Chapter Twenty
-Damian’s POV
I knew the world around me was falling to pieces that night, broken shards scattering at my feet, and I could do nothing to prevent it.
Tears burned at the back of my eyes, an emotion I hadn’t felt in years–ever since the moment in my last life when I’d put the barrel of a gun in my mouth and pulled the trigger, choking on the regret of what I had done to Elara. But now, in this second life, everything spiralled out of control; one disaster barreled into the next
First, I’d found Sabrina bleeding in the woods and carried her back, then run into Elara and met that cold, accusing look in her eyes. And then, just when I thought it couldn’t possibly get worse, it got worse.
I’d been tending to Sabrina in her dorm room, my head still spinning from Elara’s clipped command outside-“Take her in.” The way she’d said it, like I meant nothing to her, hurt more than I was willing to admit to myself. I’d tried to explain, to make her understand I was not choosing Sabrina over her, but she’d had me leave.
It repeated over and over in my head while I settled the blanket over Sabrina, my hands moving on autopilot. She’d stirred. her eyes fluttering open, and I’d made myself focus on her, on the need to push Elara from my mind. Then Sabrina lifted her hand, fingers curling around my arm and pulling me down toward her.
Her lips were so near to mine that I could feel her breath, warm and uneven, and my stomach turned I froze, surprised. My mind scrambled to catch up. Before I could break free, a voice raw and furious–interrupted the moment.
“What are you doing?!”
Without thinking I pushed Sabrina back, her head falling back on the pillow as I scrambled to my feet. My heart raced in my chest, and I turned to find Elara in the doorway, her fists clenched, her eyes alight with rage and something else–hurt, perhaps. I flailed my arms wildly, panic rising within “It’s not what you think! Elara, please, believe me-
“Just get out,” she said, pointing in the direction of the door. The command had a finality in it, and I was standing there, dumbstruck, my mouth going up and down like an idiot. What could I say? That I hadn’t intended for this to happen? The rest of it wouldn’t matter not when she was looking at me like I was the same monster who’d betrayed her in that other life.
Sabrina stirred on the bed behind me, mumbling something that I didn’t catch, but I did not look back. I was focused looking for a crack in her resolve, a sign she might listen. There was none. There had been no negotiation; her finger remained pointed right at the door, unflinching, and the weight of her rejection was crushing
I had no words left. And so I turned and walked out, shoulders hunched as I stepped out into the night.
ΟΠ
Elara,
The cool breeze stroked my face, but it did not help tame the storm within. Anger boiled, fierce and bitter, suffocating me till I struggled to breathe. Why did Sabrina continue doing this? Every time I attempted to salvage things with Elara, there she was, creating chaos and increasing the intensity of the disharmony.
–
I couldn’t help wondering if she’d dragged me down deliberately, hoping that Elara would see. In my former life, she’d put Clara behind bars without a scrap of guilt had she schemed this as well? The idea gnawed at me, driving my fury as I sent astray rock skittering into the dark.
By the time I got back to my dorm, I was furious. I shut the door behind me, and the sound reverberated through the empty room, and I flopped on the edge of the bed. I ran my hands through my hair, tugging at the roots as if that would pull the frustration from my body.
Caspian chose the worst possible moment to walk in I caught his reflection in the mirror across the room, and even in the dum light, he appeared uglier than normal. I wasn’t in the best of moods, but his sharp jaw and dark eyes appeared warped into something menacing like he was assessing me with each step he made.
■15 BONUS
“What’s with you?” he said, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. His tone was casual, but the gaze he shot me was anything but. It was dirty, and suspicious, like he knew something I was not privy to or worse, like he resented me for something,
I shot him a glare, my voice low and rough. “Your sister’s the problem, that’s what. She’s messing everything up, and I’m
tired of it.”
Caspian’s eyebrow lifted, but he didn’t flinch. “Sabrina? What’d she do now?”
“She
“I halted on the next word, shaking my fists as the mental picture of her dragging me closer to her came back. “She’s making it impossible for me to patch things up with Elara Every time I get close, she’s there, leaving a trail of some kind of mess behind her. And tonight-“I trailed off, shaking my head “Forget it. You wouldn’t get it.”
He moved closer, narrowing his eyes. “Try me. You’ve been a mess for a while, and Im not blind. What happened tonight?”
I didn’t want to tell him. He was her brother, after all his loyalties would always fall with her. But the words came out anyway, too heavy to hold in. I was helping her because she was hurt. Elara noticed me carrying her, and then… Sabrina ducked in to kiss me. Just then, Elara walked in. She thinks hell, I don’t know what she thinks, but it’s bad. And now I have no idea on how to get her to know I’m not… that I’m not that guy anymore.”
Caspian’s face remained inscrutable, “You certain it’s Sabrina’s fault?” he asked. “Guess you’re the one who’s always ending up in these situations.”
I leapt to my feet, my temper igniting. “And what’s that supposed to mean? Do you think I wanted this? Your sister’s the one who-
“Careful,” he broke in, his tone now piercing. “She’s still my sister. And you’re still my Alpha. But if you’re for real with Elara, quit letting yourself get caught up in these ‘misunderstandings. He air–quoted the term and I wanted to smack that smirk off his face.
instead, I shrank back from it, pacing the room to vent my anger Just never mind,” I muttered. “I have to do this by myself
He didn’t say anything more, just stared at me from behind that damn suspicious look until I waved him away. When he left, I collapsed back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out how everything had gone so wrong. Elara hated me again, and I’d been truly and utterly at a loss if it was even fixable this time.
The next morning. Caspian’s hand shaking my shoulder jolted me awake. His face was drawn, his jaw was tight, and before I could smack him he waved his phone in front of my face. “Why is your newe on the college platform?!!” he shouted, his voice loud enough to shake loose my skull.
“You’re dating my sister?!”
