the stairs, rubbing my tired eyes. My sleep was fleeting after yesterday in the cave, and I stayed up late to see if Kade came home. He never did. I wanted him close, needing to see him, but he’s shut down the link yet again. Hearing voices coming from the dining area, I go across the hall and enter through the open doorway, seeing the Elites and some of mine eating their breakfast at the table. I blink slowly, taking them all in as they look back at me. I ignore them and head into the kitchen to make coffee, passing Zaide leaning against the wall, staring at Colten with curious eyes.
“Are there any other areas that you can think of where this woman and the one who was with her could have gone to?” I hear Damian ask the room.
“We have shown you all the places we can think of in The Deadlands without entering anywhere dangerous,” Taylor replied gruffly. Coffee made, I hop up onto the counter and watch them while they talk. Making extra sure I keep my eyes off Darius while everyone looks me over, no doubt seeing the marks that Darius gave me during my heat. I’m only wearing shorts and a t-shirt, so they aren’t hard to miss. My cheeks heat.
Leo speaks up next, shaking his blond head. “She’s dead, as well as her companion.” I remain silent, hoping they stick to that conclusion. They won’t be going home soon though as his men still need to heal.
“We assume the same thing for them both,” Josh takes a sip of his drink before continuing. “There is no way they survived, especially if they haven’t entered The Deadlands before, and I’m assuming they hadn’t.”
“Morning, Rhea,” Sebastian calls, looking over his shoulder at me from where he sits, eyes on my legs as they swing back and forth. I grunt in response and look out my window. It’s still early morning, the sun barely up in the sky.
I really don’t feel like talking much, my head still swimming with thoughts of what happened in the cave with Darius. His words cut me deep while I stood there naked and vulnerable, and I don’t know why I’m letting him affect me so much. I suspect it’s because I feel some sort of odd connection toward him. Though it may not be as odd as I think. Does he feel the same toward me? I doubt it with how he speaks to me. The problem is, if he is who I suspect he is, he’s the Alpha of the Elite. He’s close to the Highers, and that’s even more worrying. Even more terrifying.
“Eat more,” Hudson tells Colten, and I look over at him as he points to the food on Colten’s plate.
Colten sighs, pushing his plate away. “I’ve eaten enough–”
“I know you,” comes a deep voice, and all our heads snap to Zaide leaning against the wall with his eyes on Colten, who freezes at his words along with Hudson.
“What?” Colten asks, his brows low, the grip on his fork tightening.
“Your father is Alec Hallow. He was with the Elites for a long time. He said his son would be joining, but he didn’t turn up for the rite of passage and shamed his whole family. Alec wanted him to join the Elites, find a mate and have pups to continue the family line. He said his son was unworthy of their family name and disowned him after he didn’t show up,” Zaide informs us in a flat tone.
My mug is paused halfway to my mouth when his words hit me, and a slight tremor runs through my hands. I barely breathe as Hudson slowly stands from his seat next to Colten, whose brown eyes now vacant, staring into nothing. I put my mug down slowly on the counter and get down, walking toward Colten as Hudson takes measured steps toward Zaide. I hold my breath as Leo, Damian and Jerrod stand, looking at us in confusion and no doubt prepared for anything as Darius just watches on, curious to see how this will pan out.
I position myself next to Colten, Josh standing at my side with Seb and Taylor close by. I put my hand on the back of his Colten’s neck, rubbing circles there as I watch Hudson come to a stop in front of Zaide. There is no point trying to intervene, not when Zaide clearly knows who Colten is and Hudson’s protectiveness over him. It would make things worse.
“Do not ever mention that family in front of Colten again.“ Hudson doesn’t shout, he doesn’t even raise his voice, but you can hear the deadly intent behind his spoken warning. A warning that he has every right to give.
Zaide tilts his head at Hudson, his eyes flicking to Colten’s vacant ones briefly, looking him over before coming back to Hudson. He shrugs, nodding once, and I release the breath I was holding. Surprised, but thankful he agreed.
Hudson walks back over to Colten and grunts as he sees the look in his eyes. I move back, giving his neck one last gentle rub, and let Hudson deal with the situation. Crouching in front of him, Hudson lifts a hand and grabs his jaw gently, giving him a little shake. “Come on, pup. Let’s go for a run,” he murmurs. Colten’s eyes go to Hudson’s, and he nods woodenly before getting up and letting Hudson guide him out of the cabin.
I wait until I hear the door close before I speak, getting my words out before the questions start. “Sit down,” I tell them all. “I will explain.”
“You better do just that, Rhea. What happened to you all living here from birth?” Leo demands, and I swing a hard glare his way, letting Runa come through my eyes.
“I said I will explain, and I will. So sit the fuck down before I put you down again, Leo,” I spit, ignoring his growl. “And you,” I point at Zaide. “Never mention that fucking piece of shit family around Colten again, like Hudson said. Or it won’t be just him you will have to deal with.” Without waiting for his response, I take a seat in the space Colten left as Josh sits down next to me, squeezing my hand where it rests on top of the table. A low rumble echoes through the room and we all freeze. I peek at Darius through my lashes curiously as he glares at Josh’s hand, I move it away.
Elites on one side, Eridian on the other, our lines divided. I can feel their anger at me for lying about us all being here since birth, but I don’t care. It’s not the only thing I lied about, and I didn’t exactly expect Zaide to know Colten’s family.
I link my hands in front of me. “Colten came here a few years ago. His… family were not happy with his life choices to say the least, and he had to get away.” I pause, licking my dry lips before I continue. “He was lucky he came here. If he didn’t, he would be dead, they would have killed him. They nearly did.”
“No way,” Leo scoffs, and I scowl at him. “I remember the Hallows. They’re good people, and Alec was a damn good Elite.”
“You saw what they wanted you to see. Wolves hide monsters beneath their fur, Leo.” I shake my head at all of them. “You all need to open your fucking eyes, and see people for who they are, not be blinded by their false intentions.”
“We’re Elites, wolf. We’re not blinded by anything,” Damian chimes in, and I huff out an infuriated breath.
“Your arrogance will cost you,” I assure him. “The Elites have been around for hundreds of years, said to be made by the Highers council after the King of Vrohkaria died. Can you tell me why it was formed?” I ask him.
“The Elites were made to protect the lands against all threats. It’s an honor to become an Elite, an even greater honor when you have proven yourself enough to become a Higher if that’s what you want,” Damian says.
I look out the window and try to reign my anger in. An honor? Yeah fucking right. Where is the honor in turning a blind eye to the suffering in packs? They protect the lands from creatures, but what about the monsters in our homes? Who protects us from them? Is it honorable to look someone in the eye and brush off their desperation as rambling nonsense like they did with Sybill and Samantha? What about Katy and Oscar, begging on a dirt path for help? What about me when people came to see me? My fingers clench around each other in front of me on the table at the thought of us begging for help yet receiving none from those that are meant to protect us. All Elites are the same. Memories bombard my mind, and I take in a ragged breath.
“When I see this honor you speak of, when I see the Elites truly protect Vrohkaria from the true threat, then I will honor you for what you are. Whether you believe what I said about Colten’s family is up to you,” I grind out to Damian, not looking at him in case I launch myself at him over the table. “But it is the truth.”
“I don’t know who you think you are.” Leo stands, putting his hands on the table, and I look at him as he leans forward toward me. “But you are nothing but a little girl playing Alpha. You have been here all your life?” he mocks. “Then how the fuck do you know about honor? The Elites? Gods, even what goes on outside this fucking valley? No, you just stay here, hidden away and let everyone else fucking rot! You know what you are?” He leans even closer to me over the table, and Darius stills. “A pathetic, weak, selfish cunt who doesn’t have an honorable bone in her fucking body.”
“Weak little girl. Come on, stand for us! Don’t you want to eat tonight? Do you not want little Kaden over here to eat?”
“Pathetic, can’t even do as she’s told. She’s fucking useless! Throw her back inside her cage.”
“Aww, are you crying again? I’ll give you something to cry about, bitch.”
I’m suddenly hauled back, hands dragging me away from the table while I blink the room back into focus. Sound enters my ears slowly, like I’m just coming up out of the water, and growls and grunts hit me. I shake my head and look over to see Josh on top of Leo, laying into him as blood stains his fist. Leo lifts his elbow and aims for Josh’s face, the blow causing him to fall to the side. They both get to their feet, ready to go again, when Darius lets out a menacing growl so fierce it rattles the windows. The room stops, everyone barely breathing as my eyes are drawn to Darius as he gets to his feet with a snarl on his face.
“What the fuck was that?” he questions, and I look to Josh and Leo, waiting for their reply in a daze as Taylor keeps his hold on me.
When none comes, my eyes slide back to Darius. It’s then I realize he wasn’t talking to them, he was talking to me. His eyes hold mine as I waver on my feet a little, the memories making my stomach turn as he prowls around the table and comes to a stop in front of me. Taylor lets go of my arms, but stays behind me as Seb moves closer. Josh watches Darius warily as he takes a step toward me, concern etched onto his face.
“I said, what the fuck was that?” he repeats to me when I just stare up at him in confusion. I look around the room. My guys have worry in their eyes while the Elites are cautious and curious.
What the fuck?
My brows lower. “What was what?” I try to think what he’s talking about and come up empty. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You blanked out. Your eyes went darker, and you were staring into nothing. I tried to talk to you, but you wouldn’t answer,” he growls as he looms over me. Is that…concern in his eyes?
“Did I do that?” I ask Josh through the link.
He replies instantly. “Yeah, is it happening again? If it is–”
Darius grabs my jaw, shaking it a little when he demands, “Stop talking through the link, little wolf.” The link shuts down.
“How do you do that?” I rip my face from his fingers and take a step back.
“What the fuck happened after Leo spoke to you?” he counters, ignoring my question.
Neither one of us breaks our stare off, neither one of us backs down as his eyes roam my features. Josh clears his throat and comes to stand beside me, pulling my stare away from Darius. I look him over, his lip is split, and he has blood coming out of his nose.
“You good?” he asks me, reaching out and squeezing my hand, and I see Darius’ jaw tick out the corner of my eye.
I nod at him and take a breath. “Let’s finish our conversation, shall we?” I don’t wait for them to answer. I just pick up my chair from the floor where it must have fallen over and take a seat, Josh in the seat next to me again and Taylor and Seb sit on my other side.
I hold my breath while I wait for Darius to take his seat, still not liking him at my back. As everyone picks up chairs and seats themselves, I calm my nerves from the memory of a time I wished I could forget. I wipe my sweaty palms on my shorts and shift in my seat. Taylor nudges my knee with his, and I look at him and give him a small smile.
Darius hasn’t moved yet, his stare focused on the side of my face like he can pick me apart and see all of me. I feel he could if he really wanted too.
“What else have you lied about? We can’t believe a word that comes out of your mouth,” Darius says, his tone hard and demanding as he eventually takes his seat. “You won’t answer questions, and you only tell us things when you have little choice to do so.”
“I have told you again and again that I will not tell you about any of my pack members’ lives. I have told you the basics of Colten’s because Zaide recognized him. If you want the rest, ask him,” I dare. “Hudson won’t be happy with the attempt though, and neither will I.”
“You don’t scare me, little wolf,” he states, and I shrug. Just because I don’t scare him doesn’t mean I can’t slice his throat if I have to. He smirks like he can hear my thoughts, and my lips peel back at the asshole.
“Try me, asshole. See how far you get,” I challenge, and Jerrod huffs out a laugh. The red head is clearly amused, but I’m deadly serious.
“I have tried you,” he murmurs, licking his lips as his pupils dilate. “And I find I like playing with you.” I shift in shift in my seat, the ache in my body a reminder at how he owned it. I was not expecting his words after the way he left last night, with the things he said to me… Is he playing me? Using me? It would make sense as we are using each other to try and get what we want, though he has no reason to touch me to take me to the Highers. He can just drag me there with the threat of Eridian over my head, he’s already doing so.
A laugh comes from further down the table, and I see Sebastian looking between us at the bite marks and scratches the two of us have with a grin on his face. “You know,” he chuckles. “The best fucks are the hate kind.”
“Sebastian!” I snap, glaring at him even as my cheeks heat. He winks back, smiling like he knows something I don’t.
“Come on, Alpha,” he purrs, his voice silky smooth, and I feel rather than see Darius tense. “Releasing some tension is a good thing– Oww!” he whines, as Josh slaps the back of his head.
“Thank you, Josh. It was either that or the knife.” I pull out said knife from my boot and start chipping away at the table in front of me.
“And who taught you how to use a knife?” Sebastian lifts an eyebrow at me, putting his head in his hand as he leans an elbow on the table.
“You,” I admit, pointing my blade at him. “The student surpasses the master.” I grin, feeling some of the hazy darkness lift from my memories. I close an eye, pretending to throw my knife at him. The bastard doesn’t even move.
“Fucking children,” Damian mutters, while Zaide and Jerrod grunt in agreement.
“Smiling won’t fucking kill you, you know?” I tell him, the miserable idiot.
“What is there to smile about?” Damian asks. “I’ve been stuck in The Deadlands for weeks and weeks, looking for a dead woman with a time limit over my head and staying in a place that has the bare minimum. Sure, I’m all smiles.”
This little shit. “You know.” I fake a smile. “If your stay in our subpar home is as awful as you say, you’re very welcome to fuck off back where you came from.“ I bat my lashes at him. “I’ll even help you pack.”
“We have a few weeks left to fin–”
“Alpha!” A scream comes from my doorway, and I shoot to my feet in an instant, my chair slamming to the floor while I rush for the front door. I enter the hallway and see Sybill staggering inside, tears down her face. My heart instantly stops.
I run to her and grab her shoulders as she falls to the floor. I go down with her. “What’s wrong?!” I panic, making my voice harsher than I intended it to be.
“S… Sam,” she gasps. “I can’t find Sam anywhere.” I snap my head to Josh, but he’s already aiming for my front door, Seb and Taylor following.
“What do you mean? Where did you last see her? Did she seem okay?”
Sybill shakes her head, a sob escaping her. “She was last at the river earlier today, but she doesn’t go further than that. I went back and checked on her when she hadn’t come back for a while, but she wasn’t there. She’s been quiet and jumpy the last few days, I thought she may have wanted a bit of time alone, but now she’s gone.” She grabs my hands and squeezes. Sam doesn’t know the forest very well. She’s only been out there a few times and only if she’s with someone. “Please find her. Please.” Sybill begs, lowering her head to my hands. “She wouldn’t just run off, and she would tell me if she was with Kade.”
I pull her to me, giving her a quick hug before pulling back. “Stay here and wait for me. It’ll be okay.” I help her stand and take her over to the seats in my living area. “I’ll find her, I promise. Try not to worry.”
