Chapter 9

Harper POV

I didn’t say a word on the ride home, but Mason didn’t seem to mind.

Even as he walked me to my bedroom door and pressed hard, bruising kiss to my mouth, he didn’t seem to care I didn’t kiss him back. He just said, “Get some rest, Harps. You’re picking up your dress today, remember? That’s exciting, right?”

I forced a smile. “Yeah, it’s gonna be great.” Satisfied, Mason nodded and walked away without a backward glance. Good.

As soon as my door was closed behind me, I ripped his stupid shirt off and went for the shower, my head roaring.

Emotionally, I was a mess, but one thought was clear – Mason had gone too far.

His behavior in the car had crossed so many lines. It wasn’t just possessiveness, I could understand that a little. But he insulted me, called me a slut. And when he put his hand on my throat…

I swallowed, feeling the phantom pressure of his fingers. I couldn’t do this, couldn’t marry him. No, I had to get the hell away from him before he got even angrier, even more violent.

I had to break our engagement and leave.

I stepped into the scalding water, forcing myself to focus. I needed a plan. Just telling him, “I don’t want to marry you” wouldn’t work, I was sure of that.

Mason had always been insecure in our relationship – any hint that he was “losing me” and he freaked out. I couldn’t get to close to any guy. The male barista remembered my order? We switched coffee shops. Male waiter smiled too much when taking my order? Mason asked for a different waiter.

Once, in PE, Mason wasn’t even in my class but somehow, he showed up when I was partnered with a guy and told him to get lost, that he’d be my partner. For the class he wasn’t in. The teacher tries to throw him out, but Mason wouldn’t leave. He argued that no one got to put their hands on me but him.

I’d been mortified, and kind of scared. But later the girls in my class surrounded me, telling me how hot and protective Mason was. How lucky I was for having him. So I let it go.

I realized now that was a mistake. What was that saying? When someone shows you who they are, believe them. I should have believed Mason then, and not all the lies about loving me so much it hurt.

Love wasn’t supposed to hurt.

Suddenly feeling unsafe in the home I’d spent months caring for, I hopped out and got dressed as fast as I could. Part of me wanted to pack a bag and book it now, but I knew I couldn’t risk it. I wouldn’t get far with the place swarming with Ridgewood wolves. And if anything went missing, mason would know immediately. I needed all the head-start I could get.

So I just dressed normally, jeans a t-shirt, sneakers and a jacket. The only things I took were my important documents, and I could stash those in my purse. Today was my best chance.

Everyone expected me to leave the house for my final fitting, and by pack custom, Mason couldn’t come as my fiancé. Vera was out of town this weekend, a fact that made me sad when she told me. I hadn’t wanted to do the fitting alone. But now I was infinitely grateful.

All I had to do was show my face at the appointment so if Mason called, he wouldn’t get suspicious. Then I’d slip out and run.

I ran through a plan in my mind, feeling steadier with each moment. I’d take a pack car as far as the edge of the territory, then rent a different one. Then I had to get as far east as I could. Mason wouldn’t have nearly as much power over there.

I had no idea what I’d do once I got there, but it was good enough.

Or you could just call Levi and go straight to him. You could head back to the White Fang packhouse and be safe in your old bed by tomorrow.

But I pushed the thought away. I would not burden him and start some kind of pack conflict. Because I knew Mason wouldn’t stop.

He may even start a war.

I forced myself to move at a normal speed as I headed down to the garage. “Going to my fitting,” I called out, like I always did when I left.

“Have fun!” Mason called back from his office deeper in the house. A few other voices answered and I felt a pang. I’d made friends here… but I knew none of them would stand between me and their alpha.

Closing the door behind me felt like the first step to freedom – but as I turned for the bay of cars kept for pack use, Joshua, Mason’s beta, drove up to meet me.

Dread pooled in my gut, but I made myself wave. “Hey Josh, what’s up?”

“Escorting you to your fitting, my lady,” he said cheerily, leaning over to push open the passenger door. “Our Luna’s safety is important.”

I gritted my teeth, I wasn’t stupid, I knew Mason ordered him. This was clearly surveillance, but if they thought I was dumb, fine, I’d play dumb.

“Oh, no need,” I said breezily, walking around his car. “I actually wanted to drive, we still need to pick the music and I’m sure you don’t want –”

But I heard his door open and knew it was futile. “Hey, I get it, you control the aux,” Josh said as his fingers closed around my elbow. “But I insist, I’ll take you.”

A knock from the window above made us both pause and look up. Mason stood there with a deep frown. Josh snatched his hand away. Mason’s eyes met mine and he jerked his chin at Joahua’s car.

Heart pounding, I made myself nod. I even blew him a kiss. I needed him not to be suspicious if I was going to make it. Because I was going to get away from him.

I played my part through the ride, playing cheesy love songs. Then in the bridal store, I oohed and aahed at the dress. Every bit of excitement I’d felt only days ago had evaporated.

This was supposed to be the dry run of my full look for the wedding, so I went through the motions of putting on the dress and letting them do my makeup how we’d planned. All the while making and discarding escape plans.

And then… he walked in.

Just as I stepped onto the little platform before the mirrors, Levi’s head poked into the dressing area. “Excuse me, I’m …Harper?”

Why he was here?

His eyes lit up as he saw me. There was no other way to describe it, the stormy gray became crystal clear, and he smiled like I’d never seen before.

“You look absolutely beautiful,” he said, striding towards me. “Stunning, Harper.”

I stepped down, flushed. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I just…” But then Levi’s gaze zeroed in on my neck. In one of the mirrors, I saw the purple bruises there – Mason’s fingers.

My hand flew up to cover them.

The last thing I wanted to do was make him worry.

Still, Levi’s jaw clenched. “A fiancé shouldn’t be so rough,” he muttered, turning away as the light dimmed in his eyes.

Levi POV

I’d only come to pick up Avery’s dress, but seeing Harper on that pedestal… I forgot my own name.

She was resplendent in white. It brought out the rosy flush of her skin, her plush pink lips and bright, warm eyes. Whatever they’d done to her face only enhanced the beauty that was always quietly there. But now it sang.

The dress fit so perfectly, it looked poured on, hugging every one of Harper’s curves. Ivory beading made her sparkle as she turned and saw me and when her eyes met mine – my heart tripped and tumbled in my chest.

I had no idea what words came out of my mouth, or even what she said – but then I saw the dark purple, an ugly contrast to the pure white. Mason’s fingerprints.

An image flashed in my mind of how they must have gotten there – Harper on her back, arching in the throes of passion. Masson moving between her legs, holding her down in the most primal way he could while he –

“A fiancé shouldn’t be so rough.” My voice was sharper than I meant it to be and I cursed internally.

Harper drew back, hurt flickering in her eyes. And indignation. “Actually, this is –”

But then her gaze snapped over my shoulder.

She squeaked and bolted for the dressing room door.

“Hey, have you seen a brunette in a wedding dress?” I turned to the man, about harper’s age. Mason’s beta, I remembered from my research. Not a very good one if he didn’t know who I was.

Suspicious, I shook my head. “No, I just got here.”

He frowned, then moved for the dressing room door. Without thinking, I moved in front of him. “What the hell?”

I didn’t know what I was doing, just that I wasn’t letting this man get near Harper.

“Back off,” I snarled, “My fiancée is in there.”