Page 15

CHAPTER 15

A s the days passed, Nathan seemed to dote on me. He brought me flowers every day before he took me to dinner or ate with my family.

But he was possessive. He watched me too closely. He didn't like it when I talked to other people.

I was on edge all the time. I'd wake up at night thinking I could hear Brennan's voice, but I never could. I'd smell his scent and imagine him standing beside me, but my door would open, and Nathan would be there, staring down at me.

It felt as if I couldn't get away from Nathan, even in my sleep.

Brennan texted me every day, making plans for when we'd leave together. I didn't want him to know how scared I was. He couldn’t help me until it was time to move, because if he did, we’d endanger both packs.

Then, one night, I was messaging Brennan when I heard heavy footsteps on the stairs. It was Nathan; my mother was out, Rose was reading through her stack of library books, and Aiden was hanging out with Lawson playing video games in his room.

Nathan entered the room as I was stuffing the phone under my pillow.

But he moved in a blur of speed. He grabbed the phone and scrolled through the last few messages I hadn’t yet deleted. It was just Brennan checking in on me and telling me a funny story about how he’d accidentally pissed off Stone.

My stomach shrank, expecting him to be angry, but when he raised his head his face was a mask of fury. His eyes looked dark, like they belonged to a demon. He threw the phone to the ground and advanced toward me.

"I can't believe you!" he shouted, spittle flying from his lips as he towered over me. "You think you can run around on me with some guy? You think you're too good for me?"

He reached forward and grabbed my arm tightly, squeezing it until I gasped in pain. Tears filled my eyes as I tried to pull away, but he had an iron grip on me and wouldn't let go.

My heart raced as I looked up at him, terrified of what he might do next. His face contorted in rage as he drew closer to me and then suddenly let go of my arm. He turned all his attention to smashing my cell phone. He stomped on it over and over.

He was still screaming at me, but I no longer heard what he said.

All I could think was that if I didn't escape him, one day he'd smash his boot into my head like that, crushing not just my electronics but my face. I felt numb.

Aiden came running down the hall. He ran into the bedroom, and his eyes went wide when he saw Nathan standing near me with his face a mask of barely contained rage.

"What the hell?" Aiden shouted.

Lawson was right behind Aiden. "What's going on?"

Nathan stooped and scooped up the pile of my cell phone parts. At least he had barely looked at the phone before he flipped his shit, and he had ruined any chance at obtaining my old messages, where Brennan and I had plotted our escape.

He grabbed my wrist roughly and lifted my hand, pouring what was left of my mangled cell phone into my palm. His eyes blazed into mine. "There is no one for me but you, Amelia. And there's no one for you but me. If you ever fucking talk to whoever this was again, I will kill him. Do you understand me?"

I wanted to tell him to fuck off, but what mattered most now was surviving the next few moments. Lawson and Aiden had balled-up fists, but I wasn't sure they could take a full-grown alpha wolf, even the two of them.

And no matter what Nathan did, he'd have the backing of the pack. They'd see it as me cheating on him, and that was unforgivable. Especially against an alpha. Once we were married, I'd produce the heir. The thought made me sick.

"Do you still want to marry me?" I asked, my voice coming out trembling. Please say no.

He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me close, and Aiden and Lawson tensed.

"Nothing could ever keep me from marrying you," he growled. "And anyone who tries will suffer."

He pressed his lips to mine in a suffocating kiss. His lips tasted salty, his breath was hot and heavy, and all I wanted was to pull away, but he was gripping me too tightly.

I gasped as he let go.

Nathan turned to Aiden. "Make sure she doesn't see him again. I'll hold you responsible."

Aiden nodded, but I had the feeling it was just to get Nathan away from us.

Nathan stormed out of the house, slamming the front door behind him.

Lawson came up behind me and held out his hand as it to touch my shoulder and comfort me, but he hesitated. "Amelia, he's your mate. He can't help being possessive."

I shook my head. "He doesn't understand. I’ve already got a mate bond with someone else. I can't go through with the wedding."

Aiden looked at Lawson, and they shared a grim look.

"You guys have to help me get out of here.” The catch in my voice shook me, but I couldn’t hold it back. "I have to have a way to talk to Brennan, to make plans..."

"Amelia, we can't," Aiden said softly. "We're sorry. He's our alpha and he--"

"You'll stand there and watch him kill me?" My voice rose wildly. “He's crazy. He's going to get worse."

Aiden bit his lip, but Lawson finally gripped my shoulder. "I don't think he's going to let you go, but…what do we need to do?"

We made plans and all the while, he talked to me like I was fragile. Aiden paced the room, looking frustrated but I knew my little brother. He’d always have my back, just like I’d always have his.

Lawson pushed the curtain aside and glanced out the window. "He's watching. Well, he's got people watching."

"We'll need a diversion," Aiden said thoughtfully.

"You'll help me?" I looked between them, needing to hear the words out loud.

"Of course," Lawson said. "You're still my best friend. I’ll always have your back, Amelia."

I looked to Aiden, who said slowly, “If you don’t want to marry him, I’ll help. But I want to know what I’m getting into.. and what you’re getting into. Who is this guy, Amelia?”

So I told them all about Brennan, worried they wouldn’t help me once they knew he was the alpha of a rival pack. I had to be honest or it wouldn’t be fair to ask them to help.

After a few long, tense seconds, Lawson said slowly, “It sounds like… if this Brennan is who you think he is… he’ll come and get you if we don’t help you escape.”

I hoped so with all my heart.

“So if we want to avoid a war that will mean casualties for our pack too,” Lawson finished, “we need to help you.”

He looked at Aiden, who nodded.

“We’ll do it,” Aiden said. “Whatever comes next.”

But there was a grim cast to his face that told me he expected bloodshed.