Inhumane

027

PAIGE

Laying in Damon's arms that night made me realize what the word home really meant. I always thought my home was the place I had grown up in. But instead, with my back to his chest and his exhales tickling my ear, I realized it wasn't a place. It was a feeling. I closed my eyes because the understanding made me want to burst out into tears to try and quell the feeling inside of me. I felt like a different girl; one that had a chance to live. I vowed not to be the person my father made me become ever again. In exchange, I would make my mother proud. Whatever that took. 

I raised his hand to my lips and pressed a gentle kiss into his rough knuckle. The fact that I had ignored and suppressed the feelings he gave me proved my stubbornness over the months. Everything about him was addictive, but I had been amazing at starving myself from his affection. But in those moments, I knew just how much time I had wasted, and just how much I would never get back.

It made me hate my father even more than I ever had. He had taken everything from me: my freedom, my choices, my humanity. He had starved me of what made little humans stress-free and happy and healthy. Instead, he passed me off to his work and tried to grow me into the little prodigy I was supposed to be. Just like he was to his father, Seth Baylor.

I drifted off to sleep in the warm sanctity of Damon's hold and dreamed of nothing but long dark tunnels through the snow.

When I roused to the sound of voices, it felt like I had only been out for a few minutes. Cody and Damon's hushed voices could be picked up by my sensitive ears even from behind the bedroom door. I had to admit, I was nervous to speak to Cody. Without my bullshit, bite-me attitude to cower behind, I had nothing and he could be ruthless. But instead, we seemed to meet one another halfway. After all, I could help him, and he could spare me. Though I was convinced I still deserved eternal punishment for what I had done to my Wolf.

Damon's eyes met mine and he extended his arm to me. I didn't have to think to move over to him. Like the most natural thing in the world, I fit against his chest and inhaled his calming scent.

As we sat down to talk, I began to feel the weight of what was to come. A war. I had heard the whispers of it but I didn't want to know initially. Subconsciously, I thought if I knew, then my father would too... And I had never wanted him to know. I wanted him to disappear for what he did to my mother. The thought was devastating.

I had never seen the wars or been to the raids that my father lead. Men would simply send him large sums of money that would take him across the states to towns of all sizes where packs hid in the shadows. There were sellouts everywhere. He would slaughter the entire pack before they even knew what hit them.

The thought of going to war with their clan was terrifying. Knowing exactly what he and his men were capable of was a blessing and a curse. The fight wasn't impossible, as he wasn't used to defense. But we were lacking something.

I had to find out what my mother was hiding.

"You can't speak with him, he's a prisoner," Damon growled and I knew in his mind he could see the history Tye and I had together. I wasn't proud of it either.

"Damon, it's our only shot at getting an upper hand. It will either come from him or what he knows." I tried.

"No, I don't want you going anywhere near him after he beat the actual shit out of you the other day." Damon was getting worked up, practically vibrating with the anger he was feeling.

"Deano, she has a point. He is the only potential advantage we have."

My mate stood and paced, linking his arms behind his head.