ENDURING {Sequel to Everlasting} ❗️EDITING ❗️

Chapter 88

I stare out of the bay window, the heat of the mug in my hands keeping the cold of the air from nipping at me. It burns slightly, though I'm familiar with that feeling.

"Good morning, have you been awake long?" Luthers voice makes me jump slightly. I hadn't expected anyone to be awake, but I suppose I should've known better.

I want to lie, I want to say I slept well. But for the sake of my mental stability, I know I can't.

"I haven't slept." I admit, my voice quiet.

Luther circles the kitchen island, leaning against the counter beside me. I feel his eyes on my face, but I don't tear mine from the woods outside.

"You miss him." Luther voices quietly, knowingly.

"I'm angry at him." I correct, my voice distant even to my own ears.

"You can be angry, and still miss him." Luther says softly.

"Speaking from experience?" I retort.

"Of course." He admits without any attempt to lie.

A hint of a smile creeps onto my face, I finally blink. Lifting the mug of coffee and sipping the hot drink, though the taste is still not my favourite.

"I've missed you too." I admit quietly, flickering my eyes up to the Elders pitch black gaze. I find small comfort in the obsidian depths.

"Luka may be a stubborn old mule, but he's been moping around since you left us. You're both alike in that way, too stubborn for your own good." Luther says, a small familiar smile on his barely aged face.

"I know." I sigh lightly.

For a short while we stand in peaceful silence as I finish my coffee.

"Is Luka awake yet?" Is all I say.

"He's in the office." Luther nods. "He's irritable today."

"He's not the only one." I mutter.

I inhale a deep slow breath as I exit the kitchen silently, heading towards what feels like certain doom.

"Good morning, Kat." The expectant beady eyed male smiles as I enter Hardins office. He sits comfortable on the leather couch, fingers clasped together in his lap, relaxed and friendly.

Wanker.

"Cut the bullshit, there's no audience for you to entertain." I glare, slamming the oak door shut behind me.

Lukas smile falls, revealing the ugly truth of his anger. It ages his face, darkening his expression to one that would grow another person to fear him. Unfortunately for Luka, I'm not so easily rattled.

"Straight to business?" He growls lowly.

"Straight to business." I confirm.

"You dishonoured our agreement, you overstepped your place in front of hundreds of our subjects, and you gave out disclosed information of the Lycans." Lukas voice rises as he lists off the worst of my choices.

While all of that is true, none of it was intentional or as bad as he makes it to be.

"Dishonoured our agreement? You sent a human to dispose of an entire Lycan clan, I could barely take on a grown Alpha and you expected me to kill YOUR superior? You sent me to die, Luka, and when I figured that out I chose myself, I chose to put my life above my duty." I state icily, my glare unwavering.

"You knew the risks, you accepted that responsibility." Luka growls.

"I know. If you wish to punish me then you go ahead, I accept that. As for disclosing information, I slipped up and I covered as well as I could. It was not intentional, and I shut down questions and concerns." I admit boldly.