Chapter 304
The ramifications of Aaron and Leah leaving for the Old Country start rapidly sinking in, and none of it looks good.
“We’ve been threatened by vampires, and your answer to that is to take your mate and son, and go to the Old Country, leaving us defenseless?” I shout at him.
Axel straightens in alarm at my outburst and edges closer, as if he thinks he might need to physically intervene.
I try to get a handle on my anger and hurt, but it’s no use.
The cravings twisting my insides into knots aren’t helping either.
I want to smash this room to pieces.
I want to sink my claws and teeth into flesh until blood runs like rivers.
I want to tear out my own insides, if only to make all of this stop.
Aaron looks both pissed off and hurt at my demand.
“I don’t have a choice, Emily. Do you think I actually want to leave at a time like this? Don’t you think my Alpha instincts, my sense of responsibility, is telling me that doing such a thing is wrong on countless levels? We requested the help of the Old Country Wolves. If we refuse their mandates, then we don’t get
Aaron gets to his feet, staring down at me with disappointment and detachment.
“Whether you choose to understand or keep acting selfish is up to you, Emily. But this is happening. The private jet has already put in its flight plans to Romania. Leah and I are leaving tonight. Hopefully, we won’t be gone for more than a few days, but at this point, I don’t know what to expect from the Old Country Wolves, so it might end up being longer.”
I don’t have any words.
Nothing that won’t alienate Aaron further or cement his idea that I’m a brat.
How can he say that about me?
All the things I’m doing, all the things I’m trying to tell him, it’s not for my own sake.
It’s for the sake of the pack.
How can he not see that Leah and Roberts pack brought us here -on the brink of a war with vampires, the deadliest creatures known to wolves? To the world!?
“Who will be in charge of the pack in the meantime?” I ask in a quiet voice, unable to keep the tight anger out.
Aaron frowns, as if even that is an affront to him.
g with us, as extra protection for Leah and
Ethan,” Aaron answers, his gaze cutting away from me, which gives me an ever deeper bad feeling.
“Obviously as my sister, you’re next in line of succession, because Ethan is still too young. The pack will be expecting you to step up and take on a leadership role,” Aaron continues and I don’t know whether to be grateful or terrified about everyone’s expectations of me. “However, I’ve talked to Jessica and she has agreed to support you and act as pack Luna during Leah’s absence. If you aren’t coping, I’ve given her permission to also take over your duties should the need arise.”
I feel the betrayal of that far more deeply than I expected to.
My best friend.
Placed in a roll that should have fallen to me at any other time.
Except I’m damaged goods.
I’m the broken, fragile sister.
I can’t be trusted to spend a day alone, let alone manage an entire pack.
“And while it has caused some controversy,” Aaron goes on. “I have decided to put Axel in charge of the pack until I get back. He’s been an Alpha in his own right, so he knows what’s required in the role. Plus, he doesn’t have the history and personal alignments within the pack, so I know he can be
ipletely impartial. You will work closely with him to ensure the pack runs smoothly while I’m gone.”
My entire body goes numb, and I cut my furious gaze over to Axel, but he’s looking placidly at Aaron and quite obviously ignoring me.
“Don’t make things more difficult than they’re already going to be, Emily,” Aaron warns me.
Apparently, me just existing makes things more difficult for everyone, so what does he even expect me to do?
Lock myself in my room and play the damaged victim who can’t cope with life?
Never mind that’s how I feel most days, but I refuse to let that jerk old Roberts Alpha win.
He stole enough years of my life as it is.
Everyday I get out of bed and walk out of my bedroom despite feeling like nothing but a shriveled–up husk inside, I figure it’s a massive fuck you to that old dead bastard.
I force the pain down deep into what is a bottomless well. “Enjoy your European vacation, Aaron.”
I know it’s petty, but part of me wants Aaron to hurt even half as much as I’m hurting.
I stalk out of the room and ignore the murmur of both Aaron’s
and Axel’s voices, before Axel takes to following me like always.
I have no idea where I’m going or what I’m doing, I just know I need some way to escape all this hate and anger and ugliness raging inside my chest.
As I go around the next corner, I almost bump into someone coming the other way.
Leah steps back and looks at me with wide eyes.
Suddenly, that bubble of fury and helplessness in my chest bursts, and I lunge forward, claws and fangs emerging.
