"Hey, what's wrong?" Grey links wrapping an arm around my shoulder rubbing it softly. But I can't react, can't speak.

I can't tell him i'm alright because I'm not.

Jared catches my terrified stare and smirks for half a second, though I seem to be the only one who notices.

"Willa, I needed to talk to you," Jared says out of the blue walking up to Greyson and I. As he gets closer I instinctively press more of my weight into Greyson's side.

He suddenly gets too close for my comfort and I flinch back, this instantly makes Greyson growl letting Jared know to stop.

Jared stops abruptly to Greyson's threatening growl, clenching his jaw in frustration. He huffs out a large breath before looking to me. I shutter under his gaze. "Look Willa, I came home early because I wanted to apologize." My eyebrows scrunch as I gather Greys shirt material in my fingertips.

Apologize? Is he for real? I don't buy a single word.

"If I would've known you were Greyson's mate, I wouldn't of tortured you in the first place. I'll admit I could've been easier with you-" no shit "-but that was my job. So I just wanted to tell you that I hope we can step past that and become friends." He finishes and my gaze just hardens on him.

He said absolutely nothing about the part where he almost killed me a second time. Am I the only one who caught no such sincerness in his tone?

But regardless if I actually forgive him or not, I was to comply and not tell a soul about the night be beat me senseless.

"I-I forgive-ve you," I stutter out. Wondering how I even mustered the words.

He smiles slowly, dangerously. I see the evil glint in his eye.

His gaze soon travels to Greyson, "Do I get forgiveness from you too?"

Looking up to Greyson I see he's already looking down to me. He's thinking, I can see the clock work turning behind his eyes.

Slowly he turns his head away from me, taking a deep breath him and Jared make eye contact.

Jared raises his eyebrows waiting for an answer. Grinning as Greyson takes a breath to speak. "It's good to have you back bud," he tells Jared with a smile.

I have to contain myself as Greyson basically welcomed him back with open arms. This can't be happening.

My mate forgiving the mister who almost killed me.

But it's not like Greyson knows anyways. "I made breakfast for everyone!" Koda shouts suddenly. I contain the flinch that was pleading to be let out.

I have to sell the part, I have to look fine. I have to look like Jared and I are fine and dandy.

Greyson leads me to the table, still giving me reassuring looks and smiles.

He was best friends with Jared before I came around, of course he's going to forgive him.

It's not his fault, Jared's a better actor than I.

I sit in between Faye and Grey, as Seb, Koda, and Jared sit across from us. But of course Jared sits directly across from me.

I swallow harshly as I slowly place eggs into my mouth. I stare down at my plate as everyone carries on with their conversation, laughing and smiling at each other.

Out of my peripheral I can see Faye peering at me repeatedly from the corner of her eyes.

My eyes stay on my plate, but I see her squirm uneasily.

Faye slyly kicks Greyson's feet, making sure not to touch me, though I can feel her moment.

Grey grunts with the kick and looks at Faye as she motions towards me. He furrows his brows looking to me before glancing quickly back up to his sister.

Though I still fake I can't see anything they're doing.

"Hey," Greyson speaks up softly. "Is everything alright?" Everyone instantly stops their conversations and looks towards me.

My head slowly goes up, I must look like a deer caught in headlights. I make eye contact with Faye, then Seb, Koda, Greyson, and finally Jared. They all look confused, or concerned. But as I look to Jared he raises his eyebrow and smirks.

I gulp nervously under his stare.

I keep Jared's gaze too long and Greyson's eyes travel between him and I. I see Grey squint trying to make sense on why I'm staring at him.

So quickly to get his attention off of Jared and I, I snap my head towards him placing my hand on his leg.

His attention is then transferred fully to me. I smile at him, even though I'd much rather frown and keep quiet. "I'm fine!" I tell him happily hoping to god it convinced him.

We stay locked in each others gaze for a second, him studying me, while I try not to crack under his intimidating blue eyes.

Finally after what felt like years, he smiles. He places his hand upon mine which was still resting on his leg. He gives it a small squeeze, "Okay." He whispers pulling his attention back down to his food.

Damn, that was hard trying to keep a smile on my face.

Everyone continues eating, as do I.

Quiet mumble are passes between people. Laughs are heard here and there.

My eyes clench shut as my head squeezes under pain. At the back of my brain I feel a clawing sort of sensation as I rest my forehead in my palm. Resisting the urge to groan I feel the metaphorical hand grip around my brain. I breathe out a shaky breath once I realize what just happened.

A forced link.

I give Greyson a nod of reassuring when he looks at me concerned.

I bite my lip harshly as Jared's voice appears in my head. "Sorry for forcing the link, but I knew you wouldn't of accepted it if I offered." A shattered breath releases from my mouth as I refuse to look at him.

"What do you want?" I say boldly state.

"To talk to you of course!" He says in a fakery voice.

"Why?"

He growls through the link making me shrink in size, "Because you need to act better." He spits bitterly. "With you're shit acting your happy little mate will figure it out, and you know what happens if he finds out." I look up to him quickly making him grin. "I suggest you wipe up that tear that's about to fall before I decide we need a heart to heart outside, alone. I just got back, I wouldn't want to do the laundry already. I mean, my shirt would be soaked in blood." His smirk deadly as he puts a forkful of food to his mouth.

Suddenly I feel a tear streak down my face. I've never wiped a tear away so fast in my life.

That's it I can't take it, I can't sit across from Jared as if nothing happened.

If I continue any longer I'll break down and Greyson will definitely put two and two together.

"I'll be back, i'm going to the restroom," I tell the table, leaving fast so no one could ask why.

After I leave the dining room I sprint upstairs to Greyson and I's bedroom. It has the farthest away bathroom so no one can hear me from the table.

As soon as I get there I slam the door shut locking it, before crumbling to the ground.

This is too much, I can't handle this.

I can't go back and be the weak little human I was before.

I'm stronger now, right?

I feel tears streak down my face. They don't stop either.

Blinking rapidly, I find my knuckles bloodied and bruising.

Looking to them confused I find blood and cracks on the tile floor.

I punched the floor?

Huffing out a frustrated breath I quickly get up off the ground. I look to myself in the mirror briefly before reaching for the toilet paper. Wetting it with water. I scrub the tiles until there's no trace of red.

Then I scrub my hands under the faucet, my knuckles already healed.

I can't cry anymore, I have to show everyone I'm alright. That there's nothing wrong.

"Willa?" Greyson's voice suddenly speaks up on the other side of the door. I jump into the air surprised by his sudden voice.

I flush all the blood ridden toilet paper down the toilet before checking myself in the mirror.

I curse silently looking at my red face and puffy eyes. It's obvious I've been crying.

"One second," I tell him before splashing my face with water. Then fanning my face, I shake my head just deciding I'll slide past Greyson so he doesn't notice.

Quickly I run to the door, opening it up. I avert my eyes from his when I see his expression. "Hey," I say quietly.

"What aren't you telling me," he instantly says. I almost choke as I slip past him. I need to get away from him before he figures everything out.

"Nothing?" I fake idiocy walking into the bedroom. He follows on my heels as I keep walking with no intention of stopping.

But I quickly feel a warm hand incase around mine yanking me back. "What. Is. Wrong?" He grinds out in between his teeth.

I look up to him with a hard stare. "Nothing. Is. Wrong." I tell him in the same time testing him.

He growls stroking his hand through his dark hair, "I don't believe you!" He yells. I flinch back still skittish from everything that's happened today.

Realization crosses his eyes suddenly, and they soften. "It's Jared isn't it?" Grey asks.

"Jared?" I act like I don't know anything. Faking stupidity is the best way to go.

Greyson sighs stepping closer to me, he raises his hand causing me to flinch.

His eyes instantly grow concerned as he slows his movements. I blink slowly as he watches me. He softly grabs my face in his hands.

He places his thumb under my eye, slightly pressing down onto it.

I feel my eyebrows furrow. "You've been crying," he suddenly says. "Your eyes are puffy."

I stare innocently, helplessly into his eyes. Scared almost that he'll piece it all together.

His eyes go large for half a second before he controls himself.

His hand travels down my face to the nape of my neck. "You'll probably never actually forgive Jared for what he's done. Forgiving him after what happened the first day you got here might be hard. I get it," he smiles softly.

I sigh thanking god that he didn't figure it out.

Nodding slowly to him I can't ignore the sliver of me that wanted him to find out so he could do something to Jared.

I shake it away instantly because if Greyson found out, he'd get himself killed. All because of me.

He pulls me close kissing my forehead tenderly before leading me back downstairs.

It's better that I'm the one getting hurt and not them.

Better I than them.