Rafe Crimson
The bark on the tree dug into one of the cuts on my arms as I leaned into it. Jade’s light was on in her bedroom and the curtains fluttered in the wind. I had been surprised when I watched her open the window but then her eyes had found mine in the darkness and I wondered if she had done it to locate me. Her wolf was growing stronger each day and eventually, she would be able to find me without much effort. I didn’t hide that much but in the beginning, I hadn’t wanted her to know I was watching.
I was always watching and I hated myself for it.
Chapter 34
Jade Rivers
Saturdays were my favorite. It meant I could sleep in, I didn’t have to worry about much and my parents were extra cheery. They had another vacation on the horizon and were going to be extra chatty about it. I stretched my arms wide over my head and smiled sleepily. My parents hadn’t left me alone all night, and even when they hadleft me alone, my mom peeked into my room several times throughout the night to make sure I was okay.
I had explained the tears the best I could. I got my hopes up for a boy that wasn’t worth it. I had wasted my time on someone that just didn’t care if he hurt me. Which wasn’t a lie but also wasn’t all of the truth. I didn’t mention that I had cried over my humanity being taken from me or that I had to see the villain every single day or the fact that I was lying to them at every turn. I couldn’t explain that I cried over the part of me that knew I needed to move out but I didn’t know how I possibly could. I had to be honest with them but what would I say? They loved taking care of me and I knew they would never be ready for the day that I had to move into the real world but that day was quickly approaching.
My sleepy smile disappeared as I kicked the blankets from my legs and rose from the bed. I looked at the clock and the good mood I had woken up with disappeared. It was five A.M. In what lifetime did I enjoy waking up this early? I could practically feel my wolf purring. It seemed like she loved waking up early.
The hot spray of the shower was the only thing that brought me relief. I stayed under the water until the showerhead pelted me, with what felt like, ice. I shivered and stepped from the tub.
My phone rang from my bedside table and the sound of it shocked my, once again, sensitive senses. I clicked it onto speaker while I pulled my clothes on.
“How are you feeling?” Tracey’s voice was soft as it blasted through my room.
“I have had better mornings,” I muttered.
“Granny got some information out of Carden,” I could hear the hesitation in her voice like she wasn’t supposed to tell me any of this. Like she was considering what else she would tell me.
“Do I need to come by?” I didn’t want to. That was the last thing I wanted to do on my Saturday but I would do it. I wanted answers. I needed them. Why would he pretend and then why would he hurt me like that? There had been zero signs leading up to it.
Tracey blew out a breath into the speaker and I winced at the sound. “Yeah, that would probably be best.”
My parents were in the kitchen making a vegan hash when I came down the stairs. The smell of it turned my stomach. I had considered eating breakfast with them but not anymore. “Good morning, honey!”
I smiled at them tentatively. “Good morning,” I had my bag slung over my shoulder already.
“Where are you headed this early?” My dad asked as he put his iPad down and then his reading glasses beside it.
It was time to rip off the bandaid. “I need to go to the city and apply for some internships.”
My dad blinked and then my mom chuckled. “You have another year of college.”
I shrugged. “My ambassador told me that I needed to apply.”
“Is that the smartest idea? You have everything taken care of here.” My father’s salt and pepper brows pulled together in the center.
I sighed. I should have known better. They weren’t going to let me do this easily. “Yes, but eventually I will have to take care of myself. I will need to get a job and my own place to live.”
My mom put her hand over her chest like it pained her to hear these words. It probably did but there was nothing I could do about it. I had to grow up eventually. “That isn’t true. We have loved taking care of you. We have more than enough money to do so too.”
I pressed my fingers into my temples and rubbed the skin there. “I have loved every second of you taking care of me and I appreciate it more than you could ever know.”
“But?” My dad encouraged and my mom shot him a death glare.
“But, I want to be able to take care of myself. I want to have friends and responsibilities. Maybe even a cat.” Internally I was laughing to myself. I would probably never get a cat but I knew it would rub my mom the wrong way. She was allergic and had always wanted me to have a pet.Little did she know.
Mom looked away from me to her uneaten hash. “I hate that we never let you get one.”
I leaned forward and put my hand on hers. “I can have one if I get my own place.”
Dad nodded like it made sense like my argument had moved him but I wondered what he would counter with later. I had to be convincing on this. “You’re not our little baby anymore, even though we want you to be. I want you to be self-sufficient in this world. I need you to be. We won’t be here forever, you’re right but I want to look into these places that accept you for interning. Only the best for my little girl.”
