Chapter 184

G

81%i

The second I had smelled their blood, I had run. Eliza had stepped out of my way without a word, letting me bolt into the house. My hair had billowed behind me, my boots tracking wet snow onto the hardwood floors. I'd pounded up the steps. my hand clamped over my mouth to hide the sound of my s**

I couldn't bear to watch them fight, not over me, not after everything else that had happened tonight.

So instead I threw myself into the bedroom and curled up in bed, tears streaming down my cheeks, soaking into the pillow beneath my head. My body shook with silen**bs as I deeply inhaled Edwin's scent through the blankets, trying to calm myself

This was my fault. All my fault..

If only I could shift. If only I wasn't so weak, so pathetic. None of this would have happened if I was stronger, if I was the Silver Star I was supposed to be. Everything that had happened tonight. It was all my fault.

Or at least, that was how it had felt in those moments.

If I could have shifted, then Erik would have been happy. We could be coming home now, a bit tense from dinner but having gotten through the night. We all wouldn't have gotten too drunk to cope. I wouldn't have had to slip out with Peter in an attempt to shift

Edwin wouldn't have found us and gotten angry.

"The second you heard I was mated to the Silver Star, you tried to swoop in."

Those words kept echoing through my mind, a constant reminder of how Edwin and I had met. How we likely would have never crossed paths had he not been looking for the Silver Star with the intent to make her his bride.

I wasn't mad at him for that; I couldn't be. I understood why he had been in that position, the desperation he must have felt. But it still stung. Because at the end of the day, I was no longer just me, just Audrey. I was a pathetic excuse for a 'chosen one that everyone was vying to have. To take for themselves, just as Coldclaw had done. with those four rogues in the woods.

At some point during my wallowing, I heard the bedroom door open softly, followed by Edwin's familiar footsteps. The bed dipped as he sat down beside me, his hand gently touching my shoulder. "Audrey," he said softly, his voice filled with regret. "Audrey, talk to me.

I turned to face him, my vision blurry with tears. I couldn't make out his face through the haze, but I could feel his sorrow through our bond.

"Audrey.."

Star. I hate that I can't do more. And I hate people fighting over me, treating me

my eyes with the back of a trembling hand. "I know you don't. But it doesn't

1/3

181%0 81%1

13:15 Sun, Sep 22

Chapter 184

that happened tonight was because of me. Your father got angry because of me. You and Peter

face came into focus, and I could see that his eyes were glowing golden. "No,

a silver-tipped arrow, and then silver started covering my

Look at what happened with

rocking me gently. His familiar scent

a loser. Ith not fit to

"I love you, Audrey. No matter what. Whether you can shift or not, whether you're the Silver Star or just Audrey Klein, I love you," I sniffled, burying my face in his

be strong for you, a rock when you need me the

you, Edwin. I saw how you all were around your

said, my family brings out the worst in each

other your whole lives. Starting fights, sitting idly by while you all bicker amongst

thought back to the image Edwin showed me before his fight with Peter. I thought of the way his father had placed the blame on Edwin for what had happened

said with a sad smile. "But you're right. This is why hate fighting. It unleashes something dark inside

Edwin. That's what led to tonight's explosion. You need to deal with it, not push it down until it bursts out.

shot up

Just as traumatized, as you are, I insisted. And by fighting with him, your

2/3

13:15 Sun, Sep 22

Chapter 181

a complicated

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255