Chapter 102

Helen POV

I faked a long, heavy heave of breath, grabbed my chest, shut my eyes…

And fell to the floor in a motionless heap.

Randy gasped alive, falling to the floor beside me, his hands warm on my cheeks and my neck. Russo stomped over as well, standing over nearby while no one spoke for a long, stiff moment.

What if they don’t believe me?

“I’ll go get the healer,” Randy growled. “Poor thing is deteriorating right before our eyes.”

Russo mumbled a noise of agreement and I waited until I could hear Randy bolt out the front door. When the Beta had left, I opened my eyes at once, calling for Joy to hurry forward within me.

Russo’s brow cocked in suspicion but he stood back, eyeing the front door. To my surprise, he didn’t stop me, but he did turn his back while I shifted and burst out of the house. The sun was burning hot on my fur and when I leapt into the town square, I hurried out of the pack grounds.

My fur had become so white, so pure, that looking at myself glisten had almost distracted me from my path forward. I dodged through the tree lines, feeling free and flying over the creeks and ravines.

I could stay out here forever. But I loved Justin too much to do that to him.

Running toward Lone Wolf, I could start to hear the steps pounding on the ground behind me. Randy’s wolf is unmistakable, darker than night with little gray specs of fur around his paws. I cock my head back, seeing the beta, my friend, close in behind me.

I pushed harder, running faster and lower to the ground so I could out maneuver a wolf as strong as a beta. My head ached with panic but I felt alive at last.

“STOP HER!”

Justin was roaring from the line of Lone Wolf, sending his warriors on me as I crossed the boundaries of packs. The Alpha King’s warriors were not at post, assuming they’re lost without leadership, and I couldn’t be more thankful for it.

I leapt into the doorway of the large estate in the center of the village, feeling Justin’s warriors and his dutiful beta skid to a stop behind me.

Ducking inside, I look quickly throughout every room, needing to find that horrid wizard so I can prove he has the powers everyone seems to think don’t exist.

Shifting to my mortal form, I busted into the next room, a heavy scent pouring through the doorway. Once the door was open, blood floods into the hallway.

I recognized the body on the floor instantly, seeing that terrible wizard on the ground, blood pouring from his throat. I clung to the wall, trying to keep upright when all I wanted to do was scream and beg and cry.

The pounding steps were in the estate now and I wasn’t sure what to do about this situation. I came to find the wizard who ruined my matehood.

But now he’s dead.

So it looks like I’ve just run away from Justin for no reason.

Barricading myself in the room next door, I try calm my nerves and muffle my scent, but when I turn around to formulate a plan to do so, I recognize the bedroom instantly.

It’s the room Justin and I had been inside when we stayed here. I spot chains in the corner that Alpha King Juden had us both in at some point. There’s the bed where we made love so many times and slept so close to one another in peace.

It was easier then and we were under such constant fire that it felt impossible to handle at the time.

The door is kicked open and I sink into the corner of the room, naked and cold and petrified. Also, regret weighs heavy on my mind. I deceived Randy and Russo when I ran from the pack.

The warriors surround me but I catch a glimpse of my mate in the doorway, looking through the bedroom where we came so close to one another.

We were perfect mates before, in this very room, and now he looks at me with such a saddened look.

“Everyone get out,” Justin purred in heavy exhale. “Leave me and my mate.”

The warriors shuffle out and I spy Randy in the doorway next, meeting my eyes briefly before hurrying away to follow the warriors out. Justin leans on the door to push it shut and lingers over to my position on the floor.

I used to relish the sight of Justin standing over me. So much power and love and envy.

Now it’s nothing but fear and a little bit of pity.

Justin should know from everything we’ve endured together in this room, that we are strong enough to let this problem roll off our backs but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen.

I settle under his disapproving glare.

“Why?” he breathed, surprisingly calm.

Looking around the bedroom, I shook my head. “The man next door, the pathetic bastard bleeding out on the floor, was the wizard that forced me to betray you.”

His brows knit, but he made no effort to check my word on if there was indeed a dead body in the next room. I guess it didn’t matter because I couldn’t even make that asshole prove that he forced me to hurt my mate.

There’s no other way I could prove anything to save myself. There is no saving myself, either.

I’m trapped under the anger of the Last Lycan.

Forever.

“Justin, I never wanted to hurt you,” I hummed, tears brimmed in my eyes, ready to fall at my very last will to hold them back. “Why can’t you believe that?”

He looked elsewhere, his eyes falling on our old, comfy bed that we shared together. “I only know what I felt. You stabbed me, Helen. You almost killed me, wiped out my bloodline for good. How can I trust you ever again?”

“Because it wasn’t me,” I pleaded, shifting onto my knees, my hands aching as they pulled at his shirt, at the hem of his pants. “Justin, you know I love you. You know I’d never, ever hurt you.”

Still, he looked away, unbelieving of my claims.

“I love you, Justin. Please just look into the fact that I wouldn’t do this to hurt you,” I cried. “The whole pack even knows I am loyal to you.”

At last, his beautiful eyes fall over me on my knees, clinging to him for just a little tiny taste of affection. He obliges, stroking my cheek into his palm and caressing me gently.

Even in his touch though, it is clear he didn’t trust me even a little.

“You betrayed me,” he whispered under his breath. “I can’t love you like I did before. You took my father’s lead in betraying me and I’m just shocked that it worked.”

“It didn’t, though, I swear!”

Again, he rested his massive palm into my warm cheek and I leaned into his touch, needing him to pet and dote and love me once again.

His eyes drifting South had other plans.

“Be docile and submissive,” he hummed. “That will earn my trust back.”

“Anything you want, Justin, anything at all.”

He raised a brow and I could see the thoughts in his mind like they were written across his forehead. I drug my hands down his solid chest, through his shirt, and flicked the button down on his jeans.

We fell in love in this room before… Maybe we can do it again.