Curse of The Shadows

Chapter 10

I don't leave my room much. I only really leave for work or to take my wolf for a run. I don't mind. The books in the bookshelf are more than enough to keep me occupied. The room is large enough that I don't feel cooped up. The balcony over looks a bubbling fountain and an expansive garden. The floral scents waft into the room in the cool evenings after the scorching summer sun bakes them.

Lena doesn't speak to me at all, her utter sense of betrayal has made me her worst enemy. She doesn't answer my calls or texts. When we're at work it's worse; she acts as though I'm nothing. A bug flying close to her ear. I had gotten so frustrated one day after work when I tried ambushing her at her car that I called her a child. I felt terrible for days after.

As I sit on my balcony reading, I notice a group of guard members gathered off to the side of the garden. I spot Rhonen's curly golden hair in the group. I snap my book closed and run downstairs. My timing is perfect—just as I reach the edge of the garden, the Gamma releases the warriors. The males disperse in different directions, some laughing and pushing each other. I duck past three males who are discussing loudly who is going to do the most reps at the training centre to get to Rhonen. He's walking silently, his head down, listening to a male who is explaining to him his problems he's having with his spear head falling off whenever he tries to pull it out of whatever he throws it at.

"Rhonen." I say with a shaky voice. His head snaps up and looks me over with his bright blue eyes. The other male stops talking and looks over me as well.

"Aura... What are you-?" He says, his expression confused. I scratch my elbow, looking between the two warriors.

"Can—can we talk?" I ask, pointing to the garden with my chin. Rhonen looks behind him, then back at me and nods.

He looks over to the male who he was speaking with and lets him know he'll meet up with him at the armoury in a few minutes. The other male nods then walks off in the opposite direction. I notice him peek back at us once before shaking his head and leaving.

Rhonen nods his head for me to lead him to the garden. We walk in silence for a while, I peek back at him to make sure he's still with me a couple of times. He has his hands in his pockets and his head down. I wonder if he's upset with me as well. We reach an ornate iron bench in a clearing surrounded by flowers of blue, orange, red. A small bronze statue of a wolf is on a pedestal in the middle of a patch of blue and yellow cornflowers. I take a seat, and to my relief he does as well. I don't say anything at first. I keep my eyes on my wringing hands and bouncing knee. I blow out a deep breath.

"I—"

"I'm not mad at you, Aura." He says quietly. I look up at him, his eyes meet mine. I don't see anger in them, just sadness and disappointment.

I blow out a sharp breath. "You're not?"

"No." He says, sitting back into the bench. He places an elbow over the back. "And I don't think Lena is either." I scoff.

"She won't even talk to me. I've tried apologizing over and over but she just acts like I don't even exist to her." I feel my anger flare, but I choke it down.

"She just needs time. I know for a fact she won't be this way forever. She's just sad that you chose the pack house over her. You know how she is." He says, giving me a wry smile. I nod my head. I do know how she can be.

"It's still very childish." I say, crossing my arms over my chest. Rhonen chuckles then rolls his eyes.

"Don't I know it." He looks at me from the corner of his eye. "I'm not going to pretend that I don't know what she's feeling though. I get it. I get it because I was a little hurt too that you chose to stay here instead of with us." His smile is gone, and I feel a heavy pit of guilt drop down my throat. "I how-ever have the good sense to not take it personally. You have your reasons, that's good enough for me."