Wren POV
Trigger Warning for Suicide
My temples have their own heartbeats, and I am ninety percent sure they aren't beating together. My mouth tastes like vomit, and my clothes smell like it. Still, my mother won't let me leave.
"Explain to me how it happened again," she whispers.
While I appreciate her attempt to keep her voice low, I am really ready to go to bed. "I already told you," I moan. "I was puking. Why don't you ask Scarlett? She is the one with the mate runes. As you can see, mine are fading."
I wave my arms in her direction and try not to puke.
She gives me a sympathetic smile. "Nyx is working to open the portal. It won't be long, and you will be reunited with Destin and Charlie."
"Right," I grumble. "Am I excused?"
"Yes," she replies. "We can discuss this again in the morning."
I glance out of the window behind her. The sun is rising. Selene didn't come for me. I don't know how I should feel about that. That might have been my only chance to get my mates back, to get Jasmine back.
I trudge through the Gravestone Pack house and bypass my bedroom. I have been sleeping in Charlie's room. It smells like him. Or it did. The smell is beginning to fade.
I head into his closet and press my nose into his shirts. If I stand here long enough, it is almost like he is here. I need him. I need Destin. Fuck. I need my annoying wolf who knows it all.
I am fractured, broken beyond repair. Without them in my life, I don't know who I have become. Or maybe I have never known who I was. My lineage has defined me. The Luna Queen's daughter. The Lycan Kings sister. No one addressed me as Wren, not until Destin.
"Woe is me," Selene laughs. "You have always been dramatic."
I turn slowly. She is standing with Jasmine by her side. I reach for Jasmine, but Selene cuts me off. "Not just yet."
I sit back on my heels. "I thought you had forgotten me."
Selene scoffs. "I had to wait until you were sober."
"You took them from me," I whimper. "You took everything from me."
"No. I left you your title," she laughs. "You are still the Princess."
"Nothing," I scream at her. "I am nothing without them. Give them back."
Selene sits on the floor by Jasmine. Her hand reaches over to stroke my wolf, but Jasmine tries to bite her hand. It is the only thing that gives me a little bit of joy in this moment. "She has been awful. I don't know how you live with her."
I exhale in relief. I was worried Jasmine would prefer living with Selene. I was worried she wouldn't want to come home. "She is part of me."
"Was," Selene smirks. "Was a part of you."
"You won't give her back," I whimper. "I need her."
Selene ignores my pleas. "It has been a month. Who do you choose? The Fae or the Werewolf. An immortal life or a mortal one."
"Why do I have to choose?" I ask. "Why do you care?"
"Because it is more fun this way," Selene laughs.
"Why are you this way?" I ask.
"I have been providing others with love for centuries. Maybe I am tired of guiding you. Maybe you should figure it out yourself," she says.
"Fine," I look into her eyes. "Let me figure it out myself. Don't make me choose."
Selene cocks her head to the side. "You twisted my words."
"For fuck's sake," I shout. "Give me my wolf at least."
Selene sucks air between her teeth. "You used to be such a nice girl. What happened to you?"
My eyes widen. "Are you fucking kidding me? You. You happened to me."
We sit in silence. Anger is pulsing through me, but Selene seems at ease. She is blocking my way out of the closet. I am unable to meet her gaze. My eyes fall on something, hidden beneath a shirt on the floor. It glimmers slightly, and I think it might be sharp. I pray it is a knife.
I build a wall around my thoughts as I make a plan. Selene is a Goddess. I can't kill her, but I can end this. I let my fingers inch toward what I think is a knife, but I don't take my eyes off Selene. She doesn't seem to know what I am doing, but I get the feeling Jasmine does.
She whines pitifully at Selene's side. She tries to come to me, but I shake my head. My fingers grip the handle of a knife. I rip it from beneath the shirt and plunge it into my chest.
"You stupid girl," Selene spits at me. "I thought you were going to try to kill me."
I drop back onto the floor, and blood drips from my mouth. "You were supposed to. Not even you can save me now. Your bloodline dies with me. Make another heir to toy with. Or you can let it end with me."
Selene gets to her feet and looks down at me. "Go home, Jasmine."
My vision is beginning to fade, but I can feel Jasmine enter my mind. She is doing her best to heal me, but I am sure it has been too long. Or at least I hope it has. I don't want to live without my mates. Either one of them.
'What did you do?" Jasmine chastises me.
'What had to be done,' I whisper. 'Now she can't toy with us anymore.'
'Goddess, you are stupid,' she growls. 'Call for help. I can't heal you on my own.'
'I can't do that,' I tell her. 'If I live, she wins.'
'If you die, so do I,' she growls. 'Call for help.'
'No,' I reply weakly.
I am beginning to fade. It will only be moments.
'Fine, I will call for them myself,' she whimpers.
She disappears from my mind, and I hear footsteps rushing into the room. "Wren," Mom screams. "What did you do?"
"No, no, no," Dad whimpers as he lifts me into his arms. "You better hold on."
I try to open my eyes, but I can't. My head is bouncing from side to side. Dad must be running, but I know he won't make it. I am as good as dead, and Selene won't be able to reach me anymore.