Page 23 of Sinful Shifters

Rina is still angry. "I heard you tell the others not to let me overhear what you were talking about. I wasn't a mistake, it was deliberate. You never planned on telling me in the first place."

She has me there. It's a blow to my pride, and the shame that fills me stops me from forming words. I can think of a thousand excuses, but none of them will change what we're done to her.

The hurt in her eyes is unbearable. I deserve all of it. I refuse to look away, a deep keening in my chest, my heart breaking for her.

Thale is full of regret. "I'm so sorry, Rina. We never should've taken it this far. We should've taken you into the wellspring as soon as we were summoned."

"What!?" Rina stalks up to him, glaring him down despite the inches he has over her. "None of you should've madeanydecisions for me. It always should've been my choice."

Of course, now Adar chooses this moment to speak up, which is always unwise. "You don't understand, Caterina. We should've told you sooner, but we had to ease you into it. First you had to understand what you were, then what we were, and finally the history of your pack. You would get it better if you knew more about your pack's history."

She strides forward to shove him, tears pricking her eyes. "I do understand. Tell me: do you plan on killing an alpha to take over your own pack?"

He keeps his jaw tight and won't meet her eyes.

"Then I get it perfectly," she says, the tears falling down her cheeks freely. "Your long game was to manipulate me into accepting violence and death so you could get what you want. I'm sure you were just waiting for me to go into heat so you could tie me to you. That way, I wouldn't leave when I found out the truth."

It's all going very, very poorly. I try to reach out and calm her down with my powers, but she slams me out. She's already becoming a powerful omega, much like Fern, capable of far more than the old alphas thought omegas were ever capable of.

Fern could calm packs and keep them together, yes. She could forge bonds. She could also summon the wellspring's magic to her, make other werewolves shift, and take on the magical skills of others. If Rina is anything like her but survives longer, she'll be a force to be reckoned with.

Something I'd look forward to more if she weren't currentlyourforce to reckon with.

"I'm so sorry, Rina," I try again, stepping towards her as she turns her back on us. "We were only looking for the right time. We fucked up."

She squares her shoulders,too pissed off to listen to me. And I've run out of ways to convince her to open up to us and be her old self again.

This is when Lucian steps up, surprising me with his calmness. "There are no good excuses for what we did. We shouldn't even try to defend ourselves. The truth is, it's all our fault for lying to you, and whatever you decide next is up to you."

She peers over her shoulder at him, eyes narrowed. "Even if I decide not to bond with any of you?"

"Even then. It should all be your choice."

"Because you hurt me." She drops her arms, sniffling and wiping her face off. "It hurts so,sobad."

My heart is breaking, and I don't know how to fix it anymore.

"I knew I should've told you more," he says, reaching out to brush her hair back from her gorgeous face. "Dozens of times, I thought of doing it. Each time, I was a coward for not coming clean. You don't have to forgive me—you don't have to forgive any of us—and I understand if you don't. We abused your trust. You may never get it back again."

She softens to him. They were just the words to say.

Sighing, she admits, "I hate it, but one reason why I'm angry is because Idowant to forgive you and still be with you. I understand why you did what you did. But I hate that you did it to me."

We each apologize. Even Adar softens, admitting, "You deserved the truth. I'm so stupid for thinking we had to keep it from you. Please, forgive me, but if you don't... I understand."

"I'll think about it," she says, sassily throwing her hair over her shoulder. "The truth is, there was no good why to tell me. And, while I'm still horrified by the way Morgan died, I know my pack needs a strong leader again.

"Teller and Klaus aren't just going to go away, and Ali can't fight them single-handedly. If we need more power and more warriors to take them on, then that's what we'll have to do. Forgiving you and trusting you again will have to come later."

She turns to Thale. "It's time for you to be alpha of the Mountain Pack."

Chapter19

Rina

It's strange, to have been betrayed and hurt by them but still want to be so close to them. I'd beat myself up for it if not for the fact that they make me feel safe and loved.

And I understand why they did it. I know that they were afraid that I'd stop them if they told me. Or worse, that they'd lose me for what they planned on doing. That doesn't change how much I hurt, but it softens and blunts the edges.

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