A/N
I know! I know! I lied!! i said i was going to upload soon but i just didn't get up to it! :( I'm leaving in 4 days and there is still sooo much to do before i leave, i'm leaving you guys with this chapter but I just want to let you guys know that i won't be able to upload for a month and a bit as I'm going on a very last minute family holiday and there won't be any wifi there. I'm so sorry once again but please bear with me!!!
enjoy the next chapter and vote and let me know what you think in the comments below
Lots of Love x Sarah & Gloria
Chapter 25
"You see dear, me and Xavier's family go way back." Hunter said, still holding onto my hand as he stared in the direction of Xavier who was looking anywhere but at me.
"I was actually his Great, Great, Great Grandfather's best friend." He nonchalantly said. He must be delusional, surely he couldn't exist in that time, that was many years ago. "Well at least until his ancestor stabbed me in the back and took the one thing I cherished and loved." He said, a hint of anger revealing itself.
"That was between you and my Great, Great, Great Grandfather, not me." Xavier retorted back, finding the courage to walk towards me and separate me from Hunter, who looked slightly amused. "Neither Chloe or I are responsible for what happened." He sneered through gritted teeth. "Now I'm begging you, leave us alone." He said, tightening his grip around me.
Hunter just threw his head back and let out a rather sinister laugh that slightly terrified me. "You might not have had anything to do with the death of my beloved Delilah, but I do wonder Xavier, who caused the death of poor Sandra." He tauntingly said while staring at me with a knowing smile.
Silence. We were all engulfed in a ray of silence, as Hunter smirked and Xavier looked down in shame whilst still holding onto me. I however could not bear the silence as I spoke up and moved away from Xavier. "You knew Sandra?" I said, finding myself at loss for words as I accusingly glared at him. "You knew what happened to MY cousin, SCOTT'S sister?" I said, anger fuelling inside me. More silence.
"Xavier, I believe your mate asked you a question." Hunter said breaking the silence.
Xavier slowly looked at me with grief plastered all over his face. "Chloe, you don't understand, I was only protecting you, that's all I've ever done." He said as he reached his hand out towards mine. I moved back, allowing his hand to hold onto the air that lay between us.
"What did you do?" I sternly said, not once breaking eye contact. Xavier attempted to answer me as he would open his mouth only to close it again. "Xavier!" I impatiently yelled.
He winced at my tone of voice, but I didn't care. He was treading on dangerous grounds right now.
He still could not answer me. "Come on Xavier, it's not that hard to say." Hunter sarcastically remarked. Xavier gave Hunter the evils as his fists clenched. "Just tell her, you're the one responsible for the death of her cousin." He blurted out as he held his hand to his mouth and fake gasped. "oops! I guess it was hard to say." Hunter victoriously smirked.
My heart dropped. My mind went blank as I struggled to discern whether the information Hunter gave was right or wrong. Xavier is a lot of things, but he can't be a murderer, could he? Then again, why should I trust Hunter, all he has done so far is caused my family pain and Scott did say Hunter did it.
I turned towards Hunter, and with a malicious growl I punched him. "You're responsible!" I said, hatred and disgust dripping off every single word. "You ripped her throat out! You sick monster!" I said as I punched him again.
He didn't look offended, he seemed to be enjoying it, basking in my grief. "That I may have done." He said while stroking his chin. "However, it was your dear Xavier who led me to her." He replied. "Her blood is on his hands." He said with no ounce of care in his voice as he pointed towards Xavier.
I paid no attention to the whole Xavier at fault bit, because this psychopath just admitted to murdering my cousin. I glared at him as I felt my wolf stir within me, urging me to let her out so she may avenge her cousins death.
As I was about to say something, Hunter interrupted me. "You must be extremely confused, let me finish off my story. As I mentioned, Xavier's family and I go way back, I was his ancestors best friend. Everything was good between us until I met this young girl, Delilah. My sweet, sweet Delilah." He said as he stared off into the distance and continued. "She was everything I could ask for in a partner. She had these hazel green eyes that I could stare at all day, and find myself falling in love with her over and over again. She had such long dark brown hair that I found myself playing with, as she stayed in my arms. She had this personality that would conquer my anger and anguish and replace it with inner joy. She had this smile that would melt my heart." He said with so much compassion. "She saw past all my facades and took a glimpse at my dark side, yet she stayed right beside me. She truly loved and cared for me. No one had ever thought that behind my hard demeanour their might be more to me than what i let people see. She saw it. That's why she stayed." He stared at the ground for a few seconds completely lost in his memories.
For a minute there, I felt some pity for him. He truly loved this girl. No one deserves to have someone who means a lot taken away. "What happened to her?" I found myself saying.
He snapped his head towards Xavier. "His Great, Great, Great Grandfather Xavier Theodore Gilbert senior, snatched her away from me." He sneered.
"He saw how happy I was with her and despised it. You see we had plans, theo and I. We were going to change things, we didn't like the way things we're between the wolf packs, we wanted to take matters into our own hands and introduce new rules! But He claimed, she was making me weak. That she was stealing me from him. Just because he had not found his mate yet." He said as his fists clenched.
"On the day I was suppose to propose to my sweet Delilah, I found him in her room. He ripped her throat out!" He yelled. "My sweet innocent Delilah, was taken from me. And that same day, he found his soul mate, and they had their happy ending. And what did I get?" He yelled. "I got to hold the cold corpse of my beloved Delilah."
A single tear ran down his face. "I vowed that day, that I will do to his bloodline what he did to me. It was the sweet, innocent, naive way that she looked at the world and it shined in her hazel green eyes that kept me going all these years." He said as he looked into my eyes. My hazel green eyes.
Xavier growled as he stepped in front of me in a protective stance. "Touch her again and you're dead." He said in a low menacing voice.
"We both know I can't be killed." He said as he stood there. Xavier's words had no effect on him. "Chloe will remain unharmed, if YOU keep your word and stay away." He growled as he glared at Xavier's hold on me.
I had so many unanswered questions, but only one was important. "I still don't understand why Sandra had to die." I said ignoring Xavier's grasp on me. "God bless her soul and may she rest in peace." I added, paying my cousin some respect.
Xavier's whole demeanour changed, as his grip on me loosened and his eyes turned soft. He looked down in shame. I wasn't shocked. I was prepared for whatever disappoint was coming my way as I continued to stare at a tortured Xavier.
"My oh my." Hunter said. Even though I wasn't staring at him, I could hear the smirk on his face through his sarcastic tone. "I wonder what else your mate has been hiding from you." He continued. "Xavier here, knew I would be coming for his mate, and so he thought he was oh so clever and told me his mate was Sandra." I continued to look at Xavier who has not once made eye contact with me. "And so fulfilling my obligation, I went and killed her, the same way, Theodore did mine."
So many emotions ran through my mind. Anger. Confusion. Guilt. Betrayal. Grief. My cousin died because of Hunter. She died because of Xavier. She died...because of me.
My heart sank. "It wasn't until Xavier turned 18 where I realised, I had been lied to. I was furious. I came back prepared to destroy Xavier, instead, I found him lurking outside some grey two story house." He said as his words slowly replayed in my mind. 'Grey two story house' Was he talking about my house. "I watched as he stood behind a bush, staring inside what seemed to be a kitchen." He continued. "I crept behind him to see what he was looking at. He was looking at a girl who was arguing with a boy over a pancake." He said staring at me intently.
Realisation hit me. He was talking about my house. Xavier must've known we were mates before he slapped me. Oh how the disappointment just gets bigger. "It was me. You guys saw me." I said as my head started to spin. So many thoughts were clouding my mind.
"Yes. I knew then, that you were Xavier's real mate. I was about to walk in and kill you." He admitted as he took a step closer. "But then you stood up and tried to rush out the door where I caught a glimpse of your face." He said as he tilted my face up. "Your hazel green eyes." He whispered staring into my eyes. I stood there awkwardly, not once looking at him. "I couldn't kill you." He continued to whisper. He finally let go of my face and took a small step back. "I decided to make a deal with Xavier. If he wanted to keep you alive, he would have to reject you. If he weren't with you, I wouldn't have to kill you." He said quite irritated.
Was this supposed to me make me feel better? Was this supposed to make up for murdering my cousin. Anger boiled inside me. "was that supposed to win me over?" I spat. "That doesn't make up for killing my cousin! You really are cynical, heartless psychopath!" I yelled through my teeth. "And you know what!" I continued to yell out in anger. "Xavier and I are together."
I said as I held onto a now shocked Xavier's hand. I seriously don't know what came over me. Why was i trying to anger Hunter.
Hunter growled as he took a step forward. "I have no choice but to kill you then, love." He said staring at, begging me to reconsider.
I took a step forward. I was now face to face, well face to chest, but I looked up at him. "Then kill me." I maliciously said as Xavier growled behind me. "Because I'm not going down without a fight." I snarled, staring directly into his eyes. I don't know what came over me, or where this word vomit was coming from but i couldn't stop! I was just so full of anger and sadness.
"Go on! Do it! Kill me like you killed Sandra!!" Tears streamed down my face as his jaws tensed as he clenched his fists.
He didn't say a thing, he only continued to look at me. His hands began to shake as his scrunched his face up in anger. He raised his fist up in the air as Xavier pulled me back. Hunter gave me one last stare as he let out a nasty growl and turned on his feet and ran away. He was gone in an instant.
I let out a breath of relief. I might've died just then. Xavier turned to me and grabbed my arms, looking in my eyes. "Are you alright?" He said with so much compassion and worry in his eyes.
I moved out of his grip as a look of confusion flashed across his face. "I wasn't being serious about being with you." I said.
Xavier looked taken back as his face dropped. "You set my cousin up." I said as Xavier looked down again in shame. "I can't get over that. I can't let this go. Maybe I can get over the rejection." I said lost in my thoughts as I saw Xavier's head looking up with hope. "But I will never get over this. My cousin is dead Xavier. She's dead, because of you and me, and our stupid mate connection." I whispered. "We can never be together." I said looking down
"Chloe please. I know I stuffed up, but I did everything for you, I just wanted to protect you." He said tilting my head up. "I know I did it the wrong way, but I was scared, I didn't want you dead. I didn't know you were related to Sandra. Your last name is really common." He begged.
I pushed his hand away from me. "I can't." Was all I could manage to say.
"Chloe?" I turned to where the voice came from. Relief washed over me.
"Corey!" I said as I ran into his arms. His arms immediately wrapped around me. I needed this. Behind him I saw Scott. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. Not after what I found out.
Scott walked towards me, and Corey unwrapped his arms from me. I stood there in front of Scott, not being able to meet his eyes. There was so much guilt inside of me. "Chloe?" he said. His voice full of worry. I stood there, not being able to talk. A single tear ran down my cheek. Scott wiped it away. "Chloe, I know what happened." He said, and that was all it took for me to look up at him.
"Scott I'm sorry! I had no idea! Please don't hate me." I cried as I fell on my knees. "Please Scott." I whispered.
"She's telling the truth." I did not look up but I knew it was Xavier. "It was my entire fault."
No one said anything. I looked up, still on the ground. Scott was just staring at us. "Scott?" I asked. "Scott please say something." I continued. "Scott, if I could take Sandra's place I would." I continued as I stood up and took hold of his hands. He just looked at me, not with anger. He just gave me a small smile.
"Replace my spot where?" A new voice emerged from behind Corey. Both Xavier and I snapped our head towards the voice. It was a girl, with shoulder length brown hair and greenish grey eyes. She was about the same height as Scott, however there were no resemblance between them.
I looked back and forth between the girl and Scott. There was no resemblance at all, but I could feel something within my chest. I knew her. I looked at Corey and he nodded his head. I looked at Scott once more before I returned my gaze back to the girl. "Sandra?" I managed to whisper.
The girl looked at me and smiled. My head was spinning. How is this even possible? She's supposed to be dead. I looked around and even Xavier was shocked. Is this even happening.
"Chloe?" I heard them all say.
"Chloe?" It was now Sandra who stood in front of me, observing me. The light was fading. I could feel my energy evaporate into thin air.
'This was not real' I thought as I collapsed and everything faded black.