Page 13 of Claiming Xan
Slowly, I opened the door. “Sky? My name is Xan. I’m a friend of Jem’s. I stopped by to bring you guys some banana bread, fresh out of the oven. Would you like a slice?”
The lump of a body beneath the bedsheets didn’t move, didn’t speak. My chest began to ache. Where River was angry all the time, Sky seemed so broken, so depressed.
It was obvious I wasn’t going to get very far, and that was okay. He needed time to process and deal with his own grief.
“Why don’t I leave it here for you?” I suggested. “I hope you feel better soon.” I set the plate down on the bedside table and left the room, closing the door behind me with a softsnick.
When I came back into the kitchen, Jem turned to me. I could only shrug. “I tried.”
“That’s all you can do,” he said with sympathy in his eyes. “It’ll take time for him to come to terms with everything, and to grieve his losses. I could text you updates, if you’d like?”
“Please,” I told him. After exchanging numbers, I headed towards the front door. “I’m gonna take off, then. Enjoy the banana bread.”
Jem’s dark eyes glittered with a sort of mischievous joy. “Oh, you know I will. Chocolate is my kryptonite. Thank you, Xan. Drive safe.”
“Always.” And with a wink, I was off.
8
RIVER
Another shitty dayin the life of River DuPree, but at least there was the tiniest sliver of a silver lining?
Despite being separated from my twin, we were still allowed to talk to each other. Kind of. Gracie had given us both cell phones, but strict rules that we could only text one another.
So text we did. Every day. Multiple times a day, sometimes for what seemed like hours. I’d lay in bed and chat with Sky, and we’d talk about everything and anything.
Today, Sky was venting about how much this situation sucked and how much he missed me.Maybe we should just say fuck it and take our chances as lone wolves. It can’t be as bad as this. At least we’d have each other.
I frowned down at the screen, unable to form a reply. Was he right about that? Or was it wishful thinking from a depressed and lonely shifter?
I couldn’t help but think about the grisly life Gracie had painted for us, that very first morning. That my rage would build until I’d snap, and that Sky would end up prostituting himself just to survive. I didn’t want that for us.
But was this really the only way?
I didn’t answer Sky’s text.
He must’ve taken my silence as rejection because suddenly, to my surprise, the phone began to ring, vibrating so hard that my hand buzzed with it. I stared down at the screen as it rang and rang, Sky’s number like a beacon that I desperately wanted to answer.
Instead, I pushed the red X. I rejected his call. He tried again, and I rejected that one too. My chest tightened up as the three little dots on the screen began to bounce, telling me that he was texting me.
Why won’t you answer?! I just want to hear your voice!
I’m sorry,I replied.I can’t. I told the Alpha I’d only text you.
Fuck her! Shouldn’t I be more important?he replied.I miss you so fucking much! This isn’t fair!
I swallowed around the lump of sudden emotion in my throat as I tapped out a reply.I’m sorry, Sky. I’m trying to make this work.
Whatever.
Don’t be like that,I texted back.
No response. He left me on read.
Frustration sizzled through me, fiery hot and burning my insides. With a growl, I slapped the phone down on the bed. It bounced off and hit the floor before sliding towards the wall.
“FUCK!” I punched the pillow with both fists, then curled myself around it, laying on my side as if that might stop the ache in my soul. He didn’t understand. He wasn’t even trying! Typical Sky. Stubborn bastard.
