The Alpha's Rejected Silent Mate

Chapter 35

Damien POV

I’ve just gotten home and it’s still dark inside, none of the lights having been turned on. I swear and turn on the

kitchen light and go looking for Winter. The least she could have done is light up the house, especially since I can see

rainclouds gathering and it’s so dark inside the house that it’s difficult to see clearly. But when I go upstairs there’s no sign of her. Perhaps she’s in the bathroom, I think, and go and check. Then I checked each room methodically, calling out her name. There’s no sign of her anywhere and I feel dread rise from the pit of my stomach. Something is wrong, I just know it.

“S**t” | swear. So she hadn’t walked home by herself after all, like I had assumed. What had happened then? |

don’t know why, but I begin to search her room, in case she’s left some sort of sign about where she might have gone. I don’t think Jessica and her cronies would have the guts to do anything to Winter, especially against Johnathon’s

wishes. I also know sometimes she likes to be alone. I’m not sure where, but every so often she’d slip out and come

back hours later, a small smile on her face. Like her own personal haven that only she knew about. Her own little

sanctuary, away from father and me.

I rifle through her desk and that’s when I see the envelope, with my name written on it in neat cursive writing.

My hand is shaking as I pull it out and I quickly rip the envelope open as I sit down on her bed. It’s a letter addressed to me and, with my heart in my throat, I begin to read it.

Dear Damien

against you, but I can’t bear the thought of staying in this

wondering which of you is going to hit me next, what would

safe, not even at school. The Luna and Alpha don’t even know of my existence because

school.

a coward and not telling you, but I

this, Damien. I’ve wanted to leave ever since Johnathon

while I live here, or even love. I want what mother

they were always affectionate in front of us. If father

a happy family instead of being such

honestly you blamed me anyway. Damien, even when you hit me, or punished me, I still loved you. I’ve never stopped loving you as my brother. But I want a life for myself. I want to live in a pack that cares about me as a person and who accepts me for who I am. Where I can be myself without having to look over my shoulder or worry about being bullied as / walk down the halls in school. Where I don’t need you or Damien to keep watch

be free, Damien. While / stay here, it’s like I’m stuck in a cage, unable

made things harder for both of us, but I’m

broken. I don’t need to be fixed, all I needed was the love of a brother, that was all. That

me Damien, and I’m

worry about me. Don’t go looking for me. I’ve

me back. Let me do this. Let me live

forget about you. But I need to take this time and travel, be independent

what I want for once instead of people choosing for me.

of Thomas and what happened. I can’t do that

m

nasd

and I hope one day you’ll forgive me for leaving you like this. But I couldn’t bear to see