Page 115 of Unclaimed Bonds
I ignore her and race into the forest. Trees and brush part, creating a clear pathway, and I keep running. Her legs try to kick free from my grasp, but I hold firm.
“Luke, this isn’t funny. Put me down!”
When I reach my destination, I set her on her feet. Roots and vines from the ground surface, twining around her legs and arms. She fights the bindings, but they are too strong for her. I finally have her right where I always wanted to bring her. This time, she can’t run, and she will listen to me.
“Luke, let me go!” Fear flashes in her eyes.
I caress my fingers down her cheek and grip her neck, bringing her forehead to mine. Her breathing quickens, and she struggles more. “I just want you to listen. I won’t hurt you.”
Her eyes dart between my own, seeking confirmation. The roots and vines turn her as I turn. I point to a low-lying tree branch above us. She gasps. A bit of rope still hangs from the branch, evidence of where we found her.
I pull her to me and kiss the top of her head. “It was Queenie who led me here. Something spooked her, and she ran. Every time we got near her, she ran again. She never behaved that way before. It was almost like she was leading us directly to you. When she reached this very spot, she started whining, snorting, and stamping the ground. The rain fell in heavy sheets, and lightning struck through the sky above where we stand right now.
“When the second flash hit, Queenie reared up, waving her legs in the air. That’s when I saw you, hanging from the tree. At first, we didn’t know what the hell we were looking at. I brought you down using my magic. In that moment, I didn’t care about keeping my magic a secret or that I wasn’t alone. The rope barely hung by a few threads. It was easy to break. We couldn’t administer CPR because your neck and face were so swollen. I found a knife on the ground and used it to make a hole in your throat. Well, you heard the rest of it the other day.”
Waving my hand in the air, the vines release her.
“Something deep inside of me screamed that there was still some spark of life inside of you. Everyone thought I was crazy, but I refused to let you die.”
Chapter 54
I Hate You
JESSICA
TWO WEEKS AGO:
March 17, 2025: 1:52 p.m.
Emerald Pack Territory
Isearch his deep emerald eyes. As bad as our relationship has been, I still miss looking into them.
What am I doing? I break eye contact and push him away. Without looking at him, I ask, “When you say us, you mean the twins and Duck?”
He hesitates briefly before he answers. “Anders and Liam were also among us. Queenie nearly plowed Anders down when she ran through the training facility and Liam was with me when Queenie took off.”
I picture a stern-faced Anders nearly mowed over by a thousand-pound animal. I smile at the image in my head. “I’m the reason they sent you to the academy. I took you away from your family.” No wonder he was so mad at me when he returnedhome. In his eyes, I really was a thief, pushing him out to take his place.
He shrugs. “It didn’t go down like you think. It was challenging keeping my magic abilities a secret. With the Resistance still pursuing magic wielders, I realized that sooner or later, I would make a mistake and become their target. When our parents and Anders mentioned sending me away, I wanted to go. I had little control over my magic and I didn’t want to inadvertently harm you or anyone else.”
I frown at his admission. So, if his anger toward me wasn’t the reason for him leaving, why was he so mad? I study him. Then a thought crosses my mind, “How is it that you are the only one in the family capable of wielding magic before I met you?”
He lifts his gaze to the piece of rope still hanging from the tree, then turns to the forest of Territory Two. “Because I met you before you were…”
“How?” I stare at the back of his head. He refuses to look back at me.
A blush of red creeps up his neck as he reminisces, "I was fifteen back then, and this girl I really liked betrayed me. I returned home from school for the weekend, filled with all this rage and heartache. I just wanted to…I don’t know, escape. I shifted and went for a run. I ignored all the warnings to stay away from the Ruby Falls Pack Territory. I underestimated how ruthless the Ruby Pack could be. I ran right into a trap, and before I knew it, I was lying there, caught in a homemade net. A group of teenagers, close to my age or perhaps a bit older, gathered around me, teasing, taunting, and threatening to kill me for trespassing."
He turns those emerald green eyes back to me, "You showed up, wearing your school uniform, and started throwing rocks at them. I can't remember exactly what you said, but it was enough to make them angry and chase after you. The more I struggled,the net tightened making it impossible for me to shift into human form. I lay there tangled in the net for what felt like ages as the forest darkened. Then you returned alone, with bruises on your face and arms. I felt like a stupid idiot, for getting into this mess and I remember wishing that I had magic to free myself instead of relying on you. While you were cutting away at the net, your hands started to glow, this white luminescent light settled over me. The twine of the net just fell away, and I was free. After you urged me to leave and never return. It took me a while to see, how the trees and brush parted for me as I ran back home. That’s when I understood that you had given me magic.”
I scowl at his confession, “This whole time” I shake my head in disbelief, “You knew where I came from and you kept this a secret from me!”
He squeezes his eyes shut and shakes his head, “I kept it from everyone.”
Angry tears start to form, “I don’t know what makes me angrier finding out that Anders is my biological father or learning that you knew something about my past and didn’t tell me.” I cover my face with my hands and scream in frustration. “Why does everyone think they have the right to keep secrets from me?! This is my life! Do you have any idea what it has been like for me? Not knowing where I came from, how I ended up with magic. How I ended up almost dead!”
He takes a step forward, I retreat a step back. “It wasn’t meant to hurt you. At the time, we thought the less you knew would keep you safe and I never intended to keep these secrets from you for as long as I have.”
