"Ah, I hate cold callers too," he quipped, trying to lighten the mood. But it was the wrong thing to say, and Frankie's fist shot out, connecting with his arm in a hard punch.
"Idiot," she muttered, glaring at him. "This isn't the time for jokes." Although I couldn’t help a small smile for his efforts.
"Clear!" Frankie called out, and Kaitlyn entered the room, her worried expression replaced by relief when she saw me. Gen followed closely behind her, and as soon as she laid eyes on me, she rushed forward, her arms outstretched.
"Erica!" she cried, wrapping me in a tight embrace. I clung to her desperately, burying my tear-streaked face against her shoulder as I sobbed. She held me close, her warmth seeping into my chilled bones, and whispered soothing words into my ear.
"Hey, it's going to be okay," she murmured, her voice steady even as her own emotions threatened to overwhelm her. "I'm here for you, Erica. We all are." Through my tears, I looked up at my friends, their faces etched with concern and love. In that moment, I realised just how much they cared for me, and it was both comforting and heartbreaking. Comforting because I knew I wasn't alone in my pain, but heartbreaking because I didn't want them to suffer with me.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys."
"You'll never have to find out," Gen promised, her grip on me tightening as if to shield me from all the hurt in the world.
"Come on, Erica. Let's watch a movie together," Gen suggested gently, her eyes filled with understanding and concern.
"Fine," I muttered, wiping the remnants of my tears away with the back of my hand. I knew she was only trying to help, but every part of me felt heavy, as if weighted down by the burden of my own emotions. We settled down on the bed, while Jacob and Kaitlyn grabbed chairs from around the room, pulling them closer so we could all be together. Frankie dimmed the lights, and the movie began to play on the screen across the room. It was an old favourite, one that usually made me laugh, but tonight, the familiar scenes only served to remind me of happier times. As the movie played, I couldn't help but get lost in my thoughts. My heart ached for Liam, for the love I thought we had, and I couldn't shake the fear that he would reject me, leaving me alone and broken. I tried to focus on the film, to let the laughter of my friends wash over me and bring some light into the darkness, but it felt like I was being swallowed whole by despair. The hours slipped away, and we watched movie after movie, none of them managing to lift the heavy cloud that hung over me. Eventually, exhaustion claimed me, and I drifted off into a fitful sleep, haunted by dreams of Liam hunting me down, his face twisted with anger and disgust. I woke the next morning, my body tangled in sweat-soaked sheets again, and my heart pounding in terror. The nightmares had been relentless, tormenting me with visions of rejection and abandonment. I glanced over at my friends, still asleep in their chairs or curled up beside me on the bed, and wondered how they could stand to be around me when I was such a mess.
This same cycle went on for around a week. My friends hung out in my room, watching movies and trying to keep my spirits up, but I couldn't escape the horrible nightmares that filled my nights. Day after day, I would drag myself out of bed only long enough to shower and change into fresh nightclothes, before retreating back into the safety of my blankets.
Liam had resorted to calling Kaitlyn’s phone since mine was destroyed. But no matter how much he begged I still wouldn’t talk to him.
"Erica, look at me," Kaitlyn pleaded, her voice thick with concern. I reluctantly dragged my gaze away from the closed bedroom door and met her eyes. She held her phone in one hand, Liam's pleading voice still echoing in my ears.
"Please don't let his absence destroy you," she said softly. "You're stronger than this."
Later that day, I found myself accidentally overhearing the Alpha speaking on the phone with Liam. My heart pounded in my chest as I pressed my ear closer to the door, desperate to understand what was going on.
"Liam, you need to be patient. Wait till you come back. This isn't a conversation you have over the phone." The Alpha's words sent a shiver down my spine, confirming my worst fears. Liam was coming home, but not to comfort me, he was returning to reject me, to tear my world apart.
"Come on, get up!" Gen barged into my room later that evening, her eyes sparkling with determination. She began rummaging through my closet, tossing aside various articles of clothing with a mission in mind.
"Gen, what are you doing?" I asked, feeling a mix of curiosity and annoyance.
"We're going out to Barking Brews for a night out," she replied, her voice firm. "You need to get dressed and put on a smile. It's your birthday party, and you have to be there."
"Gen, my birthday isn't until next Thursday," I protested weakly, but she merely shot me a stubborn look.
"Then we're celebrating it tonight," she declared, tossing a dress in my direction. "No arguments, Erica. You need this, we all do."
Reluctantly, I allowed myself to be dragged out to Barking Brews. The dim lighting and lively atmosphere were a stark contrast to the dark cocoon of my bedroom that I had become accustomed to. My friends surrounded me, their laughter and lighthearted banter slowly chipping away at the walls I had built around myself.
"Come on, Erica! You need to dance!" Gen urged, pulling me onto the crowded dance floor as cheesy pop songs blared through the speakers. Despite the turmoil within me, I couldn't help but smile as we danced together, momentarily forgetting about the crushing weight of the inevitable rejection looming over me. Kaitlyn handed me a drink, her eyes filled with concern and love.
"You're doing great, Erica," she said softly, offering a reassuring smile. We clinked our glasses together, and I took a long sip, feeling the liquid courage warm my insides. As the night wore on, I became increasingly aware of the two guards stationed nearby, their watchful gazes never straying far from me. It was clear that the Alpha had assigned them to keep an eye on me, and I appreciated his eye for protection.
"Excuse me for a moment," I muttered to my friends, making my way toward the restrooms. The guards followed closely behind, their presence both comforting and suffocating.
"Are you planning on coming into the bathroom with me?" I asked them, my tone dripping with sarcasm. One of the guards met my gaze, his expression impassive.
"We'll wait outside the door," he replied. "But if you're longer than two minutes, we'll come in looking for you."
"Fantastic," I muttered under my breath as I pushed open the restroom door and rolling my eyes. I went into the bathroom and did what I needed to do. With a sigh, I washed my hands and glanced at my reflection in the mirror, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling of fear and unworthiness that clung to me like a heavy shroud.
When I stepped back into the dimly lit hallway, I immediately noticed that the guards were gone. Panic spiked in my chest as I scanned the area for any sign of them. Just as I turned to head back into the bar, a strong hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my scream. Another arm wrapped around my waist, pinning my arms to my sides as I was dragged away from the safety of the bar. I struggled wildly, kicking and thrashing against my captor as they pulled me through the back door and out into the cold night air. My mind raced with terror, wondering if this was some cruel twist of fate, Liam's rejection made physical in the form of an attacker.
"Be quiet!" a familiar voice hissed into my ear, and I stilled in shock. The person released their grip on my mouth, and I whipped my head around to see Christian standing behind me.
"Christian?" I breathed, relief and confusion warring inside me. "What are you doing? When did you get released from the cells?"
