Page 105 of Tangled in Knots

“Then be brave enough to face where we are now,” I say, knowing it’s unfair. I’m fighting for my life, and fighting dirty is something I am well acquainted with.

My words are met with the shutting of a door, and I slump to the ground when I hear sobs as she moves away. I can feel it as well now and I groan.

“I’m sorry I’m not a better man and alpha,” I whisper as a tear falls from my eye. This is certainly something new.

Apologies and tears are apparently a thing I’m doing now. Awesome.

CHAPTER 23

ADIRA

I’m running away. I wasn’t expecting to see Damon in my class, at my school, much less asking me to give him a chance. My mind is racing as quickly as my heart beats, and I’m weaving in and out of the hallway, full of people to find a place to catch a breath. Tears race down my face, something I don’t want everyone to see.

Being emotional and vulnerable in a crowd of people, who don’t and can’t possibly understand the way my world is spinning, isn’t something I expected today.

Throwing open the restroom door, I walk quickly into a stall to find a way to calm down. There are people talking, laughing, living a normal life, while I’m trying to process the shitshow that is my life.

Damon was so raw and honest. I can feel those emotions inside of me, because we’re bonded, but I’ve never seen them with the naked eye. He’s so closed off, sometimes I have to ask myself if I’m imagining them, even though I know I’m not.

Dropping my head back onto the metal wall of the bathroom stall, I take a ragged breath, trying to stay quiet as I cry. The sobbing is slowing down now.

Damon asked me for forgiveness and offered me revenge.They’re such different things, and I didn’t even know I wanted revenge in the way he mentioned it. Do I really want to take a life?

Rock has taken so many pieces of who I am already. My innocence, trust, and sanity. Those three things will never be the same. Are they worthy of death? I think so, but I’m terrified that it’ll make me less human.

Pulling out my phone from the pocket of my backpack, I take a shuddering breath. I need to remind myself to continue to breathe.

My eyesight is darkening at the edges, a clear sign that I’m not getting enough oxygen.

Me:

Do you think it’s ever okay to kill someone?

I don't know many people with loose morals, but a made man counts as such, right?

Duncan:

Hold on, Short Stuff. That’s a loaded question.

The next message comes from a second chat box, one where he’s added Callum.

Duncan:

Callum, Short Stuff wants to know if it’s ever okay to take a life.

Callum:

Well who are we killing and can I help torch the body? There are a lot of reasons to kill someone, Adira.

Their words make my lips twitch, and the tears slow even more. I need to cling to some type of normalcy.

Me:

Rock. Damon is a student in my Biology class, and he caught me as I was leaving. I don’t know what to do with how I feel about him.

Duncan:

Damon would probably look a little better with a few holes in his body, but it would hurt you as well. Another way biology sucks.

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