Leilani.
By the time Gavin finished with me, I was bleeding, raw and sore. Most of my slowly healing injuries had reopened and I was now spotting a huge deep gash on my forehead, one that disappeared into my scalp.
He stopped to access the injuries on my skin like an artist admiring his work, and with a grin flashing across his face, he spat; "Make sure to remember this the next time you think about hurting Chalice." He drawled, and with that, walked away from me without sparing a second glance at me.
However, as I watched Gavin stalk out of my room with his belt clutched in his hands like a prize and his face frozen into a satisfied grin, I made a resolve:
I had to leave. Now.
Family or not. Mates or no mates.
Even if the rejection process would turn out to be a success or a failure, I had to leave.
At this point, I wasn't even sure I wanted to stay back for the ritual anymore. I wasn't sure I could bring myself to look at these people one more time without throwing up.
