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Chapter Twenty-Two
"Because you gave me no choice, you're why I left, maybe I shouldn't have run the first time, I own that, I admit that was a mistake. Fuck do I know that was a mistake, I lost everything, lost my best friend, lost myself and when you found us, I would have begged to be by your side, and instead you rejected me. Even then, in my fucked up head I thought we would work it out, but… you know what, I'm not doing this. You fucked up, I fucked up, but at least I own my mistakes."
"You aren't the only one that lost everything! I lost my sons!"
"Did you, though? I still sent pictures, I let you know they were okay, I didn't have to do that. I could have disappeared for good, but I didn't… You're just angry because once I came back you realized I wasn't going to be your bitch anymore, that I won't be walked over, you realized I didn't need you, or a pack, anyone. You didn't lose anything. I'm here now and so are your sons, I didn't have to bring them this weekend, I chose to! So before you start making fucking demands, Axton, maybe start meeting some of mine!"
Axton scoffs. "I haven't demanded anything of you…"
"Really, you demanded to mark me, then demanded I not reject you again, demanded to see your sons. I kept my promises, but you, every time I ask for something in return it's no! Or you threaten my pack, or threaten to take the boys, when have I threatened your life?" He goes to open his mouth, but I hold up a hand, knowing exactly what he's going to say.
"Your reputation isn't your life, that's ego. You destroyed my reputation when you leaked that video, a video that almost cost me my life and our sons. Those photos wouldn't have physically hurt you, not that I would have leaked them anyway, not when that would hurt our sons in the end anyway. So tell me, Axton, when have I done the things you've done to me to you?"
"I've never threatened your life, not intentionally."
"Yes, you have. Those boys in there are my life. The reason I get up each morning, it's exactly why I agreed to let you have them because I forgot they're yours too." Axton presses his lips in a line and looks away. "I don't want to fight with you, Axton. But I won't let you walk all over me, either."
“So that's it? You've just decided the bond doesn't exist, doesn't matter?"
“That's up to you, I've seen how toxic bonds can be, the women on that ranch are proof of that, my mother is proof of that, I won't be our son's proof.” Axton nods his head and then storms off angrily, and I shake my head. “He'll never get it until he sees fault in himself instead of everyone else.” Lexa sighs.
"What about Khan?"
"He owns Axton's mistake, I swear the goddess got that shit wrong and Axton was supposed to be the wolf and Khan the humanity!" I chuckle because usually the wolf was the angry dominant one, not the human counterpart.
I put the rest of the groceries away before going back to the boys. Axton is lying beside them on the floor. When his phone rings, he rolls, pulling it from his back pocket.
“I need to take this. Are you alright to sit with them?” he asks, refusing to look at me.
“Yes,” I find his question silly, but don’t tell him that, instead just move to take his spot on the floor while he leaves the room. Flicking the TV on, I turn it to the news station.
As expected, the new channels are parked out the front of the police station waiting for statements and saying what they suspect happened. Yet when I flick to another station, an emergency city broadcast cuts the channel out. The news anchor goes on to speak about the restaurant and what they found; they list pictures of the missing people that were found, and I sit up when the boy I saw comes up on the screen, and I swallow when they identify him as being from Axton’s pack.
Yet as the names are called out, I start to notice all of them are from Axton’s pack, and my father’s. Yet nothing prepares me for the next three faces that pop up on the screen. Alisha’s parents and lastly, Tieriny. I have no idea how I will tell my mother all this. It seems unfathomable that one person is responsible for so many lives taken. Suddenly, the TV turns off and a feral growl sounds behind me as Axton drops the remote back in my lap.
“You didn’t tell me Alisha’s parents were a few of the missing people.” I tell him, looking up at him.
“I was hoping we would find them alive,” he mutters.
“I need to tell my mother.” I shake my head, about to get to my feet, already dreading giving her that news.
“She already knows, she was the one who reported them missing. She didn’t want you to worry, they’ve been missing since the first attack happened, just before you left last time.” Axton tells me. She knew all this time and said nothing, even when I asked about them, she would say they were fine.
"I need to leave for an hour, are you alright by yourself or do you want to come with me?"
"Where are you going?"
"I have a pack meeting in the hall, my pack members are growing anxious, most of those killed were my people." I nod my head and glance at the boys.
"Just let me chuck some warm clothes on the boys."
"You want to come?" I nod, I didn't want to stay here in this huge house by myself.
"Elena, you know they'll call…"
"Luna? Yeah, a few of your officers called me Luna." I shrug, scooping the boys up off the floor, and Axton instantly takes one.
"And that doesn't bother you?" He asks.
