Page 38 of Queen of Vengeance

I was so stunned by how he looked at me that I couldn’t think properly. “You want to see them with me?”

He chuckled in the back of his throat.

At first, I thought it was because he was being cute, but the more I looked at him, the more I saw the scheming gears in his head. Then I realized he was laughing at me.

He must have thought he would get away with it because of my feelings for him.

I quickly snatched my hand away from his. “You haven’t changed my mind. What you did wasn’t right.”

“I know it wasn’t right, but I have no choice. Don’t you want a better life for us—For your grandma? Aren’t you, too, losing your house? Are you still going to sit on your high horse while you guys are sitting under a couple of trees during a storm? Think about it, Lea.”

My eyes dropped away from him to the floor as a cold shiver ran through my body.

I haven’t even considered Mema. She would be so disappointed in me if I let this slide, but if it meant keeping her safe, maybe it’s worth it. Jax isn’t asking me to partake in his illegal activity; he’s just asking me to turn a blind eye to it.

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head at the thought.

The integrity that my parents instilled in me would never allow me to pursue it, even for Jax.

“I’m sorry, Jax, but I’m afraid I will have to turn you into BPR.” My voice shook as if my body was experiencing an earthquake.

My own words tasted bitter on the end of my tongue.

The Bureau of Potion Regulations. It wasn’t a kind place…

“You’re going to turn me in? After everything we’ve been through? You know they’re going to kick me out of school. They will blacklist me from every educational institute for the rest of my life!” He was beyond shocked to hear me say that.

He must get away with so much in life to react like that. What other horrible things has he done and never had to pay penance for simply because he was charming and popular?

“I’m sorry, Jax. I don’t see any other way out of this. I can’t pretend that I didn’t see what happened.”

The way he stared into my eyes frightened me to my core.

His irises shifted from human to werewolf.

I had gotten a clear glimpse into Jax’s true anger for the first time. Was he threatening me? “Goodbye, Jax.”

I turned my back to him and marched off in the opposite direction.

Every one of my interactions with Jax had been so pleasant up until that point.

I couldn’t help but wonder if this was who he truly was underneath everything.

No, I refuse to believe that. This must have something to do with his uncle. Perhaps he’s being influenced. With Jax’s father gone, I’m sure he doesn’t have many role models to look up to.

I kept walking until I was off the school property. Then, as soon as I found a secluded spot, I stopped to catch my breath.

The warm summer air felt cool on my face from how hot it was.

I leaned over, clutching my stomach from how much it ached. I was really about to make an enemy with the only man I had ever been in love with. I never wanted anyone to look at me again the way he looked at me… Like I was the monster. After the sickness had washed over me, I looked up to the sky. “What should I do, Mom… Dad? What he was saying wasn’t wrong. The system is rigged against us. We probably have to cheat just to get ahead, but I don’t want to be that person. You raised me to be better than that… To rise above that. I wish you were here so I could talk to you.”

Hot tears dripped from my eyes before I realized.

My vision blurred from how much I was crying.

I was surprised… I had already cried so much for my parents I didn’t think I had anything left in me.

I thought sadness was like a glass of water. Once everything spilled out, there would be nothing left, but I was wrong. It was an endless ocean.

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