Chapter 12
Kaelan drove while telling me everything that had happened these past days.]
Lucian in the back seat kept clenching his fists tighter and tighter, until finally he burst out desperately:]
“Alina, I really love you! There’s only ever been you in my heart! I just felt sorry for Zaria because she was an orphan, I pitied her! I-”
“Shut the fuck up!“]
I was worried sick about Professor Nessa, my mind a complete mess, my wolf clawing frantically at my insides. I didn’t want to hear his pathetic excuses.]
After After I snapped at him, both Alphas had the sense to keep their mouths shut.]
When I got out of the car, they both tried to follow me up, but I refused with a snarl.[]
I didn’t want… Professor Nessa to get hurt because of me. She was all I had left.[]
–
Lucian’s hand was shaking as he reached for the car door handle. “Alina, I—“]]
“Don’t. I don’t need your fucking apology.“]
I went up alone and opened that tightly closed door, my wolf’s senses on high alert.]]
Even though I’d tried to prepare myself, when Zaria got me in a chokehold, my heart still raced with pure terror.]
In the corner, Professor Nessa was tied up with rope and completely motionless…
My eyes burned with murderous rage as I struggled frantically, my wolf howling in my chest. “What did you do to Grandma!“]
“Why are you screaming? I just gave her some sleeping pills so she’d stop her chattering!“[]
Looking more carefully, I could see Grandma’s chest was still rising and falling steadily, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief–but the rage remained, building like a storm.]
“Sister, did you see Kaelan and Lucian?”
My heart jumped, terror mixing with fury as I quickly denied it.]
“No, aren’t they with you? I was wondering what you came to find me for.“]
couldn’t tell if she believed me, but the silver chain around my neck kept tightening, the blessed metal burning against my skin.
“Sister, tell me why is your life so fucking charmed?”
“You were born with everything, everyone treasured you like you were made of gold!”]
“Even though I constantly badmouthed you in front of them, framed you, they still loved you more…“]
She was choking me so hard I could barely breathe, the silver chain searing my flesh as my wolf thrashed in panic. My hands were tied behind my back, so all I could do was arch my neck backward, fighting for that last bit of air, stars dancing in my vision.[]
“You–cough cough–you clearly won. How do they love me more? Since we were kids, cough cough–they only ever believed you, only ever helped you. They love you-“]
“SHUT UPP“]
She screamed like a rabid animal, squeezing even harder, and I felt my consciousness starting to slip.]
“Love me? That was PITY, you think I couldn’t tell?!“]]
“They looked at me with sympathy, with fucking pity! And even that I had to earn by tearing open my own wounds and playing victim over and over!“[]
“Why, why do you get so much love without doing anything at all!“]
Her voice was getting more unhinged by the second, and I realized with crystal clarity that she was completely gone–there was no reasoning with this level of madness.]
“Look, even this old witch who’s barely met you was saying ‘don’t hurt Alina, don’t hurt Alina‘ before she passed out. Everyone just adores you, don’t they? You’re laughing at me inside, aren’t you?!“]
“Laughing at how all my scheming for years still lost to you, how everyone still abandoned me!/Today, I’m going to make you lose what you treasure most!“]
She finally let go, and I crashed to the floor gasping, my throat on fire. Through my tears, I watched her pick up the lighter from the table and walk step by step toward Professor Nessa.]
Pure, animalistic terror flooded my system as I used the blade I’d hidden in my sleeve to frantically cut through the rope around my wrists, my hands shaking so badly I nearly cut myself.[]
“Alina Darkwood, I’m going to make you regret this for the rest of your miserable life!“]
My wolf was snarling, ready to kill, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to let her.
