KIARA’S POV
Every muscle in my body fought to transform as the howls reverberated in the environment. My bones crackled as my wolf struggled to take control but she was too weak.
Pure agony coursed through my body overpowering every single coherent thought I had. I screamed at the top of my lungs but there was no one around to listen to me.
The struggle between my weak wolf and my human body continued in a loop. Before long the pain blinded me and I was thrust into a state of complete darkness.
The next thing I remember is waking up on the cold floor. I groaned as I pulled myself up. The dizziness weighed heavily on me as I fluttered my eyes to clear my vision.
The sun was visible just above the horizon. I didn’t have the energy to figure out whether it was sunrise or sunset. The only thought that came to my mind was that I had to find Kevin.
Dragging myself to my feet, I trudged outside. With slow labored steps, I continued walking. I know I should have taken my car or something but my brain was not functioning at the optimum level.
My feet stopped dead in the tracks when I heard a familiar voice. My eyes swept around looking for the source of the sound. I caught a glimpse of a blue jacket behind a large banyan tree.
I tiptoed as close as I could without getting noticed. I knelt behind the thick bushes and held my breath, trying to focus on the hushed voices.
“You can never disclose what happened to anyone. Is that understood?”
My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the voice. What was Cami doing in the middle of a forest?
My ears perked up as I waited for the other person to speak. . I almost gave myself away when I staggered on recognizing Adrian’s voice, “I won’t as far as you promise to accept me as your mate…”
Cami burst out laughing and said in a sickly sweet voice, “You really thought I will accept you as my mate, didn’t you? Adrian, you are so gullible…”
There was a long pause before Adrian’s hurt voice sounded, “How could you Cami? How could you play with my emotions?”
“I can do whatever the F*** I want. You are no one to lecture me. Get lost and never show your face again…”
“I was an idiot to have believed you… but no more… I won’t fall in the trap of your lies again… I will tell Kevin that you were the one who plotted to kill his father!” His voice became louder and louder with each word he spoke.
“Go ahead! But you will also have to confess that you were the one to inject his father with the poison. Do you think he will forgive you after knowing this? No! He will tear you apart piece by piece!”
A bolt of lightning struck me shattering my world. I never thought that Adrian could betray us. I had to tell Kevin about this right away.
The adrenaline rush caused by shock and fear gave me the strength to walk faster. I knew that the funeral will be held at the lake. So, I decided to check it out first.
My assumption turned out to be right and I found him standing by the lake. I stopped for a moment to admire his profile. Chewing my lower lip, I kept thinking about the best way to disclose this news to him.
No matter how I said it, this news was sure to cause him pain and grief. I placed my hand on his shoulder and blurted out, “I have something important to tell you.”
He spun around faster than lightning making me stagger slightly. His eyes were blank as if the light in them had been lost. He looked at me disdainfully and said in an icy cold voice, “Who are you?”
I was thrown off by his sudden question. My heart pounded in my ears as I said in a shaking voice, “Why are you asking such a question, Kevin?”
He didn’t seem in a mood to listen to me. So, I tried to mind-link with him. A strong barrier obstructed the flow of my thoughts and feelings. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get through.
Tears welled in my eyes and I choked out, “Why are you doing this?”
He grabbed me by my shoulders and shook me, “Where were you when I needed you the most? My entire pack stood by me and comforted my family while we mourned my father’s death.
There was a part of me that craved YOUR presence, Kiara…. You never came… You deserted me when I needed you the most…”
I licked my dry lips and said, “It is not like that, Kevin… I can explain…”
His harsh voice cut me off midway, “I don’t want to hear any excuses. I was hurt because I expected something from you. This day forth I won’t make that mistake….”
“Kevin… please…” I begged, looking at him with pleading eyes. Neither my pain nor my tears had any effect on him.
“You are no one to me, Kiara. I don’t want to see you again!” He spat before releasing me abruptly.
I staggered and would have fallen if I hadn’t grabbed the metal rod surrounding the lake. His words dripped into my ears like acid. My heart went numb and by the time I could gather my wits he had put quite a bit of distance between us.
“Please listen to me, Kevin. I can explain everything….” I called out as I ran after him; stumbling several times as I tried to move faster than I was capable.
Several falls and cuts later, I managed to close the distance between us. I reached out my hand to grab his shoulder but my leg got caught in a creeper.
I stumbled and fell flat on my face. A scream escaped my throat but his steps didn’t even falter. I watched him as he walked further and further away from me.
In a last, feeble attempt, I cupped my mouth and called out, “Kevin! I know who murdered your father!”
The only reply I got was the deafening silence of the jungle that seemed to mock me.
Hours later, when Nivaan found me, I was still sitting in the same position. He picked me up and carried me to the camp.
He kept talking all along the way but his words never registered in my brain and I never responded…