Chapter 371
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ZADE.
The Arkan.
The hunters who wanted us dead.
They use a special device that leads them to those who are chipped. A quick scan of an area makes us
appear on their screens as red blips, and the chips are
advanced enough to be pretty precise with their locations.
Fools who allowed themselves to trust humans. No human would agree to be chipped, so why did our
kind?
That night after her unspoken rejection I had let loose, there’s something oddly therapeutic about falling
into the ways you have known all your life.
I found a few of the Arkan since I’ve been trying to locate them anyway, and I killed them all without
mercy. Unleashing the anger that had been burning within me. Delivering judgment to those who dared
to hurt our kind.
But I had to come back because I had taken nothing with me, and I had been hit with a poisonous
bullet which isn’t healing.
Having her show up in my place like that wasn’t what I was expecting. I didn’t think she had it in her to
break into someone’s home.
I had made sure to remain silent in the hope that she wouldn’t hear me. After all, how am I supposed to
face her after what happened? I let my guard down, something I never should have. I didn’t think she’d
have heard that I was back unless, of course, she was listening out for any sounds.
At least she’s learning to be more vigilant. Deep down a part of me returned to see if she was ok but I
will never acknowledge that.
But why was she waiting for me? Because her friend was no longer around?
I’m not here to be available whenever she wants, not after she was practically. disgusted with having
her tongue in my mouth.
I slam the bathroom door shut and lock it as I toss my bloody shirt onto the sink before unbuckling my
belt and taking my pants off. A part of me wants to see what she has to say, but a bigger part of me
knows it’s just not worth it.
She and I are two entirely different groups of people. I am not going to waste my time with her…
+15 BONUS
Stepping into the shower, I rest my hand against the wall, gripping my right flank as the pain throbs
through me. Whatever poison they used, it isn’t healing fast and I’m going to have to let it work its way
out of my system slowly. Until then I’m still here…
But will I leave? As my vision darkens a little, I cut back a groan. The less I move, the easier it is to
keep conscious.
Who am I kidding? Yeah, I need to get away from her to keep my sanity, but she’s incapable of taking
care of herself. What if someone comes for her again? Unless I take her chip out or tell her to stop
fucking telling everyone she’s a werewolf, but that would need me to talk to her again. Something I am
not willing to do.
Or I could just cut her open and remove the chip whilst she’s asleep…
Wrong maybe, but for the right reasons.
I need to stop caring… I need to fucking stop caring!
Leaving back then… knowing that I may never see her again had been one of the hardest things to do.
But I told myself if it was meant to be, then our paths would cross, and they did…. But now what?
Do I let this chance go? Or do I take her for myself?
I step out of the shower, gripping my flank. When I bend down, it feels as if I’m going to fall
unconscious, but I should try to get whatever’s left inside of me, out. This won’t get any better.
I cut back another groan of pain as I pull on some sweatpants and drop onto the bed. First, I just need
to rest…
VALERIE.
I can’t sleep, pacing like a lunatic. A part of me just wants to give him space… but another part of me
feels I need to talk to him.
I didn’t mean to hurt him like that… but I did.
How do I fix things?
Entering my bedroom, I sit on the bed and pick up the picture frame of Jai that sits beside my bed. His
piercing blue eyes stare back at me as if he’s really looking
at me.
“Jai…” I whisper, “What do I do?”
+15 BONUS
‘I wonder what kind of life he’s had… don’t always judge a book by its exterior…‘ his words
from long ago come to the front of my mind when we talked of someone who looked suspicious, and I
close my eyes, dropping sideways onto the bed.
Don’t judge a book by its exterior…
Zade Toussaint… I am quick to look at his faults… but what about his strengths…
He’s protected me, fixed my car for free, set up extra protection around this place. for me, made sure I
had eaten… there is a side to him that shows he is more than his past defines him as.
He does have feelings… he has looked out for me and these feelings I have don’t just go away. I may
not want to admit it, but I am already far too deep in to even try to deny that I care.
That kiss was proof enough until I washed it away right in front of him. I sit up, my heart thudding as I
place Jai’s picture down on the bedside table.
+15 BONUS
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