Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Wyatt
Moonlight shines through the busted glass, illuminating the still form lying on the pile of filthy blankets. For a few seconds, I hold my breath, listening to her sluggish heartbeat. Slow, but steady.
Andrew approaches the woman slowly so as not to startle her.
"Libra, can you understand me?" he asks softly. "My name is Andrew. I'm here to help."
The woman moans softly as she tries to move away from my mate. "No. Please, Cyril. No more."
"Cyril is gone, Libby. We're getting you out of here." Andrew gently lifts Libra from her bed of rags. I follow him out and help him situate her in the backseat of our vehicle.
The drive back home is filled with silence.
So much has happened in a short period of time – namely, my past following me home.
My family hasn't asked questions, but they aren't stupid.
They'll have guessed what Cyril and I participated in at the club back then.
It was foolish to think I could keep something like this under wraps forever.
They won't judge, but maybe I've been judging myself. Maybe underneath it all, I'm ashamed of the coping mechanism that was built from the abuse of my past.
"I'm still me," Andrew says quietly. "I'm not a monster because I decided to eat one."
"Cyril, though human, was definitely a monster. One I don't think you could ever be. After all, you saved her." I look in the rearview mirror at Libby's sleeping form.
"I may have secondary trauma from seeing what he did to her through those memories. Wyatt, he bought her from her family – Hunters. Her own family hated her because she can see spirits. They called her an abomination."
"Jesus. Well, she's safe now, because of you. We'll offer her a place to recover. She can stay as long as she wants."
"I didn't know ghosts and spirits were a real thing. It's not an area I've researched heavily. We'll need to find someone with more expertise to help her hone her gifts and let her know she's not alone."
Keeping one hand on the wheel, I reach over with the other and take my mate's hand. "You're a good man, Andrew. I'm lucky to have you as my Fated."
Bringing my hand up toward him, Andrew kisses my knuckles. "You're good, too, Wyatt. Just because you crave pain doesn't make you a bad person. You're a great brother, and cousin. You're an excellent agent for the Coven. You're a stellar mate. And, you are the best part of my new life. I love you."
Tears sting my eyes, but they don't fall.
I can't remember the last time I cried. Probably when I was a child before it was beaten out of me.
I should say something, but my throat is tight with emotion and the words won't come.
My mate doesn't push me to talk, and we ride the rest of the way home holding hands.
Because of Andrew, I finally know what love is supposed to feel like.