Chapter 225 -63 The Best Thing To Do (Book 2)
~Susan~
Devin did not return to the bedroom until one in the morning. I wondered what he stayed up
discussing with Leo. He also did not seem too happy when he entered the room, so I was
concerned too.
I did not know if it were safe for me to ask him, so I remained silent.
He sat down on the bed and sighed heavily.
"Is everything all right?" I asked him, and he sighed and then looked back at me.
"I hope you have been honest with me, Susan," he stated, and my heart began to beat fast from
confusion. That was a very odd question to ask me. His words made me sit up immediately.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked him, and he sighed.
"What you told me about your parents being missing and not knowing where they are: Is it true?" he
asked. I did not understand why he would think I would lie about something that serious.
"I swear to you, Devin, I do not know where they are. I don''t," I said, not knowing if I needed to
convince him.
"Where were you when we broke up?" he asked.
"I was hiding in Pridewood," I told him, and he sighed.
"Who were you staying with in Pridewood? I know your uncle''s home was in Pridewood, the very
Pridewood where the massacre urred, the very night you came to Greenville," he said, and I
became worried. Had someone set me up?
"Why are you asking this?" I asked him, and he looked at me. His eyes were teary.
"Because I feel it was odd you returned the very night Pridewood was destroyed. I then learn that
your parents aren''t missing but members of a cult that wants to help its leaders take over the south
and east. I am not a fool, Susan. What is your real mission here?" he asked me, and I was utterly
shocked.
I had just heard that my parents, who I believed were dead, were alive somewhere and did not
bother to contact me. Then, at the same time, he was using me of treason.
"Are you using me of treason?" I asked him quietly, and he was silent.
"I know it is easy to believe that I am a bad person because of what my uncle and cousin did and
maybe what you heard about my parents, but I swear to you, Devin, I am hearing of them for the
first time.
What happened in Pridewood was a coincidence.
I did not know they would wipe out that ce. I swear, Devin. I did not know. I know it looks like I
came here to save myself from annihtion and maybe keep your trust, but I swear I did not know. I
would have died there. I was just lucky," I said, tears streaming down my face because I knew I
looked guilty.
It was weird that I left Pridewood the very night it was attacked and its residents killed by a cult my
missing parents are now rumoured to be a part of. It looked suspicious.
I waited for Devin to say something, but he remained quiet, and I became scared. Had he discussed
this with Leo, or had Leo told Sylvester? Was the council aware? Will I be tried for treason like
Glenda and uncle Nicks? Will I be hung in public like they did Glkenda and uncle Niks?
Scenarios of what might happen yed in my head.
I did not know what to do. I was afraid.
If there was an issue and my loyalty was questioned, and Devin did not trust me, I was genuinely
fucked because he was all I had.
"I swear to you, Devin, I have no hand in the death of the people in Pridewood," I said in tears.
I was terrified. I did not want to die.
"Devin, tell me you believe me," I said, and he was silent. His hands were shaking, and I knew he
was conflicted.
"What will happen to me, Devin?" I asked quietly because I knew I was guilty in his eyes.
"It isn''t a serious matter yet, but a fleeing member of the cult has confirmed that your folks were
involved in the massacre in Pridewood, and to think you left there that very night seems suspicious.
I do not know, Susan, but I will have it investigated…" he said, trailing off the rest of his words.
We had made love when we got to the east and promised each other so much. His words cut me
deep. His inability to take my word for it broke my heartpletely.
"You mean you do not believe me?" I asked him, and he sighed.
"It isn''t about what I believe. It is about what I can prove. I am the head Alpha of the south, and that
massacre happened under my watch. Your parent''s involvement with the cult that perpetrated the
crime casts a huge shadow of doubt on your person. The fact that you were there and left the ce
to my house the night the people were killed…" he said, and I did not need him to finish. I knew
where it was heading.
"Everything says I have a hand in it…." Ipleted it for him.
"My family''s track record also leaves little to be desired," I added, and he was silent.
"So, will I be arrested and detained pending the investigation?" I asked him with a breathy voice,
and he shook his head.
"If ites to that, I won''t let that happen, Susan, but I need you to be honest with me," he said,
looking at me.
"I will go against everyone for your sake, but I need you to be honest with me," he said, and I
believed that was too much to ask of him. Going against everyone meant him losing his status and
good name, and maybe his life. I could not have that.
I shook my head.
"No need to go against anyone Devin. I can''t ask that of you," I said, and he was silent.
"I assure you I have no hand in this, and I do not know anything about my folks," I said, but there
was still doubt in his eyes.
He was evaluating whether he should trust me or not.
If Devin doubted me, I wondered what would happen if I was brought before the council. I was a
Sullivan; I wouldn''t stand a chance before the council.
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I sat back on the bed quietly, raking my mind for what to do that would not put Devin in a tight spot. I
thought I had returned to his life permanently with bliss, but as things are, I might have to run away
and go into hiding because I wasn''t going to allow the council to waste my life and existence over
something I had no hand in.
I sat on the bed and looked at him, trying to memorise his features, knowing I might never see him
again. Maybe I was destined to be alone because something kept happening that would force me to
run away. This will be the second time I would have to run away from love to save my life.
"I will speak to Leo about it in the morning, And then we will figure out what to do from there.
When they start investigating the Pridewood incident, your name wille up, and your movements
that night will cause huge doubt.
I wish I could bury it right now, but Sylvester is alreadying, and Leo has reported the
Pridewiood incident to him. I have also filed it in, and there is a cult member who can attest that
your parents were involved and they had an informant in Pridewood, " He said, and I understood his
plight and what I must do.
"Thank you, Devin. Thank you for trying," I told him, and he looked at me and caressed my cheek
with his palm.
"Please do not lie to me, Susan. Do not lead me astray. I saw what it did to Leo when Amanda
deceived him. I do not want to be in that situation. I love you dearly," he said, pleading with me to be
honest with him, but what was the point of being honest when my honesty would be seen as
falsehood?
"I have never lied to you, Devin, and I won''t start that now. Do what you must. I will hold no grudge
against you. You have been there for me through my difficult times, and I appreciate you for it," I
said, fighting my tears because I knew I would be gone from the ce in the morning. I needed to
go into hiding. I wouldn''t take much with me to avert suspicion, but I must find a way to survive
alone.
I pulled Devin for a kiss, and I knew it was weird to do, judging by what we had discussed, but I had
to say goodbye properly because there was no winning this for me.
If all he said were true, then I would be found guilty.
I had no friends or alibi. I had no one.
Had I not left Pridewood that night, I would have died there, but no one would see it that way since
my parents were in the cult.
They would believe that I was tipped off and decided to run away.
They will believe that I worked as an informant.
The list of what I would be found guilty of based on circumstances was unending.
I did not know what was going on in our world, but I refused to be a casualty.
Yes, I would lose my heart''s desire and the man I love, but I will be alive and still have hope.
Devin returned the kiss, and he was gentle.
"Make love to me," I whispered, and he stared at me for a bit before obliging.
Devin fell asleep after, and I used that opportunity to pack a tiny bag and write him a note.
I ensured I was light on my feet and did not make sounds that would trouble his sleep. I folded the
letter and left it on the table. Then headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Devin asked, sounding sleepy.
"I need a ss of milk. Go back to sleep," I said gently with a fake giggle, and he returned to sleep.
I left the room and closed the door.
I found my way out of the packhouse.
I walked until I got to a forest; I did not know where it would lead, but I would start from there.
I removed my clothes and ced them in the small bag, shifted into Cleo, held the bag with my jaws
and ran.
Tears streamed down my eyes, but it was necessary. I did not want Devin in a tight corner and did
not want him to lose his good name because of me.
I also could not stick around for the wicked council to use me as a scapegoat over a crime I did not
commit.
This was for the best.
As heart-wrenching as it was, it was for the best.
I hoped he would forgive me for this.