The Run To Quinn

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"But this can help us! Maybe he knows something about Peyton, or about—"

"You don't get it," I paced around the living room, angrily brooding. My body was beginning to bruise and pain struck every time I stepped on my right ankle. Reston was a Warrior for a reason.

I wasn't sure before if I wanted to talk to Reston, but seeing his face now made it all that much more real. I didn't want to see nor talk to him. Anger is easily slid under the rose bush when you aren't looking in someone eyes— and then you see any flash of their browns or blues and suddenly your anger rips through the thorns and you're so mad you can't see. Suddenly, nothing is in between you and the pure emotion of raw hate.

"This is all your fault, you know that," Reston shook his head angrily at me. Mom and dad were in the kitchen, listening in to our conversation but not stepping in.

"I know," I responded.

No. I shook my head. I couldn't think about that, not right now.

"Reston will not help me. Ever." I began chewing on my bottom lip, hard enough to make it bleed. "He'd rather die," I added. "Let's talk about how you never told me your mom kicked you out."

Sebastián sighed. "You never asked," he said.

I widened my eyes and threw my hands up. "I was supposed too!? I didn't know that was an icebreaker question. "Did your mom kick you out of the house or what?" That isn't usually something you ask someone!"

Sebastián put two hands in front of him, trying to diffuse the argument. "Quinn, calm down."

"Calm—" I stomped hard on my right foot and then winced as I stumbled back. Sebastián caught me in his arms but I slapped him away. "Calm down? You don't know anything, you don't understand."

"So help me! So help me understand. I think now is a better time than ever to open up old wounds. You're hurting, Q. I don't have to be your mate to see that. Talk to me, please, it'll help us both feel better." He was so good at talking to people. Damn him.

I sighed, giving in to him. "Fine. You want to know why I hate Reston so much?" Tears had begun streaming down my face, in little streaks. Streaks that glistened like stars but were as heavy as meteors. The lightest of things can seem to weigh you down, the Earth to your Atlas shoulders.

Sebastián didn't talk, just stood in front of me with a mouth wide open.

"I have always struggled with nightmares, this is nothing new. Reston would come and soothe them away, every night. One night the nightmares were so bad..." I paused to take a deep breath.

Sebastián set me down on the couch, sitting close to me. He didn't pressure me but he didn't coddle me either. I appreciated it, more than he knew.

"The nightmares were so bad I started hurting myself." I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye and looked up. I had never talked about the situation out loud, not even to Maggie or Matt, bless his soul.

"This is all your fault, you know that," Reston shook his head angrily at me. Mom and dad were in the kitchen, listening in to our conversation but not stepping in.

"I know," I responded. My arms were bloodied, wraps were tied tightly around them. I wouldn't let Reston take me to the pack doctor.