KESTER.PRESENT.After the tragic incident that took place two days ago, I had become the villain to my pack members. Everyone suspected me. And of course, I'd have suspected me, too, if I were to be in their shoes.Now, I had to sit here and listen to the council members ramble on about the incident, tossing around theories and speculations, while I waited quietly like a lamb whose fate was being decided at the slaughter.All these weren't really so much of a concern to me at the moment. My only concern was the fact that Kasmine thought I lied to her. She hadn't even let me anywhere close to her room for the past two days now.Mum even told me she was sick yesterday – Pregnancy stuff, I guess. She called in the family doctor and handled everything without telling me until it was over.That didn’t sit right with me.The amount of time Kasmine was being exposed to Mum recently made me fucking worry. And when she’s in that vulnerable, emotional state, she listens too easily. She absorbs
KESTER.SIX YEARS AGO.The hunger kept growing insatiable. It wasn't just a craving anymore, it was a fucking problem. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't focus. I couldn't think straight. And it bothered the hell out of me.Last night, I almost made a mistake I would have lived my entire life regretting. I would never have been able to come back from it.My father and Jorja were in the city, hosting a business gala at the company. So, they spent the night away from home. Which meant the house was empty.Kasmine and I watched a movie together in her room. She had come to me, saying she was bored and needed company. She was also feeling the distance I was putting between us and I felt terrible for her. She had no friends anymore, except for Claire. I made that happen. And now, like a fucking coward, I was slowly withdrawing from her.That was truly unfair.I had to see a movie with her, out of guilt.It was a rom-com. But the scene where those couples fucked like they had been starved of sex
KESTER.TEN YEARS AGO.I never clicked with anyone the way I clicked with my little sister.Kasmine had this energy that could light up an entire fucking room, and, somehow, every part of me too. She was laughter. She was warmth. She was this endless spark of joy that refused to burn out, no matter what life threw at us.Since that night four years ago, when I finally caved and let her be my friend, things had shifted for the better. She even made me see how good her mother was, and now, I was also cool with her, and I even called her Mum.Jorja was a nice woman. She filled in the gap for my mum. And even though I still despised my mum for leaving me, a tiny part of me still hoped she’d walk through the door one day. That she’d hold my face, look me in the eye, and tell me she was sorry for ever leaving me.I knew it was stupid.But it was still hope.But I guess that day would never come.And that was fine. Kasmine and Jorja were doing a great job at keeping me happy the best way the
KESTER.I didn't know the first damn thing about consoling my mate. What could I even say to patch up a wound that deep? Claire's death had shattered her, and watching her crumble this way gutted me.Claire's death made me fear for my best friend's life. He was still unconscious. The doctors said he had hit his head too hard and that his wolf had gone Mia. That was never a good sign.The chances of Norlan waking up were painfully slim. But I had faith. I had to. I couldn't lose him. No fucking way.I had already put the culprit of this wicked act in their place. I was eager to go teach the desperate fool a lesson they'd never forget for the rest of their miserable lives.For now, they'd remain in my basement with mild torture to keep them busy until I make time to visit them myself.Earlier at the hospital, the decision of where to take Kasmine nearly tore me apart. She was safe at my house, but she'd be way too lonely, especially now that she was grieving. Leaving her isolated could
KASMINE.The tears had finally stopped. Not because the ache in my chest had dulled but because I had nothing left to give. My body had wrung out every drop.I sat there with hollow eyes, shivering inside a hoodie I didn't remember putting on.Perhaps I should thank Kester and his brutal, explosive outburst. It had jolted something in me and snapped me out of the spiral.Thank Selene, I was here to stop him. Otherwise, he would have killed Cole.We were still waiting for Claire. The doctors were still with her in the ER. I had been praying, begging, promising, and bargaining with Selene and every god that might exist since the moment she got shot that nothing ever happens to her. Otherwise, I would never forgive myself.I already couldn't. My chest felt like it was folding in on itself, rib by rib.I was already drowning in a pool of regrets. I should've called her. God, if I had just picked up the damn phone instead of making it about me, maybe we wouldn't have been here. I wouldn't
KESTER.Cole went ahead to explain how they were on their way back home when Kasmine saw Claire across the road.How she asked to go talk to her.How he stayed behind in the goddamn car while my pregnant mate walked off on her own.How someone came out of nowhere and fired a fucking gun.How the bullet hit Claire and Kasmine screamed.How he finally jumped out, too late, and tackled Kasmine out of the way.How she almost got caught in the crossfire because he was too damn dumb and careless.I just stared at him. My head was throbbing.Didn't I tell him to keep her safe with his life? Didn't I tell him that no matter what happened, no detours? Didn't I...He fucked it up.Bad.I took a deep breath, just to keep myself from punching a hole through the wall.Then I looked down at Kasmine."Baby, come," I whispered, shifting gears fast as I gently guided her to the waiting couch just to our left. She was still crying, wiping at her cheeks with trembling hands.I could still feel the panic