"Where's Erica?" I demanded, my voice cracking under the weight of my concern.
"Resting in Kaitlyn's room, after what you did," my father snarled, not bothering to hide his disdain.
"Listen, I wasn't angry at Erica," I tried to explain quickly, desperate for them to understand. "I need her to know that." Without waiting for a response, I sprinted towards Kaitlyn's room, hope and fear warring within me as I slammed the door open. But to my dismay, the room was empty.
"Kaitlyn, where is she?" I mind-linked urgently, but all I received was a cold, furious response.
"Fuck off, Liam," she snapped, shutting down our mental connection before I could plead my case any further. Cursing inwardly, I stepped back into the hallway, feeling helpless and lost. It was then that Damon emerged from my room, a small smile playing on his lips. Confused by his unexpected expression, I turned towards him.
"We have to go now if we want my friend to help us," he informed me, optimism shining in his eyes.
"But I can't find Erica," I said, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. As if on cue, my father rounded the corner, his face etched with concern. "Where are you going?"
"Damon has a witch friend in Cornwall who might be able to help us."
"Fine," my father relented. "You two go, and I'll find Erica. I'll explain everything to her and make sure she's safe."
“Thank you,” I said, and he shook his head.
“I’m doing it for her son. When you get back, you will need to do some serious grovelling,” My father said. I nodded. I would do anything that Erica wanted me to do to show her how much she meant to me.
Chapter 53
Erica
Tearsrolleddownmycheeks as I sat on the cold floor, feeling the weight of rejection crushing me. I was certain that Liam would cast me aside once he had the chance, and I didn't want to make it easy for him. Desperation clawed at my chest as I looked up from my huddled position, finding sympathetic faces surrounding me. But their well-meaning attempts at consolation only made me feel more suffocated.
"Erica," Alpha Declan's voice broke through the haze of my misery. "Come, let's go back upstairs to the Alpha floor. You'll be more comfortable there." His words sent a jolt of panic through me. The thought of returning to the place where I had felt so exposed and vulnerable made my heart race with dread. My fight-or-flight instincts kicked in, and despite the tears still streaming down my face, I pushed myself off the ground with surprising force.
"No!" I screamed, my voice shaking. "I can't go back there! I won't!" Without thinking, I bolted down the hallway, ignoring the shocked expressions of those around me. I needed to get out of the Pack house, away from the constant reminders of my impending rejection, but my escape was short-lived.
Alpha Declan and a few others intercepted me before I could reach the exit, their faces etched with concern. Their hands gripped my arms firmly but gently, holding me back from running further.
"Erica, please," Alpha Declan implored, his dark eyes filled with sincerity. "It isn't safe for you to leave right now. We need to stick together." My breaths came in ragged gasps as I struggled against their hold. The fear of staying and the desperation to leave waged war within me, but ultimately, I knew I couldn't simply flee the situation. With a resigned sob, I stopped struggling and nodded, feeling the crushing weight of my reality settle back onto my shoulders.
"Erica," Alpha Declan said softly, his voice a soothing balm on my frayed nerves. "You need to come upstairs. It's not safe for you to be down here." Beta Gregg nodded in agreement, his warm brown eyes filled with understanding. I hesitated, torn between the urge to flee and the knowledge that they were right. With a shaky breath, I finally gave in, my heart thudding painfully in my chest.
"Ok," I whispered, allowing them to lead me back to the Alpha floor. As we climbed the stairs, every step felt like another nail in my coffin, driving me closer to the inevitable rejection that awaited me at the end of this tragic tale.
Entering the Alpha living room, I found Luna waiting for me, her arms open in a welcoming embrace. Despite my fears, I couldn't help but be drawn to her warmth, as if she were a beacon in the stormy sea of my emotions.
"Everything is going to be okay, Erica," she murmured into my hair as I clung to her, my teardrops staining her shoulder.
"How can it be?" I choked out, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. The weight of my situation bore down on me, making it difficult to breathe, let alone speak.
"Sometimes, things have a way of working themselves out," Luna replied softly, her words offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. "For now, why don't you get some rest? You've been through so much." Kaitlyn, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward with a gentle smile.
"You can stay in my room, if you'd like," she offered, her dark eyes radiating warmth and support.
"Thank you," I whispered.
Kaitlyn's bedroom door clicked shut behind us, the sound echoing in the dimly lit space. The room was cosy and inviting, but my heart still pounded with anxiety.
"Kaitlyn, you don't have to stay," I murmured, my voice barely audible as I stared at the plush carpet beneath my feet. "I can manage on my own." Her grin was both playful and understanding.
"Why? So you can leave when no one is watching?" She raised an eyebrow, her dark eyes dancing with amusement. Despite my worry, a reluctant smile tugged at my lips. Kaitlyn had seen right through me; she knew running away had crossed my mind more than once since coming to the pack house. I couldn't deny it, that was my plan.
"Doesn't matter," Kaitlyn said with a shrug, her tone suddenly serious. "We're leaving, anyway." My eyes widened in surprise.
