Page 13 of The Hunt of Night

Changing the past isn’t an ability I have, but the future is still an option.

My muscles tighten, my arms cocooning me for a moment longer before I inhale sharply through my nose, holding my breath before I slowly exhale. I repeat the motion, only this time I drop my arms to my side, catching sight of my reflection again.

My family is safe now.

Safe from The Council…and me.

I trust that Kryll has taken them somewhere safe, and I trust that he will protect them. I’m not entirely sure why, but anything is better than being near me right now. I’m no good for them. I can’t know where they are. It’s not safe for them.

My heart aches, silently pleading with me to shift my perspective, just like my father taught me, but I need a minute longer to bask in the pain.

Wiping a hand down my face, I focus on the facts. They’re not in danger now, which means I need to concentrate on the chaos closer to home instead.

Ice runs through my veins at the thought.

The Council…they tried to tether me to the guys.

Brody.

Cassian.

Kryll.

Raiden.

They wanted to force me to be fated mates with them.

Who the fuck does that? The Council, apparently.

And Brody knew? I can’t even delve into that right now.

It doesn’t matter who did and didn’t know. What matters is that they were intent on doing it. Kenner’s words echo in mymind and my fingers instinctively rise to my ears, running over the scars that have haunted me for as long as I can remember.

A vision of my mother flashes in my thoughts, making my stomach clench.

I’m a wolf. Or half of one, or so they told me. I don’t know what to feel about that. I don’t even know if I should believe it.

Does that mean Nora is too?

I look away from the mirror, hating the despair dancing in my eyes. A single thought of Nora triggers the self-loathing once again. The thought of what could have happened to my sister is a lasting pain I will never shake.

Turning from the vanity, I hurry for the door, slipping down the hall without interruption before I quickly shut my bedroom door behind me. Leaning back against it, I take short breaths as my eyelids fall closed.

I need to leave my emotions in the shower, keep my space clear of any negativity, but they still cling to my skin. I need to exert the energy that comes with feeling this way, but I’m too exhausted to truly do anything about it right now.

My hands clench as my eyes open. My chest rises and falls with an angry urgency as my gaze turns to the flash of red sitting on my desk.

The pretty petals taint my vision, turning everything crimson as rage takes over every part of me.

Flowers.

Raiden’s fucking flowers.

A battle roar burns my lungs before it parts my lips, and I’m stomping across the room in the next moment.

Opening the window with a huff, the cool evening air does nothing to calm my rising temperature.

I can’t think. I can only act.

---