The Challenge | BOOK 2

10 - The Explanation

Let's be honest, I'm bored of this whole house arrest thing too. I'd literally die if I wasn't allowed to leave my house for two weeks (not that I really do anyway).

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The throbbing pain started in my head the moment I woke. I rolled over onto my stomach, clutching the pillow tightly. I winced as I felt the tears forming in my eyes again.

My sadness was like a shadow. It followed me everywhere, refusing to quit. It stuck to me like a leech and held on for dear life. I couldn't help but cry. There wasn't anything else that I could do.

Henry had killed my father. He was responsible for his death. That monster was one of the reasons that my family was so torn apart. I had never wanted to kill someone more.

Even worse, there were people in the pack that were traitors too. They were working with Henry, willingly helping him to destroy my life as well as others'. He didn't care who he hurt, or who he killed.

Henry wanted power, and by killing the people who stood in his way, he achieved it easily.

I felt hands in my hair, rubbing my scalp gently. I felt good and sent tingles all over my body. I held back to tears as I turned my head.

Liam was crouched down by my bed. He smiled at me weakly, his thumb brushing over my cheek. His eyes gave away all his emotions. They always did.

I knew he was confused. He didn't know why I was so damn upset. He probably wouldn't know for a while. I would have to lie to him.

I hated lying to Liam. It broke my heart to lie about something so important. But I had to. I needed to tell the others before I told him.

He was going to break into a million pieces.

I wanted to be there to pick up the broken pieces and stitch him back together.

"Hey there, gorgeous," Liam's voice was soft and gentle as he spoke. He moved his hand down, resting it on my shoulder instead.

"Hey," I mumbled out. He breathed out softly as he got up and gently moved me over. He got into bed, pulling the covers over him. He held me close, and I savoured his warmth and the comfort that my mind had especially when he was around.

"What's been happening?" He whispered to me. He kissed the top of my head and I snuggled closer to him in attempt to be as close as possible. I rested my head on his chest.

"Just nightmares again," I mumbled out. I was only partly lying. The nightmares had come during the night. But it was only because I couldn't stop remembering my father's throat being slit.

It was all Henry's fault.

Liam held me tighter. My chest was on fire as I held back the tears that threatened to flow. I breathed in slowly.

"I'm here now. You don't have to worry," Liam mumbled out. I knew he was right. The nightmares were always much easier to handle when Liam was around. But nights where he wasn't, I felt hallow and empty.

My dreams taunted me. They pulled me back to my dark stage, every time. But Liam was there to pull me back every time as well.

"Do you think they'll ever go away?" I whispered out to him. Liam's breathing hitched, and I felt the pain in his mind. He didn't like that I was hurting.

Rubbing circles on my shoulder blade, Liam sighed. He relaxed, the tenseness in his torso fading quickly. "They will eventually. I promise."

I shut my eyes and tried to focus on something else. I didn't like thinking about any of it. I hated the entire situation. I loathed it, seethed in anger every time I thought about it.