if I feel like it. I didn't make you, you offered to be my punching bag"

"You didn't change one bit. You're twisting my words to your advantage"

"Because I can"

He sighed "Fine. You do know how much I love you right? You're my only family now and I am afraid of losing you. If I lose you too then, I don't think there will be another reason for me to live"

There was silence as I bit the insides of my cheek then took his hands in mine and gave them a squeeze.

"Is it because of what you heard?"

He nodded "I don't know what it's all about but that man-- K-kieran" he said "I don't want to admit it but I can see that he wants the best for you. He's your mate afterall so naturally, yes"

"I know" I swallowed. I knew better than anyone how much Kieran cares for me.

"You don't want to lose someone like him. You're already wearing his mark" he pointed "It means that you decided to be with him right? You already chose happiness without even knowing. I hope and I pray you do not change your mind, Freya. You know I also want the best for you"

I couldn't help a smile coming to my face at his words. He had grown so much.

"What would I have done if I hadn't found you again?"

"You should thank your lucky stars"

We both laughed and somehow, I felt relieved. I felt like I could forget about everything.

"How about you? Do you not want anything?"

I knew very well he had it worse than I did. He probably saw Dad die with his own eyes because he was right there.

"Me?" He cocked a brow "I'm going to forget. I'll imagine Mom and Dad died naturally. It would be easier to live like that."

For a while, I just stared at him.

How was he more matured and sensible than I am? So much that I am jealous.

"Care for a run?" I asked "I haven't seen what your wolf looks like"

"I'll show you" he said excitedly and we stood up so we could change and transform.