81. The Dark Cell
KIARA
Alejandro left and I knew he had heard our conversation… But how much of it? Did he hear the part where I asked Aunty Indy if he knew…
I expected him to be honest… It was high time I tried to do my part too… My stomach twisted, knowing deep down a time would come when I'd have to tell him about Rayhan... I looked down, sighing deeply.
"El…" Aunty whispered.
"I don't know what to say Indy… I can't believe I had to hear that from him and not you. I"m your brother; heck, that's what I"m there for! You should have told me."
"I didn't want you to get mad at him or make him leave." She whispered, breaking into tears.
Dad pulled her into his arms, I could see the pain and sadness on his face. He was always there for us…
"After what Jessica's been through, and you girls as well, why would you settle for this Indy? The goddess did not create mates to hurt one another." He whispered, caressing her hair.
"I know, but the bond is strong, I always hoped he'd come around. I know he will!" She said, looking up at Dad.
Dad simply shook his head and held her tight, I suddenly felt emotional as I watched him comfort her. He was always watching out for us, always there… Yet we just hid stuff from him. Dad was a father and a brother who loved us unconditionally. I felt guilty for always complaining about how suffocated I felt… He only cared for us… But only lately did that seem to be clear and after Auntie's revelation, I was sure stuff like this were his reasons.
"It's been years since you've met… Things should not have been like this, Indy. No one deserves to stay in a situation like that. Be strong and perhaps the Goddess has other plans but Indy… This isn"t right. I don't care what you decide or what Alejandro decides, but I"m taking you home with me." Dads words were final.
"No please he'll-"
"Get mad? I don't really think he has that right anymore." Dad said coldly and I knew he was pissed.
"Elijah, please. It's not that bad!"
‘Aunty had broken bones and countless bruises. The night I lost control was because he came home smelling of sex.' I said to Dad through the link. Yes, it wasn't my place to say, but I couldn"t just keep it secret since the truth was out. More so, I knew Dad could help her like I couldn"t.
Dad frowned deeply but didn't reply.
"I"m going to go pack." I said before I took my leave…
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An hour had passed and I was done with my packing. I had still managed to bake some more brownies. I don't know why I did it. Well, I guess I could tell myself that they were just some treats for the journey? Although I knew exactly why I had made these… My heart skipped a beat at the thought of him as I packed a bag of snacks for the ride too.
Serena had told me we would be going by car for the most part. I had an ominous feeling about that forest, like a dark and unsettling weight, resting in the pit of my stomach every time I thought of it.
Things had been tense when Mom found out about Indigo, and while she was calmer than when she found out about me and Alejandro, she was still enraged and completely agreed with Dad"s decision to take Aunty back with them.
She had been getting worked up and I had been worried, so I had mind linked Mom and Dad, telling them that Aunty was pregnant. I didn't tell them about why she miscarried the last few times as I hoped Aunty told them that herself, but I did want them to know she was pregnant and didn't need any extra stress so they had to deal with her patiently. I was glad she was going to go back to the Blood Moon pack. At least she'll be safe there.
"Alejandro's outside." Darien said, popping his head into the room with a huge grin on his face.
"You seem happy to have him gone." I said, amused.
"No, I"m happy that you two are going to work things out." He said with such confidence that I raised my brow.
"Aren"t you very confident considering you were silent last night?" I said sceptically.
"I have to listen to and respect my Alpha, I have faith in him." He said, with a small smile. "Thank you, for giving him a chance."
"Yeah… well… let's see." I said.
I haven"t done anything yet… but I hoped we could work things out.
I met Mom and Dad, Rayhan and his family as someone took my bags to the car. I walked outside to see Alejandro talking to a few men. My gaze roamed his broad back, the way his shirt fitted him, his tattooed arms, his ass… Was it wrong that I wanted to kiss every inch of him? I bit my lip, my core throbbing at just how hot he was.
Ok, focus. We were not going to go down that path until things were fixed… I turned away, just in time as he glanced over at me. That cold, arrogant expression on his face, as he blew out the smoke from his cigarette. His eyes glinting as he looked at me, almost as if he knew I was checking him out.
"Before we leave, there"s one stop we need to make." He said, coming over as he looked down at me.
"Where to?"
"The cells." He said, his face was now serious.
I could sense his displeasure. He didn't want to do this… I nodded and he led the way as I followed. I wanted to know what he did with Fred but I didn't speak. I intended to ask but not right now.
We reached the cells, the smell of metal, blood and something else filled my nose. It was dark in here. My breath hitched when I felt his strong hand take mine. My heart was racing as I slowly closed my fingers around his, allowing him to lead me. His hand was so much larger than my slender one… His calloused finger pads grazed my soft skin. I tried to calm the storm that was rising within me. This simple yet thoughtful move… This was all I had wanted… His love, his concern and care. Exactly what he was showing me now. Why couldn"t we have just had this before we both acted on impulse and rash decisions?
Well, I guess it was too late to regret it.
As we got deeper into the cells it got chillier, and I couldn"t even tell if it was light outside. The cold damp seemed to cling to my skin and the feeling that this place never got fresh air wrapped around me. The sound of a weak unearthly growl greeted my ears and my heart thudded.
"It's the Wendigo. Do you think you'd be able to see if in any way you could get anything from it?"
"I can try." I said.
"Good." He said.
He let go of my hand and I missed the feeling of his touch. The scraping of the chains and padlock was all I could hear before the door was swung open, grating against the ground. Once again, his hand wrapped around mine, sending sparks of pleasure through me. "I should have brought a fucking light, I left my phone too."
I smiled.
"I"m fine, it"s tied right? I just need to touch it." I said, feeling its weak heart beating. It was dying but there was no smell of blood. Was it poisoned?
"It's tied and I"m right here." Came his deep voice.
"Are you poisoning it?"
"No, it's fucking tied, which will do the damn job." He said.
"It's dying." I said, my heart skipping a beat as he touched the small of my back, guiding me closer.
The thing growled, the sound of chains echoed in the cell as it struggled to break free. A futile attempt.
"Not sure why, maybe starvation?" He said thoughtfully.
I could sense the beast stir restlessly and Alejandro's closeness. I placed my hand on the Wendigo, the matted fur making me internally cringe.
Pain. Agony. Despair.
I gasped at the burning emotions that rushed through me, tears sprung to my eyes at the emotions that came from this very beast. The urge to ease its pain overcame me and I saw the faint purple in the darkness. All I wanted was to help. Before me, I didn't think it was a monster… To me it felt like something in pure agony, a being that needed respite.
"What the fuck…" Alejandro's words came.
I don't know what it was, in this darkness I couldn"t see anything. Then a sudden realisation hit me. I was no longer touching fur but skin. I jerked my hand back.
"You… You've reversed whatever process he had gone through…" Alejandro murmured, sounding almost in awe.
My heart thudded as I could now smell that distinct smell that only rogue wolves carried.
"Well fuck." Alejandro's voice came.