89 Emptiness that leaves you drained …

L

“ You killed him , ” rissa echoed again , her eyes shooting daggers at me .

I stared at her , totally stunned while my heart hammered against my ribcage trying to process .

her words .

The usation hit me – stinging deeper than anything I’d ever expected to hear from

her .

“ What ? ” I whispered , hoping my voice was steady enough .

“ How could you … Why would you even say that ? ”

“ Why would I even say that ? ” she repeated with a sneer , closing the distance between us until we were nearly nose to nose .

Her eyes , which were the colour of my father’s shone with anger .

“ Your father has just died , L , ” she should be with your family , mourning with us but

spat .

“ You here you are running away as usual .

You only care about yourself and when things don’t work .

out , you y the victim .

”

I stared at rissa , with my eyes wide open .

For as long as I can remember , my family has seen me as an outsider – a stain on the family’s name .

My presence was tolerated , barely , yet now , after all these years , they dared to use me of running away ?

They dared to use me of not sympathizing enough with them when I never felt like at daughter .

The usation ignited resentment that I’d kept hidden for years and I exploded .

“ Running away ? ” I repeated , taking a step towards risa , my tone rising .

“ Yes , I am running away because that’s the only thing I was forced to learn , the only thing I know how to do better .

What else was I supposed to do ? When you all acted like I didn’t exist .

” My fists clenched as I struggled to contain my anger .

“ For four years , Rissa … no one bothered if I was alive or dead .

Now you expect me to feel sympathy over the loss of a man who disowned me ? A man who was ashamed to even call me his daughter ? You think I should mourn him like he was a loving father ? ”

I watched as her face contorted with shock at my outburst , but I couldn’t stop now .

Read thetest and free novels at .Com/a

“ And you know what ? I’m not sorry that he died .

I don’t even feel sympathetic over the loss .

If anything , I feel relieved that I don’t have anyone breathing down my neck , demanding that I should be

perfect .

”

The scorn on rissa’s face slowly disappeared as she stared at me with disbelief .

“ Y – You don’t really mean that ? ” she stuttered .

“ I rarely say things that I don’t mean .

I am not sorry Father died but that doesn’t mean I’m happy either .

It means I don’t care .

If I tell you half of the things I’ve done to survive ? The things that happened to me out there while you were here , loungingfortably as the Alpha’s daughter .

Please … I cannot share in your pain .

”

89 Emptiness that leaves you drained .

.

Her eyes misted with tears as she stared at me , not saying anything .

After a few seconds , she shook her head , swallowing hard.

“ You left us , L .

No one asked you to leave , Dad and Mom said they had no hand in that .

You disowned us as a family but never in a million years did Father think you are not his daughter .

If anything , he …

“ Please , Rissa , ” I stopped her mid – sentence .

“ I won’t ept any exnation for a watered – down love .

Father never liked me and neither did any of you and that’s okay .

I’m here only to perform my duties and when I’m done , I’ll leave and stop existing .

”

“ Ande back when mom dies ? ” She fired back .

“ Maybe , but I doubt she would want me to attend her funeral .

She stared at me for a few more seconds then turned away , clearly done with the conversation

but I wasn’t finished .

I reached out , grabbing her arm before she could leave .

“ Wait ! ” I demanded .

“ Tell me why you were using me of killing him .

I need to know .

”

“ Like you care ? ”

“ I don’t but it’s enough that my reputation is nothing to write home about but I can’t let it go to tatters while I’m here .

So tell me , how did I kill him ? ”

She whipped her head around , eyes shing with hurt .

“ Because he has been licking Alpha Ramsey’s ass to stop him from looking for you .

”

“ What are you talking about ? ” I eyed her warily .

“ The Lycan Leader went into a frenzy when you left .

From locking Nathan up in the dungeon and alwaysing here demanding that Father must provide a way to contact you , Dad was constantly doing all he could to make him forget you .

He went to the Annual Moon Goddes celebration to please Alpha Ramsey … he wasn’t supposed to go … ”

She trailed off as a tear rolled down her cheek .

“ He hoped that if he showed support , Alpha Ramsey would stop looking for you .

”

“ What is the meaning of these lies ? Have you stopped low to the extent that you now spin tales ? ”

‘ t gone t

“ They’re not tales , L ,” she said vehemently .

“ If he the celebration … If you hadn’t run away in the first ce … ” she yanked her wrist free my my grip , rubbing it as if my touch had burned her .

“ But somehow , you managed to drag him down with you , just like the way you ruined Nathan’s life .

”

“ You’re wrong , ” I whispered with a hollow voice .

“ You have no idea what you’re talking about .

I didn’t think he would do that .

So , you don’t get to do this .

To force me to take responsibility for his choice .

He made a choice and followed it through until the end .

”

t gone of

“ Oh , don’t act innocent , L ,” she spat, cutting me off .

“ If you hadn’t drawn attention to yourself , maybe he would still be alive .

”

89 Emptiness that leaves you drained …

My heart ached but I clenched my fists , refusing to let her guilt – trip me .

“ No ,” I said quietly .

“ He was trying to protect his reputation .

His position .

His perfect family image .

I’m sorry he’s dead .

I’m sorry you’re hurting .

But I won’t carry the guilt for his decisions ”

“ As if … ” she sneered .

“ Fine .

Belive whatever you want ,” I said exhaustion seeping into my words .

“ But don’t you dare use me of something I had no control over ? I didn’t kill him and I certainly didn’t ask for any of this .

”

rissa crossed her arms , ring at me .

“ Convenient , isn’t it ? You always manage to deflect me .

”

Anger sparked in my chest again .

But I took a deep breath , struggling to keep myposure .

“ And what good would that do me ? What will I gain from doing that ? I’m just telling the truth .

You can’t keep ming me for everything that goes wrong .

”

“ Is this what you call the truth ? You wouldn’t know the truth if it hit you in the face .

You’re a disgrace , L .

Nothing you do will ever change that .

”

I blinked , steeling my heart .

I shouldn’t hurt , I told myself , not after all these years .

But it did .

Like old scars that never healed .

a

I took a step back , letting out a shaky breath .

“ You know what , Rissa ? I don’t care anymore .

Think what you want .

me me for whatever makes you feel better .

I’m done trying to prove myself to you or anyone else in this family .

”

Her scowl deepened but she said nothing , turning away as though the sight of me was offensive .

I watched her go , suddenly feeling lonely like the first day I’d left Blue Ridge ….

I wanted to feel anger , to wrap myself in it like armour , but all I felt was hollow , a gaping emptiness that left me drained .