Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 31 – A Choice to Kill

“Your future will be determined more by choice than by chance.“–Frank Sonnenberg

Kiya

The weight of the world is on my shoulders again. This time, I cannot see a way out.

Bonus

02:41

From my tender scalp to my toes, my body suffers from throbbing aches. The morning sun begins a new day, but it couldn’t shine a light through the darkness. Unending tears fell from my eyes and my heavy body is trapped in bed. I didn’t want to do anything except stay in my room.

After my episode last night, I woke up to find my friends surrounding me in my bed. No doubt feeling my distress through the mind–link. Jackie spooned me from behind, Abigail to my front, Sapphire and Galen cuddled into my legs. I don’t know how my bed fit five grown werewolves, but they made it work. Heat painted my ch*eks from the closeness and their warmth is always welcome, but I feel awful for separating them from their mates. Mates sleep together, and they forgo that to comfort their broken and drunken friend.

I don’t deserve them.

Sometimes, I felt like a burden. How many times have they put themselves on hold to help me? How many times have they risked themselves for me? They shouldn’t have to do any of this. They have their rich lives to take care of, not a woman who can’t get a grip on her emotions.

My mess is mine to clean up; they have lives to tend to and shouldn’t bother themselves with my problems.

Although, I wish Darien was part of our nest. Our team is incomplete without him, and I miss him terribly. His brunette disaster, however, is determined to ruin me with a knife to the heart. But I know I’ll get him back.

F*ck vodka. I should’ve known it won’t make me forget about the guard. Now, I don’t have the strength to fight against this additional weight.

I’m strong, right? I’m a survivor, right? Then why do I feel so weak? Being strong day–in and day–out is so hard. It’s a full–time job; a brutal full–time job.

Yet, I turned in the pink–slip the moment my eyes landed on him. I come to learn his name as Tristan. A generic name for a detestable man.

Everything came back–the memories, sensations, pain, and more. And I couldn’t protect Artemis from the experience because I put up a wall too late after the assault. She knew that Tristan hurt me but didn’t know how brutal the hurt was. Anytime he’d come into my cell to do his dirty business, protecting A

Artemis from the horrific experience became a priority. Reinforcing the mental wall so she couldn’t see, feel, or hear Tristan’s assault became routine. I was physically weak, but I willed myself mentally to protect my wolf from the evil cast on my body.

I knew I could protect Artemis, no matter how much I suffered. My wolf holds a special place in my heart, and I’d be damned if anyone hurt her. She’s too pure to experience hell.

Even now, as she tries to help me out of my rut. Artemis is too good for me. How did a mighty wolf like herself get stuck with someone like me?

“Don’t you dare go down that line of thinking, young lady!” Artemis bellowed suddenly like a mother st

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corning their child. “You aren’t a burden to me. Never will be. You’re relapsing into depression

and I’m here to remind you that I love you and will always be at your side no ma what

Bonu

02:35

“I let him get to me. Artemis,” I reply as tears dripped on my pillow.“As soon as I saw his face and smelled scent, everything came back–everything I felt as a slave. I don’t feel like myself ammore. Looking in his eyes was like he was raping me all over again.”

happened: You gave me bits and pieces, but never the

story.”

try take over to stop him, but he’d

feel her snout nuzzle into my side. A pooling of warmth appeared on the right side

fallen tears from my ch*eks. Being strong all the times difficult. reminded of why this pack

for

punished for what they d Sure, they got gems, but it’s enough. They be

Right on cue Osins munk pulsated, making me hiss in pain. “It’s unfair, but you aren’t like them. You won’t stoop as low as they have. You’re better

“I know…”

impeting me into a world of infinite possibilities. Beating the shit out of my rapist brought buppiness beyond comprehension–it was only a fraction of the burning rage I felt I dipped me in a sea of red, but couted in a blanket of blackened security. I didn’t want to leave it. I

more hurt. Death is too gred for him.

give Chins what he wants–me becoming a ruthless monster. Becoming someone ke

I

Facing the

han

it ben’t turned. Taking a shower was hell because my body felt as heavy as lead. Dragging it to the bathtub was ke pulling cinderblock. I

Choice

but I blocked

wanted to

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-Bonu:

02:30

my phone off the lamp table and checked the time. It’s past 7 PM. I tossed my phone back and covered my head with my

It’s Isabella!”

my favorite student! Sighing, I kick the covers off me and trudged to

“Yes?”

you, but…are you okay? You canceled training and

Bella is worried about me. Blinking back the tears that threatened to fall again, I did my best to muster up a smile, kneeling to her level. “I’m sorry for worrying you, dear. I’m…dealing with some things and needed time

out of her shell. Although, it’s normal for younglings to worry about the adults they care about; I still

there anything else, Bell?”

Neron is asking

a wall, it’d be now. I know he wants to talk about what happened on the cliff, but I’m dreading the awkwardness. Plus, there’s no way I’d avoid everyone for

imitate a bear’s roar, and I know

like hell.”

my eyes. “Tell me something I don’t know.” Gesturing to the seat on the opposite side of him, I begrudgingly obliged, only because I’ve yet to have a decent meal. Neron filled a cup with water from a pitcher and handed it to me. Muttering my thanks, I

flavors danced around my tongue, making me smile. “This is good. Cassandra outdid herself.” Yikes, that left

didn’t make this.”

“Who did?”

“Me.”

31 Choice

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my fork. That’s impossible! I imagined Neron in a lot of positions, but as a cook wasn’t one of them! But when I look at his face, there’s no hint of deceit. His sapphires are twinkling with delight–a drag23 change from yesterday. “Since when did you

type who believed that everyone should learn how to cook. It’s a necessity that shouldn’t be based on gender. She showed me how, and it stuck

of the savory salmon. Goddess, I wanted to eat this for the

you’re doing.” He admitted, poking at his fish with his fork. “And there’s something we need

weight of the world on me again. Crawling into a dark hole never seemed so appealing. I’m too overwhelmed and wanted