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.”

know what happened: You gave me bits and

story.”

I couldn’t let you feel what he was doing to me. You try take over to stop him, but he’d force himself on you. I couldn’t

thought about my well–being If Artemis was next to me I’d feel her snout nuzzle into my side. A pooling of warmth appeared on the right side of my body. “You protected me. If anything. I don’t deserve you. You’re a lot stronger than

difficult. reminded of why this

eye for

it’s enough. They be her lat off the hook. It isn’t fair. Art. None of

Osins munk pulsated, making me hiss in pain. “It’s unfair, but you aren’t like them. You won’t stoop as low as

“I know…”

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

him to die yet because he deserved more hurt. Death is too gred for

can’t give Chins what he wants–me becoming a ruthless monster. Becoming someone ke him is not

goddamnit, I wanted

remained in bed for the rest of the day Facing the world after unveiling my shameful secret terrified

han

disappeared, and 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 ignored my friend’s requests to hang out with them and told them they

31–A Choice

I blocked

to be

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-Bonu:

02:30

rapped on my door. I grouchily snatched 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 blanket, hoping the person on

Kiya? It’s Isabella!”

blanket. Great, I can’t ignore my favorite student! Sighing, I kick the covers off me and trudged to the door,

“Yes?”

disturb you, but…are you okay? You canceled

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 away. Thank you for checking

you’re okay…” This sweetheart and I developed a bond and I’m happy to see Bella come out of her shell. Although, it’s normal for younglings to worry about the adults they care about; I still worry about Mom

anything

Alpha Neron is asking for

was a moment where I wanted to bash my head into 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 a day without him

a perfect moment to imitate a bear’s roar, and I know these two heard me,

like hell.”

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 grabbed my

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

make this.”

“Who did?”

“Me.”

Choice to

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of positions, but as a cook wasn’t one of them! But when I look at

that shouldn’t be based on gender. She showed me how, and it stuck with me. I don’t cook

I asked, taking another bite of the savory

I wanted to see how you’re doing.” He admitted, poking at his fish

filled the air and savagely murdered my appetite. I dropped my fork down next to my plate and felt the weight of the world on me