Chapter One Hundred and Six - Everything Feels Wrong - Maya's POV

Everything feels wrong. The chat. Luce and Simon. All of it. And now Damian knows all these issues stem from them. But where does the pain and agony end? 'That's how everything starts," he murmurs. 'It's never a full blown fire at first. There's only sparks, then it spreads in the blink of an eye with the right circumstances. I lean into him, my head resting against his shoulder. He lets me, not bothering to move me at all. It seems like he needs me just as much as I need him. 'I want to help you," I say softly. 'You already are," he replies, kissing the top of my head. 'You've done enough." But inside, my mind is already turning. Tomorrow, I have to go back and Damian will watch from the shadows. And if Simon shows his hand, then he will see all of it. 'You don't let him walk away this time, will you?" 'No," he replies way too quickly. 'If he plans to kill me, then I need to snuff him out before the rebellion spreads further. I can't risk anything anymore." The rest of the night passes in a haze-like state. Neither of us dare to say too much. We stay close, always touching. Damian doesn't sleep much and neither do I. But we stay curled together beneath the sheets like it might be the last moments we have together. When morning comes, it's cold in the room. It's the kind of cold that seeps under your skin and reminds you that change is coming quickly, whether you are ready for it or not. We follow our usual routine that we've fallen into over the last week. Training is first followed by breakfast. Everything is done just as it always is, even lunch and another round of drills in the afternoon. We move through it like ghosts. I can tell Damian is watching everyone and everything closer. I guess this has shaken him up more than he would like to admit. Who is on his side? Who will rebel? No one seems outright suspicious, but that's the thing about betrayal. It never looks like what you expect until the knife has already been dug into your side. The closer the sun sinks behind the horizon, the worse I feel. Each tick of the clock is another weight added to my shoulders. I don't know what tonight will be like, but we both know this is just a trap. After we get through dinner, we barely speak on the way back to the room. Damian brushes his fingers along my arm once we're back in the room and sitting on the bed. Both of us are facing the door like we're waiting for it to open on its own. Eventually, I stand and pull on the same dark clothes as the night before. When I find Damian in the room, he has already gotten dressed as well in some dark shorts and t-shirt. No shoes are on his feet. 'No shoes again?" 'No, I walk quieter," he whispers. 'Are you ready?" I want to tell him I'm not, but I have no other choice. 'Yes, I'm ready." With a sigh, I slip out of the window just like before and quickly head to the woods. My boots lightly thud against the fallen leaves and limbs. The sky overhead is streaked with the last hues of dusk and the forest is alive with the sounds of bugs chirping. By the time I reach the clearing, my heart is nearly hammering out of my chest. Simon is already there, standing with his hands in his pockets like this is nothing but a casual meeting. Luce leans against a tree nearby, chewing on a piece of jerky. Her eyes flick lazily toward me as I step into view. 'You came back," Simon says, sneering. 'I never thought you would." 'I said I'd come back after thinking about things." 'You say a lot of things, human," he says with a soft chuckle. 'Glad to see your curiosity won this round." I don't respond right away. Instead, I stand there with my hands at my sides, scanning both of their faces and whatever I can see in the dim lighting. I know Damian is somewhere behind me, watching. I can almost feel his eyes on my back and watching this whole thing play out. 'So, what do you think of our offer?" Luce arches a brow as she pushes off from the tree to stand beside him. 'You can be a part of something greater, Maya. Or you can be another piece of wreckage along the way." 'I need to know what happens to Damian. Why would you kill him when he is the one who can free the wolves with our union?" Simon grins. 'Well, you see, they are twin brothers. He doesn't want you to know that you have another option." 'What?" I ask, feeling confused. 'No, it has to be him. Why would you risk it?" That is when everything falls apart. Simon laughs. 'You have always had a choice, Maya. It's him or Lorcan. As long as one of them takes you, then the wolves are saved. You just have to be willing toward one of them. Didn't Damian tell you?" And just like that, I feel like I've been stabbed through the heart. It's not that I'd want Lorcan, but I had thought that Damian and I were truthful toward one another. I thought all the secrets were out. 'Don't look so surprised. Of course, Damian wants you to choose him. He wants to be the hero, but there can be another. He just wants the glory for himself," Luce says, laughing. 'You should see your face." Simon looks at Luce, then casts me a glance. 'Looks like our alpha didn't tell you the truth. Did he happen to tell you this all happened before? They're not the first twin alphas since the curse." It's like another knife right through the heart. How could he have hidden this from me? Tears well into my eyes, though it shouldn't even bother me like it is. 'I don't understand." 'It's simple. He wanted to be the hero, Maya. But you, he didn't give you a choice. It's sad when you think about it. All of your choices have been ripped away and the one who is supposedly your fated mate and isn't supposed to hurt you just did." My heart shatters into pieces. 'How could he? I told him I love him." Simon just shakes his head. 'So sad. So what will it be? You won't mind if he dies, will you?"