Howl's Parting

Chapter 10

The news of Remi waking up spreaded like fire, igniting everyone into a wave of felicity. However, with the good news came the shock of knowing that Hannah was the one who did this to her.

Everyone was disgusted, refusing to even own her after the despicable actions she committed.

Hannah's punishment was decided by Ace— banned from the pack's property, and unfortuned to live the rest of her live as a rogue.

Meanwhile, Leanna was stuck in her room as usual. Grooves of concern clinged to her every movement. She was worried about Remi, barely getting any blink of sleep last night.

But she knew she had no other option but to clock watch, hoping that someone will tell her something. In a deep reflection of her heart, even she knew that she was asking for too much.

Leanna was lost in her thoughts, glancing at the door every five minutes when suddenly it bursted open. Clouds of bolt spiked her body as she realized that it was Ace.

Her eyes lock with him and, he frost to his spot. She could see it, the war of chaos dancing across his eyes. He was as much unsettled, and confused about this situation as she was.

He walked closer to her and stared at her face. For a fleeting moment, Leanna saw his eyes softening but it was soon replaced by his cold, icy glare.

"Congratulations. You achieved your goal." Ace said, his dry tone containing glimpses of enmity. "She was saved because of you. Tell me what you want."

Leanna felt like she was getting daggered to the heart. Is that how lowly he thought of her?
She saved Kayden's mate because she wanted to, not to earn something in return.

She gets up from the bed, flames of defiance  practically burning her eyes. She lifts her chin to meet Ace's eyes, strong tenacity hovering inside of her.

"I didn't so this in order to gain something. I don't want anything." Leanna's voice was slightly raised, as she forced down the hysterical sound that was begging to come out from her throat.

"You can't give me anything anyways." The last sentence held a whisper of lingering feelings. Her eyes fell downward, the weight of her body suddenly getting heavy.

So many unkept promises, so many unsaid words. How were they ever gonna escape from this labyrinth when neither of them was ready to talk it out.

"If you had put aside your pride three years ago, we wouldn't be here in the first place" Ace's voice rings out, fustration coiling beneath the line of his sight.

"Can you please stop—" His hands went to wildly grip her arms, shaking her body with a concentration that felt so suffocating, it was impossible to breathe.

"It's that fucking easy for you? While you were enjoying your time in Blazing Sun Pack, I was dying here every fucking seconds." Shock engraved on Leanna's face, a foreign tightness expanding her chest. "Still am. But you obviously don't care. You have moved on, you are so happy. You got everything in the end. The pack, your friends, your family."

This was the first time Ace had been so open about his feelings. There was something terrifying about it; a strange madness, a whole new level of insanity.

In this exact moment, it felt like he could cross every single limit.

"Stop it, Ace. You have no idea what I lost. You branded me." A new darkness edged over the surface of Ace's anger, as he gripped Leanna's chin between his fingers.

His touch was rough, almost painful as he glared at her. They were close, so close that the air could wind up the intense severity of their emotions.

"You still found a way to break it. Not even that brand was enough to tie you with myself." His hand travels across Leanna's bare thighs, pulling her body closer to his.