The Wolf Prince's Fated Heart - Page 82

Cassidy

Graham leads me down the steep stairwell into a dark wine cellar, which seems to also serve as their holding area. He closes the heavy wooden door behind us, leaving us with his three brothers and their mates. I hold onto a chair to stop my hands from trembling.

As my heartbeat quickens and I feel faint, I force myself to think about how grateful I am that we’re on the same side here. That these people are open-minded enough to allow a human to join them.

Still, I’m going to need a lot of courage to face my past again. Not just that. I’m going to have to confront Tim in front of everyone, including Graham.

“Are you okay?” Graham asks, gently touching my shoulder.

I look into his eyes, trying to find solace and comfort, something to balance the intense feelings that threaten to overwhelm me. I give him a small nod.

“I’m glad you’re both here,” Helia greets us and then walks over to give me a brief hug. “How do you feel?”

Tears spring into my eyes, but I push them back. This is hardly the time or place to lose control.

“Are you strong enough to do this?” she asks. “You’re allowed to change your mind, you know.”

She’s giving me an out. While part of me likes it, I have to swallow my fear. This is my chance to end the killings, not just for me but for the innocent people who just want to live their lives in peace.

“I’m ready,” I say, trying to sound convincing.

Helia’s smile is so warm I feel like hugging her again.

“Follow me then,” she invites. “The interrogation room is right through that door.”

“We’ll be able to hear and see everything,” Garren tells me, pointing at the two-way mirror.

“Don’t be afraid if the shadows move,” Gavin adds, appearing from seemingly out of nowhere. It’s almost as if he materialized out of the shadows themselves. “They’re under our control.”

I nod but feel sick to my stomach as the pressure to perform starts building. I swallow a few times to find my bearings. I can’t make any mistakes, not when I’m facing my old boyfriend.

“Lead the way,” I say, getting ready for an emotional rollercoaster.

Graham takes my hand in his, gently forcing me to look at him. “Everything will be okay,” he says softly. “You can do this.”

His faith in me has me even more determined. After we cross the dark wine cellar room, Grayden opens another thick wooden door. I’m the only one to enter.

The room is like something out of the police movies. Empty concrete walls with no windows, a table in the center that’s screwed to the floor, same as with the chair where Tim’s sitting and the one across the table that I assume is mine.

Tim’s not bound in any way, which further proves how unworried the wolves are. In fact, the room itself has no chains, and I’m sure its usual guests are wolves, which means that there must be magical protections on the door.

Tim’s head hangs down, his brown curls hiding his face from view. When I sit down across from him, he glances at me without lifting his head.

“What did they do to you?” he asks, worry etched on his face.

My mouth falls open, taken aback by his reaction. I would think that the first thing he’d be worried about is his life. Instead, his entire expression fills with pity for what he probably assumes the wolves have done to me.

I’ve lost blood, and I know that’s showing on my face and the rest of my body, but the Greys wouldn’t have touched a hair on my head, no matter how angry they’d be. Not on purpose, at least.

“They saved my life,” I reply firmly, not wanting to go into details that it was their fault I needed saving in the first place.

Tim grimaces. “I’m sorry, Cassie,” he mutters, his gaze dropping to the table. “I tried to keep you out of it, but I got in way over my head.”

“You owe me some answers,” I cut in. “We can go back and forth with how sorry you are, but it doesn’t erase what you’ve done.”

“Are you working for them?” he asks, his eyes darkening. “They’re evil. They shouldn’t exist. None of them should. It’s unnatural.”

“Tell me about Jason,” I say, ignoring his rambling. It’s best if I try to keep him on track. “How did you two meet?”