Chapter 160

Fiona

Ethan’s hopeful gaze makes my heart ache, like something is pressing down on my chest in an attempt to crush my ribcage.

Nevertheless, I know what my next step is. No matter how I badly want this relationship to happen, I can’t be with him knowing it could end in pain. There are so many unknown elements waiting in the future that are too large for me to push past.

There’s also no guarantee that Ethan will be able to get his people to accept me, especially if he becomes a King like he’s planning.

If that happens, I would be a, what? Princess? Queen? I couldn’t handle being a figure of such high authority, and that’s only if Ethan’s pack and the rest of the Lycans can accept me, which seems unlikely.

“Ethan,” I murmur, sliding his hands off my arms. Again, I move back, my heart cracking as the distance between us grows. “We can’t be together anymore. I don’t want to be with someone who can’t treat me right and who can’t put me first.”

“I can—”

“I’m sorry, but too much has happened, and there’s so much trouble brewing between us that I think it’s best to end things here,” I tell him. The words feel like sandpaper in my throat, but I still force them out.

He doesn’t need to know my heart is screaming in protest because it won’t change anything. Not after we’ve already come this far.

“I can’t lose you, Fiona,” Ethan growls, his eyes flashing that beautiful golden yellow. “I won’t lose you.”

Confusion flitters through me, but before I can say anything, Ethan lunges forward, sweeps me up, and turns to the door. Next thing I know, I’m over his shoulder, and I’m watching grass pass in front of my eyes.

“Ethan!” I shout, slapping my hand against his lower back. He doesn’t put me down until we reach his car where he throws the door open and he thrusts me into the back seat.

“Ethan! What are you doing?” He doesn’t answer; instead, he slams the door in my face and jumps into the front seat. I yank on the handle, but he’d already locked the door. The sounds of the locks clicking into place echo in my mind.

“Let me out! This is kidnapping!” I growl, turning my attention from the door to Ethan as he glances at me in the rearview mirror. “What do you think you’re doing? Are you crazy?”

“Yes!” He growls, narrowing his eyes on me. “I can’t let you get away from me, Fiona. You’re my mate and without you, I won’t be able to focus. I won’t be able to live. There’s nothing in this world I want more than to be with you, so if I have to take you back to my place to see that, I will.”

“By kidnapping me?!” I screech, reaching my arm between his chair and the door. The lock is just inches away, but I can’t reach it. My arms are too short.

“If I have to,” he growls in response.

He’s crazy. Absolutely insane, and I’ve willingly gotten myself tangled up with him.

After slamming my fist against the back of his seat, I turn and scoot to the other side of the car, kicking and kicking at his seat like a toddler throwing a tantrum. Though, I feel justified because Ethan is literally abducting me.

“Just trust me,” Ethan replies calmly, focusing on the road.

“Trust you? How can I, when you’ve done almost nothing to earn that trust?” I spit. His eyes flash to mine before sliding back to the road without an answer. I try the other door, yanking on the latch, but it doesn’t budge.

My anger heightens, my body growing hot as I struggle to process what’s happening. How did we go from falling for each other to him resorting to this? Is he even in control?

“Zev, is that you? Are you making Ethan do this or is he in control?” I ask, leaning up between the seats. Ethan’s eyes flash gold, but just as soon as they turn, they go back to their original green.

During the times Zev was in control, his eyes were always gold and shining, but right now, Ethan is in control. There’s no doubt.

“You’re a coward,” I hiss as I wiggle into the passenger seat. I pull on the latch for this door, but still nothing happens. “I can’t believe you’d do this to me. Were you lying when you said we’d work on things or that you wanted to give me a choice?”

“I do want to give you a choice, but I can’t let you leave for good. There’s still so much more to tell you and to explain about what’s been going on—”

“I don’t care,” I tell him, at my wits end. “You’ve lost your chance to explain. Now, take me back to Isla’s house. She’s probably worried after all that commotion.”

Ethan sighs, the sound a mixture of a deep rumble and a huff of air. My demands fall on deaf ears, and my attempts to escape continue to fail.

Soon, Ethan pulls into his long driveway, the gate closing behind the car as he drives through and up to the door. I struggle against Ethan even though he’s stronger than me as he lifts me out of the car and carries me inside.

The staff stares when he carries me past them, and heat fills my cheeks. This is so embarrassing and infuriating. The fact that I can’t even fight back proves everything Angela said to me. I wouldn’t be able to survive in the West if anything happened.

I’m weak.

“If I’m not around, Fiona is not to leave the house. Keep a close eye on my mate and if I find that she has escaped or gotten away while on your watch, there will be hell to pay,” Ethan growls and keeps walking without waiting for a response.

“You have no right to keep me here!”

Ethan merely grunts and continues walking. He moves through the house and up the stairs to the room I was staying in before. The door slams against the wall when Ethan kicks it in, and the loud bang makes me jump.

His lack of response only makes my anger rise even more, but my punches and kicks don’t bother Ethan. In fact, I think I hear him grunt in amusement, which only fuels me further.

Swinging my arm, I slam my elbow into his chin.

“Shit,” Ethan growls, his grip loosening and giving me a chance to slip out. My feet hit the floor with a soft thud, and I immediately dart back toward the door, but a hand whips out and circles my bicep.

“Let me go!” I scream, throwing my hand out again. It strikes his cheek, leaving a shocked expression staring back at me.

“I can’t. I already told you.”

I can’t get away, but sure as hell won’t share the room with him.

“Then get out. I don’t want to see you,” I spit, trying to shove him toward the door. If he didn’t want to go, he wouldn’t move. I’m not strong enough to move him, so Ethan allows me to push him until he’s standing on the other side of the locked door.

The air drags in and out of my lungs sharply as I lean against the door and try to think of a way to get out of here, because I have to get out. I need to be free.