Lilith
I get to my feet and make my way into the kitchen, so I can have this conversation in private, but they follow me.
All of them, even the damn doctor.
I pace the floor in front of the fridge while my father calls me every name under the sun.
He curses me and tries to make me feel inferior, only this time, I refuse to let him.
Ethan and Kael watch me like I am a live soap opera.
I am surprised they haven’t popped popcorn to watch the show.
Ethan jabs Kael in the side.
“Who is she talking to?”
Kael shushes him, pressing a finger to his lips, but it doesn’t shut up Ethan.
“Did she set fire to a house?”
”Shut up,” Kael hisses.
“I am trying to hear what is going on.”
Ethan dramatically runs his fingers across his lips like he is zipping them shut, and gestures for me to continue my conversation.
I am so entranced by the way they are watching me that I have missed what my father is screaming about now.
“ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?” He roars through the speakers.
“Yes,” I mutter, turning my back on my audience.
“You are very upset that Mother’s house, my house, was set on fire, but I already told you.
I know nothing about it.”
Kael snorts with laughter and whispers something to Ethan that makes him do the same.
I glare daggers at them over my shoulder.
“It was not your house.”
”It was my house,” I scream.
“Mother left it for me.
You knew that, Vanna knew that, and the pack knew that.”
”You will pay me back,” he snarls.
“For everything that was lost in that fire.”
I scoff.
“That is just like you, only to be concerned about the monetary value of the house and not the house itself.
Aren’t you sad that the memories in that house are gone?
The times that we spent together as a family?”
”I don’t know how you became so selfish,” he snaps at me again.
“You are nothing like your mother.
She would be ashamed of the person that you have become.”
”Fuck you!” The words spill from my lips before I can stop them.
“See,” my father laughs sarcastically.
“You are a disgrace.”
Anger builds in my chest at those words.
My fist balls up at my side, and I slam it onto the counter in front of me.
“I am glad it burned,” I finally hiss.
“Seeing it in ashes is better than giving it to a murderer.”
He growls through the speaker again.
“Just who are you calling a murderer?
Surely, not your stepmother or Serene.”
I lower my voice, hoping Kael won’t hear me break.
“Right after mom died, you said it was just a horrible accident.
You once tried to comfort me.
Then, you changed.
Do you really believe it was an accident?”
”Now is not the time to change the subject.”
”No,” I interrupt him.
“I think it is the perfect time, because for years, all you have done is blame me.
Did you even try to uncover the truth?
Or are you just satisfied with naming me a murderer?”
”Lilith,” he warns me, but I keep going.
“Yes, I know you have moved on.
You forgot my mother as soon as Vanna opened her legs for you.
You are the one who is selfish, not me.”
”Watch your tone when talking to me.
I am your father and your Alpha.”
I laugh, and the sound comes out sharp and wrong.
“I am no longer the daughter you can push around.
You can no longer use me for a punching bag when you are angry.
You can no longer control me with guilt and rage.”
”You are making a dangerous choice,” my father warns me.
“Am I?” I laugh again.
“Stay away from me, because I will be worse than you have ever imagined.”
I end the call and slam my phone onto the counter, and grip the coffee mug to my right.
My hands tremble as I bring it to my lips.
I set it down, harder than I mean to, and the mug shatters in my hand, cutting my palm.
Kael crosses the kitchen and wraps my hand in a tea towel.
His face is partly concerned and partly amused.
“So, just like that.
You have decided that you will never return home.”
“I decided that years ago.
I was just now brave enough to leave.”
Kael and I stay silent for a moment while Ethan and Ian leave the kitchen.
“I know what you are thinking,” he mutters, inspecting the cut on my hand.
“I can most certainly assume that you do not.”
He meets my gaze.
“You aren’t a prisoner here.
You are free to leave, but I would like to suggest something.”
My breath hitches and my shoulders tense.
“What is that?”
”Stay.”
”Stay?”
”Yes,” he continues.
“Stay here with me.
You are obviously skilled with wounds, and I have several that need to be attended to.
In return, I will give you a place to stay.
You will be safe here.
Not even your father can reach you.”
The offer is tempting.
When I declared myself rogue, I had assumed I would go to my mother’s house, but now that plan has literally gone up in flames.
“Would I have my own room?” I ask.
Kael smirks, and the sight makes my knees go weak.
“Do you want your own room?”
”Yes,” I reply too quickly.
“Then you can have your own room.”
My shoulders relax a little.
“What about my clothes?
I ruined everything, making bandages for you.”
”You can wear mine.” I wrinkle my nose, and he chuckles.
“Fine, I will buy you some clothes.
Do we have a deal?”
He extends his hand for me to shake.
I look at his hand and back to his eyes.
I know that if I agree to stay here with him, a repeat of what happened on the entryway floor is possible, and I am not sure if I am strong enough to turn him down.
“Well, mystery woman,” he interrupts my thoughts.
“What is it going to be?”