“They’ll come around, Jin. They’re just a bit shocked.”
“I’m judged first as a demon, then maybe if I’m lucky, I get judged based on merit later. Everyone does. Everyone except for Hunter. He was the only one who immediately accepted me. Everyone else had to be told to accept me.” She looked up at Chasen as a few more tears trickled down. “Do you still hate me too?”
“Jin, I never hated you. I have to be extra cautious. I can’t lose Hunter. I have to protect him.” He unconsciously pulled her into his chest, wrapping both arms around her and hugging her into him. “You don’t really think I hate you, do you? I thought we’d been getting along well today.” He felt her lean her head into his chest and heard her quiet sniff.
“Is this just so I’ll share my chocolate with you?” She smiled into his chest.
Chasen chuckled quietly. “You’ve figured me out.” He paused for a moment, then whispered, “I want us to be friends, Jin.”
“Me too.” She leaned her head onto his warm chest again and took a few relaxing breaths. Her fingers curled into his shirt, and she could feel his warmth against her fingertips. She felt herself calming down. And, secretly, she sensed herself enjoying his touch.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Jin looked up at Chasen and stepped back, wiping the wetness from her face. Someone had noticed she'd left. For once, she wasn't completely invisible.
She smiled, gazing into his chocolate eyes. He'd taken the time to comfort her, wanting to be friends. Warmth ignited in her chest, an excitement she couldn't name. Something buried within her began to crack. As she stared into his eyes, an unfamiliar pull drew her closer, strange and inexplicable. She was curious about the tug, but also didn’t understand it. He stared back, unwavering, his gaze holding something more. Her heart raced, and a shiver rippled through her. She took another step back and dropped her gaze to her toes.
“I can’t go back out there right now. I don’t want anyone to know I’ve been crying.” She bit her bottom lip and poked her shoe into the floor.
Chasen, who had been lost in her shining emeralds, snapped out of his haze. He cleared his throat and walked over to the kitchen. “You don’t have to go back out there. Would you like something to drink?”
“Yes, please.” Jin sat on a stool at the kitchen bar and watched as Chasen reached into the fridge and pulled out a big pitcher full of iced tea.
“There you guys are,” Hunter said as he entered the house and walked up to them. He immediately noticed the redness around Jin’s eyes. “Hey. What happened?” His voice was gentle as he rested a hand on her back.
“It’s nothing. Really.” Jin forced out a smile, trying to show that everything was okay.
“He isn’t picking on you, is he?” Hunter raised an eyebrow toward his brother, who only snuffed air out in irritation.
“No, not at all. Chasen and I are friends,” Jin said sweetly.
“Is that right?” Hunter smirked and looked at Chasen, who refused to make eye contact with him.
“You can go back out there.” Jin didn’t want to keep Hunter away from the pack. She was also touched that even as a busy alpha, he noticed she was missing, too.
“Nah, it’s just small talk now anyway. Some are already making their way back home.” Hunter reached out and grabbed the cup that Chasen had poured for him as well.
Jin looked between both men. They were the only ones in the house now. This would be a good time to explain things and tell them about the person in the mall. “If you both still want to know about me, I’m ready to talk to you about it. But maybe up in the room.”
Hunter gave her a soft smile and nodded. “Thank you. I would like to know about your past, Jin.”
The three of them made their way upstairs and into Hunter’s room. Jin sat on the couch while Chasen leaned against the arm of the couch nearest to her and Hunter sat beside her.
“I have to warn you once more … it isn’t a pleasant story,” Jin started, looking down at her hands. “When I was young, my parents were killed. They believed in balance and were on theside of yin.” She looked over at Hunter and Chasen. “Yin is also known as the dark priestess, Kali. I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of her before. She is a balance keeper.” She sighed. “As you know, there are demons out there that are trying to take over everything. They are heavily tilting the balance. This goes against Kali, and she is fighting to restore balance. I am also on the side of balance, but I’m not on yin or yang’s side. I fall on both sides. Anyway, I’m getting off track. My parents were killed by other demons for taking the priestess’ side.”
Her small hands began to tremble slightly as she remembered the events of that day. “I was then taken and enslaved by those demons. They placed metal chains on me that sealed my powers. I’d been imprisoned by them up until just a few years ago, when Ciana rescued me. I was being taken through a utopian village. I was to be sold, traded, or exchanged for a service, I imagine. Ciana saw me and snatched me away. She flew down and took off with me. I’m forever indebted to her.”
Jin inhaled a deep breath through her nose, and a couple tears trickled down her cheeks. “I was treated horribly there. I was starved and beaten. I often wished for death just so I wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. My life changed so much with Ciana. We’ve lived together for the last few years, deep in the mountains. We kept close company with Kali, the dark priestess, and Selene, the Moon Goddess. I received guidance from them. They’re the ones who told me about your family and about the fight for balance. I knew then that the reason I was alive was so I could be your partner, Hunter.” She looked up at him, tears glinting like small crystals in her eyes. “I was meant to give you the element of air.
“Anyway, that’s the watered-down version of my story.” Jin became quiet and looked down at her hands.
“I’m so sorry. That must have been horrible. I’m glad Ciana found you and rescued you. But I don’t think you’re alive just to give me the air element. I think it’s so you can experience a real family here. We’re your family now, Jin.” Hunter patted her back and she smiled up at him and nodded.
“Thank you. That’s what I want more than anything … to have a place I can call home. I don’t even know what a home is. My memory is so foggy from before my parents died, it almost feels like that time never existed.”
Jin looked up at Chasen and then back to Hunter. “At the mall today, I saw one of the demons who used to mistreat me, and at first, I was very angry. I could use my element now. I wanted to hurt him. But that’s not the person I want to be. I want to use my strength for self-defense or to protect others. I don’t want to use it for revenge.”
“Good for you. Even the best of us get trapped in revenge,” Chasen said in a gentle tone. He gazed at her softly. He felt his insides burning with pain for her. How could she still be so kind and sweet after being abused for so long? He wanted to hold her. He wanted to feel her against him. He felt confused by his feelings. Why were they growing so strong? How was this feeling developing so quickly? It was starting to become difficult to control. And deep within, his beast was growling for her with intensity. As his eyes met with hers, he could hear a voice that was his own … a voice that saidMINE.
