Chapter 10 wking beude Enoch to the infirmary feels as though Im escorting a nuclear bomb that could detonate any second. Hes quiet, but his presence isnt He absorbs the air around him, pulling everyones attention whether they want to look or not. His steps are heavy, deliberate, as if the world bends slightly beneath him. The infirmary door creaks as it swings open, the smell of antiseptic hitting me like a slap in the face. Its sharp, sterile, and at little too familiar lately. Lisa stands by the counter, her brows lifting when her eyes land on Enoch. Ah, the usual suspect. Enoch stares at her as though shes speaking another language, tilting his head. His confusion is almost cute-if you ignore the blood staining hus shirt and that ceric calm radiating off him as if he didnt just survive another brawl. If youre trying to set a record for visits, youre winning, she says , her dry humor cutting through the silence. Enoch doesnt react. He just stands there, broad and brooding-a wall of muscle that hasnt quite figured out it can move on His gaze flickers to me for confirmation, like he needs permission to breathe. Go, 1 nudge him, gesturing to the exam table. Shes not going to bite. Lisa snorts. I might if he keeps showing up uninvited. Sit down, she orders, pointing to the exam table. Youve been here so much lately Im tempted to give you your own room. I snort, brushing my hair out of my face. Make sure its padded. Lisa arches a brow at me, but Enoch doesnt react. He just sits, obedient as ever. Its almost unnerving how easily he listens to me. Behave, I mutter. Its almost comical how out of place he looks here-this mountain of a man with blood on his shirt and an otherworldly aura that screams dont mess with me. Satisfied that Dr. Lisa wont get herself killed, I leave him in her capable hands. When I slam the library doors open, they rebound with a loud bang, making everyone inside jump. Heads whip in my direction, their gazes bouncing between my furious glare and Kallias, whos still lounging in his chair. The audacity, I march to his table, my boots clicking sharply against the tiled floor, and slam my hand down on the wood so hard , the sound echoes. Kallias finally lifts his eyes from his book, looking more irritated than surprised. We need to talk, I snap . Hello to you , too, he drawls, leaning back in his chair like the infuriating prick he is. 175 11:40 Sat, 15 Mar AND. Chapter 10 K80% Dont Ijab a finger in his face. Dont start with that condescending bullshit. Why didnt you stop them! You saw what was happening. Your friends were harassing him, and you just sat there? He doesnt flinch. His gaze sharpens, darkening with something I cant quite place. You want me to stop my own pack from defending another member whos beaten to death? Defending I cut myself off, biting down on the words threatening to spill. Instead, I plant my fists on the table and glare at him, willing him to take me seriously. That wasnt defense. That was an attack, and you know it. Kallias leans back , his jaw tightening. For a moment, he looks at me like he might actually listen, but then he smirks, his tone turning icy. Who is he. Taryn I blink, stunned by the question What? He sits up, his gaze locking onto mine with a sudden intensity that makes my heart skip. Who the hell is he to you ? It feels as though the airs been sucked out of the room. My throat tightens, but I force myself to answer. Hes… hes my boyfriend. The words feel foreign on my tongue, but theyre out now, and I cant take them back . Kalliass expression shifts so fast its dizzying-shock , fury, disbelief. Before I can process whats happening, his hand wraps around my wrist, dragging me toward the shelves. Kallias! I protest, yanking against his grip, but hes stronger, and we both know it. His fingers digs into my skin just enough to sting. He shoves me against the wall , his body blocking any chance of escape. His hands clamp around my wrists, pinning them above my head, and I grit my teeth as pain blooms where his grip is too tight. This motherfucker. You were always mine , he growls, low and rough . You spent years trying to get me to notice you, and now what? Youre with some random stray? My blood boils. Yours? You think I was yours? Dont make me fucking laugh, Kallias. His jaw clenches, but I keep going, years of pent-up frustration pouring out like a dam finally breaking. I spent years hoping youd give a damn, and you couldnt even keep your hands off Seraphina long enough to notice me! Do you have any idea how pathetic that made me feel!! Tears sting my eyes , but I refuse to let them fall. Not in front of him You didnt accept me simply because of my status, Kallias. Youre the one who pushed me away . I added, swallowing the lump in my throat. His grip slackens, just slightly, and his expression falters. For a second-just a second-he looks almost… guilty . Taryn… I dont waste the opening. I wrench my wrists free and shove past him, storming out of the library without looking back. 2/5 Chapter 10. By the time I reach the infirmary, my hands are trembling, and my vision blurs with unshed tears : 4 stop outside the door, pressing my palms against the wall as I try to steady my breathing. Enoch is inside. Waiting I press my palms against my cheeks, willing the tears to stay down. I cant walk in there. Hes already dealing with enough of his amnesia without me dumping my emotional baggage on him, too. I press the heels of my hands into my eyes, forcing the tears back . I cant fall apart here. Not in front of him. Not when Ive already leaned on him more than I should. And that scares the hell out of me . Im heading back to the meeting instead. The hallway feels longer than usual, every step dragging as if Im wading through quicksand. My jaw is tight, my fists clenched at my sides, the sting of Kalliass words still simmering in the back of my mind. But I push it all down, swallowing the lump rising in my throat. This isnt the time for another breakdown. As I near the double doors , muffled voices filter through the wood . I pause, fingers hovering over the handle, and strain to hear. The tone isnt chaotic-its organized. Too organized. My gut churns. I push the door open, the sound louder than I intended. The voices stop abruptly, and every pair of eyes in the room turns to me. There she is, standing at the head of the table as though she owns the place-Seraphina fucking Grimaldi. Her glossy blonde hair falls perfectly over her shoulders, not a strand out of place, and shes wearing a dress that somehow looks both casual and straight out of a designer catalog. Shes holding court, calm and authoritative as she points to a chart on the board. Im planning to change the color scheme and … The headmaid is next to her, nodding along like a proud mother hen. A pang shoots through my chest, and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep my face neutral. Ap For years-years, I was the one standing in that spot, leading this team. And not once did the headmaid look at me with even a shred of the approval shes showering on Seraphina right now. 1 step forward, but before I can say a word, the headmaid catches my arm and pulls me back. Her grip is firm, as she whispers with warning, Dont ruin the meeting, Taryn. Theyve already come up with a great plan. W-what ? Dont ruin the meeting? As if Im some reckless ch who doesnt know better. A lump forms in my throat, thick and heavy, 3/5 Chapter 10 but I force it down. I straighten my shoulders and step into the room anyway, my gaze locked on Seraphina. She notices me immediately, her lips curving into a smile thats almost kind. Taryn, she says brightly, as if were old friends catching up. There you are. We were just finalizing the plans. Youre the leader, after all Her tone is sweet, but her eyes glint with something sharp. I know better than to take her words at face value. I glance at the board, taking in the meticulous notes and diagrams. Damn it, its really good. The plans are polished, precise, and honestly, better than what I had drafted last week. This is Seraphina Grimaldi . Daughter of Gamma Abel. My chest tightens, but I keep my face neutral . Ill be damned if I let her see me break. Its great, I say, the words tasting bitter as they leave my mouth . g that since She picks up a list from the table, her manicured nails glinting under the fluorescent lights. I was just saying t youre so familiar with the unclaimed lands markets, youd be the perfect person to handle the supplies. She holds the list out to me, her smile so radiant its practically blinding. My fingers twitch, but I take the paper anyway. Its crisp , neat, and filled with her immaculate handwriting Of course, its perfect. Sure, I say, my voice clipped. Her smile widens, and she places a hand on my arm. We knew we could count on you. I resist the urge to snatch my arm away and plaster on my own fake smile. Always a pleasure. The words is twisting in my gut, but I nod and turn to leave before the lump in my throat gets any bigger. As I step into the hallway, the door closing behind me, I let out a shaky breath. My fingers tighten around the list, crumpling the edges, but I dont care. For years, Ive poured everything I had into this team, into this pack , and for what ? To be overshadowed by someone who waltzed in with her perfect hair and perfect smile and perfect everything? The worst part is, I cant even hate her. Not completely. Shes smart , capable, and beautiful. Shes everything Im not, and that thought stings more than Id like to admit. Kallias chose her. Everyone else did too, apparently. I square my shoulders and take a deep breath. Let them have their perfect plans and their perfect leader. Damn it, they gave me the task given to the lowest member too. Wanna come with me? I mutter to Enoch. Right, I need to get out of this pack anyway . Whats better than being in the unclaimed lands? 4/5 11:41 Sat, 15 Mar AD • Chapter 11 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!