Page 56 of The Hidden Falling
“Sometimes people don’t understand where we come from, and they don’t like it.”
“They don’t like us? But we’re good, we’re fun!” I cry.
“That may be true, but others don’t believe it. It’s why you can’t show it, sweetheart. You must not reveal it.” She cups my cheeks in her hands and wipes my tears away. Her forehead rests against mine as she whispers, “I pray to the Gods that you find your bloodmate, my darling girl. For he will protect you more than most.” Tears spill over her eyes, and I don’t like Mommy crying. Mommy never cries. “I pray he keeps you safe.”
I jolt awake, gasping for breath as tears roll down my face. I clench the wolf carving to my chest, holding it close as I silently cry. I cry for my parents, for the lost time we should have had together because of another. I cry for my soul and the sins that stain it that can never be wiped clean. And I cry for my heart. The heart that is bound to get broken many more times than it already has by what I fear is to come.
Thirty
Rhea
Iwalkslowlydownthe stairs, rubbing my tired eyes. My sleep was fleeting after yesterday in the cave, and I stayed up late to see if Kade came home. He never did. I wanted him close, needing to see him, but he’s shut down the link yet again. Hearing voices coming from the dining area, I go across the hall and enter through the open doorway, seeing the Elites and some of mine eating their breakfast at the table. I blink slowly, taking them all in as they look back at me. I ignore them and head into the kitchen to make coffee, passing Zaide leaning against the wall, staring at Colten with curious eyes.
“Are there any other areas that you can think of where this woman and the one who was with her could have gone to?” I hear Damian ask the room.
“We have shown you all the places we can think of in The Deadlands without entering anywhere dangerous,” Taylor replied gruffly. Coffee made, I hop up onto the counter and watch them while they talk. Making extra sure I keep my eyes off Darius while everyone looks me over, no doubt seeing the marks that Darius gave me during my heat. I’m only wearing shorts and a t-shirt, so they aren’t hard to miss. My cheeks heat.
Leo speaks up next, shaking his blond head. “She’s dead, as well as her companion.” I remain silent, hoping they stick to that conclusion. They won’t be going home soon though as his men still need to heal.
“We assume the same thing for them both,” Josh takes a sip of his drink before continuing. “There is no way they survived, especially if they haven’t entered The Deadlands before, and I’m assuming they hadn’t.”
“Morning, Rhea,” Sebastian calls, looking over his shoulder at me from where he sits, eyes on my legs as they swing back and forth. I grunt in response and look out my window. It’s still early morning, the sun barely up in the sky.
I really don’t feel like talking much, my head still swimming with thoughts of what happened in the cave with Darius. His words cut me deep while I stood there naked and vulnerable, and I don’t know why I’m letting him affect me so much. I suspect it’s because I feel some sort of odd connection toward him. Though it may not be as odd as I think. Does he feel the same toward me? I doubt it with how he speaks to me. The problem is, if he is who I suspect he is, he’s the Alpha of the Elite. He’s close to the Highers, and that’s even more worrying. Even more terrifying.
“Eat more,” Hudson tells Colten, and I look over at him as he points to the food on Colten’s plate.
Colten sighs, pushing his plate away. “I’ve eaten enough–”
“I know you,” comes a deep voice, and all our heads snap to Zaide leaning against the wall with his eyes on Colten, who freezes at his words along with Hudson.
“What?” Colten asks, his brows low, the grip on his fork tightening.
“Your father is Alec Hallow. He was with the Elites for a long time. He said his son would be joining, but he didn’t turn up for the rite of passage and shamed his whole family. Alec wanted him to join the Elites, find a mate and have pups to continue the family line. He said his son was unworthy of their family name and disowned him after he didn’t show up,” Zaide informs us in a flat tone.
My mug is paused halfway to my mouth when his words hit me, and a slight tremor runs through my hands. I barely breathe as Hudson slowly stands from his seat next to Colten, whose brown eyes now vacant, staring into nothing. I put my mug down slowly on the counter and get down, walking toward Colten as Hudson takes measured steps toward Zaide. I hold my breath as Leo, Damian and Jerrod stand, looking at us in confusion and no doubt prepared for anything as Darius just watches on, curious to see how this will pan out.
I position myself next to Colten, Josh standing at my side with Seb and Taylor close by. I put my hand on the back of his Colten’s neck, rubbing circles there as I watch Hudson come to a stop in front of Zaide. There is no point trying to intervene, not when Zaide clearly knows who Colten is and Hudson’s protectiveness over him. It would make things worse.
“Do notevermention that family in front of Colten again.“ Hudson doesn’t shout, he doesn’t even raise his voice, but you can hear the deadly intent behind his spoken warning. A warning that he has every right to give.
Zaide tilts his head at Hudson, his eyes flicking to Colten’s vacant ones briefly, looking him over before coming back to Hudson. He shrugs, nodding once, and I release the breath I was holding. Surprised, but thankful he agreed.
Hudson walks back over to Colten and grunts as he sees the look in his eyes. I move back, giving his neck one last gentle rub, and let Hudson deal with the situation. Crouching in front of him, Hudson lifts a hand and grabs his jaw gently, giving him a little shake. “Come on, pup. Let’s go for a run,” he murmurs. Colten’s eyes go to Hudson’s, and he nods woodenly before getting up and letting Hudson guide him out of the cabin.
I wait until I hear the door close before I speak, getting my words out before the questions start. “Sit down,” I tell them all. “I will explain.”
“You better do just that, Rhea. What happened to you all living here from birth?” Leo demands, and I swing a hard glare his way, letting Runa come through my eyes.
“I said I will explain, and I will. So sit the fuck down before I put you down again, Leo,” I spit, ignoring his growl. “And you,” I point at Zaide. “Never mention that fucking piece of shit family around Colten again, like Hudson said. Or it won’t be just him you will have to deal with.” Without waiting for his response, I take a seat in the space Colten left as Josh sits down next to me, squeezing my hand where it rests on top of the table. A low rumble echoes through the room and we all freeze. I peek at Darius through my lashes curiously as he glares at Josh’s hand, I move it away.
Elites on one side, Eridian on the other, our lines divided. I can feel their anger at me for lying about us all being here since birth, but I don’t care. It’s not the only thing I lied about, and I didn’t exactly expect Zaide to know Colten’s family.
I link my hands in front of me. “Colten came here a few years ago. His… family were not happy with his life choices to say the least, and he had to get away.” I pause, licking my dry lips before I continue. “He was lucky he came here. If he didn’t, he would be dead, they would have killed him. They nearly did.”
“No way,” Leo scoffs, and I scowl at him. “I remember the Hallows. They’re good people, and Alec was a damn good Elite.”
“You saw what they wanted you to see. Wolves hide monsters beneath their fur, Leo.” I shake my head at all of them. “You all need to open your fucking eyes, and see people for who they are, not be blinded by their false intentions.”
