Instincts

"I think you should leave." I raise my eyebrow at her quiet words and try to conceal the hurt as my stomach drops, cringing internally as it crashes right through rock bottom.

"What?" Ashley flinches at my acidic tone, stepping back into the wall. I stand, the stinging in my foot fading as anger begins to curse through me. Every swear word imaginable races through my head, and I fight the urge to let them all tumble out. Ashley swallows loudly, the scent of fear engulfing me for a moment but the smell fades as her chocolate eyes narrow and meet mine steadily, anger rotting the air between us.

"You let me marry you, you let me fall in love with you and not once did you mention you were some monster." Her usually gentle voice is mixed with anger and fear as she spits out the words. If it was possible my heart just fell further, probably straight into hell. A monster? Pain and anger engulf me again, and I take another step towards her, ignoring the stench of her fear and anger.

"A monster?" I barely manage to repeat out the word, pain and anger clouding my eyes. Or maybe just tears. My mates' eyes widen as she realizes the meaning of the spiteful words that had erupted from her. A growl forms in the back of my throat and she shrinks back, almost sinking into the wall to escape my furious glare. "I didn't tell you because I was afraid this is how you'd react! If you want me to leave, then fine I'll leave. But this is my house too, and I refuse to sleep outside like some wild dog."

Since the day she was born in 1817 Riley had been a planner. She always thought ahead, and she always knew what she was going to do. She was not the type to just follow her instincts. And before him, she had never needed to. Before him, no one had ever found out who she was. What she was. But with a few insulting words and menacing glances, he ruined everything, and she was going to make him pay.