Page 57 of The Hidden Falling
“We’re Elites, wolf. We’re not blinded by anything,” Damian chimes in, and I huff out an infuriated breath.
“Your arrogance will cost you,” I assure him. “The Elites have been around for hundreds of years, said to be made by the Highers council after the King of Vrohkaria died. Can you tell me why it was formed?” I ask him.
“The Elites were made to protect the lands against all threats. It’s an honor to become an Elite, an even greater honor when you have proven yourself enough to become a Higher if that’s what you want,” Damian says.
I look out the window and try to reign my anger in. An honor? Yeah fucking right. Where is the honor in turning a blind eye to the suffering in packs? They protect the lands from creatures, but what about the monsters in our homes? Who protects us from them? Is it honorable to look someone in the eye and brush off their desperation as rambling nonsense like they did with Sybill and Samantha? What about Katy and Oscar, begging on a dirt path for help? What about me when people came to see me? My fingers clench around each other in front of me on the table at the thought of us begging for help yet receiving none from those that are meant to protect us. All Elites are the same. Memories bombard my mind, and I take in a ragged breath.
“When I see this honor you speak of, when I see the Elites truly protect Vrohkaria from the true threat, then I will honor you for what you are. Whether you believe what I said about Colten’s family is up to you,” I grind out to Damian, not looking at him in case I launch myself at him over the table. “But it is the truth.”
“I don’t know who you think you are.” Leo stands, putting his hands on the table, and I look at him as he leans forward toward me. “But you are nothing but a little girl playing Alpha. You have been here all your life?” he mocks. “Then how the fuck do you know about honor? The Elites? Gods, even what goes on outside this fucking valley? No, you just stay here, hidden away and let everyone else fucking rot! You know what you are?” He leans even closer to me over the table, and Darius stills. “A pathetic, weak, selfish cunt who doesn’t have an honorable bone in her fucking body.”
“Weak little girl. Come on, stand for us! Don’t you want to eat tonight? Do you not want little Kaden over here to eat?”
“Pathetic, can’t even do as she’s told. She’s fucking useless! Throw her back inside her cage.”
“Aww, are you crying again? I’ll give you something to cry about, bitch.”
I’m suddenly hauled back, hands dragging me away from the table while I blink the room back into focus. Sound enters my ears slowly, like I’m just coming up out of the water, and growls and grunts hit me. I shake my head and look over to see Josh on top of Leo, laying into him as blood stains his fist. Leo lifts his elbow and aims for Josh’s face, the blow causing him to fall to the side. They both get to their feet, ready to go again, when Darius lets out a menacing growl so fierce it rattles the windows. The room stops, everyone barely breathing as my eyes are drawn to Darius as he gets to his feet with a snarl on his face.
“What the fuck was that?” he questions, and I look to Josh and Leo, waiting for their reply in a daze as Taylor keeps his hold on me.
When none comes, my eyes slide back to Darius. It’s then I realize he wasn’t talking to them, he was talking to me. His eyes hold mine as I waver on my feet a little, the memories making my stomach turn as he prowls around the table and comes to a stop in front of me. Taylor lets go of my arms, but stays behind me as Seb moves closer. Josh watches Darius warily as he takes a step toward me, concern etched onto his face.
“I said, what the fuck was that?” he repeats to me when I just stare up at him in confusion. I look around the room. My guys have worry in their eyes while the Elites are cautious and curious.
What the fuck?
My brows lower. “What was what?” I try to think what he’s talking about and come up empty. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You blanked out. Your eyes went darker, and you were staring into nothing. I tried to talk to you, but you wouldn’t answer,” he growls as he looms over me. Is that…concern in his eyes?
“Did I do that?”I ask Josh through the link.
He replies instantly.“Yeah, is it happening again? If it is–”
Darius grabs my jaw, shaking it a little when he demands, “Stop talking through the link, little wolf.” The link shuts down.
“How do you do that?” I rip my face from his fingers and take a step back.
“What the fuck happened after Leo spoke to you?” he counters, ignoring my question.
Neither one of us breaks our stare off, neither one of us backs down as his eyes roam my features. Josh clears his throat and comes to stand beside me, pulling my stare away from Darius. I look him over, his lip is split, and he has blood coming out of his nose.
“You good?” he asks me, reaching out and squeezing my hand, and I see Darius’ jaw tick out the corner of my eye.
I nod at him and take a breath. “Let’s finish our conversation, shall we?” I don’t wait for them to answer. I just pick up my chair from the floor where it must have fallen over and take a seat, Josh in the seat next to me again and Taylor and Seb sit on my other side.
I hold my breath while I wait for Darius to take his seat, still not liking him at my back. As everyone picks up chairs and seats themselves, I calm my nerves from the memory of a time I wished I could forget. I wipe my sweaty palms on my shorts and shift in my seat. Taylor nudges my knee with his, and I look at him and give him a small smile.
Darius hasn’t moved yet, his stare focused on the side of my face like he can pick me apart and see all of me. I feel he could if he really wanted too.
“What else have you lied about? We can’t believe a word that comes out of your mouth,” Darius says, his tone hard and demanding as he eventually takes his seat. “You won’t answer questions, and you only tell us things when you have little choice to do so.”
“I have told you again and again that I will not tell you about any of my pack members’ lives. I have told you the basics of Colten’s because Zaide recognized him. If you want the rest, ask him,” I dare. “Hudson won’t be happy with the attempt though, and neither will I.”
“You don’t scare me, little wolf,” he states, and I shrug. Just because I don’t scare him doesn’t mean I can’t slice his throat if I have to. He smirks like he can hear my thoughts, and my lips peel back at the asshole.
“Try me, asshole. See how far you get,” I challenge, and Jerrod huffs out a laugh. The red head is clearly amused, but I’m deadly serious.
