JUNE’S POV, My eyes slowly opened and a sharp pain shot through my head.
I lifted a hand to my temple, wincing.
As my gaze fell on the thatched roof above me, I froze.
“What is this place?” The words left my lips, my eyes widening as I snapped off my grogginess, and sat upright.
Could this be Tristine’s dungeon?
The mere thought of it sent my heart racing.
But when I saw the open window and the flickering candlelight on top of a wooden stool, I quickly shoved the thought aside.
I knew no dungeon would have an unbarred window, let alone leaving it slightly open and scarcely secured, except it was a trap.
My eyes flew open at my second thought, and I silently crawled out of the bed.
Whatever it was, I was determined to find out.
But as soon as my feet touched the wooden floor, the door swung open, and I instinctively jerked back.
“Who’s there?” I demanded, my knees bent, and arms poised to strike.
“It’s me, June,” a familiar voice replied, and my brows furrowed.
“September?” Her name escaped my lips in a breathy whisper.
She quickly shut the door behind her, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
The candlelight danced across her face, and blond hair, and a great wave of relief washed over me.
“What are you doing here?
Where am I?” My questions tumbled from my lips.
September placed her hands on my shoulders.
“Thank the Moon Goddess you’re fine,” She breathed, a wide grin spreading across her face.
Even in the darkly lit room, I could see the relief on her face,and I wondered if something bad had happened to me.
“Come, sit.” She took my hand, and led me back to the bed.
As I sat beside her, I felt a slight pain between my legs, but that was the least of my concerns.
I wanted to know what had happened after I went into Tristine’s room.
The fact that my mind was blank left me greatly uneasy and desperate.
“Is Tristine dead?
How did I get here?” I asked, searching her face for answers.
September covered my hand with both of hers.
“Relax June,” she replied calmly.
“It’s complicated.” A barely noticeable smile on her face.
But I could hear the worry hidden in her voice and I saw through the mask of calmness she wore.
I knew my plan hadn’t gone well.
The crease between her brows spoke volumes.
Even more than that, something in her voice gave her away, it made my skin crawl, and her hesitation stirred another feeling within me.
“What’s complicated?” I asked in a rushed whisper.
“Is Tristine dead or not?” My last question shot out, wrapped in anger as I stared into her eyes.
I hated the suspense.
September let out a long breath, and tore her gaze from mine.
“After I gave you the keys to Tristine’s room, I stayed behind.
I wanted to make sure everything went according to plan,” she began in a small, calm voice.
“Shortly after you went in, I saw Princess Cassy sneak into Tristine’s room, but the silence from inside told me you must have hidden under the bed, just as we had discussed.” I nodded impatiently, urging her to continue since I remembered that part clearly – the voices from outside, how I had hidden under the bed before the door opened, and the approaching legs of a woman.
“Not long after, Tristine went in and Lux stood guard outside.
I got worried, wondering how you’d succeed, but shortly after, Lux went in and came out with drunken Princess Cassy.” Somehow, my heart began to thud a little faster against my ribcage as chill snaked across my skin.
“After about forty-five minutes, I became worried: the room was too quiet for a fight.
I knocked Lux out with our sleeping powder, but when I entered the room, the deed was already done.” My brows furrowed as my heart sank.
September locked eyes with me, and my breath quickened in fearful anticipation of what she was about to reveal.
“You and Tristine were intimate!” Her words slammed into me, forcing my eyes to widen in shock.
I scoffed, what an absurdity!
The sound of my heartbeat grew louder in my ears, but I felt I hadn’t heard correctly.
No.
I didn’t want to accept it.
There was no way it could be true.
My lips quivered as I tried to suppress the anger simmering within me.
“Intimate?
Wh.at do you.
Mean?” I stuttered, my voice faltering.
September’s gaze held compassion as she let out a breath and patted my hand.
“Listen,” she began.
“I know it’s difficult to accept, June, but you had sex with…” “NO!” I jerked my hand away from her touch.
I didn’t let her finish, I didn’t want to hear her lies anymore.
I was certain it hadn’t happened, I didn’t even want to entertain the possibility that it had happened.
September’s lips parted, but she didn’t say a word.
She couldn’t, her brows were deeply furrowed as she stared at me with worry-etched eyes.
My wide-open eyes burned as tears welled in them, and my heart clenched so tightly it hurt, I felt as though it was breaking into pieces.
The discomfort between my legs confirmed her words, and I gritted my teeth.
As much as I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t deny the evidence my own body presented, and that realization terrified me.
For the first time in my life, I was afraid I had committed an unforgivable mistake, an abomination.
“I’m really sorry, June.
I should’ve come much earlier, I could have stopped it from happening if I hadn’t delayed.” September’s voice broke into a painful sob as she shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks.
I scoffed, eyes glazing over as my fists clenched at my side.
“So what about Tristine?” I asked.
“Is he dead?
What happened to him?” A faint, sarcastic curve tugged at my lips, no, it wasn’t a smile, it was more like a dare.
September sniffled, pulled her gaze from mine and shook her head.
That was where I lost it.
Something snapped inside of me, and wrath consumed my entire being.
I screamed, and punched the bed with all the strength I had left.
“June, stop it!” September cried and pulled me into a tight embrace, but I struggled to break free, wailing at the top of my lungs.
“Shhh, it’s okay,” she whispered, stroking my back.
I clutched her dress tightly, and sobbed, my tears soaking into her blouse.
“Why didn’t you kill him?” I cried.
“Why didn’t you end that bastard?
You should’ve killed him instead of rescuing me” “I really wanted to,” September replied, her voice breaking.
“But I had to choose what was more important.
You were more important, June.” But the words had barely left her lips when I pushed her away from me, shaking my head.
“Killing Tristine was more important.” I shot back.
September reached out to me again, and brushed the tears from my cheeks, then she placed her hands on my shoulders.
“I’m really sorry, June,” she said.
“I was scared I’d alert the others.
I was scared he might suddenly wake up and end the both of us,” her voice dropped to a whisper as she lowered her gaze in guilt.
“I thought saving you was all that mattered.” But I shook my head, and wallowed in my misery.
The more September tried to comfort me, the louder I wailed.
I didn’t want to be comforted, I didn’t have the right to feel better after what I had done.
I hated myself for it.
I didn’t know how long it lasted, but I cried until I had no more strength left in me.
I sat there, feeling weak, drained and completely useless.
It was already close to dawn when September stood up from the floor where she had been sitting beside me.
“I need to return to the Pack,” she said calmly.
“I need to be there before anyone wakes up.
I can’t let them find me.” I nodded, too weak to say a word.
“You should go back to Greenfield too.
This is Red Moon territory.
They might begin their search early this morning,” she continued.
“I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities to kill him, so for now, just hang in there.” I didn’t reply, not even with a nod.
But as she turned to leave a thought crossed my mind, and I stopped her.
“Don’t tell Lord Boston about what happened, please,” I begged, since she was especially loyal to him.
She nodded, understanding flickering across her face.
“Don’t worry, June,” she said.
“I swear to you, no one will hear about it.” Her words were laced with assurance, but I found no comfort in them.
As the door closed behind her, I realized I needed to survive.
Death would be a mercy I didn’t deserve when I hadn’t avenged my father and Pack members.
Since I failed in that plan, I knew I had to live and wait for another opportunity.
As I pondered it, Lord Boston’s offer replayed in my mind, and I realized staying closer to my enemy could give me a better opportunity to carry out my revenge.
The thought filled me with determination, and I sprang to my feet, my fists clenched at my sides.
“Last night was a mistake!” I said, my gaze locked on the distance.
“For the pain you’ve caused me, I swear I will make you pay.” “I swear to take back everything you’ve stolen from me and my Pack members.”