Chapter7
1283 Words
RHEA
I step into the room. Most of the lights in the building are turned off. It's night time. Everyone was sleeping over at the garage house tonight. The vipers looked at me weird after the whole ordeal but no one asked questions. I know I'll have to give them answers eventually.
But not now.
I take a deep breath. Darius is gone. I'm not fool enough to believe that he would be gone for long.
Everytime I close my eyes, golden eyes stare back at me. I don't want to believe that he's back in our lives for good but I know that if I run now, he won't stop hunting.
The door is half open when I reach it. I grip the tray in my hands tighter. On it is a bowl of oats and milk. Rowan didn't come down for dinner with the rest of us.
"Hey baby." I push open the door carefully, stepping into the dimly lit room.
Rowan is spotted by the desk. He sits on the wooden chair, his feet swinging several feet in the air and he doesn't turn to face me.
He moves a Lego piece off the table, placing it on the high tower he's building. It would have been impossible for any kid to work in the dim lighting of the room that cast more shadows than light but his eyes flash gold as he stacks up piece after piece.
He's not human, never was. And suddenly, I feel f*****g stupid for thinking I can raise him as one.
I take another deep breath, moving over to the table. "Mama's here, kiddo." I place the tray of food on the desk and jerk my head to the side. "Time to eat."
"Already?" He throws his head back with a dramatic sigh. It almost makes me smile.
Rowan hops off the table and carefully carries his Lego castle in his hands, trudging through the rug carpet to the makeshift toy shed at the side of the room.
The tip of the tower, one of the tower heads, wobbles and the castle comes crashing down. Rowan just stands there, watching his work of construction litter the ground. His bottom lip trembles.
Pushing aside the table with a screech, I make my way to his side, crouching down to his level. "Don't worry, baby," I whisper. "We'll get it cleaned up together."
"Why did daddy let you go?" He asked in a tiny voice. "Didn't he want us?"
I felt something in me shatter as I looked at my five year old son—the best thing that ever happened to me since Darius' betrayal—and knew then that it was never about the Lego pieces or his fallen castle.
"Come here." I spread my arms.
He reaches into my outstretched arms immediately and I feel his small body collapse, trembling. I hug him tight while he cries into my chest.
"Shhh." I carry him up, rocking him gently. "Mommy will take care of it, okay?"
It takes more minutes of rocking him, pacing back and forth for him to calm down and he nods slowly, pulling back slightly and wiping his eyes.
Rowan rarely ever cried. And when he did, I knew he was really hurting. Something tugged painfully at my heart as I watched him. And I knew I would do anything and everything it took to make sure he was safe.
I kiss his forehead. "It's going to be alright."
He nods. My eyes dart to the door on instinct, in time to see a shadow of a person lingering outside the door.
Setting Rowan down on the bed, I put the tray of food beside him. "Eat for mommy, okay? I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." I kiss him again, standing up.
He gives me another nod, picking up the spoon.
Sighing heavily, I make my way to the door, pulling the knob slightly before stepping out and closing it behind me.
Cassie stands outside in the dark hallway. I don't know how long she has been standing there but the frown on her face tells me there's a problem. Or at least, something to attend to.
"Bear called a meeting," she says, hugging her tattooed arms.
I shiver, feeling the gust of wind whizz past too. "Alright, I'll be down in a moment," I nod.
She turns to leave but her eyes linger.
"Listen—"
"Rhea..."
We speak at the same moment and an awkward silence follows.
"Listen Cassie, I know that nothing makes sense to you right now and I'm really sorry for lying all this while," I restart.
She squeezes my hand. Cassie, just like nearly all the vipers, doesn't show much emotion and now I know that she means every gesture.
"It's going to be okay. No one is mad at you." She says. "Now Bear first. You can explain later."
She gives me a half grin and slips away, turning down the corridor. I check the room one more time before making my way down myself.
The dining is lit by an orange lamp that sits on the mahogany table.
A small gathering is present. Bear, Tommy, Rai and Cassie, all standing in a circle around the table. I taste the tension before I cross the room.
Bear's eyes lift to mine. He gives a small nod of acknowledgement.
"Hey guys," I mutter, spirits low as I arrive at the table.
There is another mumble of acknowledgement then Bear gets straight to the point.
"The dark howl MC is on our trails." He said. "We all saw what happened today. And it's pretty clear to note that that won't be their last trespassing on our territory." His eyes locked down on mine before he continues. "I don't fully comprehend what happened this afternoon, but it looks like you and them have history." He shakes his head like he can't quite believe it.
Darius hadn't been subtle about the wolf pack and wolf terminologies. Heck, he hadn't been subtle about anything at all.
For a moment, I actually wish the ground would open under my feet and save me from the weird stares and embarrassment.
"Look," Tommy gestured with his hands in the air, speaking for the first time.
"The dark howl MC have always been kinda weird. They call themselves wolves all the time and they act like savages half the time... No offence, Rhea."
I grin despite myself. "None taken."
"The facts remain the same," this time, it was Cassie who spoke. "They barged into our territory and threatened one of our own. We're not just going to act like nothing happened."
"Wait, observe," Bear's voice rang through the small room. He looks us all in the eyes, his words sharp. Finally, his gaze turns to rest on me like I know it would. "And don't forget that this is not our battle to fight."
"Thanks," I mutter.
Bear finds me in the kitchen moments later. The meeting is dismissed and our little city is asleep. He leans against the door. I'm well aware he's watching as I fill up my cup and turn the tap off.
"I didn't say anything that wasn't true." He steps inside, just as I turn to face him.
"We'll be here, Rhea. We'll always fight by your side if there's fighting that needs to be done."
I lower my gaze, looking away. "But I don't belong here. You all know that now."
Bear lifts my chin, his touch surprisingly gentle. I didn't even realise he had stepped closer.
"You've long earned your place at Pinecrest, Rhea. The question is, what are you going to do now?"
- Writer
