Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
THE NEXT MORNING, I headed out of the administration wing, I took a left and followed the hallway all the way down until it stopped at large, oak double doors. I pushed on the wood and found myself in the infirmary.
A lone figure pushed the sheets up in the last bed on the right.
“See? I knew they were being overly dramatic whiner babies.”
She raised her head with difficulty, landing on me as I walked over.
“I knew you weren’t dead, Nia. I specifically told my friend to teach you a painful lesson, but not to kill you.”
Nia blinked at me. She didn’t look like she belonged in an infirmary bed with how wrapped up in blankets she was. They covered her to her chin, and a nest of pillows surrounded her—keeping her comfortable. You couldn’t see the mess of wounds healing on her back. Beside her was a small bedside table with a jug, glass of water, a book, and all the butterfly clips they removed when they rushed her in.
“Wha...? Kill me?” she croaked. “What are you—?”
I held up a hand. “Don’t speak. Just listen.” Rounding the bed, her eyes widened taking me in when I towered over her. “You were the hardest one on my list, Nia. That’s why I wanted to get to know you. Observe you. Understand you and your super-powered omega ability. It’s because I did that I learned more about what omegas go through.
“There is a version of events where you were an innocent who was dragged into the destruction of my life, and my family,” I said. “You lost your parents young, and suddenly you were responsible for three little brothers in a world where omegas get nothing but the shittiest, lowest-paying jobs.
“When people like Dagem offered you a chance to make money by using your wolf tranquilizer, you didn’t have a choice.” I bent over her, my hand strangling the headboard like I thought of doing to her so many times before. “How many people did they use you to murder? People who tried to defend themselves, but then discovered horribly that their wolf was trapped inside them.”
Nia trembled, eyes filling. “Just... one,” she whispered, not even bothering to deny it. “I didn’t want to. I didn’t even know why I was there, but...” Nia shuddered. “It was horrible. Worst day of my life—”
“No,” I hissed. “It was mine.”
Nia didn’t speak. She didn’t dare.
“But,” I continued, rising up. “I believe you. I believe you wanted no part in what happened. I even believe you didn’t know what they were going to do before it happened. But the trouble is, after the murder, you kept quiet. You kept their stupid, fucking, evil secrets about Destiny.”
“I had to.” The dullness in Nia’s voice was at odds with the rushing tears gushing down her face. “They threatened to kill my brothers if I told a soul.”
“I believe that too.” My nails pierced my palm. “I have no trouble believing that. Which is why I flip-flopped so hard between if you were a victim, or a fucking monster just like the rest of them.”
“I am a monster,” she cried, shoulders shaking. Her body spasmed with the pain, but still she cried.
Sighing, I dropped down on the opposite bed. “No, Nia, you’re not. Because an actual monster never thinks they are. And, for what it’s worth, I don’t think you are either. That’s why I decided to let you get away with this little lesson.” I waved over her. “And call us even.”
“Even?”
“Yes, Nia. We’re even. I forgive you,” I said, and deep down, I meant it. “I have to if we’re going to be partners.”
Nia blinked, tears slowing. “Partners?”
“Yes, partners in stopping Destiny.”
“Destiny?”
“Are you just going to keep repeating everything I say, because this is going to take a long time if so.”
“No— I, uh... Sorry.”
Noise sounded behind me, drawing my attention to a glass-paned door and the figure moving on the other side.
“Can he hear us?” I asked.
Nia shook her head. “The door is reinforced like every door in the castle. Can’t have us wolves overhearing private medical information. But what were you saying?” she asked, trying to rise and then quickly changing her mind. “Why would we be partners?”
“What do you know about Destiny?”
“Not much,” she admitted. “Just that people are willing to kill to keep whatever it is quiet.”
“Oh, they most definitely are,” I rasped, “and I’ll tell you why.”
I told her. Everything about Destiny. Everything about what Castor did to me. All that started me off the path of my relatively happy life onto one of blood, pain, and revenge. On the very last word, Nia twisted over the side of the bed, and vomited.
“They—they can’t do that!”
“They are doing it,” I said flatly.
“It’s insane!”
“Yes.”
“It’s evil!”
I nodded slow. “Yes.”
Nia goggled at me, a spot of vomit clinging to her lip. “How can anyone stop this? How can you?”