Chapter 9

I laid on the bed in the room they had locked me in, having me strapped to the bed like some criminal. I was tired and exhausted, I no longer had the strength to fight back or scream and wail. I stared at the ceilings, feeling utterly dejected, like a total stranger in my mind.

What was I supposed to do now that Kieran was taken away from me, and now, Kayden too? His face haunted me. Like a dream I did not wish to wake up from. His smiles echoed in my mind, his words rang through my very consciousness and a piece of him still lingered around me through the bond.

It was there, vibrant and very much alive but the one who placed this bond on me was gone. Leaving me to face the aftermath of the harsh truth that I was never going to see him ever again.

The door slowly pushed open and surprisingly, Kieran walked in with a tray of food and sullen look on his face. A scowl etched itself on my countenance and I turned away from him, hearing him drop the food on the table.

“Why are you here? To laugh at me? To see how far you've ruined my life?”

He groaned, a small growl rumbled through his chest and the bed dipped from his weight when he sat beside me.

“I swear it, I already feel miserable. So, don't make it hard on me than it already is.”

I cackled hysterically, rolling my eyes at him in scorn. My gaze darted to the cuffs that held my hands together and the shackles that kept me strapped to the metal bars of the bed.

“Miserable? You feel miserable? Kieran? huh? Do you even know what miserable is?! Misery is walking in on your mate and sister, fucking! Misery is having to forcefully break your bond with your mate in front of your family because they wanted it! Misery is having your supposed mate that was forced unto you, killed for no reason.”

I sighed, pressing my head against the pillow. “You don't know what misery is, Kieran. You think you do, but you don't.”

Clenching his fist, he suddenly roared out with a voice that only annoyed me the more. I didn't need to hear any word from him. All I wanted was to be left alone, to mourn my mate in peace. 

“I'm sorry I hurt you, but you don't understand, Renna! I had no choice! You think I wanted any of these? To hurt you?”

“Everyone has a choice, Kieran! Everyone does, so don't try to make this look like you did not have a choice because you did, and you chose what you felt was going to be beneficial to you." I scoffed. "So tell me, why the heck are you even here? To take my blood? Did Leia ask you to do it yourself? Is that it? You're here to please your little new mate?”

I could hear the sarcasm dripping from my voice and the coldness in them too. When he hesitated, I realized that I was right. Kieran wasn't sorry, it was just him trying to rid his conscience of the guilt that he felt towards me. He was an total asshole till the very end.

“You know I have to," he sighed. "Leia needs your blood to live.”

When he tried to reach for my wrist, to pull up the sleeves of my dress, I ducked, scampering away from him as far as the chains would let me but he came after me again.

“Get away from me, Kieran!”

“I'm sorry, but I have to do this, so hold still.”

While we continued to struggle, the door to the room suddenly jerked open and father walked in. His gaze scrutinizing Kieran and I when he headed in my direction.

“You were asked to take her blood. Why is it taking so long?”

He averted his gaze from me, jolting to his feet and moving away from me when father neared. He leaned down to look at me.

“I don't think he can, father. Why don't you do it yourself?” I asked, extending my wrists to him. I could see the hesitation in his eyes but he grabbed my hands abruptly, rolling my sleeves back, a gasp left his lips when he spotted the scars on my arms.

“Renna,” he muttered my name.

“What is it, father? Can't do it?” I taunted snidely, arching a brow when he shifted away from me.

He stuttered, muttering strings of incoherent words, “This is something Kieran should do, and not me. So, get on with it, boy.”

Kieran nodded, walking to my side. Pulling out a small dagger, he picked the vial that rested on the table.

“Why do you hate me father?" I muttered dejectedly. "I'm your flesh and blood too. So why?! Why do you treat me like I'm nothing? You loved my mother too, did you not? Tell me, father. Have you ever loved me as a child?”

Father remained silent and his pause hung endlessly. His shoulders sagged but Kieran spoke instead, his lips turning in a grim line.

“You know he's the Pack's Alpha, and has to make sacrifices for the pack. This is a necessary sacrifice for the pack's safety and you know it. We all appreciate your efforts, so know that you're doing this for the greater good, Renna. The whole pack will remember you for this and they'll forever be grateful to you.”

I scoffed. The pack? Grateful? Why did I have to be their sacrificial lamb? Why did my life and happiness have to be traded for their greater good? It was already obvious that father felt no love towards me. I was a fool to think either of them felt anything at all.

There was nothing left for me now than a bleak future and a life of pain and dejection. I didn't matter. All that mattered was my blood and they were going to milk me of every last blood in my veins. 

Kieran, that bastard got to work as fast as he could, slitting my wrist. I winced, then he took my blood into the vial, wasting no time. When they were finally satisfied, they nodded to each other in satisfaction, walking out of the room and leaving me to myself. A tear slid down my face one last time.