Chapter 28
I woke up to the sun streaming through the window, the light too bright for my swollen eyes. I turned my head, and pain shot through my neck. I hissed, biting my lip to stop from crying out loud. The burning ache reminded me of everything that had happened last night.
I closed my eyes, willing the memories to go away, but they came flooding back.
Jeremiah had marked me. Not once, not twice, but over and over again, like he was trying to rip my head off. It wasn’t just a mark—it was punishment. My neck throbbed, the pain pulsing like a reminder of the nightmare I couldn’t escape. I swallowed hard, the sensation making it feel like my throat was being torn apart all over again.
I remembered Helena coming in after it happened, her face filled with worry, but it was all so blurry. I had been drifting in and out, the pain and shock too much for my mind to process. It almost felt like a dream—like none of it was real. But the burning on my neck told me otherwise.
I sighed, pushing myself up slowly in bed. I had to be strong. For my family. Jeremiah could mark me, torment me, whatever he wanted, but I couldn’t let him win. I wouldn’t let him get what he wanted about my father’s territory. If I was going to stay trapped in this hell, I would fight back, even if it meant getting hurt again.
Just as I was lost in my thoughts, there was a soft knock at the door. Helena walked in, her face calm but concerned.
“Good morning,” she greeted, her voice gentle as she came closer to my bed. “How are you feeling?”
I wanted to lie, to say I was fine, but there was no point. I felt like I was falling apart, and there was no hiding it. “Like my head’s about to fall off,” I muttered, trying to smile but failing miserably.
Helena sighed and nodded, sitting beside me. “Let me take a look at your wounds,” she said, her voice steady but sad. She carefully peeled back the bandages on my neck, and I flinched as the cool air touched the raw skin. “I’m sorry about him. My cousin…” Her voice trailed off as she shook her head. “He’s a fool.”
I looked away as she began cleaning the wounds, trying not to focus on the pain. “It’s not your fault,” I whispered. “You’re too kind to him. He’s lucky to have someone like you.”
Inside, though, I was seething. Jeremiah didn’t deserve anything good in his life. He was cruel, heartless, and after last night, I was certain of it. How could he do this to me? To his own mate? My throat tightened as I tried to push the thoughts away, but the anger kept bubbling up.
Helena finished applying more herbs to my wounds and rewrapped my neck in fresh bandages. “You should get some fresh air today,” she said, standing up and brushing her hands on her dress. “It’ll help loosen up your wolf. Being cooped up in here isn’t doing you any good.”
I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to leave the room. The outside world seemed just as suffocating as this room sometimes. “What about Jeremiah?” I asked, nervous that he could show up any minute.
Helena shook her head. “He’s out for the day, handling some business. He won’t be back for hours. You’ll be safe.” She offered a small smile. “Go visit the garden. I know you like it there.”
The thought of fresh air did sound nice. Maybe it would clear my head. “Alright,” I said with a nod. “Thanks, Helena.”
She left the room quietly, and after a few minutes, I forced myself out of bed. I slipped into some comfortable clothes and headed to the garden, hoping the fresh air would help me breathe a little easier.
The garden was as peaceful as I remembered, filled with the soft scent of roses and the quiet rustle of leaves in the breeze. I found a bench and sat down, closing my eyes for a moment. Helena was right—my wolf felt a little more at ease out here, like the weight on my chest was lifting just a little.
But my peace was short-lived.
The sound of heels clicking on the stone path pulled me from my thoughts. I opened my eyes and saw Selene standing in front of me, her red hair gleaming in the sunlight, her green eyes glinting with something between disdain and amusement.
“Well, well,” she said with a smirk, crossing her arms. “I’m surprised you even have the nerve to walk around here freely.”
I ignored her, not in the mood for her games, but she wasn’t about to let it go. She scoffed, stepping closer. “Jeremiah went easy on you last night,” she continued, her voice dripping with venom. “You deserved much worse.”
I snapped, unable to keep my mouth shut any longer. “What did I do to deserve this?” I spat, my voice trembling with anger. “What does my family have to do with any of this?”
Selene’s smirk faltered, and her expression turned cold. “Your father,” she said, her voice sharp, “killed Jeremiah’s parents. In cold blood. He executed them, left their heads on wooden spikes for the world to see, and even murdered his baby brother.”
My breath caught in my throat, my heart plummeting to my stomach. “What…?” I whispered, shaking my head. “That’s… that’s not true. My father would never—”
“Your father is a monster,” she cut me off, her voice hard. “He butchered Jeremiah’s family and left their bodies to rot. Jeremiah was only a child. He survived because his grandmother hid him before your father could get to him.”
I felt sick. My head was spinning, and tears stung my eyes. “That can’t be true,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “My father… he’s a good man. He would never…”
Selene scoffed. “Believe what you want, but it’s the truth. And Jeremiah is only giving you what you deserve. He should’ve killed you by now, but I suppose he’s enjoying watching you suffer first.”
I shook my head, tears slipping down my cheeks. How could my father do something so horrible? I didn’t recognize the man Selene was talking about. It was like she was describing a stranger, someone cold and heartless. That wasn’t the man who raised me.
Selene gave me one last, cold look before turning on her heel and walking away, leaving me shattered and more confused than ever.
I sat there, staring at nothing, the weight of her words pressing down on me like a boulder. How could my father have done such a thing? Was it true? Or was Selene lying to me, trying to break me down even further?
But deep down, I feared the worst—that she was telling the truth.
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