"Please, just let me explain," I pleaded, desperate for her to understand. My heart clenched at the sight of her trembling form, and guilt washed over me like a tidal wave.
"Stay away from me!" she demanded, her voice cracking as she tried to put more distance between us.
"Baby, please, I know how this looks, but I swear I only did it because I love you and want to protect you," I insisted, my hands outstretched in a futile attempt to calm her. Her breathing was ragged, and I could see the battle raging within her, torn between wanting to believe me and fearing the truth of her situation. But I knew that my actions had wounded her deeply, and there would be no easy path to forgiveness.
"Let me go, you psycho!" Erica screamed at me as she jumped up from the bed, her fear morphing into a fiery rage. "You're just like all the other Alphas, thinking you can control everyone!" Her words cut through me like a dagger, as I truly believed I was doing this for her own good. She couldn't see that my actions were driven by love and an overwhelming need to protect her.
"Baby, please listen to me," I tried again, desperate for her to understand my motives. But she was having none of it, her green eyes blazing with fury and defiance.
"Stay the hell away from me!" she spat, “And stop calling me baby.” she moved towards the door in a frantic attempt to escape. Her hand reached for the handle, only to find it locked. A wave of panic washed over her face, and I could sense a deeper, hidden trauma resurfacing in her reaction. Her breathing began to become shallow.
"Please, Liam, let me go," she pleaded, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I can't be trapped in here. Please." My heart shattered at the sight of her, so vulnerable and afraid. Doubt crept into my mind, making me question whether I was really doing the right thing. As her fated mate, it was my duty to protect her and keep her safe, but had I gone too far?
"Erica, I promise you, I'm not trying to hurt you," I whispered, reaching out to her with trembling hands. "But I couldn’t let you leave without giving me a chance. I need to keep you close to ensure your safety." But my words seemed to fall on deaf ears as her sobs grew louder and more heartbreaking.
"Unlock the door, Liam," she begged between sobs, collapsing onto the floor in a flood of tears. "Please, just let me go."
"Erica," I sighed, my voice heavy with sorrow and regret. "I'm sorry, but I can't." And as I stood there, watching my mate cry out in pain, I couldn't help but wonder if I had become one of the very monsters I was trying to protect her from.
I approached slowly so as not to scare her anymore. My heart ached as I knelt down beside my mate, gently pulling her trembling form into my arms. Her sobs tore through me, each one causing a wrenching pain in my chest. I told myself that this was for her protection, but the pain etched on her face made me doubt my convictions.
"Shh," I murmured, trying to soothe her. "I won't let anything happen to you, baby. Please, just trust me." As her body shook against mine, I closed my eyes and breathed in her amazing citrus scent, trying to calm myself and absorb some of her strength. Little did I know that her resourceful mind was already miles ahead of me.
"Baby, I'm so sorry," I whispered against her hair, hoping for some semblance of forgiveness. But her response came in the form of a sudden knee to my groin, catching me completely off guard.
"Ah!" I gasped, collapsing to the floor in agony, my hands instinctively flying to protect the sensitive area.
"Sorry, Liam, but I can't trust you," she spat. I barely registered the flash of her foot before it connected with my head, dazing me further. I watched in a haze as she unlocked the door and darted out into the hallway, her red hair streaming behind her like flames.
Rage boiled inside me, overpowering the pain of her betrayal. She had tricked me again, and I couldn't allow her to escape. Clenching my teeth, I pushed myself up from the floor and gave chase, growling with fury. My feet pounded against the hardwood floors, echoing through the empty hallway. As Erica reached the stairs, I lunged forward, tackling her to the ground before she could descend.
"Run all you want, sweetheart," I snarled into her ear, pinning her beneath me. "I'll be the big bad wolf if you want me to be, and I will always catch you."
"Get off me!" she screamed, struggling against my hold. Her green eyes blazed with defiance, making her even more captivating.
"Listen to me," I growled, desperation beginning to seep into my voice. "I'm not the enemy here. I'm just trying to protect you."
"By kidnapping me and locking me up?" she shot back, her voice crackling with anger. "You’re just the same as all the others." My chest tightened at her words, and I knew that I had to make her see the truth. But how could I convince her when my actions spoke louder than any words ever could?
"Baby, please," I pleaded, searching for the right words in a sea of doubt. "Give me a chance to prove myself. I can't let you go now, but I swear on the life of my pack that I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe and earn your trust."
"Your promises mean nothing to me, you crazy bastard," she hissed, tears glistening in her eyes. The weight of those words crushed me, and I knew that I was losing her, before I had even got her, perhaps forever. And yet, as much as it pained me, I couldn't let her go; not when the darkness threatening our world was still lurking just beyond our reach.
As I hoisted Erica over my shoulder, her body squirmed and writhed in a futile attempt to break free. Her fists pounded against my back, each strike an echoing reminder of the trust I'd broken.
"Put me down, you bastard!" she screamed, her voice like a dagger stabbing at my heart. But I couldn't let her go, not now, not when I knew the danger that awaited her outside these walls.
"Erica," I growled, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising tide of anger within me, "I am just trying to protect you. Trust me when I say your wellbeing is at the centre of my thoughts."
"Trust you?" she spat, her words dripping with venom. "I'd sooner trust a snake." The bitter sting of her words fuelled my temper as I carried her back to my bedroom, my grip tightening around her waist. I threw open the door, my nostrils flaring with each breath, and tossed her onto the bed.
"Stay," I commanded, my voice dark and menacing. Erica growled in response, a feral sound that sent shivers down my spine. Her green eyes flashed with fury, defiance burning within them like wildfire. As I watched her lunge for the door, my instincts kicked in, and I lunged after her.
"Going somewhere?" I taunted as I grabbed her by the arm and threw her back onto the bed. The impact caused her hair to fan out around her like a halo of fire, making her look more like a fury than the angel I saw earlier.
"Get away from me!" she snarled, her face contorted with rage. "You are nothing but a monster, just like the rest of them!" Her accusations cut deep, I was her goddess given fated mate. How could she not see that I was different? That I only wanted to protect her?
"Baby," I whispered, my voice raw with emotion, "I'm not like them. If you'd just give me a chance–"
