Chapter 49

Amelia POV

The SUV’s wipers squeaked over the windshield, smearing rain into dirty streaks. I clutched the map in my lap, heart racing every time Richard's hand tightened on the wheel. He hadn't said more than five words to me since we left. I could hear the rain pounding the metal roof, drowning out my thoughts. My mouth was dry.

"What's the plan when we get there?" I tried.

He grunted. "Inspection."

Nothing else. He wouldn’t look at me. Wouldn’t talk. The silence grew heavier, thicker with every mile.

The road narrowed, flanked by dripping pines. I felt the SUV pull a little and frowned. "Richard there's something wrong."

He didn't even look at me. "It's fine." I

snapped back, "Pull over."

He shook his head. "No."

My grip tightened. "Richard pull over. I can hear it grinding."

"Amelia stop."

"Richard—"

"I SAID NO."

The thunder boomed.

Then the engine shrieked. Thunder boomed so loud I jumped. A sharp rattle under the car made me grip the door handle. Richard cursed and wrestled the SUV to the shoulder. The hood hissed steam. Rain lashed the glass.

"Perfect," I muttered under my breath.

He slammed his door. I followed, shivering as rain soaked me instantly. "Richard—"

"Don’t," he snapped, jerking the hood up. Steam billowed. He banged it shut, water dripping off his jaw. "Stay in the car."

I didn’t. "We need to call for backup. We're not walking anywhere in this."

He didn’t answer. He just turned to me, eyes flashing. "Why do you always have to argue?"

"Because you don't tell me anything! This inspection, this whole trip, you didn't even explain what you wanted from me!"

His voice was ragged. "I wanted to see you work. See what you'd do under pressure."

My mouth fell open. "You're testing me?"

He didn’t deny it. Lightning illuminated his face, hard and closed off.

Rain plastered my hair to my face. I swallowed hard. "You don’t trust me."

He shook his head. "I trust you too much. That’s the problem."

I froze. The words cut sharper than anything else. My voice cracked. "What the hell does that mean?"

He let out a breath like it hurt. "I can’t think straight when you’re around. I forget the stakes. I forget my job. I wanted this trip to remind me why I can’t."

My hands shook. "Because of the rumors? Because they think I'm your weakness?"

He met my eyes. "Because I think they might be right."

I felt everything inside me go cold. My nails dug into my palms. “Oh that is such bullshit."

He winced. His voice dropped. "Well your mother was exiled for treason. So I didn't think it was such an awful idea to test where your loyalties lie."

The rain fell silent in my ears. I blinked water from my lashes. "What?"

He swallowed. "Council records. Blacked-out files. They said she was dangerous. Unnatural alliances."

My head spun. "You think I knew that? You think I’m here to do the same thing?"

He didn’t answer right away. Just stared at me. Searching. "Did you?"

I laughed. It was an ugly, strangled sound. "No. I didn't know. Thank you for telling me now. In the fucking rain."

He closed his eyes. "I needed to see your reaction."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I needed to know if you knew. You're not that great at hiding your emotions, Amelia. If were, there wouldn't be whispers about me spreading through the House like wildfire."

I shoved him hard. My chest heaved. "Fuck you, Richard."

He didn’t move. Rain ran down his face. "Good. Be angry. Be real. Don’t lie to me."

My voice shook. "I’m not lying. I have never lied to you. I didn’t know. I don’t know anything about her. I never even know her."

He nodded once. Rain pounded between us. "I believe you."

Silence fell. I turned away, hugging myself. "We need a tow. We’re not going anywhere tonight."

He nodded. "Get in the car. You’ll catch a cold."

Richard POV

I watched her from the motel lobby while I checked us in. She was outside, under the awning, arms wrapped around herself like armor. She was completely soaked from our 15-minute walk, but clearly wasn’t letting herself be phased by any of it. She didn’t even flinch when thunder shook the building.

My chest hurt. Her face when I'd told her. She hadn’t known. I’d seen the horror, the betrayal in her eyes. I’d wanted the truth, but I hadn’t wanted to break her.

She wouldn’t look at me when I handed her the key. We walked to the room in silence. It was a dump. Two beds shoved together, damp carpet, the neon sign blinking through grimy curtains. The last room they had available. I guess we weren’t the only people forced into this shithole because of the weather.

She went straight to the bathroom. The lock clicked. The shower came on. I sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on my knees. My wolf whined. Miserable. Wrong. It didn’t want to suspect her. It wanted her close. Wanted to protect her. But I'd hurt her. Again.

Elsa’s message rattled in my head. I can help you figure it out. I didn’t want her help. I didn’t want anyone's help. I wanted Amelia’s truth. But I’d torn it out of her with claws instead of words.

She came out in a cloud of steam. Wet hair plastered to her neck. She wouldn’t look at me. Her voice was quiet, small. "Which side do you want?"

I shook my head. Voice rough. "Take whichever. I don’t care."

She chose the side furthest from the door. Sat on the edge. Arms around her knees. I watched her in the warped reflection of the TV. She was shaking. I opened my mouth to apologize, but the words died in my throat.

We sat in silence. The rain pounded on the tin roof. The walls felt too close. I couldn’t stand it.

I forced the words out. "I won’t doubt you again."

She didn’t answer. Didn’t even move. She didn’t believe me. I didn’t blame her.

My wolf snarled. I closed my eyes, pressing a hand to my chest. I hadn’t meant to break her. I’d wanted to protect us. Protect the House. But I didn’t know how to do both anymore.

I’d brought her here to test her. To see if she’d betray me. And she hadn’t even known the crime I was accusing her of.

I watched her for a long time. She turned away, voice cracking.

"Did you find anything else about her? About me? Just tell me. I want to know." She sounded vulnerable.

"I've never really had a sense of who I am," she went on, voice trembling.

"Everything I've ever done has been trying to prove I'm not just the orphan they took pity on. Jenny made me feel like I'm dirt under her shoes. Adam treated me like I'm a danger. Even you, I feel like I have to be perfect so you won't regret giving me this job.”

She hesitated, but continued. “Nothing about me has ever felt like it was mine. It's always about being useful. About making up for something. I just want to know something real about myself that won't change or leave. Something in my blood. Something that can't be taken away."

Watching her try not to cry. Watching the walls she’d built shudder. I realized then I'd have to earn it back. All of it. The trust. The partnership. Her.