*Keera*
I sat on my bed, staring out the window. The sun casted a warm orange glow over the pack’s grounds, the silence of the pack, a stark contrast to the emotions raging inside me. My mind drifted to the events of the past few days. I was a bit grateful the killer hadn’t struck for quite a while. It gave me some time while I healed. Being sort of bedridden had left with more than enough time to process my thoughts and I couldn’t help but remember Grayson’s admission about Ria’s confession and Ginny’s words to think about it, and I have.
Thought about it, that is.
Ginny was right. I was being incredibly selfish being involved with Grayson. We had both agreed to scratch our itch for as long as I would be in the pack, but he was the one with so much to lose. My team members and Trevor might be disappointed at my lack of professionalism but that was about it. There was nothing more they could do about it. Trevor might reprimand but I knew that was as far as would go, and not just because he had a soft spot for me. I was the best at what I did and he knew it. He couldn’t bear to suspend me from my job.
I’d thought about situation for so long that I finally knew what I had to; break up my casual relationship with Grayson.
Just the thought of it hurt more than I ever imagined.
It might have hurt a little less if I hadn’t gone and fallen for him. The irony wasn’t lost on me. The one werewolf I’d hated in the beginning was now the one I couldn’t go a day without thinking about. The thought that he might also secretly have feelings for Ria cut deeply. I’d noticed how close they were but I had always thought whatever not so platonic feelings that might exist between them would definitely be from Ria’s side. I was only now realizing that I might be wrong.
Grayson hadn’t said he’d turned her down. It saids lot that he would give up the chance to be with his fated mate for her. Just as I was getting even more lost in thought, a knock on the door broke the silence. “Come in,” I called out, smoothing my wrinkled sheets. Lexi entered the room with a warm smile. Her bright eyes sparkled as she sat down on the seat beside the bed, happy to see that I was recovering speedily.
“Thought I should check up on you,” She said softly.
I nodded, saying my thanks. “How’s the investigation going?” I inquired, concerned. I’d asked them to carry on with the case. They were more than competent and I didn’t see no reason for us to take a break when there was a killer on the loose and they were more than capable of finding them on their own. Every second we spent away from the case was a second that could bring the killer closer to his next victim. Lexi, shrugged.
The exhale and released seemed to echo in the room. “We’ve sent the vial containing the virus to the lab back home but they haven’t discovered anything yet.” She paused, recollecting her thoughts. “Although I have been noticing some strange behaviors lately from Dahlia. She seems overly interested in the investigation, always lurking around and asking questions.” My heart skipped a beat as I leaned in, my curiosity piqued. “She hasn’t said or done anything very suspicious though. It’s just her curiosity that rubbed me off the wrong way.”
Why was she asking questions in the first place?
I blinked, feeling the wheels in my head turning. “That does sound suspicious.” I agreed. She hadn’t asked me any questions regarding the case while I’d been actively working on it. Why now? My mind shifted to my suspicions about the oil on the stairs. I still couldn’t shake of the feeling that it had been intentional. Could Dahlia have been behind it? Had she thought she had more of a chance getting information out of Lexi than me? I turned my attention to Lexi. “Have you mentioned this to Grayson or anyone else?”
She moved her head from side to side, a strand of hair escaping her ponytail. “Not yet. I don’t have concrete evidence, and I don’t want to say anything without being sure. I didn’t tell anyone on the team about it either. I didn’t want it to affect them unconsciously.” I understood what she meant perfectly. “It would be better that they come to me themselves if they notice something.” I’d already announced that Lexi was in charge for as long as my wounds had to heal.
I nodded, my eyes locked on hers. “Yeah, you did the right thing. Be careful though… we have to really be sure she’s hiding something before raising it up with anyone. Accusing a pack member without proof can be… volatile.” My words hung in the air, a reminder of the fragile balance between us and the werewolves. Our conversation moved to other topics. Like before, I could still sense Lexi’s curiosity about Grayson and me.
She wanted to ask, but respect for my boundaries and our friendship kept her silent. I appreciated her tact. The tension between Grayson and me was palpable, and I wasn’t ready to discuss it. As she prepared to leave, her expression turned serious. “Keera, be careful, okay?” She pleaded, giving me a knowing look. I nodded, managing a small smile. I watched her live the room knowing exactly why she was concerned. I was towing the line, playing with fire.
But all that was about to change because now I was determined to avoid Grayson with every fibre of my being. I didn’t belong here, I didn’t belong in his world, and I definitely didn’t belong with him. We’d had something good while it lasted but I couldn’t afford for it to go any deeper than it already had. The silence of the room enveloped me once more and I found myself wishing that Ellie would pay me a visit.
The little girl had a way of brightening my mood in a away no other person could. The door pushed open and I wondered if the universe was about to answer my prayers, but it wasn’t Ellie at the door. My hopes dashed when I caught sight of Grayson. My heart immediately skipped and my chest constricted, reminding me of the pain I was still dealing with as a result of his admission the last time he’d been in my room.
His sudden entrance caught me off guard, and so it took me a second to gather my thoughts. It was a second too long, because in the space of a heartbeat, he had secured my door and began approaching the bed. “Please leave.” I ordered when I finally found my voice. My tone was firm but polite as I tried to hide the turmoil I felt from just looking at him. God, I missed him. I missed his smile, I missed his laugh, I missed the feel of his skin against mine.
Unlike the other times I’d asked him to get out of my room, he paid no attention to me, dragging the seat beside my bed even closer and sitting down on it. I immediately moved away from the edge of the bed to put some distance between us. Hurt flashed across his eyes but it was gone in an instant. He clasped his hands between his legs, pinning me with his gaze. The fact that he’d locked the door made me realize he was determined to say whatever it was he had on his mind.
“We need to talk, Keera,”
His voice was hoarser than it usually was and for a second my heart went out to him. I hated seeing him to tired. Did he ever get to take a break? I guessed not. He had to deal with so many responsibilities as Alpha, I wondered why he hadn’t just rejected the position in the first place. I swallowed, shifting my gaze away from his. “There’s nothing to talk about, Grayson.” I tried to sound nonchalant but my heart was racing with anticipation. Had he figured a way out?
A way for us to continue being together?
His jaws clenched, his eyes narrowing. “I had a talk with Ginny and Ryan about us and about Ria’s proposition.” I couldn’t help my wince. I hated being the topic of a discussion I wasn’t involved in, much less one in a situation as delicate at this. I already had an idea what Ginny stance would have been from what she’d said to me yesterday. It was Ryan I was more curious about, not that I was going to ask. I didn’t want him to know just how bothered I was by the situation.
He continued when I said nothing. “Ryan…” He trailed off. “Well, let’s just say he understands.” He seemed to carefully choose his next words. “But Ginny thinks I should accept Ria’s offer and mate with her.” Ahh, exactly as I’d guessed. I drew lazy circles over my thigh. I couldn’t blame Ginny for wanting to do the right thing. It didn’t mean that it didn’t still hurt. She would rather want her brother to end up with Ria than me. “I decided I was going to talk to you about-”
“Ginny’s absolutely right.” I cut in.
He reared back in surprise.
“I think it’s best for you to accept Ria’s offer.” I continued, ignoring the disbelieving look on his face. Pain flickered in his eyes at the fact that I was throwing away what we had without a second thought. He didn’t understand. I was only doing this because it was best for him. “I think you should let her know you agree as soon as possible,” I emphasized, ignoring the dull ache in my chest. His eyes darkened as he stared at me in disbelief, shaking his head.
“Wow, Keera.” He muttered quietly, giving me a disappointed look that cut me. “I can’t believe you’re agreeing with Ginny right now.” He gestured between us. “Does any of this even matter to you?” His eyes locked onto mine, searching for a reaction. I forced a laugh, trying to sound nonchalant, and he reared back like I’d slapped him. The look he gave was as though he was just seeing me for the for time. God, Grayson, I’m so sorry. But I’m only doing this for you, please understand.
I didn’t bother replying to the question. He shot me a tired smile, looking dejected. “You really think I should mate with her?” His voice was laced with pain, his gaze piercing.
“Yes.” I replied, my voice firm, trying to convince myself as much as him. “I really think you should. You should be thinking about the pack and Ria’s a great match for you.” The words felt like a betrayal, but I refused to back down. Hearing me say Ria was the perfect match for him was the last straw. His face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. He leaned in, his voice dripping with venom.
“Fine. If you really want me to mate with Ria, I’ll do it. And I’ll make sure the council knows it’s what I want.” His words hung in the air, a challenge. My heart sank, but I knew I couldn’t give up now. I was finally going to get what I wanted; for him to leave me alone. So why did it feel like there was a gaping hole in my chest?
“Please do.” The indifference in my voice was a facade, but he didn’t know that. With a final scorching glance, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through my chest, leaving a hollow ache. The tears came the second he’d left the room. I collapsed onto the bed, sobbing uncontrollably as I rubbed at my chest. Tears streamed down my face, soaking the pillow. I had done the right thing. I knew it.
But God, it hurt so, so much.