"I didn't mean to..."
"Stop, Liam," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Just... stop." And with that, she turned away from me, resuming her packing as though I wasn't even in the room.
The air grew thick between us, heavy with unspoken words and regrets. I watched helplessly as my fated mate and yes even though I barely knew her, the woman I loved slipped further and further away, the chasm between us growing wider by the second. It was a torment beyond anything I'd ever known, this desperate struggle to hold on to her even as she slipped through my fingers like sand. And as the weight of my powerlessness crushed me beneath its merciless heel, I knew in my heart that I would do anything, anything at all, to keep her with me.
In that moment, as Erica turned her back on me, something inside me snapped. The tidal wave of fear, frustration, and anger that had been building up for days, weeks, even, finally shattered the dam that held it at bay, and I found myself drowning in the flood.
"Erica," I growled, my voice low and dangerous. The sound seemed to reverberate throughout the room, echoing off the walls like a thunderclap. "Look at me." She hesitated briefly but didn't turn around. The defiance in her stance only served to fan the flames of my rage, and I could feel the beast within me stirring, clawing at the bars of its cage.
"Enough!" I roared, losing control of my emotions completely. In one swift, fluid motion, I crossed the room and grabbed her by the arm, wrenching her around to face me. Her eyes widened in surprise and fear, but she didn't cry out. She refused to give me the satisfaction of knowing that she was afraid.
"Let go of me, Liam," she whispered, her voice shaking despite her brave front. "Please. Let me go."
"Never," I snarled, tightening my grip until I could feel the delicate bones of her wrist grind together beneath my fingers. "You're not leaving me, Erica. Not now. Not ever."
"Y-you're hurting me," she stammered, tears welling up in her green eyes.
"Good," I spat, my heart twisting painfully in my chest at the sight of her pain. But I couldn't back down. I couldn't let her go. Not when so much was at stake.
I reached out with my free hand and grabbed a handful of her red hair, yanking her head back so that her throat was exposed. The scent of her fear was intoxicating, drowning out all rational thought and leaving only the primal need to claim her, to make her understand that she was mine.
"Stop fighting me, Erica," I hissed, my breath hot against her skin. "You belong with me. Why can't you see that?"
"Because it's not true," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't belong to anyone. Not you, not your pack. I'm not some possession for you to control."
"Damn it, Erica," I snarled, unable to contain the seething torrent of emotions that threatened to tear me apart from the inside out. With a swift movement, I swung us both around and let go. She went crashing into the wall and crumpled to the floor. I knelt down beside her as she struggled to get to a sitting position.
“It’s for your own good,” I whispered. Her eyes widened again as I grabbed another handful of her hair. I quickly used my hold to slam her head against the wall. She yelled out briefly before going silent. I looked to see her eyes closed, and she was no longer struggling. I swept her off her feet, stood up, and threw her over my shoulder. She hung lifelessly against me and for a brief second I hoped that she was comfortable.
I grabbed the bag that she had been packing and then made my way through the house, quietly and quickly. I sent a quick mind link to my father to say that I was heading home and would send someone with another car. I placed my beautiful mate into the back seat of the car and went and got in the driver's seat. I started the engine of the car and made my way with my mate out of the city and back home.
Chapter 12
Liam
"Damnit,"Imutteredunder my breath as I accelerated through the pack territory. The night was dark and unforgiving, much like the situation I had found myself in. My grip on the steering wheel tightened with every passing mile, my knuckles turning white from the pressure.
"I did this for you, can't you see? It's for your own good." In the backseat, Erica lay unconscious, her red hair splayed across the seat like a fiery halo around her head. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at the sight of her vulnerability, but it was quickly overshadowed by my determination to protect her. She needed me more than she realised, and I would do whatever it took to keep her safe, even if it meant proving her right about Alphas hurting her.
As I approached the pack house, I slowed the car down, relieved to see that no one seemed to be around. The last thing I needed was an audience for my actions. Pulling up to the front door, I turned off the engine and took a deep breath before stepping out into the chilly night air. Carefully, I opened the back door and gently lifted Erica out, wrapping her in a blanket to shield her from the cold. Her body felt so fragile in my arms, yet I knew her spirit was anything but. As I carried her inside and up the stairs to my room, I couldn't help but marvel at the woman I held. So strong and fierce, yet plagued by a past filled with pain and betrayal.
Laying her down on my bed, I brushed a strand of hair away from her face and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. The urge to stay close to her, to protect her, was overpowering. But I knew I had to give her some space. With a sigh, I closed the bedroom door and locked it securely. I pulled a chair up to the bed, my eyes never leaving her form as I sat down, waiting for her to wake up.
"Please understand, baby," I whispered, my heart heavy with the burden of responsibility and love. "I'm doing this because I can't bear the thought of losing you." The room was silent, save for the rhythmic sound of her breathing. And as I sat there in the darkness, watching over her, I couldn't help but feel like both her guardian angel and her personal demon, torn between my need for control and my desire for her happiness.
"Forgive me, baby," I murmured, my voice barely audible. "I just want to keep you safe, even if it means hurting you in the process." And with those words lingering in the air like a ghost, I continued my vigil, hoping that when she woke, she would somehow understand the depth of my love and the lengths I would go to protect her.
As I sat there, watching Erica's peaceful slumber, I couldn't help but marvel at her ethereal beauty. Her red hair fanned out across the pillow like a halo of fire, accentuating the porcelain skin that seemed to glow in the dim light of the room. The gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed was mesmerising, the very picture of serenity. Yet, I knew that beneath this calm facade lay a tempest, a fiery spirit that would undoubtedly be unleashed when she awoke and realised what had transpired. I imagined her green eyes blazing with fury, transforming her from an angelic vision to a vengeful force of nature.
"Baby," I whispered, my fingers itching to brush her hair back from her face. But I resisted the urge; it wasn't my right, not after what I had done.
A soft groan escaped her lips, and I tensed in anticipation. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing hazy, disoriented eyes that slowly focused on me. She reached up to cradle her head, wincing as her fingers brushed against the tender skin where I had struck her.
"Where am I?" she croaked, fear creeping into her voice as the reality of her situation dawned on her.
"Baby," I began, trying to keep my tone calm and soothing. "You're in my pack house. I brought you here for your own safety." Her eyes narrowed, and she attempted to scoot away from me, pressing herself against the headboard.
"Safety? You hit me and kidnapped me, and now you're saying it's for my safety?"
