Wolf Bait (Perry and Jonas)

Chapter 158

Dr. Salazar had Beatris pack up my books and notes. Jonas had clothes, my essentials, and shoes sent over along with my phone and my bag. I can't use them because there's no signal down here, but just holding my phone in my hand makes me feel like I'm closer to getting out of here.

"One last deep dive?" he asks as my things are taken out of the room.

"Sure," I agree sitting on the edge of the bed.

"You once told me that your father taught by example. Do you ever remember a time when you thought, he was right? A time that really stuck with you?"

"Yeah," I nod looking down at my phone. "I think it's my earliest memory. I remember my parents fighting. I don't know why but they likely fought because he took a mission from the King. He left and he was gone for a long time. My mom would come home from work. She'd clean and cook exsessively. As if she were trying to distract us from how long he was gone.

"She was at work and I'd been home alone all morning when my dad walked through the front door of our house. He was covered in mud and blood. He trailed the mud all the way to the kitchen where he sat down and just stared blankly at the cupcakes mom had made. "I wanted to tell him that Mom was going to be so upset when she got home to the mess. he made, but I couldn't. He looked so sad,"

"What did you do?"

"I cleaned up the mud on the floor and I started him a shower. He growled at me when I took his hand and led him to it. He could barely walk. I saw wounds and scrapes. I helped him out of his boots and his jacket before he pushed me toward the door. I finished cleaning up as best as I could.

"When he was done he walked out of the bathroom and stood at the doorway for a while. I was going to go in there to put his clothes in a bag so Mom could wash them because I didn't know how to work the washer. He stopped me. He said I got it and then he patted my head and called me a good girl. It was the first time and the only time he ever praised me that way,"

"What did you learn from that?"

"That maybe he wasn't as indestructible as I believed he was, but that no matter what was put in front of him, he'd get through it. He just needed to know that there would always be someone there to catch him,"

one. You have to remember that you are not alone anymore, Perry. You have friends and family who love and care for you. You don't have to do anything on your own anymore. You've been silent for too long. It's time for you to speak up and be heard even if you have to

admit. He grins and pats my hand gently the way he

My Queen. It has been an honor serving you and listening to everything

pelt. With each shift, I lost more and more of the wolf I used to be, but I've come to embrace it. The changes don't bother me anymore. I've come to understand that maybe there was a reason for me

in the mirror. "For everything. I know I'm difficult and say a lot of dumb

1/3

<

28

+5

the person you want to see looking back at you, Perry. Just like that little girl who wanted to be as important as

think,"

here," Beatris says from

the right choice for me. I still feel sick, but my mind

to cling to my entire life. One mission at a time wasn't right and the more I added to the destruction I raged, the more I wanted to be my father's daughter. I

I don't answer to anyone other than my King and I want things to stay that way. I don't owe anyone a single fucking thing, but I do owe him. Everything. Moving forward I want to show him that while I meant he couldn't save me before, I don't need him for that anymore. We don't need

in one actually. But he's wearing dark blue jeans and a black jacket with a hoodie underneath it. His hair as usual is

to give him time to finish his call. I'm pretty sure it's Roy

King," I say

he answers me properly. "You learned Lycarian in three months?" he asks

tucking my hands behind me to let

I see the instant when he snaps and closes the distance between us. With a