65.

-HER-

After that, we lay in silence for the most part. He is cuddling me. I feel safe and secure in his embrace. I am afraid that I’d crave it very much when I’d be home alone.

“Cybele,” He breathes. I hum lightly while examining his huge hand. He slowly turns me around so that I am facing him again.

“Can I ask you something?” He draws out gently but I am suddenly aware of the tension around us. “Yes,” I mumble, peering at him through my eyelashes.

“What’s the deal with Holly?” His question makes me freeze while my heart starts to race instantly. “Like I know Holly isn’t a good person. I have seen her with the group that does drugs but I want to know what made you frame her,”

If Jake’s question didn’t have a good effect on me then his revelations of Holly did.

“What?” I blurt out.

“What?” He echoes his confusion.

“What did you say about her? How do you know that?” I am surprised at the new piece of information about that girl. I knew Holly was bad but I didn’t know that she has a much darker side to her.

“I am part of the ruling lobby. I know a lot of things about a lot of people, Cybele,” His eyes darken as he reminds me that. “Okay,” I mumble, realizing that he does have his eyes and ears everywhere.

“Now, tell me. Why did you frame Holly?” He repeats but this time I don’t miss the slightly demanding tone in his voice. I drown in silence while contemplating how to tell him and the effect it would have on him.

“Are you still mad at me for vandalizing your office?” I ask him innocently. My question instantly annoys him. I press my lips to contain a small giggle. My question is a small distraction from the topic but I know that he is stern enough to take the train of this conversation back on track.

“Cybele… how many times do I have to tell you that I was never mad at you for vandalizing my office? Even if you had set the place on fire, I wouldn’t have cared less,” He scowls.

“Now, why did you frame Holly?” He repeats himself for the third time. He sounds more demanding this time. I have this feeling that he wouldn’t be happy after I’d be done speaking. I take my time to collect my thoughts and choose my words wisely.

“It was the fresher’s party. I was there with Lisa and others. Holly’s group was there too,” I take another moment to perfectly frame my answer.

“And?” He presses. Impatience is dripping off his voice. I look into his eyes -they’re trained on me pensively. He is very adamant to know. When I recall the events from the fresher’s party, I am hit with another wave of overwhelming emotions.

The trauma is back. It still keeps me awake at night sometimes. I still get the looks from people but I have learned to somewhat ignore them. But still, they bothered me now and then.

I could never forget how I was stripped off my dignity that day. In fact, I don’t think anyone would if they were in my shoes. I swallow the lump in my throat before I finally let everything out.

“My dress got caught in Holly’s bracelet. Before I could do anything about it, she tugged it forcefully. My dress came undone in front of everyone,” My eyes are burning with unshed tears when I am done speaking.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?” His growls loudly while his eyes are wide at me. I bury my face in his chest before finally letting the tears out. I could almost feel the rage course through his veins. His fingers are now digging in my arms as he makes me look at him, “Cybele, why didn’t you tell me before?” He demands.

“What would have you done, Jake?” I whimper at his rage. He instantly senses my fear and calms down a bit but I know that he isn’t going to sit silently after this, “I am capable of doing a lot of things, Cybele,” He growls lowly. His eyes darken even more meanwhile.

“Are you going to do something to her? Please don’t…” The lump in my throat has left me capable of whispering only.

“I’ll make sure she regrets it for the rest of her life. I already have enough reasons to screw her and the people she hangs out with,” He grits. I have never seen anyone so angry and vengeful. It’s scaring me. I don’t know what he’d do to her but it surely would change her life forever.

“You should’ve told me earlier,” He grits, “I wonder what else you’re hiding from me,” His eyes grow harder on me. His words instantly set me off.

“Yeah… me too,” I glare at him and try to push him back but his strength is unmatchable. His strong arms hold me captive. His eyes soften a bit before he claims my lips. I don’t respond first but the attraction is so strong that I find myself moving my lips against his.

The kiss is slow and sensual. I pull back to catch my breath but his lips are on me after a fraction of second.

“I am sorry, Cybele,” He sighs after we pull back, “I will do something about, Holly,” he says sternly, “I just couldn’t let her get away with it,” I gulp, hearing his warning. As much as I am afraid for Holly, deep down, I know that she had this coming. She cannot escape this.

We lay together for the remaining time. When the sun cools down, we hear people outside. I know that we’d have to step out again. There’s going to be campfire tonight. As much as my mood is spoiled due to crying, I still don’t want to miss the event. I am slowly liking the people and the pack.

“Cybele, I need you to promise me something,” He demands before we could leave.

“What?”

“You’ll tell me everything from now on. No more secrets,” His eyes are intense on me as he speaks.

“You’ll tell me everything too,” I narrow my eyes at him. He nods at me instantly, “I’ll tell you everything,” He says sternly.

“I will not hide anything from you,” I try to sound stern like him. The softening of his eyes is enough for me to know that he is satisfied with my words.

“And one more thing, Cybele,” He pulls me before I could leave the tent. “What?” I frown at him.

“Answer my damn texts from next time,” He groans painfully. A giggle knocks off the frown from my face when I leave the tent.

**...
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