Page 10 of Midnight Deception

“Atlas,” Luna snaps, her expression twisting into one of fury for the first time. Lip curling at her cousin’s behaviour, she gestures towards me. “There’s a reason we found her now. You know the goddess doesn’t make mistakes.”

“She’s a filthy werewolf!” Atlas snarls, throwing his arms up in the air, furious that no one shares his outrage.

“Atlas,” Kano barks, but I’ve had enough, and I don’t need some male I just met to defend me.

Closing the gap between us, I bare my teeth and wish I had my wolf at my side. Jabbing a finger into his chest, I look up at him and allow my true feelings to show on my face. “I didn’t ask for this.” Each word is clear and precise, the injustice of the situation ringing through my entire body. I want to make sure he fully understands every word. “Youkidnappedme, taking me from mytruemates. Do you think I’m happy to be bound to you forever?” I allow disappointment to show in my expression. “You’re exactly what I was told the witches were like. Barbaric.”

He stares at me with hatred, his nostrils flaring and neck corded with tension. When he opens his mouth, I think he’s about to snap back at me, but instead his jaw clenches down hard as he attempts to hold back his words. Turning, he strides to the door without a word, his movements stiff and jerky.

“You can’t run from this, Atlas!” Luna calls with exasperation, taking a step to follow him but waving it off as she decides against it.

I’m only vaguely aware of her actions, staring dumbstruck at where he’d just stood. My heart pounds in my ears. I’m angry, confused, and exhausted, and I’ll even admit to myself that I’m a little hurt by his reaction, even though I meant what I’d said. Idon’twant to be mated to him, not because he’s a witch, but because of how he so obviously hates me without even knowing me. If he got to know me and still hated me, then fine, he’s free to make that decision. However, to blindly hate everyone from a particular race and paint them with the same brush is just close-minded.

A hand lands on my arm, making me jump, and my attention snaps back to the room. Luna now stands at my side, her expression apologetic.

“Sorry about him.” She wrinkles her nose, trying to make light of the situation. “He can be pretty pig-headed sometimes.”

I don’t know what it is about her, but Iwantto like her despite everything that’s happened. I keep telling myself I need to be guarded, that I’m trapped here and she’s one of my captors, but I can’t help but want to take comfort from her words. I blame it on the fact that I feel so overwhelmed.

Needing space so I can separate my feelings, I take a small step back so her hand falls from my arm. Ignoring her slight frown at the action, I push the hair that’s slipped free of my braid from my face and frown as I glance back at the empty doorway. “Why does he hate me so much?” I hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but it’s a valid question that I need an answer to.

Luna huffs out a breath and shakes her head. “If it makes you feel any better, it’s not you specifically that he hates.”

I make a rude noise in the back of my throat, giving her an incredulous look. “Just my whole race. Yeah, I feel loads better now.”

Kano rubs his hand through his hair, suddenly looking tired, his authority slipping from him. “There’s a sect of witches who believe werewolves are evil and should be killed to protect all of witchkind,” he begins, raising his brows as he gives me a look. “After that little display, I’m sure you’ve figured out which sect he belongs to.”

I simply shake my head. Not in denial. Oh no, it makes perfect sense that he belongs to that group of werewolf haters. Instead, I’m shaking my head at my luck.I hope you know what you’re doing, I whisper to the goddess, sending up a quick prayer for wisdom and strength.

Kano’s speaking again, and I have to force myself to pay attention as he attempts to justify the other male’s behaviour.

“Atlas has a complicated history with werewolves, and for him to discover he’s mated to one… It must have been a huge shock.”

Tilting my head back, I stare up at the domed ceiling as I try to hold back my snarky comment.Poor Atlas, finding out that he’s mated to a werewolf, it must be so hard, I think to myself as I seethe. Not that this has been hard for me, what with beingkidnappedand all. Oh no, it must be so difficult forhim. I have to take several deep breaths to compose myself before I’m ready to speak once more.

Pinning Kano with a look that conveys my exact feelings, I purse my lips. “He’s not the only one who’s struggling with this.” I narrow my eyes and notice the tension ramp up as he reacts to my disrespect. Before he can say anything, though, I change the subject. “What about the other witches? I know the queen said I wasn’t to be harmed, but no one seemed particularly happy with my presence.” Thinking back to how violently Atlas reacted around me, my stomach flips, and I can’t stop the flare of fear as I think of a whole group of witches who feel the same way as him. Voice tight, I try to put across my concerns without giving away my fear. “If that sect of witches is so militant in their hatred, what’s to guarantee that they won’t try to hurt me?”

My half-brother is already shaking his head. “As long as you’re useful to the queen, you’ll be safe.”

I’m sure he means this to be reassuring, but all it does is make me more anxious. My fingers rhythmically tap against my thighs, hopefully expelling some of my nervous energy.

“Gee, that fills me with confidence.” Sarcasm drips from my words but doesn’t quite hide my fear.

Luna gives Kano a bemused look as she shakes her head. “You could have put it a little better than that,” she tells him and turns to me. “Ignore him, that’s what I do.”

Kano snorts, but I don’t look away from Luna as she starts to speak again.

“Witches and werewolves have a complicated history,” she begins. “There’s been a lot of death on both sides, and that’s left its mark. To know that a witch and a werewolf created a half-breed has disturbed many.” She gives me an apologetic look but doesn’t stop her explanation. “However, there are some of us, mostly younger witches, who think this could be a sign.”

I run over everything she said in my mind. The half-breed she’s talking about is me. That’s clear enough, and it explains the general discomfort and tension in the hall when everyone realised who and what I was. Her last comment makes me pause, though, my brows pulling down into a frown.

“A sign?”

Kano clears his throat. “The goddess allowed this to happen, and she predestined you and Atlas to be mates, so it makes sense.” He sees the confusion on my face and takes pity on me. “You’re going to unite the two races.”

Barking out a short laugh, I look between them, waiting for them to laugh with me, but I soon realise they are not joking. “Me?” They can’t be serious. There are really witches who believe I’m here because their goddess wanted me to stop a centuries-old war between them and the werewolves? Save for my pack, my own kind despises me because of what I am, so this is not only wishful thinking but also an impossible task.

Wrapping my arms around my middle, I release a shaky breath. “Where does the queen stand on this?”

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