Their Light

Chapter 29

Ryder

The minute Hadley froze and her eyes glazed over, I knew I had pushed too far. I stood as still as a statue, afraid that I would make it worse like I usually did. I felt my twin move forward, but I was unable to take my eyes off of my Probus.

"Hadley?" Kent asked. I watched as her eyes widened and darted around. Her gaze landed on me, but never found my eyes. I could see the war of emotions on her face.

"I'm sorry." I hated hearing the tears in her voice as she apologized. She didn't have anything to apologize for. It was me who was wrong. She turned and ran into the trees.

"Hadley!" Kent called after her, but she didn't slow. The forest swallowed her. I barely noticed Zeke move forward, trailing after her.

My heart ached at the haunted look on her face, the way her eyes wouldn't rise to meet my own. Mentally, I cursed myself. I had hurt her. I was trying to protect her, to train her to protect herself. Instead, I managed to accomplish the exact opposite.

Kent came up to stand beside me. He only called after her the once. I didn't deserve to try to stop her. I deserved to watch her take every step away from me. It wasn't safe for her to be by herself, though. I was thankful Zeke had gone. She wouldn't be alone. I turned to my twin, who fixed me with a pointed look.

"Your mess," he stated, glaring at me. "You fix it."

Without another word, he turned and went back into the house. Shit. Rubbing a hand down my face, I took a deep breath before heading into the woods. I opened my senses, listening intensely in order to find her. Like distant thunder shaking the ground, her heartbeat was a beacon I could pick out anywhere.

The lake.

I walked through the small forest, trying to figure out what I was going to say. An apology didn't seem like enough, but emotions were never a strong skill of mine. I broke through the trees and froze, staring at her.

She sat on the end of the pier, her back hunched. Her hair glowed as the moonlight dance over it. I could only see her back, and she still managed to take my breath away. I had to fix this, somehow.

I started down the deck, wincing when I noticed her tense up. She knew she wasn't alone. I paused for only a moment before taking a seat beside her. I made myself meet her eyes. It surprised her that it was me. Kent was much better at this sort of thing. He should be here. He would know what to say.

I sat silently, my hands gripping the edge of the pier. I released a long breath with which the tension left my body. We sat like that for a while, staring at the lake in silence. She was trying to hide it, but I knew she was about to cry. I heard the hitches in her breathing, the way she blinked repeatedly to hold back the tears. I fucking made her cry.

"What happened back there?" I finally asked, breaking the silence. She let out a small snort that sounded way too close to a sob for comfort. I had an idea of what happened, but I needed to know for sure what it was.

"Nothing, just bad memories," she stated.

Her tone suggested she didn't like this line of questioning at all. I didn't want to push her, not right now, at least. I needed to explain it, though. Why I was like that. But that involved opening up, something I absolutely hated. I glanced at her again out of the corner of my eye. But she was worth it. She deserved some sort of explanation. I focused my gaze back on the water as I began to speak.

"My parents are obsessed with perfection."

"What?" she scoffed automatically. I guessed it didn't seem related, but I was trying to get there. I let out an exasperated sigh.