Chapter 46 #2
Suddenly, my heart aches for the male sitting across from me. I know first hand what it’s like to receive an Alpha’s wrath. To be used and abused for the sake of the Watchers. In the name of the gods.
Perhaps we have more in common than I originally thought.
“I figured out a way to get us out of there. We escaped here, to the WildLands. The one place safe from the Watchers.” He gestures out to the woods beyond the window.
“They're terrified of what exists outside of their little gods’ blessed bubbles. Out here the Arcane rules. It’s steeped in the ground, runs through the trees and the creatures that call it home.
It runs rampant as its own entity, constantly creating chaos and wreaking havoc.
And while that may be dangerous, it also means they wouldn’t dare attempt to follow us. ”
“So you lived here with Sterling? After your escape?” I ask. He nods, the motion slow, as if he’s lost in thought. “How long?”
“A couple years, I think?”
I gasp, trying to stifle the sound of my surprise.
“It’s hard to keep track of time out here, cut off from civilization.
And so much of my time was spent trying to help him through the withdrawals of whatever gods-forsaken drugs the Alpha had been feeding him.
But we managed. And I promise you it’s better than what was awaiting you back in Requiesse. ”
I sit up at that, my hackles raised. “What do you mean by that?”
A ripple of regret passes over Zeke’s features, realizing his mistake. But it’s gone the next second, his face resolved to that same stoic indifference.
“I just mean that—” He hesitates, digging for an acceptable explanation. “If Aamon wanted you out, then it’s better to listen and get the hells out.” He refuses to meet my gaze, but I don’t need to see his eyes to tell he’s lying.
“Tell her the truth, Ezekiel.” Zeke and I both snap our heads around to the front door to find Sterling standing there.
His chin is tainted a rusty color, his white T-shirt is soaked in blood.
His eyes are glowing silver, all traces of the exhaustion that’s been racking his features since we got here gone.
“That is the truth.” Zeke scoffs, pushing off the table and venturing into the kitchen.
He opens the cabinet to reveal our small store of supplies.
He snags a bottle of whiskey out of the cabinet, unscrews the top, and takes a hearty swig.
Sterling steps forward, a hand on the back of my chair.
His gaze is unyielding, and I know this is what the last two days have been working towards.
This moment between the two of them feels too big, too full of tension to let pass.
“She deserves the truth. You can't keep lying to us like this.” Sterling’s grip on the chair tightens behind me, making the wood creak.
“Gods, Sterling, can’t you just leave well enough alone?” Zeke’s voice is full of disdain and annoyance.
“Not when you’ve forced us from our home and continue to feed us lies. Not when you’re punishing us so cruelly for reasons she doesn't even comprehend!”
“Why can’t you just trust that I have your best interest in mind?” Zeke slams the bottle down on the counter, making me jump.
“Because.” Sterling slips out from behind my chair, approaching Zeke. “You don’t have her best interest in mind. You’ve proven that time and time again. That you don’t care about her whatsoever. So why in the seven hells would I trust you’re making this call for selfless reasons?”
Sterling doesn’t stop until he’s right in Zeke’s face, barely a breath separating them. “You know you sound like them.”
My brows furrow as I try to understand his meaning, but Zeke catches it instantly.
“Shut the fuck up, Sterling.”
Sterling sneers, shaking his head slowly. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were one of them. A Watcher in our midst, controlling us. Betraying us. Deciding what's best for the people who aren’t even given the opportunity to make that decision for themselves.”
“Sterling . . .” I warn, standing up slowly from the table. Rage is dancing behind Zeke’s eyes. I don’t think Sterling can push him much further without him losing his control.
“I said, shut the fuck up.” Zeke’s grinds out the words between gritted teeth.
“Why should I? Because you said so? Because I’m always the ever obedient sub that you can order around as you see fit?
I am not yours to control anymore, Ezekiel.
You made that very clear when you told me to choose between you and her.
I chose her. And you chose to act like one of those deceivers and fuck with what we had, all because you couldn’t stand the thought of me being happy with someone besides you. ”
Zeke moves so fast, that I don’t even have time to react. He shoves Sterling backwards, moving with his flailing body so that he’s on him again before he even has time to hit the ground.
“Zeke!” I shout, trying to scramble around the table to get to them in the kitchen. Zeke fists his hands into Sterling’s bloodstained shirt, pushing him up against a row of cabinets. Sterling smiles down at him, a sickening sight.
“Come on then, Ezekiel. Hit me. Show me all that rage you’re keeping pent up inside. At least you’d be doing something. At least you’d prove you’re not dead inside.”
“Sterling.” I repeat myself, more firmly this time.
I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but I’ve never seen him act so vile before.
I tentatively lay a hand on Zeke’s shoulder.
“Zeke, let's all take a breath, okay? You don’t have to share anything you aren’t comfortable sharing.
But I think it'd be best if we gave each other some space.
Before someone does something they'll regret.”
My eyes flick to Sterling pointedly, but my words make Zeke hesitate. Slowly, he lets Sterling go, lets me lead him towards the living room and sit him down on the sofa. He stares straight ahead, fists clenched tight in his lap.