Chapter 30

Damien POV

Something’s wrong, I can sense it but I can also see by the expression on Winter’s face that today
hasn’t gone as well as I’d hoped, even with myself and Johntahon looking over her. She’s so quiet,
walking slowly back to the car. She hasn’t even looked me in the eyes, not once, and I feel concerned
about her. Had something bad happened to her today? I’d struggled to find her at lunch, having looked
in the cafeteria and then outside. Apparently, Johnathon had been doing the same thing. I hadn’t
considered the fact that Winter wouldn’t have come and got me, or that she would sit outside,
especially with the loss of her voice.

I want to ask, demand answers, but she stares out the window and I sigh, starting the car. Maybe she
will write

down everything when we get back home.

“Winter” I say quietly while driving and she finally looks right at me as I ponder the words to say. I don’t
want to upset her. “Did something happen?”

She fidgets with her hands and stares down at the floor, tentatively shaking her head. I sigh. She’s
always been a

terrible liar. Clearly there was something she wasn’t telling me.

“Winter, were you hurt?”

She shakes her head more adamently. I wish I could believe her but there’s such a look on her face, it’s
clear she’s trying to hide something from me. I just wish she trusted me enough to tell me what it was.



We pull into the driveway and she almost scrambles out of her side, rushing to the front door and
pulling on the

handle. I raise my eyebrows. Ever since father was conveniently taken by Johnathon’s men, I’d been
locking the door. We didn’t have to worry about father coming back, but I was still worried about our
safety. I take my time getting out of the car as she waits for me, her arms folded, looking impatient.

“I’m coming, I’m coming” I grumble and she stamps one foot on the ground. I pull out the front door key
from my

pocket and unlock the door, pushing it open and watching as she almost bolts upstairs. I debate
whether to go after

her and decide it might be best to let her have some space.

I closed the door and locked it from the inside, going into the kitchen and staring miserably at the
contents.

There’s barely anything in the refrigerator and I curse. It looks like I’ll have to start picking up some
hours at my

casual job. Especially if I want to keep myself and Winter fed with a roof over our heads.

My phone rings and I absently answer it, holding it to my ear as I rifle through cupboards.

“Did she make it home safe?” the voice asks and I roll my eyes. Of course it’s Johnathon. He’d
practically forced

me to give him my phone number. Stupid Alpha tone that you can’t ignore, I think with a huff. He used it
to his



advantage.

“Yes she’s made it home” I said, a little irritable. As if I can’t take care of my own sister, I think a tad

sarcastically.

“Good” he exhales and pauses for a moment “how is she?”

He sounds as if he genuinely cares and all I can think about is how he rejected her. He seems
remorseful

now.

“I don’t know” I said a little ungraciously, “she seems to be alright but she won’t talk to me about today
and

think something must have happened.”

I glanced up at the stairs and lowered my voice. “She’s hiding something.”

“Keep an eye on her” he instructs, and I almost want to swear at him. What did he think I was going to
do? Leave

her alone. I wasn’t even that stupid.

“Right well I need to go”, I snapped and before he could answer, I hung up the phone. It’s takeout
tonight, I

decide, looking around the dismal kitchen and shuddering. The whole house still smells like dad and I
begin to open



up some windows, let some fresh air in. The whole place still reeks of alcohol and cigarettes. It will take
months

before it smells nice again. I guess I’ll have to start cleaning the house properly at some stage. Winter
can help.

glanced upstairs. She still hasn’t come down and I slowly walk upwards. I try to be as quiet as I can.
For all know, she’s showering and that’s why she’s taking so long, but as I walk down the hallway I hear
something surprising, something I wasn’t expecting to hear. It’s a strange noise and I know it’s because
she’s mute, but there’s no mistaking it. It’s muffled but I still make it out. She’s crying to herself and I
find myself on the other side of the door, hand up to knock and hesitating. She’d clearly come up to her
room to cry and I don’t know what to do. Do I knock on the door and go inside or do I leave her to cry?
I’m not good with crying females and I feel slightly panicked

aus

the more I hesitate.

Finally, I can’t stand it anymore. I knock and then barrel inside. It’s not like she can answer anyway and
she turns

to look at me startled, tears flowing down her pale cheeks. I knelt, taking her face in my hands.
“Winter”, I say quietly, “whatever it is you know you can talk to me, right? I’m not going to abandon you,
I just want you to trust me enough to tell me what’s wrong.”

She reaches over and hastily grabs her notebook, scribbling something inside.

It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that I can’t tell you. Sorry Damien



She stares at me with those big blue eyes of hers as I read. I get back up and walk to the doorway. I’m
not going to push. “Well, when you’re ready come downstairs, I’m ordering take out for dinner again.”

I walk downstairs with a heavy heart. I’ve no sooner closed the door before my little sister starts
weeping again,

Soor

noisily and my heart gives a pang. What is it that’s making her act this way and making her so
miserable? It’s times

like these that I wish mother was still alive, she would know how to comfort Winter in a heartbeat. She’d
always been

good with us as children. Whereas I feel useless as the older brother who’s clearly out of his depth
when it comes to

helping or comforting my little sister.


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