The Hunted Wolf – Chapter 61

I walked up to Jori, looking around the empty room. He was the only presence I was, and he made no indication that he was aware of my presence. I sat in front of him, crossing my legs underneath me. He was staring right at me now, but his eyes looked far away. He wasn’t fully here.

“Jori?” I waved my hand in front of his face.

His eyes flicker, and for the first time he registers that I’m there. “Adira? Is that really you?”

“It’s me.”

“Oh.”

son I thought I knew. His entire personality seemed subdued.

ur wolfpack needs you.”

s eyes from me. “I failed everyone.”

your fault.”

strong enough.”

of this was his fault.

be strong enough now.”

m that it would be selfish to give up, but I didn’t want to make his guilt worse. It was clearly keeping him locked away in his own mind already.

any of that.”

your body, doesn’t mean you made those decisions.”

eard Mark t

I

not to give up. He said other people needed me. I don’t get why he doesn’t hate me. My family and I took everyt

akes a lot for him to truly hate someone.”

n start the real healing between you two.”

at me.

kin, not even trying to hide.

I stood up and started walking away from him.

dira?”

ed and looked over my shoulder

baby.”

pain from his rejection. There were no remnants of the mate bond I felt with him. A wave of relief washed through me. This just confirmed that Jori was never my mate.

s.

–

e was and decided to visit him.

. Mark, Reyland, Percy, Scythe, and Mason were all sitting around the table discussing some tactic or other.

e Council of Magic?” Mason asked.

ing like that?”

magic. If we can level the playing field, then we have a chance,” Mark said.

.

e for something like this. We know nothing about our enemy. What kind of powers they have, how many there are. We need more information.”

e we talked to Cain to see what we can figure out.”

me. He smiled for a brief moment when he saw me, but concern quickly replaced it. “Are you

ld like the idea of me approaching my kidnapper, but I couldn’t let fear hold me back. Everyone worked so hard for me, so I needed to contribute my part.

am. We shouldn’t wait any longer.

–

n’t holding my hand at that moment, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to stand steady. I knew it would be safe to talk to Cain. Ginger was there to help control him, he had been drugged, and there were plenty of people around to help me. The idea of facing this man was terrifying. He had tried to take me awa

d my hand. “It’s not too late to change your mind. Reyland an

ok a step forward. “No. I need to be here. I know he’ll be more open to talking to me. In his twisted min

door for me. Cain was already sitting inside on the opposite side of the table. He was chained to the chair, and his eyes were sunken in. He was sitting still with his hands

Cain.” I sat down across from him, and Mark took a seat next to me.

ce drifted off.

emotions.

lad. I can’t believe that wolf tried to harm you and the baby. I thought he just wanted to harm Mark.” Cain’s jaw tightened a

knew he was having a hard time biting his lip. I placed my hand over his and squeezed. I knew where he was coming from, but we had to be careful. We couldn’t

the Son of Blood and Magic. It wasn’t Jori. It was Xavier.”

looked at the table. “I know. I was naive. I sensed there was something wrong with that boy, but I thought it was just his hatred boiling inside of him.

when he found I would rather be with another man, have another man’s

an’t believe I’m going to b

k’s hand and bit my tongue. I wanted to tell him that h

after me.”

’ll take you away or kill you. We have to leave, and you have to join the magic society, forgetting all of these wolves.”

aby? Do you honestly expect me to just leave him behind

uld leave to protect your child too.”

they are going to overlook that fact? They don’t exactly seem like a forgiving group.”

ked back and forth between Mark and mysel

uld go back in time, wouldn’t you rather stay with your family and fight for them instead of hiding them away?”

change in him in that moment. “I did what I thought

Would you choose the

e you?”

ause someone else thought they could control me and my actions. “Which is why we need your help figuring out how to stop the Council of Magic.”