I ignored him. There were at least three dead young women whose voices needed to be heard. I had to show the pack what kind of man Alvin really was. They saw the fearful man who would do anything to keep his position, but they needed to see the man who took joy in preying on the defenseless.
“I want you to have more options. You deserve the kind of life that you can’t have here.” Dad gave me a pleading look. “Let Thor take you back to Tennessee. You can lead a safe life there. Alvin will stop hurting the others when you leave.”
My blood turned to ice. “That’s…that’s not my fault. I didn’t ask for any of that. Don’t put Alvin’s actions on me!”
Dad sighed, defeated. Thor stepped in, but I threw my hands up. I was done with this.
Alvin’s behavior wasn’t my fault. The pack had convinced themselves that Alvin had changed because of me. I hated it. I didn’t deserve any of their anger or hatred because of something I could not change or a man who saw a threat in a thirteen-year-old girl.
I heard the two of them talking to one another as I stepped out of the room.
“What’s gotten into that girl?” Thor asked.
Dad groaned. “Determination, unfortunately.”
Unfortunately, my ass. My hand had been forced. I had no other choice than to fulfill this damned prophecy. The witch made a declaration that I would bring about Alvin’s demise, and so I would see that through even if it killed me.
Upstairs, I dreamed of my own place. I yearned for a home that I could go to where no one would try to change me. I wouldn’t have to listen to anyone berate me in another room. In that imaginary house, I envisioned Ryder waiting for me.
I knew that he would never belong to me, but I allowed myself to indulge in the daydream just this once. I savored the idea of crawling into his lap and feeling his arms wrap around me, much like that night at Cerri’s—just with less danger.
Ryder was almost a stranger to me, but I felt as though we’d known each other longer. He’d promised not long ago that he would never hurt me. Perhaps I clung to him because I wasn’t used to such things. His kindness had always been gruff yet reliable.
I rolled over onto my side and reached for the nearest plushie so I could hug it tight to my chest.