Awakening the Beast Read Online Free Page A

on going west.”
    Tears slipped down Illiana’s cheeks. The guilt of it weighed on her shoulders. The rush of the elements roared in her head like a waterfall and she could not shut them out. She even covered her ears with her hands and shook her head. “It’s all my fault.”
    * * * *
    Belik caught Illiana and kept her from collapsing after what her mother had revealed. Ohanzee had her other arm and together they led her over to another chair so she could sit. The full implication of what the leader of the flock said hit him. The forest and all of the ravens had been decimated all because they had gone to the cougar clan, all because he was tired of being alone during their journey. He shook his head and felt the sting of tears gathering in his eyes.
    “It’s all my fault,” Illiana said again.
    He hugged her closer. “No. It’s mine. I was the one who wanted to go with Rama into the village.”
    She stared at him and he saw the guilt in her eyes. “No. I wrote the letter.”
    “Wait. What are you talking about? What happened exactly?” Lelana asked.
    Belik looked at Lelana. “We were camping for the night and the next morning we were surprised by Rama. She invited us to her village. We got there and when they discovered Illiana was two-natured, Rama did the only thing that she could think of to get us out of there. And poor Marta, they were going to kill her, too, but Rama gave her little sister to us to be saved. She’s happy with a family in the village here. After walking for three weeks, I wanted to meet other shifters. I noticed the vultures while we traveled along the way, but I never thought…”
    “It’s not your fault. Either of you. You didn’t know what was going to happen,” Ohanzee said and squeezed Belik’s shoulder for support.
    Ranolo knelt before Illiana and took her hand. “He’s right. You didn’t know what would happen when you wrote that note to send the cougars to the forest. You can’t blame yourself.”
    “Can’t they?” Lelana huffed.
    Hearing that was a smack in the face and a cold chill went through Belik. He never thought he would hear something like that from Lelana. He understood that she had endured some hardships, but he never suspected that she would put all the responsibility onto Illiana. He curled his hands into fists and held onto his anger, forcing out his words. “I’ve always respected you even when you didn’t take your daughter’s side when she needed you regarding Christopher. You let the one man she’s loved since she was a child slip through her fingers. You didn’t even show up when we left the forest. Coret was the one to see her off. How could you not even care about Illiana? Now you’re placing guilt on Illiana when even Coret saw some darkness around the trading. How was Illiana to know that the cougars and vultures would overtake the forest? When we met them, their village could hardly be called a village. Their homes were in much need of mending. Their children were dirty and they didn’t show they had enough force to do much harm to a whole flock.”
    “If it wasn’t for the letter that Illiana wrote, they never would’ve come. And my reasons for not seeing you off are my own.”
    “Enough! All of you, enough! We can argue this many ways and place blame on this one and that one. The blame really falls on the vultures and the cougars. Sometimes things happen. Lelana, if the only reason you came here was to place all your contrition on Illiana, then I suggest you leave. I’m here to make sure that our daughter is safe and happy. Look at what you’ve done.” Ranolo gestured to Illiana.
    Belik saw she had slumped forward in the chair. Illiana had a vacant look to her gaze. “Illiana, you can’t do this. You can’t run away from what’s been said. It wasn’t your fault,” he pleaded with her.
    Illiana’s eyes focused on his momentarily and she whispered. “It is. You heard her. She blames me for everything. They lost their lives