A Howling Heart
Chapter thirty-eight

Fae's POV.

Memories invade me, once bringing peace, now only bringing shame and guilt for not recognizing the signs. They were there all along. Nate's intense stares were never filled with romantic longing or appreciation; they were always guarded, and when even he couldn't keep his mask in place, there were small giveaways of hatred brewing in his mannerisms: eye twitching, jaw clenching, nose flaring hatred all directed at me. But why?

Didn't I hold myself politely? Wasn't my fury held back after this Lycan life was fully revealed to me, and I realized Nate harbored that secret from me and everyone else? I have been nothing but gracious, and this is how I am repaid. He's plucked me up like a flower from the field. Something that he could claim and dispose of when the petals didn't welt enough when the stem didn't dry and curl with demise. By the way, he watches me now, and I know his intentions are nefarious, far more than I could've ever imagined.

"How could you? This whole time! I- I thought you were a part of the pack..." I hate how my voice cracks and the words come off as weak. Although anxiety is flourishing inside my veins like a parasite ready to take down its host, there is a strength inside me that refuses to yield to it.

Betrayal companions with that strength. It's what is keeping me together in this bitter moment.

I thought he was someone I could trust. In this town, I had no one, no one apart from my mother who seemed like an impartial, loyal friend. Here I am regretting the day I met him. Wanting to cry over a boy who clearly doesn't care one bit about my safety or well-being. These careless mistakes are the reason my mother doesn't trust me with anything and keeps everything a secret. I have poor judgment, clearly...

Nate's jaw clenches, and there is tension in his shoulders as he balls his fists down at his sides. "What pack? The pack that was built on greed and lies?"

The assuredness in his tone confuses me. The only lies and deceit that have been wielded were weapons against my family, as far as I knew. I never believed there was room in that horrible story of star-crossed lovers fighting to the death over territory for another person to be wronged.

Either there is something I am not aware of, or Nate is making up lies to justify whatever drives his spirit of vengeance against me.

"What are you talking about?"

I've never been the violent type. I usually meet conflict with a level-headed solution, but the longer I stare at Nate's face, the more the betrayal seeps deep into my skin until it's unbearable. I feel fury punch me in the gut. The condescending stare and his silence make me snap. I run at him.

"You liar! You filthy rotten liar!"

His movements of defense are smooth and effortless as he deflects the fist I throw at his face and grabs my arm, twisting to put me in a lock that makes me helpless. He holds me close to his body, my back against his front, as he moves his mouth near my ear.

He's a traitor. To Matias. To the entire pack, considering I will be Luna, and most importantly, to me. I was beginning to consider him a best friend. How foolish to think in this town of monsters that allies are true. "Why? Why did you do this," I cry out, hating how the words are a croak, broken up by the sobs I can't seem to keep at bay in the back of my throat.

He takes a deep breath like he's losing his patience with me.

I wiggle in his grasp. "What in the world was your reason, huh?"

He scoffs. "You act as if no reason is valid, Fae, but you'd be surprised just how far someone can be pushed!"

He sucks in a deep breath through bared teeth. "Now, I'll let you go if you don't attack me. Otherwise, next time, I'll knock you out so you don't have the chance to attack me for hours... Maybe days." Days!

So he's planning on keeping me here.... Alive.

But why?

I don't want to be complacent. I want to scream to the Heavens that he doesn't get to call the shots, that he is nothing but a lowly, pathetic wolf that should've been thrown out of the pack a long time ago, but I bite back my insults, realizing my life depends on my words right now.

"Fine. Let me go." I wiggle in his grasp again, and he releases me. I stumble backward, shooting him daggers as he peers at me guardedly.

"Matias is not the rightful Alpha. He doesn't deserve to rule over our pack...And I will not stand by and let him."

So he was rooting for Elias this entire time? Probably hoping the man would strangle me when given the opportunity. But why didn't he just do it himself? Nate had opportunities to help, but tragedy struck me, yet he refrained from doing it. I'm surprised at the pure hatred in Nate's voice. His lip curls upward in distaste, the feral wolf emerging with a disgusted growl.

"I will stop at nothing to ensure Matias doesn't reign!"

I shake my head, unable to keep that snicker from my mouth. Matias is a lot of things, but "easy target" is not one of them. He may not have shifted, but he is already stronger and holds more authority over the pack members than Nate. "He'll stop you."

Nate rolls his eyes. "Unlikely. You can't reach him in here. And he can't reach you."

"How?"

Nate grins. "Poor naive thing. Don't worry about that."

I swallow the urge to release my cries fully, hating the burning sensation in the back of my throat. "Why are you doing this?"

"Just as his uncle did to my uncle. Deceit. With it, his family has won, and now it will be their downfall."

My eyes widen.

His uncle? No way...

"Your uncle?"

Unless his uncle is another man from the pack, that means we're -

I shake my head.

"M-my father?"

Tip: You can use left, right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.Tap the middle of the screen to reveal Reading Options.

If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.

Report