Page 366 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

But I realize it’s not the voice speaking to me again but a thought from inside my mind. A memory from when we were together.

I hold on to it and another rises up.

“We stick together.”

I grasp the next one and let each of my family’struevoices wash over me until they drown out my doubts and fears this game has conjured up. I let them play on repeat until I start believing them myself. Until I can feel each one inside my broken soul.

“We’re a family. Always and forever.”

More and more memories filter through my brain as the looming shadow of Jonas’s body steps in front of me, pulling the belt back. Just as he raises his hand, the belt swinging in it; I hear one more memory that snaps me out of the frozen state I’m in.

“You annoy the hell out of me, but I fucking love you, brother.”

I’m not that weak little kid anymore. The one who can’t protect himself. I stare up at the fucking dickhead in front of me, his smug smirk slightly wavering as I come to my damn senses.

I’m a powerful alpha dragon with an even more powerful family at my back.

Once I realize that and feel it in my very soul, my body shifts from the little boy I used to be, to the man I am now.

I stand up to the dead beat in front of me and punch the fucker square in the face. He drops to the ground like a dead weight.

Looking at him now, sprawled out and moaning, I see how small and insignificant he really is and how that’s always what he was. Small and insignificant, just like all the rest of the people who tried to beat me down in this world.

Jonas tries to get back up, stumbling a couple of times, but I’m over these games.

Well-and-fucking-truly over it.

One last hard punch and the fucker is out, disappearing into a puff of smoke. I glance over at the bitch as the smug smile drops from her face just before she fucks off too.

I glance around at the room as it slowly disappears too, knowing that it won’t be long before I join it. This fucked up mind game over for now.

The bed and dresser start to turn to smoke and dust, leaving the room bare as it becomes nothing but shades of gray. It’s so similar to the shitty life I once lived. All kinds of different fucked up shades of gray.

But just like gray can’t be created without a lighter shade, my life wasn’t all that dark. It had moments of light, especially when my real family came into it.

I’ve always felt like I was never enough. That maybe my shitty attitude will push them too far. Or that maybe my past will drag them down. But in reality, they’ve never pushed me away for being a grumpy ass. They never acted differently when I pushed them too far. Or treated me any differently than anyone of them.

It’s me and only me who thought that, and it’s only ever beenmethat doubts them.

The sperm donor never accepted me, even when I was born with his special fucking blood. Something that’s supposed to be respected and revered.

Whereas myrealfamily, my mate and brothers, accept me unconditionally. Even when I make shitty decisions and fuck up so bad I hate looking at myself in the mirror. Even when I say shitty things that make me feel like a piece of shit.

They accept me. All of me. And never question my place with them.

Never…

Just as I start to disappear, a sense of calm and peace settles over me.

Iamenough. At least for my family… the family I chose and that’s all that really matters.

CHAPTER 18

RION

I’ve been searching through the rooms in my parents’ house for what feels like hours. The cold dark mansion has as many rooms as it does dark secrets, and I’ve still only gotten through half of them so far. Most were empty with the exception of a couple of wandering dark spirits.

Something that isn’t a surprise considering what went on here.

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