Page 71 of The Secret of Pain

I close the door behind her and lean against it. That went better than I thought it would.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Patrols and training. That is what my life consists of at the minute. Creek is out with Colt and the Bellos, hunting, and I try not to hope that they aren’t successful, for fear of the knowledge I now carry. The guilt they will carry when the truth becomes known.

Because it will.

It’s the one thing I am focused on. I can control it, I can research, make the world the way it once was. So many other things are outside of my control, but this… This I can try to make happen. I try not to think of the fallout that may come with it, but surely it can’t be worse than the chaos we face currently.

My dad and Nate have been working round the clock with Maddie to discover what the weapons that were used against my dad are. Roman has fallen off the face of the earth, no one has seen or heard anything of the Lycan alpha, and Kain… He says he is staying away for my own good for now, though not for long.

I shake my head as I throw another fist at the punch bag in front of me. The boxing gym is old and smells like men and sweat, but no one pays attention to the girl beating the crap out of a bag in the corner, and this has been the best outlet for all my newfound rage. I stumbled across it this morning and decided to take a peek, but this place is a hidden gem that I will keep in my ever-growing vault of secrets.

Sweat runs down my back as I take my frustration at the whole world out on the bag in front of me until my arms are so heavy I can barely move them. I grab my water bottle and gulp it down, groaning as my phone pings inside my bag.

I ignore it, trying not to focus on the new Hunter killing weapons, the rumors that made Kain stiff with fear, and the war that we are on the brink of, on top of my own disastrous love life, or what little of it exists right now.

My phone continues to ping in my bag, only adding to the rage I can't seem to let go of. I rip off the gloves that I borrowed from the reception and root through my bag for my stupid phone. Four missed calls from my dad, another two from Maddie, and a handful of messages.

Colt:

Remy. Call me when you get this.

Creek:

You need to come to your dad’s. I hope you're okay. Sorry I haven't been around much.

Kain:

Something is happening. Whispers grow louder, and I worry for your safety. Please let me know you are okay. K

And then an unknown number.

Unknown:

Meet me. Tonight. R

Roman.

I respond to the first two, telling them I'm on my way, and let Kain know that I'm perfectly fine and not a freaking china doll.

I go to respond to Roman last, unsure what to say, so I say nothing and tuck my phone back in my bag. I wipe my face with a towel and head out of the gym, returning the gloves as I leave. I try not to stomp my feet or act like a brat as I make the walk out and call for an Uber to my dad’s. Roman had my car towed, but no one else knows that it’s a write-off yet. I try not to think of it, just another thing on my ever-expanding list.

How it has only been just over two months since my awakening is beyond me. It feels like a lifetime already, though that could be because of the memories.

I clear my mind on the ride over, letting go of some of the worry, trying to breathe deeply to settle the turmoil inside of me. I pull out my phone again as we head down my dad’s driveway and bring up Roman’s text.

Me:

I can't tonight. Something is happening. Are you back?

It doesn't take long for his response to come through.

Roman:

I never left. Just sorting business. If not tonight, when?

Saturday?

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