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I want my Mates to love me.
I want them to not reject me.
I want to rewind time and go back to last night, before I discovered who they are to me. Before the weight of this secret became mine to carry alone. Before I discovered the twin golden threads wilting in my chest, left to spend eternity alone and unloved.
And if I can’t have that, then at the very least…
“I want them to believe me.”
I latch on to that final wish and hold on tight.
“What you want doesn’t matter.” Vae shoves his plate angrily, startling me and making me jump. It slides across the table, stops when it collides with a platter, and sends bacon scattering across the wood.
Why is he so angry?
“He’s right,” Gav agrees, ignoring Vae’s outburst. “It’s been decided. This isn’t open to negotiation.”Branwen’s mouth parts, but Gav shoots her a glare sharp enough to cut. “Three questions. Alpha Command.”
My breakfast sits like a brick in my stomach. I reach for my water with shaking hands, bring it to my lips, and take small sips to keep from getting sick.
Breathe. You knew this was coming. You would have chosen to go along with this regardless. Just answer the questions. That’s all you have to do.
I might not have Branwen’s confidence, but I know how to be brave. My entire life I’ve been on the receiving end of unjust punishments disguised as whatever new lie the Alpha tells himself to justify his cruelty.
Squaring my shoulders, I turn toward Gavran and wait for him to meet my eyes before inclining my head.
“Go on, then.”
My hands shake, and when Gav nods at Vaelenor, permitting him to begin, they shake harder.
Vaelenor scoots his chair away from the table, looking everywhere but at me; he pushes to his feet and stands.
Chapter 7
Idril
I’m focused on Vaelenor, so I don’t notice Silas move until my chair’s ripped forcefully away from the table. With a yelp, I scramble to steady myself before glancing over my shoulder, where Silas stands with a smug smirk I want to wipe off his face.
He did it to rattle me, and it worked. Obviously, something about my decision to face this head-on unsettled Silas so much he felt the need to reassert himself—pulling my chair, with me in it, and dragging it more than six feet away, leaving me sitting in the middle of the room by myself.
Isolated.
As though being alone is some kind of new concept for me.
My hands are shaking with adrenaline. But this time, instead of giving in, I rally. Taking a deep breath, I return my attention to Vae as he walks around the edge of the table, coming to a stop a few feet in front of me.
When I meet his eyes, I’m expecting to see cruel mischief reflected at me. What I find is worse.
Nothing.
He looks like a ghost.
Like someone sucked out his soul, and all that remains is a shell, going through the motions.
Irritation swims in my gut, flowing through my blood and filling my limbs. By the time it reaches my chest, the irritation has morphed into rage.
The fire in my chest welcomes the emotion, using it to feed and nourish the flames until they grow into an inferno. It crackles and burns, eager to see the Alphas experience just a glimpse of the pain they’ve inflicted on me.
I have to actively force my anger down into something more manageable, knowing it won’t stay like that for long. The Alphas are quiet, waiting.
