Chapter 482
Damien
We gathered everything we could find. Making a pile of what was left of Cooper, along with some kindling to help the fire. Samara places his head on top and Brax eagerly tosses a match on to him.
It takes a moment for the flames to spread, but when they do, the entire pile is engulfed with different shades of orange. The smell is so strong that I could taste it on my tongue. A sickeningly sweet smell that makes the stomach twist. No matter how many times the smell invades your nose, you never quite get used to it.
Others stand with me, watching the fire. Silently enjoying the satisfaction that we won. That we had finally taken this man down before he did anymore damage.
One by one, they begin to leave, yet Samara remains with me. Her grey eyes are focussed on the flames. I wondered what was going on in her head as she stares at the fire. As far as I’m aware, it was the first kill she had been part of. But still, he was her brother. She had said it herself, he raised her.
“Samara?”
Her head flips to me. I see the confusion in her eyes at my ability to speak in Lycan form.
“Are you okay?”
She dips her head at me
“I don’t think Neah will be sending you back to the dungeon.” I offer
She lowers herself to the ground, pulling her long legs to her chest and starts shifting back to Human form. She screws her face up from the pain, but she doesn’t scream like she had done in the dungeon.
“It’s strange.” She mutters when she has finished shifting. “He was my brother. But I had to help. He has caused so much pain and so much hurt.”
“I was close to killing my brother once.” I keep my eyes on the fire. She clearly didn’t want anyone to see her naked.
“You didn’t go through with it?” I feel her eyes hovering on me
“I was going to. Blair beat me to it.”
“Salem was your brother?” she asks, her tone full of surprise.
“She told you about him?”
“Bits, but I clearly don’t know everything.” She lets out a sigh. “I feel like I should feel sorry for Coop. But mostly, I feel guilty.”
“For his death?”
“For his actions. Maybe because if I had really tried, I could have stopped him a long, long time ago. If I had just stood up to him… If I had looked for help earlier…” “Hindsight is a beautiful thing. You couldn’t have known it would come to this.”
“I do know that my father would be rolling in his grave.” There’s a pause. “I thought I would feel pain too. You know, he is family and the bond between us has been severed.”
“It seems that it depends how close you were to them. Your bond with him wasn’t a true family bond. He controlled you, Samara, just like Neah said. He preyed on you.” I let out a groan, “It’s ridiculous, no matter what species it is, there are bastards like him everywhere.” I sit on the ground next to her as the flames begin to die down. Embers remain in the ash along with the shattered bones, droplets of rain begin to fall, thinning out the smell of the burnt flesh.
Suddenly, she leans her head against my shoulder but doesn’t speak as she continues to hug her legs to her chest.
“Are you ready to head back?” I ask
“Why?” she responds quietly “You said you don’t think Neah will put me in the dungeon and there is nowhere else for me to go. Not anymore.”
“You can stay in the house I’ve currently taken over. Until we figure out what is happening.”
“What about Eris?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet.” I tell her the truth. “I don’t think I’m ready for another mate, not just yet.”
“What was Raven like?”
“Different. She was gorgeous, cared about others way more than she cared about herself. It’s why she liked working in the hospital. We argued over stupid shit, but at the end of the day I knew we were good together. She had a ridiculous love for ice cream and she thought I didn’t know that she had a secret stash of sweet treats in our bedroom.” I had no idea why I was telling Samara, but it was easier to speak to someone that didn’t know Raven.
“She was close to Neah, but something changed and that is still one thing I’m not clear on. And until I am, I don’t think I can accept a new mate.”
“You should Eris that. It isn’t fair to let her think there is a chance. If I met my mate and he wasn’t ready, I would want to be told. I would like to be with someone who wants me and only me. Someone who accepts me for me. Not someone who is trying to figure out something that went wrong.”
“Wise words.” I muse.
I feel her shrug her shoulders, “I read a lot when I was living on my little farm. You should take it with a pinch of salt, it’s not like I’ve ever been mated.”
“We should go.” I mutter
“The question now, is how am I going to get out of the forest naked and without anyone seeing me.”