Page 60 of The Blue Path

Byriel

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I couldn't think straight.

There was so much pounding in my head, I didn't know what to focus on first—the rushing sound of my blood in my ears, the frantic beat of my heart, or the ache in my bones from my wolf wanting to shift.

I wanted to fall to my knees and pound my fists into the dirt. I wanted to scream at the sky until my voice broke.

The King had finally gone too far. All his backhanded deeds and questionable decisions had caught up with him. I never thought this day would actually come, but I also dreaded that it might. And up until this moment, I always knew I'd die defending him.

But how could I?

Guilt squeezed my chest as I thought of the wolves in Blue's village. They all fought with so much honor. Just like the marked wolves I had killed.

Maybe I could have stopped all this, but I had been blinded by duty. I was a coward, too willing to turn a blind eye out of loyalty. I should have been stronger.

My mind drifted to Blue, and I stopped, letting the sun warm my face.

My wolf had already imprinted the feel of my omega's lips and the sweet scent of his skin deep within me, ruining my heart for any other, but I couldn't risk taking him to Ossory. The King's stewards and my sister's followers would try to hurt me any way they saw fit. And that now included Blue.

As much as it gutted me, I needed to let him go. It was too dangerous to keep him with me, and I loved him too much to risk it.

I'd simply have to find a way to live the rest of my days surviving on the memory of a single kiss we shared in the dark.

The leaves overhead shifted with the cool breeze, and their shadows danced over the withering grass at my feet. I closed my eyes and pictured Blue. His heart-shaped face and velvety skin. His big, curious eyes and soothing nature.

I loved everything about him.

I inhaled deeply, and my wolf purred. I could still smell the omega. For a blissful moment, my chest warmed at the thought of him. Then my heart cracked at the realization that I could never actually have him.

Whatever I chose to do next, it couldn't include Blue. I wasn't sure how I'd tell him, but I had enough respect to say it in person.

I let out a defeated sigh and opened my eyes.

Then I took a quick step back.

"Blue." His name jumped from my lips.

The omega stood just before me, fists clenched and eyes narrowed. If his gaze had been a dagger, I'd be dead.

A deep pink hue colored the apples of his cheeks, and his dark hair framed his face like a wild mane, but the fire in his eyes was like nothing I had ever seen from him. It actually made my breath catch.

"You left me," he snarled, his little fangs pointed and sharp.

His rage was thick and fear nonexistent. His bravery at facing an alpha like me with such emotion made me want him more.

"I couldn't stay. I was going to kill Lex," I said simply, not fully understanding his anger. I only needed a moment, a breath of fresh air, but he was acting as if I had abandoned him. "I completely lost myself and needed to calm my wolf."

A slip of a growl jumped from his lips. "You left me," he said again.

"Blue," I sighed, hoping to calm him.

"You left me!" he screamed. His fists were so tight I wouldn't have been surprised if his nails drew blood. "You kept me with you. You made my wolf fall for you. You took my first kiss. Then you left me!"

All the breath in me whooshed out in one painful gust.

"You fell for me?" I whispered, hopeful. It was the wrong thing to focus on, especially given how fucked everything was. But, dammit, it was all I could hear.

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