Chapter 174: Out Of Verlassen

Winnie felt tears sting the corners of her eyes. Despite the brave act she was putting on, Alaina was still her sister—and the only family she had ever known. It was most unfortunate; things could have been so much better.

She wiped her eyes, pressing hard into them. It was useless to shed tears for someone who didn’t deserve it. She had people who were far more important.

"Are you okay?" Palmer asked as they stepped out of the room.

"I’m fine, thank you, Palmer. Would you be kind enough to help me to my room?"

"Of course," she replied happily, but her gaze held uncertainty.

They were almost upon her bedroom door when Palmer spoke again. "Is Maya okay?"

Winnie froze slightly and pushed herself away from Palmer, grabbing the handle. "I truly don’t know, but I can only pray that she is."

Palmer nodded but her gaze still held confusion. Winnie wasn’t sure how much she had been able to piece together from their conversation.

"Do you need anything?" Palmer asked; it was clear she was holding back from asking more questions.

"Not right now. I just want some rest. I’m exhausted." Both mentally and physically.

Palmer nodded. "I will check on you later and bring something to eat."

"I’d appreciate that."

She turned toward the door, her hand tightly gripping the handle. Asher was behind this door. It was weird that she was here, but for some reason, she wanted to be here.

She turned the handle and walked into the room. The window was open, the drapes drawn and sunlight poured in. She frowned as she noticed one of her flowerpots was missing.

Did it fall over with all the commotion?

She turned to the bed, and her heart dropped to her stomach. She closed the door and stepped closer. He was still pale, but he was breathing softly.

She rounded the bed and touched his arm. Relief flooded her, and water pooled in her eyes. He was much warmer.

She pulled the chair closer, sitting on it. She held his arm again and placed her head on the bed.

---

Alaina gritted her teeth as the physician wrapped the bandage around her ribs. She internally cursed, gasping in pain. Keenan hadn’t held back his kicks.

"Try not to move," he said and pulled away.

Did you not hear the part where I have to leave Verlassen or die?!

"How long would it take to heal?" She asked instead.

"At least two weeks. Even if you have a wolf, healing a bone is no easy feat. No extreme movements for at least the first five days."

"Okay," she mumbled and pushed herself to a sitting position.

"Why did you do it?"

Alaina glanced back at Theo. She had completely forgotten he was still in the room.

"Why did you do something that would endanger my brother and lie that I knew?"

"I didn’t mean to hurt your brother," she replied, shaking her head. The lie slipped out of her lips too easily.

She knew Asher was going to be patrolling because of Theo, and she knew exactly where he would be. It was easy to send the High Alpha’s men in that direction.

He was the only flaw in her perfect plan. He would have been able to alert Keenan before they could take Maya away.

His attack was without question. Besides, she never liked him anyway. He always looked at her with such condescension. It made her blood boil. He certainly deserved it.

She continued speaking as she forced herself to stand. "I was just trying to get rid of the evil that hurt our Alpha. I never meant to involve Asher."

Alaina staggered as though she would fall, and Agnes instinctively stretched out her hand to support her, but she didn’t miss the look of disgust the woman shot her when she touched her.

"I don’t believe you," Theo replied, wiping the blood from his nose.

He was still sitting on the ground with a dejected look on his face, and he looked like he might burst into tears at any moment.

Alaina froze at his comment and turned to look at him. She forced her expression to remain the same, though anger made her eyes blaze.

Now he decides to have some sense!

He did nothing to stop the Alpha from getting rid of her and was quick to save his own skin. He couldn’t even say she would never do anything to betray Alpha Keenan.

Useless!

"Abandoning your mate over a girl you don’t know."

"That was before I knew you could be so evil, and we aren’t—"

"Evil!" She yelled, and he shivered. "I have to go, Theo," she said coldly. "I don’t ask that you believe me. You don’t have to," she said, grabbing her side. "I never meant to hurt your brother."

She turned away from him and walked toward the exit. She had to get out of here and out of Verlassen as quickly as she could.

She didn’t doubt that Keenan would do as he said, and the worst part was that nobody would stop him. Not her sister, nor her mate.

She had seen the look Agnes gave her after she pieced things together. It was pity, but there was no sympathy in her gaze. No one wanted her here, and she knew exactly where she had to go.

She made her way to her room and packed a bag—something simple she could run with. The broken rib was a hindrance, but she would have to push through the pain.

She stepped out of her room, and Theo was standing outside with an odd look on his face. Her eyes twitched.

"What do you want?"

"Too many things don’t make sense," he whispered. "But we have been together for almost a year. I know you wouldn’t deliberately hurt my brother."

Are you an idiot?

"I am glad you believe me, Theo! You are the only one who does." She smiled brightly and took a step forward, and he took a step back.

"But you did do a lot of terrible things. You hurt someone important to Alpha Keenan and lied that I knew. I want to make sure you get out of Verlassen. If the Alpha asks, I want to be able to tell him."

You should have been the one attacked instead! Absolutely useless!

"No need. I know my way out. Why would I want to stay around when you all have shown me exactly how you feel?"

He didn’t respond; he just stared at her with an expression she hadn’t seen before. Alaina grabbed the bag tighter and marched past him.