Page 41 of Hunted

"I know you're scared and confused right now," I say gently. But I give you my word: I’ll never intentionally harm you."

I pause, letting my promise sink in.

"Will you at least let me try to explain?" I ask. "To help you understand the demons of my past?"

Zara hesitates, conflicting emotions playing across her delicate features. Finally, she gives a small, tentative nod. Relief washes over me. This is my chance to break the chains of my past, to step into the light with her by my side.

I step closer. The darkness that has shaped my very existence hangs over me. But as I gaze into Zara's eyes, I know this is the reckoning moment. The time has come to lay bare the secrets that have haunted me for far too long.

"My father was an animal, a savage ruled by primal desires," I begin, my voice low. "From the moment I was old enough to understand, I saw how he used his role as the alpha to take whatever woman he wanted."

I pause, old memories threatening to overwhelm me. Zara watches me intently, her body tense.

"He would force himself on the women under our roof in front of me and Tor from a young age. At every turn, he would exert his dominance. My mother, my aunts—no one was safe from his depravity."

I run a hand over my face, shame creeping through me.

"When my aunt, his sister, became pregnant with Tor, I felt a sick relief that the child was male. Had Tor been born a girl..." I trail off, bile rising in my throat at the thought of my father fucking a possible sister before me.

Zara's eyes widen in understanding, her skin paling.

"My father ruled our household like his personal harem. The women were conditioned to obey his every command, no matter how vile. The boys were taught in his image.”

I meet Zara's gaze, seeing my anguish reflected in her eyes.

"Tor and I share the same cursed blood, bound by the sins of our father. But I vowed long ago to break that cycle, to claw my way out of the darkness that shaped me."

My hands curl into fists at my sides. Zara's eyes are wide, her lips parted in anticipation as she awaits the darkest truth of my existence.

"When I came of age, my father summoned me," I begin, my voice hoarse. "He looked at me with those cold, dead eyes and said there could only be one alpha."

I swallow hard, the memories threatening to overwhelm me.

"It was a battle to the death. Kill or be killed. Much like this one with Tor today. That was the only way to assume the mantle of leadership in our twisted household."

Zara's hand flies to her mouth, stifling a gasp. I can see the horror in her eyes, but I press on, needing her to understand.”

I fought with everything I had, driven by a primal instinct to survive. In the end, I emerged victorious, my father's lifeless body at my feet." I pause, the weight of that moment still bearing down on me, even years later.

“But the true test was yet to come," I continue. "My mother, aunts, and the other women all looked at me with expectation."

Zara's brow furrows.

"They wanted me to assume my father's role, take them as my mates, and breed them like animals."

The words leave a bitter taste in my mouth, but I force them out, needing Zara to understand the full scope of the darkness I've escaped.

"The thought of continuing that cycle of depravity sickened me to my core. I couldn't bring myself to become the monster my father was."

I take a shuddering breath, the memories threatening to overwhelm me.

"So I left. I turned my back on that twisted household. I vowed never to return, never to perpetuate the cycle of abuse and subjugation. However, I did take with me a dark blood lust that I struggled to satiate."

My gaze meets Zara's, and I see the tears glistening in her eyes.

"That's the truth, Zara. The ugly, twisted truth of my past. I know it's hard to comprehend, but I needed you to understand the depths of darkness I've escaped but not been untouched by."

I reach out, my fingers brushing her cheek gently.

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