The Monster Within - Book 1

Chapter 28

The empty void in my stomach draws me awake the next morning. Grabbing a bathroom off the back of the bedroom door, I venture downstairs, needing to sate my hunger.

When I see the back of Archers head as he sits at the table on the far side of the room, I almost turn and walk away. I wonder if I can get away from him without him noticing. I wonder if I can get away without him trying to talk to me. But then he twitches in his seat as he turns his head to the side and takes a deep breath, smelling the air. I furrow my brow at the display, confused at what he's doing. I'm about to make a comment before a wicker grin stretches across his face, filling me with unease. Then without saying anything, or actually paying me any attention he turns back to his paper, ignoring me entirely.

Apollos hand landing on my waist makes me jump as he brings my attention away from his creepy brother. He has a smile on his face as I turn to look up at him.

'Good morning.'

'Good morning.' He repeats, kissing the top of my head.

My legs feel like jelly under the man until I hear an inhale of air as he smells me.

'What?' I say a little annoyed at the whole smelling thing. Like the two of them know something I don't.

'What?' Apollo parrots, smirking.

'What's with the whole smelling thing?'

'It's just a wolf thing.' Apollo shrugs as he moves past me to get some food.

I narrow my eyes at him before dropping it, distracted by the pang of hunger in my stomach.

I take a seat at the table with a bowl of cereal, while Archer still focuses on his paper. He doesn't look up until Apollo sits down next to me.

'What the fuck is that?' Archer asks, pointing to the bite marks down Apollos neck.

I look over and a little chuckle leaves my lips as Apollo looks at me with a grin.

'Eurgh. You to make me feel ill.' Archer tells us. 'Is that all you two ever do? You know I live in this house as well.'

'You'll understand when you find your mate.' Apollo tells him.

'No thanks. I'm happy fucking who and when I want. I'm not going to be trapped like that.'

I scoff at his ridiculous comment.

'Who are you laughing at? You're trapped here. You're his prisoner. You're only here because our dad made a deal. He doesn't want you. You can't honestly tell me this is what you wanted for your life?'

Suddenly my mood is ruined. How is it that Archer can always find a way of destroying everything in his path? One second I was relatively happy and now it just felt like everything I had with Apollo had just been ripped to shreds. A harsh reminder of why I'm here. I sit in the chair in silence, the smile gone from my face.

'Out.' Apollo says to Archer.

Archer doesn't move in his chair. He just looks at me with a flat, emotionless expression. His dark, empty eyes burning into the side of my face.

'OUT.' Apollo yells at him, causing his to jump in his chair, finally looking away from me and towards his Alpha.

He slowly rises from the chair, glancing down to me then back to Apollo before walking to the door, leaving the two of us alone.

Apollo turns to me from where he sits, dragging my chair towards him. He brings his hand to my cheek and lifts my face up to look at me.

'Ignore him. He's angry at me, not you.'

'He's not lying.' I say in a small voice.

'Cassandra, from a young age I was told I would marry you. That you would be my wife. I didn't like the idea of my life being controlled like that. But then your mother took you away and I was free.'

I narrow my eyes at him, not knowing where this was going.

'But then you came back. I felt it before I even saw you. It pulled me to you. You're not here because I was told it would happen. You're here because I want this to happen. You're the piece I've been missing for years. So yes, I locked you in here. I didn't know how you felt at first and I couldn't risk you leaving me again. I was broken after my family died. This was the first time I felt like myself again. But now I know you feel the way I do. I know you won't leave. I trust you.'

'If that's true then why are all the windows and doors still locked?'

'They haven't been for weeks Cassandra. You just haven't tried to leave.'

I get up from my seat and walk to the back door, bringing my hand to the handle. I pull it, releasing the catch, pushing the door open as the cold fresh air brushes against my skin.

'There's something else.' Apollo says from behind me.

I turn back to face him, standing in the door, allowing the bitter air to wrap around my bare legs.

'You're pregnant.'