Chapter 41
Justin POV
I couldn’t ignore her pain.
She cried in the shower every night, ushering me out as to not hear her wailing. I knew it was bad, but I couldn’t determine how bad it would get. We’ve been at Lone Wolf Estate for so long, I thought even through the lousy murder charges, we were somewhat safe here.
Seeing that collar around her neck changed everything.
They’re planning something, my father and Scott, and every time I try to dip into her thoughts, she shuts down. It’s an uphill feat, battling to open up a broken trinket.
“Helen,” I breathed, peering into the bathroom to see her curled up in the tub. She sniffled a reply I couldn’t make out and cowered with her back toward me. “Helen, please. Let me look at that thing and I can get it off of you, I know—”
“No,” she said, firm with a hint of tire in her tone. “You can’t. It will unleash wolfsbane, Justin. They set me up.”
“Is that why you’re so upset? My father wouldn’t have you killed. I know he wouldn’t. Not after everything it took to find you and to have us mate because of the full moon frenzy.”
“It’s not just about the wolfsbane,” she barked. “They’re using me to hurt you.”
“We won’t let it hurt us.”
“And what about when it does?” She snapped, turning quick to meet my eyes, her tired red irises so worn and miserable. “If they use me to hurt you Justin, it will ruin everything.”
I finally stalked closer, kneeling by the bathtub where she tried to collect herself, but it didn’t matter to me how she looked. I felt her angst, her frustrations, and felt responsible for it.
“We can’t stay here anymore,” I breathed, my words licking her wounds slowly. “Whatever they have planned, we should go. It can’t be good and from what you told me about the attack, they said it involves the full moon.”
She nodded but still seemed a little hesitant. “Leave? Where would we go? You’ve been here all your life, Justin, and it’s not like we can go to my parent’s home.”
She dipped her attention to the floor. I pulled her chin back up to bring those doe eyes back into focus.
“We have the whole world, my mate.” I caressed her cheek in my palm. “Anywhere you ever wanted to visit?”
She shrugged, watching me as though I’m handing her the universe with a bow. I would give it to her, too, if I had the opportunity. She deserves everything for being my mate through these treacherous conditions.
“Vegas,” she groaned, speaking quietly to herself. “Las Vegas.”
My brow pricked with interest. “Gambling, drinking and far away from here.”
She nodded with tears in her eyes. “It would be fun for us. We could get out of here for a while, at least until the next full moon passes. Then they can’t hurt us.”
My hand reached for her new necklace, stacked over the one with the two rings. She refused to take it off, no matter the meaning, and given the sight of the metal collar on her throat now, I don’t mind it anymore.
She’s in that collar because of me.
I finally helped my mate out of the bath, wrapping her into my arms with a towel. She sank into my chest, her knees tired and weak from the movement. I scooped her up in one pull, the sound of her grumbling so precious but worrisome.
She’s covered in bruises and marks from our most recent scuffles.
“Why can’t it be easier?”
I held her through her question, lingering over the bed.
“Because, Helen, nothing easy is worth having.”
She clung to me tighter, forcing me to just lay us both in bed. The guards who once sat in the hallway had other plans. They were in the bedroom now, leaning on the walls and the furniture, keeping a careful eye on us.
I was sure they hadn’t heard the Las Vegas idea, but we would have to wait and see. We needed to leave, to run from here and just be together, but something looming in the air told me it wouldn’t be that easy.
“Go to sleep,” I said, watching her unease rise at the sight of so many guards around us both. “I will solve all of our problems.”
She did as I had asked, relying on me with so much trust that it ached my heart. She is a beautiful mate, a brave woman willing to risk everything for me, but perhaps she has reached her limit.
I hold her together, begging she doesn’t break any more, while the sun descends on another dreary day for us.
Helen POV
The middle of the night came suddenly.
Justin was already awake in a scuffle, fighting the guards in our bedroom mercilessly. One of them flew through the air, denting the wall with his body, blood pooling around him on the floor. I waited for him to get up, to charge my mate, but it was pointless.
Death lingered in the air now.
I got up, naked and confused as to what caused this fight.
Justin’s Lycan had control, ripping and biting and killing. So much killing. The guards finally dwindled in numbers. His Lycan turned fast, claws out and stretched forward in crimson blood, stopping just short of my throat.
“It’s me,” I said in heavy exhale. “M—me.”
He swallowed. His claws retracted, his eyes evening out in color, while he stood there for a moment in the mayhem that started during my sleep.
He dragged a touch across my neck, trailing his fingers against the collar while shaking his head.
“We’re leaving tonight.”
“Leav—Leaving?”
“Yes, go get dressed. I’ve packed some bags already.”
He motioned to the floor where two black duffle bags sat stuffed to the brim. I couldn’t process anything, only made aware of his plans when he forced me into a light dress and threw me over his shoulder.
He grabbed the bags in one hand, the other pressed firmly against my ass while I laid bent over his back. I wanted to stop him, to ask questions, but I could only squirm in the collar around my throat.
He was serious earlier about leaving.
Making it outside, he already had a set of keys in his pocket, commandeering a shuttle bus from the garage under the mansion. I felt woozy from the sudden turn of events and sat in the last seat on the long bus, Justin taking the wheel and our lives in his hands.
They’ll find us eventually. Whatever Juden has planned for Justin, it isn’t good. No shuttle ride, no movement we could make, would separate enough space between us and the Alpha King.
