Chapter 42: Chapter 42

EVERLEE

I lifted Rage’s arm from my stomach and swung my feet toward the cool floor of my old room. It felt weird having Rage sleep with me there. Dad would have never allowed it if we hadn’t mated.

The heavy silence of the castle felt like a looming shadow. I opened my door softly, hearing the sound of the air conditioner attempting to keep the humid hallways cool. The only other sound was the whisper of voices in the distance. The kingdom whispering behind closed doors about what happened.

I tiptoed down the hallway, like I had so many times, and stopped in front of Harlan’s room. His breathing was uneven. He was awake, but he wasn’t alone. I sensed Gabriela was checking on him, and it made me smile.

I felt something between the two of them. Something longing, but I also felt Gabriela was hiding something from all of us.

The giant fae she brought with her slept in the room over. His snores were loud, but I sensed he could wake up at any time. Instead of cowering away like I wanted to, I opened the door and stepped inside.

Gabriela was bent over, holding Harlan’s hand, whispering to him when I locked gazes with her. “Everlee,” she said in a soft whisper.

I smiled at her, but my gaze shifted toward Harlan. Pillows were propped behind him, letting him sit up enough to look around, but he looked different.

Harlan looked lean, more like a muscular human than a muscular wolf. His hair was disheveled and dirty, and his scent was wrong. It wasn’t the scent that I remembered. “Harlan,” I said softly.

He looked at me and smiled.

It looked rough, forced, and it sliced another piece off my heart. “Are you okay?”

He chuckled under his breath as Gabriela let go of his hand and stepped back. “The curse is broken, and I’m a human if that’s what you are asking.”

I cringed at the tone of his voice. I deserved that. I knew it. He knew it. Gabriela bowed her head and cleared her throat. “I’ll leave you two to chat. I’m across the hallway if you need me.”

With silent steps, she crept across the hallway and left us alone in the silence. When I didn’t speak, he rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to sit over there in silent torture, Ever. We might as well get this over with.”

“Get what over with, Harlan? You’re my brother. You don’t get over that. You just lost your wolf. Don’t play this off to act tough.”

Harlan’s jaw locked. “Aren’t you busy sleeping with your mate?”

There was the hostility.

I stared at him, the moonlight shining through the stained-glass window brightening his handsome face. “You picked him, Ever. You picked him over me.”

“I did,” I answered, looking away from him. “I picked him because I didn’t see you anymore. Maybe it was because this would happen. If I chose you, and the lycan took over, we both would have been screwed, wouldn’t we?”

“Don’t give me excuses, Ever. You chose him because you wanted him more.”

I closed my eyes, feeling fresh tears brewing in my eyes. “I never imagined this would happen. I’m sorry, Harlan.”

He sighed heavily and covered his face with his palm. I listened to the sadness. There was no wolf speaking back to me. All I felt was another human in the room. He reached his hand out to me, and I walked over, slipping into the bed beside him. I rested my head against his shoulder.

“I love you, Ever. I always will.”

“I love you. Please don’t leave the kingdom and never come back.”

His silence said too many things.

“Please,” I whispered into the room.

He shook his head. “Don’t be selfish. I can’t stay here while you live a life that I thought would be with me. I need to find myself. Find a life that doesn’t revolve around you, Everlee.”

I knew that was true. I knew he needed to leave. Find a job. Find a purpose that wasn’t a wolf one. “Will you ever come back?” I asked.

His fingers splayed against my hair, and he ran his fingers through it. “Of course. I’ll come back for holidays. To see Mom and Dad.”

Hearing him call them that felt nice. He rarely did. “I’m glad the wolf didn’t win,” I said.

“Me too. I really never meant to attack you.”

“You don’t have to explain it. I knew it wasn’t you. I could see it in your eyes. Like in the field today.”

“You beat my ass,” he said.

I laughed loudly, and it eased the pain in my chest. “I did, and I’ll do it again any day. I’m the superior sibling.”

Harlan laughed loudly, and before I knew it tears were coating his cheeks. Tears of joy. Tears of frustrations and regret. Everything between us was bared for each other to see. I could sense Rage waking down the hallway, and him realizing I wasn’t there.

But he didn’t come looking.

He was good like that. He didn’t pry or push. He was a gentle alpha who knew he was the perfect match for me.

I lay with Harlan for a while, until he fell asleep underneath me. When the sun was rising, I slipped from the bed and walked down the hallway toward my room.

The fae’s hushed whispers sent shivers under my skin. I couldn’t make out his words, but I knew they weren’t good. I wanted to check on Gabriela, but I didn’t. It wasn’t my business what their relationship was or if she’d stay to check on Harlan.

When I opened the door, Rage was slipping a T-shirt over his head. He looked back at me and smiled. “Good morning.”

“Morning. Sorry I wasn’t here. I was—”

“I know where you were,” he said, walking over to me. I angled my chin upward to look at him and smiled. “Thank you for letting me stay.”

Rage bent down and nipped my bottom lip. “Of course, Ever. You both needed the closure.”

I smiled and angled my head to hear the kitchen crew getting ready to start breakfast. “I want some coffee. Want some?”

Rage gestured toward the door. “Lead the way.”

By the time breakfast was ready, we’d already had two cups of coffee each and were speaking with Mom and Dad in the kitchen.

Mom seemed lighter this morning, having already checked on Harlan, and I caught her staring at Rage on numerous occasions. “Can I talk to you before breakfast starts? Maybe your dad and Rage can bring down Harlan, Gabriela, and her…friend.”

I sensed an uneasy feeling about the fae, but I didn’t pry. Rage winked at me when Mom led me toward the back porch. I stepped out into the humid southern air and inhaled deeply.

Before I could comment on the summer heat, she turned and pulled me in for a hug. “Rage is perfect for you, Everlee.”

I smiled into her embrace. “I know.”

She pulled back, and pure enjoyment raced over her. “I know you’ll probably move to his pack house after school, but you’re more than welcome to come stay here whenever you want. I can’t believe the way he looks at you.”

“Gosh, Mom,” I mumbled. “Don’t embarrass me. I have to go sit with him in a few seconds.”

She chuckled and looked out over the forest. “Harlan is going to be okay. He will have to find himself, but he’s okay.”

“I think so too.”

The sound of Harlan’s voice wafted outside to me. Mother looked over my shoulder and gestured toward the door. “Time to eat.”

We walked back toward the dining hall. Most of the kingdom was there ready to eat. Harlan stood with Kellan, who’d made it in the night before, and his usual friends. Rage waited with Dad awkwardly in the corner, smiling at me like a sly devil.

Mom noticed Gabriela in the dining hall doorway, her hands interlaced in front of her and a pretty braid down her shoulder. “Gabriela. Will you join us for breakfast?”

She smiled, though it didn’t meet her eyes. The fae stalked in the background, tapping the toe of his foot against the tile. “Actually, we have to be leaving now. Thank you for your hospitality. I hope everything was as you hoped.”

Mom frowned but nodded. “It was. Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

Her gaze swept toward Harlan, who hadn’t looked away from her. Mother noticed something, but the fae grabbed Gabriela’s arm and tugged her backward. “We have to leave,” he said in a deep voice.

Harlan stepped forward like he wanted to do something but realized he was human now. His wolf power was gone. Gabriela bowed. “Thank you, Luna. I hope to see you again one day.”

She left swiftly, leaving a chill behind her.

Dad hit the side of his orange juice glass with his knife and drew our attention. I watched the disappointment on Harlan’s face as I walked toward Rage. He felt something for the witch doctor.

Everything about her situation was wrong.

Rage slid his palm around my waist as Dad cleared his throat. “I want to raise a toast today to new beginnings. As tough as they will be, they will end in victory for our kingdom. We love you all.”

I slipped into my seat beside Rage and felt his palm land on my thigh. His lips pressed against my ear, and he whispered, “I hope our tough times are over, Ever.”

I leaned my forehead against his. “Let’s hope for the best, shall we?”

We started eating, while I noticed Harlan had slipped from the room. I wasn’t sure where he went, or if he needed to breathe, but I prayed that he was strong during this.

No matter what came for him in the future. Harlan deserved happiness. No matter the cost.