Page 65 of The Secret of Pain

"Is that why you left?"

He shakes his head and runs his hands through his hair.

"No, I left because we have reason to believe that two faction leaders are coming here, and the Elders wanted to know why. No one seems to know, and that dick bag Archer is here now too, tracing the Lycans. There's too much going on and no one seems to have a fucking clue why." I gulp at his words but shake off my unease.

"This is insane, you know that, right? I thought I was meant to tread lightly these first six months, so that I don't seize and die in an overabundance of memories or some other crap. And yet, you bring all these people here, people that obviously know me, or at the very least, of me, from their stares, while I'm in the middle of my freaking awakening. Great idea, Colt."

"I didn't have a choice, Remy. There are too many of them gathering on the outskirts of our city. We needed a force, in case things go bad. Especially with Dad out of action. There aren't enough of us here to go up against these sorts of numbers." He paces on the porch as I lean against the house and I roll my eyes.

"And what of the Elders? Are they concerned about helping us right now? Or are we just disposable to them?" The words are sharper than I intended, but the resentment in them rings true, and I realize I'm getting more of myself back. Colt’s head whips up to meet my gaze and he rubs the back of his neck, picking his words carefully.

"Remy, we've had this conversation more times than I wish to count. The Elders explain their actions to no one."

"Well, maybe just because that's the way it always has been, doesn't mean that's the way it should be. How much else are they keeping from us? What else are they hiding?"

"Enough, Remy," Bauer says sternly as he steps out onto the porch. "We will not go through this again. Not right now. We have enough to deal with."

"Fine. I'm going to check in on Dad," I say and move past him into the house, trying to keep the rage that's simmering beneath the surface in check. As I climb the stairs, more things click into place. My inherent dislike of the Elders, my impatience of no one ever questioning what we're told, or anything at all really. I begin to understand why it was so easy for me to fall in love with Kain, and with Roman if last night’s dream was any indication of a memory, which they so often are these days.

I sit on my dad’s bed next to him. I wish I could just talk to him about it all, but the problem with remembering is remembering how he didn't believe me. Or how he wouldn't listen to me, refusing to believe there was anything wrong with our ways or our unyielding laws and belief systems that were out of date and just wrong. I knew otherwise.

Yes, some of the Dracul and the Lycans were out of hand. Yes, some of them attacked humans, hunted them, kept them as pets. Those ones, I would hunt to the ends of the earth. But the others, the ones who just wanted to live their lives with their families, experience the ever-changing world in all its wonder. Those ones, I refused to hunt. If not outright to the Elders, then in my own way. Would I find them? Of course, I'm good at what I do. I'm one of the best. But would I slaughter them when they have done nothing but be born, or made, into a faction that wasn't my own? Not a chance.

I pushed for us to be better, trying to bring others to my way of thinking without risking a blade through my heart, or the true death. But so many refused to see the truth, even with the world as accepting as it was among the humans in this lifetime, I could see it still in the Hunters I've met. That unwavering faith, the belief that the monsters are nothing but filth, pests to be exterminated to create a better Earth.

It is the one time I have been glad of the struggle for Hunters to conceive. So that our numbers don't grow so much that that ideal might become a reality. Because the barbaric ways of this council of Elders would do it if they had the opportunity.

It hits me, the reason for the extra Hunters.

It is not a precaution but an opportunity for extermination. I scramble to pull my phone from my pocket and bring up Kain's number. I try to call but am not surprised when it goes to voicemail.

Me:

You need to get your people out. Quickly. Hunters gather.

I send the message and pray that his pride does not get in the way of protecting his people. I do not understand why he would bring his clan with him on a hunt. The warriors, yes, but not the women and children. Were they as fierce as the men, yes, but so many would be put at risk. Maybe my thoughts are draconian, but having lost my mother, I can't think of a worse fate for a child to exist without theirs, regardless of who or what they are.

It changes you.

I take a deep breath and try to calm my racing heart.

"Remy?" I open my eyes and gaze at my dad at the sound of his voice.

"Dad? You're awake! Holy shit. I'll get you some water, hold on." I jump from the bed and rush to the bathroom, grabbing a glass of water. "Bauer!" I shout as I rush back to the room. I help my dad sit up and then hand him the glass.

"Sip it," I scold him when he takes a gulp and glares at me over the rim, but he changes to sips of water. I might have issues with my dad, but that doesn't mean I'm not glad he's awake.

Footsteps bang up the stairs as Bauer, Colt, and Creek barge into the room.

"You're awake," Bauer says, stepping forward.

"Have I been out long?" he asks, his voice still croaking after being asleep for so long.

"Not too long, a few days," Bauer answers him. "What happened?"

My dad’s eyes harden, and his entire body almost shakes with rage. "We were betrayed."

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