Moon Bound

(23) In Silence |Scarlet's POV|

Breaking me day after day, trying to make me bend under his rule, to become the obedient pup he wanted me to be, using everything he had in his arsenal without even a moment of thought to consider what he was doing to me... All that had ever mattered to him was to become the ultimate leader no one opposed.

How was I supposed to stay still while knowing that the man who broke everything in me was bound to come? How was I supposed to sleep at night when my sanctuary from everything he was to me was finally crumbling to pieces?

How was I supposed to accept that everyone I ever trusted eventually betrayed me?

I wasn't and I didn't.

I couldn't.

I hadn't slept a wink for the last few nights. I had hardly talked to anyone for the last couple of days. I had no words to say to them now that I knew.

What did I know, besides the fact that every single person in my life, except the ones who were long gone, had used me? What did I know?

I knew that for once in my life I wasn't going to run away. I was going to stay. I was going to meet him. And no matter how much I hated it, I was going to fight and I was going to fight hard, consequences be damned.

That said, I wasn't enthusiastic about the prospect of seeing his face again. I was moved by it – like a spider caught in the downpour while weaving its web – I was hopeless to stop the ruin and my imminent descent back into the nightmare.

Was I doing it for these people who were lying to me, who pretended to be my family but used me for their own purposes – good or bad?

No.

I was going to give them what they wanted because I owned it to them for taking me out of the nightmare and giving me a purpose to continue my life, but that was where my gratitude ended.

Shaking my head to clear my mind from the somber thoughts, my eyes stopped on Jaz' form pacing the room. She seemed to be as nervous as the others while they waited for Cole to finish yet another conversation on the phone. This one, however, was coming loud and clear since Cole never closed the door to his office and was on loudspeaker.

Obviously, he wanted us to hear.

"Are you fucking deaf or just stupid, Alpha Greene? How many times do I need to repeat myself?" Cole's voice rose an octave. "No, I'm not inviting you for a visit and no, there's nothing we need to discuss!"

Cole was playing his part. Earlier this week he'd explained his strategy and pretending he didn't want to meet Regan had been a part of it.

"Let's drop the pretenses, Cole. You know exactly why I'm requesting this meeting." His timbre was making me shiver. His voice – that silky timbre that could whisper promises as well as it breathed out threats – had a lethal edge to itself now. That edge I remembered well.

I moved to the window, trying to distance myself from the voices the best I could. I was required to stay and listen to this, otherwise, I'd have been out the door the second I heard his voice.

"I know you have something mine," Alpha stated evenly. "And I have every intention to get it back."

"That's unfortunate," Cole drawled. "You see, I have no intention to give it back to you, alpha Greene."

I pulled the curtains back and gasped.

"Quiet, Scar," Hunter shushed me, then added, "You don't want him to hear you and come running here, do you?"

I glanced back at Hunter and mouthed, "You need to come see this."

He arched a brow. "What? You think can't hear you on speaker?" he hiss-whispered.