Chapter 23

• I stand tall and as strong as I can. Of course, loud whispers and gasps erupt in the room. "Hi everyone." I said in a small voice. I look around, meeting everyone's eyes with a smile. When I catch sight of my brother, his face lit up in confusion and happiness. He looks sick. His skin pale, his body too slim. He looks like he needed a shave too. Oh, Ace. What's happened to you? My pang with pain and regret.
• He stands forcefully, rushing toward me and pulling me into his arms. "Is it really you?" He asks, his voice cracking. "Yes. It's really me, Ace." I tell him my eyes flowing with tears. "You look so different..." He sobs, pulling away to look at me. I nod. "I know. But it's me. It's really me." I grip him tighter.
• Elijah pulls me away from him growling and envelopes me in his arms. Ace backs away, understanding. "It's okay baby, he wont hurt me." I tell him, running my nose along the coller bone of his neck. He growls. "Babe. Trust me, please." I beg and kiss his lips. He glares in his direction but let's me in a looser hold. Ace's voice cracks and it makes me wan't to burst into heart wrenching sobs. "I'm so sorry, Kat. I should have never... brother's don't treat their sisters that way. Beta's don't treat their pack members that way. And people don't treat people that way. I regret every second of treating you like that, Katerina. I'm so sorry." He breaks down crying, angrily wiping tears from his eyes. "I searched for week's but I couldn't find you. We couldn't find any trance of you since you decided to leave. I didn't want to move, or breath, or talk. I just wanted you back, I needed you back to feel whole again. I felt shattered inside and out, it was all my fault you left. I will never stop blaming myself.