"Time to finish what I started," came a menacing voice in my ear, hot breath tickling my neck. My heart froze, and I realised who it was, Louis. Heidi’s brother was here, and I was all alone.
"What the fuck," I choked out, the sour taste of fear flooding my mouth. "What do you want?"
"Isn't it obvious?" His cruel laughter rang out like nails on a chalkboard as he pressed his much larger body against mine, trapping me. "You think you're safe with your precious Alpha? You think you can just forget about what happened before because of you? Or that you can talk to my sister like you did?"
"Get off me!" I snarled, desperately trying to break free from his vice-like grip. But it was no use; he was too strong, and the pain in my chest only grew with each futile attempt.
"Ah, Erica," Louis taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "You are a feisty one aren’t you. But it won't save you this time."
My mind raced, frantically searching for a way out of this nightmare. Liam was on his way, but would he get here in time? And even then, would he be able to protect me from the monster that had returned to finish what he'd started?
"Please," I whispered, hating the tremble in my voice, but unable to hide the fear that gripped my heart like a vice. "Don't do this." If I kept him distracted for long enough, maybe Liam would get here in time.
"Too late for begging, sweetheart," Louis sneered, tightening his hold on me, crushing my spirit along with my body. Despite my best efforts to wriggle free, I was no match for Louis's strength. His grip on me only tightened, and my heart pounded in terror. My breath came in short, shallow gasps as panic threatened to overwhelm me.
"Listen closely, bitch," Louis hissed in my ear. "You're going to pay for the hell you put me through while I spent those two weeks in silver chains."
“You brought that on yourself, “ I snarled. Louis grabbed my hair and yanked my neck back causing an involuntary yelp from me.
"Here's how it'll go," he continued menacingly. "You can be good, maybe even enjoy this... or it can get real bad, real quick." As he spoke, he yanked at my shorts, pulling them down my legs. I could feel his arousal pressed against me, and my stomach churned with revulsion.
"Never fucked a Luna before," he growled. "I'm going to have my fun with you before delivering you to him." Him? Who him?
As Louis fumbled with my shorts, I knew it was now or never. Summoning every ounce of courage and determination, I slammed my head back into his face, feeling his nose break under the force. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, and he cried out in pain, releasing me from his grip.
Seizing the opportunity, I sprinted out of the changing room and into the training area, screaming at the top of my lungs for help. My voice echoed throughout the empty space, and I prayed that someone would hear me in time.
"Help!" I screamed again, the raw desperation in my voice nearly breaking me. "Somebody, please help me!" My heart hammered in my chest as I sprinted towards the exit door of the training room, panic clawing at my throat.
"Please," I whispered, praying that it would open. But when I reached for the handle, it refused to budge. Desperation surged through me as I threw my weight against the door, but it remained stubbornly locked.
"Damn it!" I cursed, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. My mind raced, searching for a way out, an escape from this nightmare.
"Thought you could get away from me, bitch?" Louis's voice was a snarl, filled with rage and pain. He stumbled out of the changing room, blood streaming down his face from his broken nose. "I'll still deliver a dead body, but I'm going to fuck you first!"
"Stay away from me!" I shouted, trying to sound more confident than I felt. As he lunged towards me, I dodged to the side, adrenaline fuelling my movements. He slammed into the door with a vicious snarl, momentarily stunned by the impact. Spotting a chair nearby, I grabbed it and swung it with all my strength at Louis's head. It connected with a sickening crack, and he crumpled to the ground, dazed.
"Go to hell!" I yelled, my voice trembling with emotion. Dropping the chair, I turned and ran back towards the changing room, hoping to find another way out. As I sprinted across the cold floor, my thoughts raced. Who could I trust? Who could I turn to for help? My heart pounded in my chest as I raced back towards the changing room, the echoes of Louis's furious threats still ringing in my ears. The fear and dread that had gripped me moments before now morphed into a desperate determination to escape this nightmare. I hadn't made it far when a guttural snarl pierced the air behind me. My instincts screamed at me to turn around, but in my haste, I twisted my ankle, sending me crashing to the ground.
"Shit!" I hissed through gritted teeth, the pain in my ankle momentarily dulling the terror that threatened to consume me. I struggled to catch my breath, my pulse hammering against my temples. I heard a snarl again and turned in time to see Louis shift into his wolf before he started stalking towards me with fury in his eyes, baring his teeth.
Chapter 48
Erica
Theroomseemedtoshrink as Louis, in his wolf form, stalked slowly towards me. Fear clutched at my chest, making it difficult to breathe. I tried to stand up to get away, but the moment I put weight on my injured ankle, a searing pain shot through it. My legs buckled beneath me, and I collapsed back onto the cold, hard floor. Desperation clawed at my insides as I inched backward, never taking my eyes off the snarling beast. His amber eyes were filled with rage and something darker, more sinister. He bared his teeth at me, saliva dripping down his powerful jaws. My heart pounded so hard in my chest; I was sure he could hear it.
My ankle throbbed with pain, but I forced myself not to cry out. I had to stay strong and focused. The fear that gripped my heart began to morph into determination. I wasn't going to let Louis win. I wouldn't allow him to destroy the family and pack I had come to love. But how could I fight back when I was unable to shift into my wolf form?
"Think, Erica, think," I muttered under my breath, trying to come up with a plan. The snarling beast continued to close in on me, every step sending a shudder of terror down my spine. Time was running out, and I needed to act fast.
My heart pounded in my chest as I glanced down at my ankle, already swollen and discoloured. The pain was almost unbearable, and I knew there was no way I could stand on it, let alone run from the snarling beast that was once Louis.
"Okay, Erica," I thought to myself, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "What are your options?"
Option one: sit here and wait for him to reach me and rip out my throat. Yeah, pass on that. The image of my lifeless body lying on the cold floor sent shivers down my spine. Option two: jump up and run for the door behind me, hoping that it was unlocked, and that my ankle wasn't broken and could take my weight. I gritted my teeth, forcing back tears as I considered the likelihood of outrunning a vicious wolf on a broken ankle. Again, the chances were leaning away from slim and towards none that I would make it in time before he attacked. So that was out. Option three: try to stall until Liam gets here.
“Where the fuck is he, anyway?” I muttered, frustration bubbling up inside me. Anyone know how to distract a rage-filled wolf? Anyone? Nope, me neither. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. So far, my options all seemed to end with me dead. The thought was sobering, but I couldn't allow fear to consume me. There had to be a way out of this. There just had to be. And with that beast getting closer by the second, I was running out of time to pick which death I wanted. I stared into Louis's wild, bloodthirsty eyes, desperately searching for any sign of humanity, but seeing none. It was in that moment that I heard it, the faint sound of someone trying the locked door. My heart leapt into my throat. Could it be him? It had to be.
