Screw My Childhood Sweetheart His Alpha Brother Marked Me First novel Chapter 170

Chapter 170

Each revelation, each word ripped at another piece of my soul. How had I come from a man who had wrought this level of pain? The agony bled into me through my bond connections. Grief, anger, guilt. It was almost too much for me to take.

River pinched the bridge of his nose, and I knew it was attacking him tenfold.

Mason’s hands clenched into fists, knuckles bleaching white. “But he didn’t succeed. He didn’t get you, and after that attack, our security measures were heightened. Since the two rogues attacked Vaughn and Senna, they’ve been increased even more. Kaleb won’t succeed.”

But he’d already stolen so much from the Ridgewood pack. Caspian and Vaughn’s parents. Knox’s mom. Countless other family members and loved ones. And he’d kidnapped two girls from their home last night. He might not have physically been there, but he was the puppet master pulling all the strings.

How could the people in this room even look at me knowing the carnage my father had left in his wake? How could they love me when his blood flowed through my veins?

The walls closed in around me and my lungs constricted. I couldn’t get air in. My hands began to tingle as I pushed shakily to my feet. All I knew was that I needed out. So I simply ran.

Cool air slapped at my face as I pushed my muscles harder. But it wasn’t enough. With my shifter heat, there wasn’t a bite to the air that I needed right now. Something to shock me back into breathing again.

My lungs burned and the tingling sensation spread up my arms. I bent over, gasping as my fingers curled in on themselves. There was no air. My legs wouldn’t hold any longer and I crumpled to my knees.

Hands grasped my shoulders. “Just breathe,” River soothed

Seconds later, the worst of my panic was being pulled away. But I didn’t deserve that. I should’ve stopped Kaleb. Ended him when I’d had the chance. Instead, I’d been terrified of what I was capable of. I shoved at River’s hands. “Don’t.”

Hurt flashed across his face. “Senna.”

“I don’t deserve it.” Tears streamed down my face as I looked up at River. “I could’ve stopped him. Could’ve prevented those girls from being taken. Now they’re living the worst kind of torture. Worse, their bonds might’ve been killed. Their families.”

The panic dug its claws deeper, setting my lungs on fire. River sank to the ground in front of me, his hands cupping my face. “This isn’t your fault. You aren’t your father’s keeper.”

“I should’ve stopped him. I could’ve. I was too scared.”

River hauled me into his arms, cradling me to his chest. “You’re allowed to hesitate before you take a life, to take a breath before considering ending your father.”

“Those girls. They’re in hell because of me.”

River held me tighter against him. “Because of Kaleb. What did you just say in the lodge? That the attack wasn’t any of our faults. That it was on the rogues and the ones ordering the attack. The same is true about this.”

A sob tore free from my chest. “How will they be able to look at me again? My father is responsible for all that pain. For Caspian and Vaughn’s parents. For Knox’s mother. The reason why Vaughn is so broken.”

Each word carved itself into my soul, their pain becoming my own.

River brushed the hair away from my face. “They love you. None of them holds you responsible just because Kaleb contributed to your DNA.

80.1%

Chapter 170

You are your own person, Senna. And that person is everything we could’ve ever dreamed of. Strong enough to stand up to five intense personalities, kind enough to meet us all where we are, clever enough to bring us together. You’re a miracle.”

I let out a shuddering breath, a few more tears falling free. River swept them away with his thumbs. “I’m an empath, remember? I would know if they were angry at you. All they are is worried,”

The worst of my anxiety slipped away. Not because of River’s gifts but because of his words. The power of being an empath had carved itself into him in every way. He could heal without using magic at all.

I leaned into him, my lips a breath away from his. “I love you.”

“So much it feels like it claws at my insides.”

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