“You don’t understand,” Rem says, shaking now. “I wanted him to die.”
Her words send a chill throughout the room. I look at East and River. Does this revelation change how we think of Rem?
“What do you mean?” I ask tentatively.
She lifts her hands in the air. “It means he was a creep and I hated him. And my hands became weapons. I pushed Ray, hard, and he flew across the room. I killed him with my force.”
“Who’s Ray?” Harlow asks.
“My friend’s boyfriend. He was an asshole, and going to hurt her again and I was so pissed. I wanted him gone. And now he will never hurt her again. But it’s because…” Her voice breaks off as she tries to restrain a sob.
“Because you protected your friend,” I tell Rem. “That doesn’t mean you wanted him to die.”
She shakes her head. “But don’t you see? What if I do it again? What if next time it’s you? That I kill? I’m a monster, Cal. And I’m selfish for staying here for so long. It’s just… I felt so ….”
“So, what?” I ask.
“So safe.” Remedy’s shoulders shake.
“You’re still safe,” Harlow tells her. “But right now, you have work to do.”
Remedy narrows her eyes. “I do?”
Harlow nods. “You may not believe it, but we are sisters. Somehow, some way. And you need to deal with this wolf pack. And you don’t need back up.”
“That’s insane.”
Harlow shakes her head. “No, Remedy. You are a daughter of Olympus, and it’s time you met your father.”
23
Remedy
Maybe it’s crazy to do as Harlow insists, but another part of me knows what she says is true. And hell, if it isn’t, at least everyone will be safe inside the house. Harlow and her men are in the upstairs bedroom, and I’m at the front door with River, East, and Callum, trying to say goodbye so I can get this next part over with. One way or another, things are going to end, tonight.
The guys hate the plan, of course, but they need to trust me.
Which is asking a lot considering I just admitted to killing a man.
“I don’t like this one bit,” East says, cupping my face in his hand. I look at him, his thick beard and gold-flecked eyes––he is true, through and through. And he is much too good for me. Still, he looks at me, worry written across his face. “I can’t lose you.’
“You won’t lose me,” I tell him. I remember the words of the bear. How she told me I had sisters. That I needed to find them. As impossible as it may be, Harlow is my family, in one shape or form. I think everyone in the cottage knows it too.
I kiss him, knowing that whatever happens next, no one can take this moment from us.
“I love you, Rem,” he tells me. “And I love our baby, too.” He presses a hand to my still flat belly. I know it is crazy to walk out of the cottage in this condition, but I have no other choice.
“I love you too,” I whisper.
I pull Callum into a hug, his arms wrapping around me so tightly I know he will never, ever let me go. “Thank you for loving me,” I tell him. “I don’t deserve it.”
“Shut up, Rem. You deserve the fucking world.” He kisses me then, hard, knowing what I need. How he can make me smile in this moment of urgency is beyond me—but here I am, smiling as my mouth presses against his.
“I love you,” I repeat as we pull apart. He smacks my ass in return.
“And don’t take no for an answer,” River says, reaching for my hand, and pressing his forehead to mine.
“I never have before,” I say, lacing my fingers with this man who sees every part of me.
“I know, but tell him the truth,” River says.
I narrow my eyes. “What truth exactly?”
“That you’re stronger than your fists and your fighting words.”
I swallow. “My words and fists are the only things that have kept me alive this long.”
“Not true,” River says, blinking back tears—and then I am too. But I fail miserably, the salty tears roll down my cheeks as River holds me steady. “You are stronger because you have heart and you have soul. You fight for justice, always sticking up for the underdog. You, Remedy, at your core, seek peace.”
I shake my head, my lips quivering and tears rolling down my cheeks. How can I take to heart the words that seem too good to be true?
“He’s right,” East says. “You’re a lover, not a fighter.”
Callum smiles, nodding his head in agreement. “Now, go give ‘em hell, Wolfie.”
With my hand on the doorknob, ready to turn it, I look over my shoulder one last time. “I love you,” I tell them.
“And we, you.”
And then I slip out the door, away from my home, knowing the odds are, I might never come back.