dreams whisper through silence by mae 336

Chapter 336 

Ellie’s POV 

My mother laid on the cold metal table, just as lifeless as the steel beneath her. Her hair fanned out around her, her face pale and peaceful. 

It wasn’t her. Not really. The part that was my mother, her soul, was somewhere far better than this life had ever afforded her. All that was left was a body. 

That was what I told myself, at least, to keep from crying. 

I stood there for a long time after the medics left, just looking at her. The blood had been cleaned from her throat, but the wound was still visible, a dark gash that cut from one side to the other. Aside from that, she had no other injuries. Gareth had made sure of that. 

I reached out and took her hand. It was cold and stiff. 

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you this time, Mom.” 

Just then, the door burst open behind me. 

I turned. Vivian was standing in the doorway, her face streaked with tears, her hair disheveled. She let out a wail and rushed past me, shoving me out of the way and throwing herself across my mother’s body. 

“No!” she sobbed. “No, no, no! Mom, please! Wake up!” 

I stepped back and watched her. 

She was good. I had to give her that. The tears looked real. The trembling in her voice sounded genuine. If I didn’t know better, I might have believed she actually cared that our mother was gone. 

But I did know better. I’d lived it once, and now I was living it again. Our mother had only ever been collateral for Vivian. Something to use to her advantage when the moment felt right. 

Vivian clutched at my mother’s nightgown, her shoulders shaking. “This can’t be happening,” she cried. ” She can’t be gone. She can’t-” 

She looked up at me, and for a second, I saw something flicker across her face. Something cold and calculating. Then it was gone, replaced by more tears. 

“Why aren’t you crying?” she asked shrilly. “Why are you just standing there?” 

I didn’t answer. 

“She’s our mother, Ellie!” Vivian said. She stood and took a step toward me. “How can you be so heartless 

I looked at her. Really looked at her. The red eyes. The trembling lips. The performance. 

“I know what you did,” I said quietly. 

Vivian froze. “What?” 

“You’re the reason she’s dead.” 

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“That’s not true,” Vivian said quickly. “I would never do something like that.” 

“Stop lying.” 

“I’m not lying!” Her voice rose. “Why do you always do this? Why do you always blame me for everything?” 

“Because you’re always involved,” I said. “Every step of the way, Vivian, you’re there, hiding behind corners and in bushes like a… like a snake waiting to strike.” 

“That’s insane.” Vivian wiped her eyes. “You’re just trying to make yourself feel better. You couldn’t save her, so now you’re looking for someone else to blame.” 

I laughed. It came out hollow and humorless. 

“You really think I’m that stupid?” I said. “You think I don’t see through this act?” 

“It’s not an act!” Vivian shouted. “I loved her! She was my mother too!” 

“Then where were you when rogues took her? Were you cozied up in my bed, or Dominic’s?” 

Vivian’s face went pale. She shook her head and looked away, pressing a handkerchief to her face. 

“You’re a monster,” she murmured. “You’ve always hated me. Ever since we were kids. And now you’re trying to turn our mother’s death into another excuse to push me away. 

I turned back to my mother’s body and picked up her hand one more time. 

“Believe whatever you want,” I said. “I don’t care anymore.” 

Leaning down, I pressed a kiss to my mother’s hand. Then, I let go and walked toward the door. 

I left the morgue and walked back up the stairs, through the hallway, and outside. The sun was too bright. It made my head hurt. 

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and scrolled through my contacts until I found Lucas’s name. I sent him a quick text with few details, too exhausted to do much else. 

“Come as soon as you can,” I wrote. “I’m leaving this pack.” 

୮ 

I hit send, and a few moments later, three bubbles popped up. His response came quickly: “On my way.” 

I shut my phone off and headed inside. 

The house was bustling with people. Dominic was barking orders somewhere down the hall, dealing with 

the aftermath of a rogue infiltrating pack boundaries and killing the Luna’s mother. I ignored the stares and went straight upstairs, miraculously avoiding him the entire way. 

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