Page 107 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

When he left, I couldn’t go with him. Not that he ever gave me the choice to.

He frowns. “You loved him. At least back then. I saw it.”

I shake my head at his blind sightedness. “We werekids,Hook. I was lonely. So lonely that I would’ve clung onto anyone that showed me a sliver of kindness.”

Hook’s frown only grows. “I knew Peter would look after you. I knew you would be safe—”

A bitter chuckle slips past my lips, cutting him off. “Peter, keep me safe?Nothingabout Peter is safe.”

He’s a man who quickly morphed into a manipulative monster wearing many masks and each one crueler than the last. A man that used and manipulated me, keeping me exactly where he wanted.

If it wasn’t for seeing him bleed, I’d have thought he was a beast.

Hook freezes as something flickers in his eyes. “Did…” He swallows hard. “Did he hurt you?”

Panic spreads through my body as I realize what I’ve just said. “Forget I said anything—”

“Tell me.” He pleads, his entire body as taut as a bow.

“It doesn’t matter now,” I promise him and mean it. I didn’t want Peter to take any more of my time.Ourtime.

“Tink…” He steps closer to me and takes my arms stopping me from moving back another step.

“He hurt you?” he asks as his voice cracks.

I glance at the devastated look he wears, and my stomach churns as I realize I have to tell him the truth. He deserves to know.

“Peter isn’t who you think he is. At least not anymore. He’s cruel and manipulative. And enjoys the pain of others.”

Hook pales, taking a step back as if I had hit him. He opens his mouth to say something before stopping himself and shaking his head. It takes him another moment before he’s able to speak.

“I was a fool to think it would be that easy. That you would be better off with him.” His face grows haunted as he frowns, his eyes growing distant for a moment before he focuses back on me.

“It was him, wasn’t it? Your nightmares? That’s who you were running from when you came here.” he seethes, his eyes darkening.

I stay silent, not knowing how to answer. Yes, my nightmares were of Peter and what he did, but not only of him.

But Hook takes my silence as confirmation as he turns and slams his fist into the tree near us, leaving a large dent behind.

“I left you with him. I left you…” His voice shakes with fury as he turns to me.

“I ripped my heart out and left it with you on that Island… and it was all for nothing.” His eyes fill with agony as he shakes his head.

I step toward him. “No—”

“He hurt you, and you suffered because of my foolish decision.” Something shutters in Hook’s eyes. But it’s the blank look that follows that truly scares me. I watch as he slowly shuts down and pulls away, truly believing that this is his fault.

Uneasiness begins to stir in my stomach. “It’s not your fault.”

His eyes darken with pain. “How can you say that—”

“Yes, you left. Yes, you should have told me we were mates. But it wasn’tyouthat inflicted the pain.”

“Inflicted the…” His body goes rigid with tension at my words, his eyes glittering with anger.

“I’m going tokillhim,” he says in a dangerous tone. His words send nervous chills up and down my spine.

I see the moment Hook decides he’s leaving for Neverland and know I need to stop him before it’s too late.

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