Page 13 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

I hated that they thought I would ever betray them, but without being able to tell them the truth, it was what they would believe.

The weight of guilt set heavy on my shoulders making me slump.

“I’m—”

“Don’t youdaresay you’re sorry! It meansnothing!” Jax’s outrage is as striking as his glowing turquoise eyes. His shadow wolf on the verge of taking over.

Kai steps in front of him, blocking his hard glare from me.

“Get it under control. Now!”

Luka walks over to Jax and pulls him to the corner of the room, his harsh whispers hitting him hard with whatever he’s telling him. After a moment, his wolf retreats leaving a hurt Jax behind.

Seeing Jax calm down, Kai narrows his gaze on me.

“Why did King send you as part of the alliance? What are you to him?” Kai’s body is stiff. His hands and jaw clenched.

The others tense awaiting my answer.

It takes me a minute to figure out where Kai was going with this. But surely not?

They couldn’t think I was… involved, in any way with that monster. I feel the bile rise up my throat at the thought.

How any of them could think that was beyond me. But I guess they never really saw the true side to King.

King keeps a pleasant facade outside his city walls. No one knows or sees the true monster that he hides inside.

“He’s my stepfather.” The words are like acid on my tongue. To associate with that monster in any way makes me sick to my stomach. But I was still stuck here for now, my role of the pliable stepdaughter still needs to be played.

The tension in the room eases slightly, though the anger is still ever present.

“So, you left because of money and titles?!” Axel seethes, filling in where Jax left off.

The blood in my veins boil, as I hold my tongue at his accusation.

Money never meant anything to me.

Having them think so little of me shows how far we have drifted apart these past few years.

“Good to know we never really meant anything to you.” Jax kicks the shattered table once more before giving me his back.

I never meant for them to think that. The guilt settles on me like a second skin.

“I didn’t—

“It doesn’t matter. None of it does.” Kai’s hard voice slices through the room, silencing us.

“Like hell it doesn’t!” Jax roars, his anger now turned on Kai.

“She fucking left us!” Jax’s eyes are wide as they circle the extravagant, yet broken, room.

“For this!” The disgust in his tone drips out of his mouth like tar.

Luka looks around the room, the lush red carpets, once expensive table and chairs, and comes to the same conclusion as the others.

“Looks like you and your mother did well for yourselves,” Luka says softly. The hurt in his eyes making my own burn, as I swallow hard.

“Lu—

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