The King's Prey (Unedited Edition)

Chapter 27 : We Will Crash and Burn

Strikhedonia • [strick-a-dœ-nia]
The pleasure of being able to say "to hell with it".

🖤

~+~

"Of all things, I'm being forced to babysit a fucking human," Sterling mumbles.

Leaning against the foyer's wall with my arms crossed, I scan her features but no change comes the more I burn holes into her skin.

"It's just for one night, Sterling. Relax," Liam says, closing the front door behind him. Liam scans me once as he takes off his coat before his eyes settle on my left leg. "Your leg is healed?" Sterling follows his gaze and stares at me wide-eyed.

I look down at the limb and then back at him. "You could say that. Xander's been helping me for the past week with therapy. It's usable for the most part." I can't lie, being able to shower for the first time in ages feels absolutely freeing. In general, being able to take care of myself feels like the leash of this injury has finally snapped.

Liam nods slowly before turning to Sterling, releasing a long breath. "Well, I'm sure you're tired given how late it is. We'll be downstairs if you need anything. Samuel should be back sometime tomorrow."

The words that have been lingering on my lips can't help but slip out. "Do you know why he's been so preoccupied lately?"

Liam stares for a moment. "He's a busy person, Anastasia. He's the alpha of a wolf pack. Samuel doesn't exactly get breaks."

"Yeah, of course," I mumble. I guess not even his friends know why he's been acting so weird lately. All I'm trying to do is pull the truth out of him, but I guess I'm never going to get that to happen. I finally exhale, "I'm going to bed."

"Alright, sleep well," Liam says as I begin to ascend the curved stairs. I catch a glimpse of them passing the threshold into the kitchen before they're out of sight.

I don't sleep well when I make it to my bed after scrubbing my body with all of the anger I've been holding in during my shower. Infuriated and exhausted, my eyes finally shut four hours later just before the sun's about to rise. And I swear I hear a howl in the distance when everything turns black.

***

Sunday doesn't prevail as being any different than Saturday—except for the fact that it's just slower and even more annoying. I spend most of my day downstairs playing board games with Sterling and Liam, and somehow genuinely enjoying it. I think it's because it helps to get my mind off of Samuel and to pass the time fast enough so I don't have to overthink what I plan on saying to him once he gets home.

Just before the sun sets, I ask if I can go walking outside in the woods again to Liam. I can't remember the last time I genuinely got fresh air—or even went outside. "Yeah, have Sterling take you," he says as he chops vegetables for our dinner.

Sterling's mid-drink with her wine before nearly choking on the liquor. "Excuse me?" she coughs, attempting to clear her throat. For the first time, I can say that I feel the same way as Sterling about a decision.

"You heard me," Liam says, giving her a playful grin.

She returns a firm glare at him before turning to the sliding glass door that leads out to the woods that surround us. "Fine. But it's going to be short," she grumbles.

Even if Sterling's the one joining me this time, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement over the fact that I get to walk through those woods again. I grab my boots and coat and join Sterling on the back patio where she's already clothed as well.