Page 62 of Ruthless Moon

“I—I just.” Tears stream down Emma’s cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

A bitter laugh escapes my lips. I stand up straight, crossing my arms in a protective shield across my chest. “Good for you. But ‘sorry’ doesn’t mean anything to me. You have your fated mate, despite the circumstances. And maybe Finn played the knight in shining armor once for you, but that doesn’t mean he’s ever been on my side.”

I walk to one of the kitchen windows. The peaceful scene of Ash Hollow’s Main Street sprawls before me, people walking and talking and living their life completely happy and unaware of my situation.

“Neither of my brothers have ever protected me. Not. Once. So fuck them. If you want me to feel joy for you and Finn, that’s not going to happen. If you want me to feel sympathy that my brother got one really bad beating while I’ve had hundreds and he stood idly by, that’s also not going to happen. If not for my supernatural healing as a Moonbound wolf, I’d have died a forgotten death twenty years ago.”

“Gen, it’s crucial you understand the whole picture regarding Emma, Finn, Meredith, and your father.” Rachel’s words cut through the thick fog of my anger. “Emma didn’t put you in this nightmare. She isn’t the reason you can’t be with Liam. Sit down. Close your mouth and open your ears. Be the kind, considerate, smart woman I consider one of my dearest friends.”

I whirl on my friend, anger flaring, hateful words poised on the edge of my tongue like venomous darts.

But I can’t.

Rachel sits there, calm and patient. She’s allowing me this temper tantrum because she knows I need to get it out of my system. She knows if I don’t scream and yell now I’ll fall apart the second I’m in public.

With a ragged breath, I march back to the breakfast-laden table and collapse into my seat. “I’m listening.”

Her skeptical glance accompanies a sip of her mimosa. Setting the flute slowly on the table, she captures my gaze again. “After Oliver discovered Emma was a witch, he started digging. And the first thing he dug up was Meredith.”

I nod.

“Now, the council within Meredith’s court considered cutting them off, severing Emma’s ties with the coven permanently. A few say she betrayed her family by falling in love with a wolf, et cetera, even though they knew it was a fated mate connection. Witches and wolves rarely have fated mate connections.”

“So Meredith came out into the open because she didn’t want to be cut off from her daughter?” I’m jealous. What would it be like to have a parent care so deeply for your welfare they would risk their life?

“Yes,” Emma confirms. “Except she presented herself to Oliver, promising him her support in exchange for my safety. She offered to use her magick to solidify his power in the valley and beyond.”

“Fucking hell, as if my father needs any help with that. So she amplified his narcissism a hundred times worse.”

“Yeah. Not one of her most strategic moves, but she’s a mom protecting her kid and that usually overpowers reason.”

Rachel takes another sip of her mimosa and pops a strawberry into her mouth before she continues. “She successfully managed to turn it into a high-stakes game of mutually assured destruction. Emma is protected as long as she does spells for Oliver. And Oliver is protected from Meredith’s wrath because he’s got a noose around Emma’s neck.”

“Because of Finn.” I glance at Emma and she nods. “But that’s not the half of it, is it?” I swivel back to my best friend and glare. “My father is never satisfied. He’s like a black hole when it comes to power. He knows there’s more. And he probably knows Meredith is holding back. She is, isn’t she?”

“A lot,” Emma says. “And if it were just me and her, this would already be over. But the others are at risk and everyone that’s taken refuge with us would be outed. Not only to Oliver and other rival wolf packs, but word would spread back to the people they ran from and all their lives would be in danger.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m not against you, Emma, or the rest of the witches in the court. I’m just so worn down. My whole life has been nothing more than surviving my father. Doing whatever it takes to appease him and receive the least amount of beatings possible.” Grabbing a mini quiche from a plate at the center of the table, I force it into my mouth, but it tastes like dirt.

I don’t want it.

Any of it.

“I’m really sorry about the situation you’ve found yourself stuck in with Finn. But I don’t have any sway with him. He’s never shown me any loyalty. Ever.” I pour another mimosa into my flute and down the entire thing in a few swallows.

I get up from the table and trudge toward Rachel’s bedroom door, my head buzzing. Before I walk through the doorway, I turn and face both women.

“I’m sorry. I’m not usually a bitch—well, maybe I am, but I don’t want to be. I’m really not in a good place right now.” Pain swirls through me in a nauseating dance, reminding me of the half a bottle of champagne I’ve chugged.

“It’s okay. Go lie down. I’ll check on you later when it’s time to go to the rehearsal and dinner.” Rachel tips her chin toward her bedroom. “I’m going to do anything I can to help you get through this, you know that, right?”

I do know that.

I know Rachel.

I feel her unwavering support and her genuine concern.

But it does nothing to dull the pain. It doesn’t stop the crushing weight of heartbreak. And she won’t be able to make the sacrifice I’m about to make any easier.

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