Zane***
“You can use my phone if that helps,”
Talia suggests, pulling out her phone from her pocket and unlocking it for me.
Beads of sweat gather at my temple as I stare blankly at the Notepad app.
She’s not asking for much, Grayson mutters.
Did you miss the part where she’s been married to a perfect Alpha? I snap at him.
What do you think will go through her head when she realizes she’s mated to a freak? You are being dramatic, Grayson groans.
He wasn’t THAT perfect.
He cheated on her! WITH HER SISTER! That’s not the point! The point is my own father refused to recognize meas his son! \retort.
When Talia realizes how truly worthless I am, she’ll reject me like everyone else has.
Do you not trust our mate will treat us fairly? Grayson asks.
I look up at my mate, her smile faltering with my everlasting silence.
She deserves the truth…
Grayson sighs.
And so do we.
We won’t know how she truly feels about us if all we show her is a lie.
But…Anything.
The phone trembles in my hand, my fingers unwilling to type out a message.
Minutes crawl by before Talia finally loses her patience.
“Okay, I think this date is over,”
Talia laughs dryly, my heart sinking as a few tears cling to her eyes.
She wipes at them angrily and starts to get up, disappointed by my lack of response.
“I honestly don’t even know what I was expecting,” she mutters, shaking her head at herself.
“This was such a f*****g mistake and I can’t even be mad at you because I did this to myself,” she huffs, rolling her eyes.
“I should have just kept my mouth shut.”
She presses the palms of her hands against her eyes to stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks.
“Please take me home,” she whimpers.
“I don’t want to be here anymore.”
My mind goes into a panic when I hear the hurt in her voice.I open my mouth to explain but it feels as though the wind has been knocked out of me and all that comes out is a gasp.
Come on! I snap at myself.
Say something! But the harder I try to utter a word, the drier my mouth feels and the heavier my tongue becomes.
All the memories of my father screaming at me to speak come flooding back and the words get caught in my throat, unable to escape.
She deserves the truth, I remind myself, taking a few deep breaths and rising to my feet shoulders and turn her towards me, embracing her in my arms.
I try to hold her to my chest but Talia only shakes her head in anger at me.
“No,” she cries.
“You don’t get to just hug this all away.I told you my story.I shared my pain with you,” she hiccups.
“Why can’t you do the same for me?”
Knowing she is right, I urge her to sit back down, patting the space beside me as my eyes plead with her to sit.
Reluctantly, she settles down, hugging her knees to her chest.
Her brown eyes watch me carefully, scrutinizing my every move.
I pull the phone from my pocket and after she unlocks it, I type out my plan.
“I can’t tell you my story, but I can show you,” She reads aloud.
“Close your eyes.”
She gives me a confused look but I just smile and place my hand over my own eyes to show her what I need from her.
Very hesitantly, she places both hands over her eyes, sighing deeply in annoyance.
Taking a deep breath, I close my own eyes and concentrate, letting down my walls and accepting the river of thoughts coming from my mate.
“This is silly,” her voice echoes in my head.
“Shhh,”
I whisper, Talia suddenly jumping up and looking around frantically.
she asks, her eyes opening and scanning the
a little and gesture for her to
***Natalia***
eyelids when suddenly a little white light appears in the black abyss of
light, singing a sweet lullaby of
wonder, looking around the emptiness but only seeing
my thoughts, I decide to follow the voice towards the
light envelopes me, temporarily blinding
room is large and spacious with a high ceiling,
tree-like structures stand on opposite sides of the room, a treehouse sitting on the tree
rope bridge connects
a large bed with forest covers
a small kitchenette equipped with a sink, a toaster oven, a mini fridge, and cabinets which
sits beside the the left wall and hundreds of books and index cards
to be a child’s room, there are very few
my surprise, there are no windows in the room, an air vent the only means of
of the room, which appears to be bolted shut
no child’s
This is a prison.
desk, hunching over several sheets of paper.He can’t be more than 5 or 6
eye is completely
he scribbles “My name is Zane” over
is a pile of sheets repeating the same
be Zane’s memories,
begin to jingle, the little boy stiffening
are undone, the door swings open, a beautiful woman walking
and warm smile resemble Zane’s whenever he
be related, \take note, watching as Zane climbs out of
into her arms, Zane resting his head on her shoulder
quite handsome, his piercing blue eyes like the ocean, and
wiggles out of his mother’s arms and rushes to the desk, pulling out a
man’s arm who is busy setting up the food on the
down at little
asks, taking the
Day, Wyatt.You smell very nice and you’re not mean.I like you.” he
I’m glad I don’t
I’m not
due any minute now,” the woman laughs, Zane
you have a card
fishes out
to the woman who reads it out
to be good now,” she says, her voice cracking a little as she reads
she sighs, trying very hard not to
just….” she pauses, searching for
loves you, baby.He loves you very much.Just in his own way.” see in her eyes that even she doesn’t believe
I have our lunch, okay?” she
Wyatt, the two
he eats, careful not to chew loudly or make
of the talking, explaining to him the many
door suddenly bursts open, a tall man storming
bulging muscles
scar just below his
combed back and his eyes are almost black
called me in here,
a meeting in 15
a gift for you,” she
She’s his mother?I wonder.
about Agnes? The man turns to look at Zane who is trembling
“Go on, Zane,”
nudges him
for him on his special
in fear but does not disobey his mother, climbing
him with flared nostrils keeps his head down, his hand
will look me in the eye when addressing me, boy,” the
his arm and strikes Zane in the face, Zane falling
is on her feet in an
she snarls, shoving him though he does not
just showing you his
me
another man in the eye when he’s
“He’s just a boy!”
helping Zane
will one
curling his finger at
I will not leave behind a
his head high, his freshly split lip quivering slightly as he holds the card out to the tall
strong, holding them back with all of
heavily, swallowing back the sobs I know he wants to
cheeks, Zane faces his father, my heart swelling with pride at his sheer strength and courage
“Read it.”
“Sebastian-”
can’t say the words, then he
abyss, leaving me all alone in the pitch black with my heart shattering to pieces at what I
that I have been unkind to a man who has
eyes, I find Zane staring blankly at the floor, his
say to help comfort him, my mind still reeling from all the
was a prisoner in
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!