35- Shadows of Betrayal
POV Lunara Grimwald:
Before, it was my father who kept me captive. The only taste of freedom I’d ever had was during the months I spent running with Elowen. But then he came. He trapped me, humiliated me, despised me, kept me from finding my sister. And now, he betrayed me.
If only he respected me. The safety of being by his side was comforting. I could see a life there, even with restrictions.
More tears slid down my face, dripping from my chin and wetting the ground.
"And it seems your garden has more visitors than expected."
Thalira had warned me, tried to alert me of how irrelevant I was to the alpha.
I stood up, wiping my hands on my dress. I kicked off my flats and walked toward the water. It was cold against my overheated skin.
I shivered as I went deeper, the water rising.
I stopped at my waist and then threw myself in, sinking.
I went still, eyes closed, floating with my limp body.
I let the water take my tears, wash my face, my body.
Breathing wasn’t that important. I was already drowning inside, suffocating every second.
Without my sister, without the freedom I thought I had, without the life I once dreamed of.
I opened my eyes and stared at the reflection of the moon, blurred by the water. Edric didn’t deserve my sadness. He didn’t deserve anything from me—other than contempt. Complete and absolute contempt.
His goal was to trample me, to make it clear how insignificant I was.
I wasn’t free. And I never would be.
I would never have the life I dreamed of. The perfect home, the mate of my dreams, and pups to love.
I was nothing. And I would never be anyone.
My teeth chattered and my hair stood on end as I dragged my feet back home. I hugged my body, trying to contain the cold, but it was pointless.
The dress, clinging to my skin, felt heavy and uncomfortable, molding to my thighs with every step.
I pressed my fingers tightly, holding the flats in my right hand.
The lights of the house were on, and silence stretched around me. I climbed the porch steps, feeling as though my muscles weighed tons. I was walking stiff, rigid from the cold.
I pushed the door open with a trembling arm and stepped into the anteroom, breathing in relief as I was welcomed by the cozy warmth. The fire in my chest settled as well.
I inhaled deeply.
Fresh pine and damp earth.
I squeezed my eyes shut and leaned against the closed door. The pain in my desolate heart was a damn drug to endure.
I thought that after everything I had already been through, I could never be hurt so badly again. But I was wrong.
As long as I allowed myself to feel anything, there would always be someone ready to wound me. And I would love, I would adore, to be indifferent to that, but that wasn’t the case. I couldn’t. I didn’t trust people easily, and for that reason, what Edric had done didn’t hurt as much as it should have. What hurt was his disregard and the humiliation he put me through.
“For a second, I thought I’d have to go after you.”
His voice echoed through the room. Though I couldn’t see him, I knew he was in the living room, near the window. “But I felt you weren’t far. I gave you a vote of confidence, little wolf. That should count for something.”
I clenched my teeth so hard my head began to ache. I tasted the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.
If he were a decent man, capable of feeling something good, I’d say he was blaming himself for what he had done.
I took a deep breath, swallowing air through my mouth because I didn’t want to smell him. Mustering courage, I pushed myself away from the door and took a few staggering steps forward.
As I suspected, Edric was standing by the window, observing the dark forest landscape at night. With his hands in his pockets and his back to me, he looked a little… tense.
I ignored him and started walking toward the stairs. He turned toward me, frowning and parting his lips, surprised to see me.
“What the hell happened to you?” he asked, taking a step in my direction.
I caught my reflection in the window. My hair clung to my face and neck, dripping, leaving a trail of water wherever I went. My clothes clung tightly to my body, outlining each of my curves, even the hardened tips of my breasts.
I gave him a bored look before turning back to the staircase. I barely touched the railing and stepped onto the first stair when he stopped beside me, moving too quickly.
“Who did this to you?” he hissed.
“Myself,” I replied flatly. His thick brows arched.
“Why?”
I blew out an exasperated sigh.
“I thought a night swim would be a good idea.”
He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back, trying to tame the rebellious curls.
“What the fuck is your problem?” he growled, eyeing me up and down.
You are my problem! A problem with no solution, because I would love to rip your eyes out, but hurting you physically would mean hurting myself too. And I was already too sick emotionally to add that to my list.
I glared at him, words trapped on my tongue. I wanted to scream at him, hit him, let out all the anger and frustration.
But I just… stood there, staring at him with boredom and disdain, giving him what he deserved. Nothing.
“I didn’t know a night swim was on your list of things I can’t do,” I teased.
He blinked, confused, watching me through his blue eyes. The silver in them was mild that night.
“With the temperature dropping lower and lower?”
A biting smile curved my lips.
“I felt uncomfortably hot.”
He swallowed hard, and a faint pinkish hue colored his face.
“Fine,” he agreed, turning away.
I climbed another step when I felt something strange. I stopped and looked down, confused. Edric turned to my side almost immediately. He inhaled, nostrils flaring.
“You’re bleeding…” he murmured, his eyes taking on a vivid golden hue.
I lifted the dress, peeling it from my skin, and bent down, sliding my hand between my thighs. When I raised it before my face, there was blood staining the tips of my fingers.
“You were right,” I said, looking at him. “I didn’t get pregnant. What a blessing, don’t you think?” I turned my fingers in his direction.
The gold softened, his natural color returning, revealing the sorrow he felt about the matter. His feelings prickled on my tongue. I ignored them. Whatever pain he felt was still too little for me.
He reached out, touching my wrist. Something happened inside me.
In the blink of an eye, I was in front of him, near the railing. In the next, I slammed against the wall, the deafening thud ringing in my ears as sharp pain coursed through me. It was as if my wolf had taken control, hurling me away from him. Away from his touch.
“Don’t touch me,” I snarled, baring my fangs, my voice rough and hoarse.
Edric widened his eyes and stepped back, surprised by my reaction.
I blinked, regaining control.
She was… offended by him. My wolf felt truly betrayed by Edric.
God, that was a little shocking.
He took a few more steps, widening the distance between us. He raised his arms, frowning and pressing his lips together, worried, confused, and… guilty.
“Alright, little wolf. Relax. I won’t touch you anymore.”
“Great!” I snapped.
I stared at him for a few more seconds before turning to the stairs and climbing the rest quickly. When I reached my room, I slammed the door shut and locked it.
I stared at the door for a few seconds, breathing hard, before turning and rushing to the bathroom.
All I wanted was a hot shower and a cozy bed. And of course, some pads.