As fast as my stupid human legs will carry me.
15
Sabrina
What an utter disaster.
I stumble over my racing feet in embarrassment over how foolish I was and how ridiculous Remus made me feel.
Not just him, though. I was ridiculous.
I still am, because I’m still in the forest … surrounded by the sound of running wolves.
This was a horrible mistake that I’m ashamed to have even considered, let alone acted upon. I’ve broken Rory’s trust for nothing. I let the fear of being ripped to shreds push my legs steadily forward. All of this was for nothing.
I start to panic as I run through the woods and find myself no closer to home than when I started. Try as I might, I can’t think straight enough to figure out where I’m going. All the trees start to blur together until I have to try to calm my breathing in order to get my bearings.
Everywhere I turn, I see flashes of fur. I hear the panting of breaths, the snap of padded feet breaking branches on the forest floor. They’re all around me until … suddenly … they’re not.
The Gray mansion looms overhead.
As soon as I see the dark shadow it casts upon the hill, I let out a gasp of relief.
I know Rory told me to stay away from the house, but everything looks still and silent, and I am sure that the alliance is gone by now. Even if it’s not, nothing I can do now is worse than what I’ve already done. Nothing is worse than the risk I’ve already taken.
And there, at least, I won’t be killed by the members of Remus’ pack surely still lingering in the woods behind me.
I rush up to the door and pound my fist hysterically against the wood. Instead of being relieved when Rory opens the door, I have to pause.
Something is wrong.
“Sabrina …”
The way he says my name makes my stomach sink.
He won’t meet my eyes.
The entire family is standing in the hallway. They look unnerved and on edge.
“Come in, and shut the door,” Lydia says, stopping herself after one half step towards me. Her hand lingers in the air for a second, before she thinks better of reaching for me and just lets her hand drop back to her side.
Her voice doesn’t sound like its usual warmhearted self.
And like Rory, she won’t look me in the eye.
A lump rises in the back of my throat as I look between them, standing here. Then I look behind them—at the hastily packed bags piled on the floor at their feet, and I feel a wave of dizziness hit me.
“What were you thinking?”
It’s Kaleb. He steps forward, only for one arm to shoot out from Romulus’ side to restrain him.
Kaleb is the only one looking at me now. His eyes bore into mine, pleading with me.
I see the unspoken there, and I know suddenly what’s happened.
They know.
“Tell me it isn’t true,” Kaleb whispers, before being pushed back into line beside his brothers.