Chapter 19

I’ve been holed up in this bed for what feels like forever. The only time I leave is to use the bathroom or take a shower.

The maids keep bringing in food, trying to coax me out of my self-imposed isolation, but I don’t touch it.

I’m not hungry. I’m not anything, really. I feel hollow, and for the first time in my life, I feel weak.

My magic drained me, but I regained my strength a couple of days ago.

Still, I feel weak. My mom and dad aren’t my real parents.

My biological father is a deranged murderer who killed my biological mother.

What if I end up like him?

What if my fighting spirit comes from the same twisted genes he passed on to me?

The door creaks open, but I don’t bother to look. I recognize Roman’s scent.

We haven’t spoken since I broke down and clung to him like a scared child.

I’m mad at him too. Mad that he treated me like a child and locked me up.

I can feel his gaze on me, but I keep my eyes fixed on the ceiling.

“You need to eat. You’ve barely touched any of the food I’ve had them bring you.”

Good for him, noticing. I’m tempted to roll my eyes, but I stay perfectly still. “Aren’t you going to say something?”

Nope.

“I didn’t lie to you. I’m here, trying to take care of you, but I can’t do that if you won’t tell me what you need.”

After a few minutes of silence, he storms out, slamming the door behind him. I grab my phone and Facetime Lucy. I need to talk to someone.

“Hey! Are you okay?! I was so worried. We heard your pack was attacked, but your mom said you were fine. You look terrible.” I snort.

“I’m alive. The day of the attack, Roman locked me in a room. I broke out and kicked some wolf ass. I overdid it though, used up too much energy.”

Lucy gasps and brings her face closer to the phone. She studies my face, her forehead filling the screen.

“This crazy wolf, their leader I think, talked to me. Said he’d come back for me. He seemed familiar, so I talked to mom and we figured out he’s her brother Alan. But that’s not the worst part.

“No, she told me that Alan is actually my father and he killed my mother a long time ago. That’s why my aunt took me in and raised me as her own. She just forgot to mention that she’s not my real mom.”

I wait for Lucy’s shocked reaction, or any reaction really. All she does is look at me with pity.

“You knew!” Lucy’s face turns red, and she quickly looks away from the phone. “YOU KNEW AND YOU DIDN’T TELL ME?!”

“My dad told me once. He made me swear never to tell you. He said that’s why we felt connected, because you lost your mom too. You might not remember it, but your heart does.”

Tears well up in my eyes as I look at my best friend.

The girl who’s been like a sister to me all these years.

I can see all our happy memories shattering right in front of me.

She lied to me. She knew. She should have told me.

I pull my arm back and hurl the phone against the wall with so much force that it shatters into tiny pieces.

My whole body feels like it’s on fire, the smell of the burning bedsheets filling my nostrils.

The door bursts open. I jump off the bed.

I stare at Roman as he stares back at me.

All my anger, all my pain, it all comes together inside me.

My magic feeds off it. Huge waves of fire swirl around me.

“You need to calm down.” I laugh bitterly at Roman’s words. The circle of fire around me grows as I glare at him.

“I need to calm down?! I. NEED. TO. CALM. DOWN?! YOU NEED TO FUCKING CALM DOWN! YOU LOCKED ME UP, WHERE WAS YOUR CALM THEN HUH?! OR WHEN YOU MARKED ME WITHOUT MY CONSENT?! WERE YOU CALM THEN?! DON’T FUCKING TELL ME WHAT TO DO.”

I can hear the bed burning, the smell of the wood filling my nostrils.

“I was trying to protect you. I care about you. Please, calm down. You’re going to burn the house down.”

Just as I’m about to yell at him again, Roman is knocked aside. Jess stands in the doorway with a smirk on his face. My anger subsides a bit.

“As much as I enjoy seeing our dear Prince put in his place, I’d rather not be homeless.” Jess’ tone is playful and I roll my eyes. I pull back my magic and flip Jess off.

“Much better. Now let’s go get something to eat.” Roman snorts and that’s enough for me to walk towards Jess. As I pass Roman, I see a flicker of jealousy in his eyes.

I flip him off too and follow Jess outside. Once we’re outside, I look down at myself. I look like a mess.

“We need to get me some clothes first.” Jess looks at me like I’ve grown a second head.

“I said food, not a shopping spree. If that’s the case, go back inside and burn the house down.” I roll my eyes at him and punch his arm. He pretends it hurts, making me laugh.

“Fine. ONE outfit. Just some pants and a sweater.”

“And shoes.” Now he looks down at my adorable Minion socks.

“Only you would go outside without shoes.” I shrug as I get in the car. Jess drives and for a while we just listen to the radio in silence.

“You know... if you want to talk about it, I’m all ears.”

“Do you ever have anything better to do?” He sticks his tongue out at me without even looking my way.

“I’m pissed. So damn pissed at people making decisions for me. My dad, or well, I guess he’s my uncle. He’s been making decisions for me my whole life.

“I get it, you know. The whole ‘parent’ thing. But there was a point when I was old enough to make my own choices. Yet, he always stopped me from doing what I truly wanted. Roman’s just like him. They don’t give a damn about what I want, so I’m done caring about what they want.”

Jess stays silent for a bit.

“I understand where you’re coming from. My folks always pushed me to do stuff I didn’t want to. But looking back, if I’d listened, I’d probably be in a better place now.

“You should stand up for what you want. But be sure it’s worth having, even if it means losing everything else. Pushing people away doesn’t just shield you, it also leaves you alone.

“Sometimes, people think they’re protecting you. They might do it in the most fucked up way, but their intentions are good. They care.” I gape at Jess.

“Where the hell did you pull that wisdom from?” Jess just shrugs and chuckles.

“Honey, there’s a lot about me you don’t know yet.” I roll my eyes again.

Maybe I should have a chat with Roman.

I’m not quite ready to forgive my ‘mother’ or Lucy. They’ve both been lying for way too long.

But I need at least one person in my corner. Someone other than Jess.

I’m not naive, I know when push comes to shove, Jess will always side with Roman.

They share a history.

But how am I going to get Roman to accept me for who I am?

Fuck, I hate my life.