“Almost nine in the evening.”
“I just want to sleep.”
“Okay…”
Silence
“Can I sleep here?” He asked, his voice sounding too low and hoarse.
“No.”
“Okay. Goodnight then.”
I didn’t reply. I waited for him to move out of the room, but he didn’t.
“Nadia… About the others. They didn’t do anything wrong. If anything, they were not in agreement with what I did to Andrea. They all stayed to make sure I didn’t hurt her. And they didn’t tell you because I ordered them not to. I used the Alpha command on them. Everything is my fault. Don’t blame them or take your anger out on them. Especially with Jenny. If you need to let it out, I’m just here. I’ll take all the blows.”
I didn’t know what to say. I was glad Jenny didn’t do it intentionally. But then it all pointed to one thing—Riley alone was guilty of everything that was causing me pain.
“Eat something. Or at least drink the chocolate drink I made for you just so you have something in your stomach.”
“Hmmm.”
“Goodnight, Nadia…” Iheard him let out a deep sigh before the door opened and closed.
I waited for a few minutes because I got the strength to get up from my bed. My eyes darted to the food trolled by the couch, and my stomach rumbled. I was hungry, but my mouth wasn’t craving anything.
I picked up the cup of hot chocolate instead, it was still warm. I sat on the wide window sill facing the forest. I pressed the cup to my lips, and just as I was about to tip it over for a drink, I saw a figure on the ground.
Hunter.
Arrow whimpered in my head, missing her other half, and I felt the same. But we just couldn’t give in to our emotions.
I opened the window a little, just enough for a breeze of air to come in. I didn’t know why I opened it, but I was hoping if Hunter would let out a growl or a howl, then I wanted to hear it, to pacify my pain and Arrow’s too.
Hunter sprang inside the forest and he was gone from my hindsight but it didn’t take long before a howl erupted into the thin air.
Hunter was howling to the moon, howling in anguish, and my heart clenched at his pain. We were all hurting from this.
Chapter 40
Iwoke up as thesun’s rays brushed against my skin. I turned around, lying on my stomach and trying to sleep again, when I suddenly realized where I was.
My body jolted up as I sat and looked at my surroundings.Why am I in bed?
I remembered pushing a sofa chair by the window and crunching up there, waiting for Hunter to come back from the forest, but I didn’t notice when I fell asleep.
Did Riley come and place me on the bed?
My eyes darted to the space beside me and I suddenly missed him. My heart felt so heavy seeing the empty, untouched side of his bed.
I wanted to mindlink him and ask where he slept or if he even slept, but I stopped myself. There were still many doubts and questions in my head, and I had to face them first before I went head-on and faced Riley and his demons.
After I washed my face and changed into my day clothes, I went downstairs and went directly to the kitchen, hoping Riley wasn’t around. As much as I missed him, I didn’t want to see him yet.
I saw Jenny sitting by the counter. Just the person I wanted to see.
“Hi!” I greeted her as I walked towards the other side, and opened the fridge, pulling out the milk and other things I could use to make some sandwiches.
