CHAPTER 3

VALERIE'S POV

As the sun rose on the fourth day, I found myself lying in the same position on the bed, staring at the ceiling and wondering why Ezra wouldn't come to see me. It was just like in my previous life, things between us had taken a dark turn after the night he forced himself on me. Ever since he left the room that night, he had become distant – he was avoiding me.

He had disappeared for three days. I felt like I was stuck in a never-ending cycle but that was about to change because, in this present life, I had the power to break this cycle and change my life for the better. During these days of Ezra's absence in my life, I tried all I could to get close to him but he didn't want to give me a chance. I called him on the phone but he always declined my calls. I tried to visit him but he ordered his security guards to never let me in. He avoided me like I was some sort of plague and it bothered me. All the efforts I made to see him were futile. 

But on the fourth day, as I lay on the bed, something shifted within me. I realized that if I didn't do something drastic, Ezra would continue to avoid me and what happened in my previous life would repeat itself and I wanted so badly to avoid that. Immediately, I stood up from the bed and got ready to go see Ezra. I was determined and I promised myself that I wouldn't leave his quarters until I was allowed to see him. I put on a very sexy but comfortable dress then applied light makeup and with that, I was ready to go. "Pretty," I whispered as I looked at myself in the mirror.

Ever since I was dragged back, I had been strictly confined to Ezra's pack. The werewolves in his pack had been ordered by Ezra to keep me confined to their territory because Ezra was scared that I'd try to elope with Ian again. I was not allowed to go outside of the pack's environs and my every move was being watched – like all eyes were on me whenever I stepped out of my room. I became very cautious of my every move.

Well on that fourth day, I marched to Ezra's quarters to see him, I longed to see him in person and I was done waiting for him to come to me. I didn't mind the stares and whispers from everyone who saw me as I made my way to Ezra's. I walked like someone on a mission and I didn't stop until I got there. As I got to the entrance of Ezra's quarters, I was stopped by a security guard – a mere security guard dared to stop me from seeing the man I was mated to. Can you imagine??

"Stop!! You are not allowed to enter here." He said with a stern voice. 

"How dare you talk to me in that tone??" I questioned him with anger in my voice. "I don't have the time to exchange words with you. Just give this to Jason. Tell him it's urgent."

I knew that Jason was my only chance to see Ezra so I prepared a note before stepping out and handed it over to the security guard asking him to deliver it to Jason. After a while, the security guard returned with a reply from Jason.

"He will be with you shortly." He informed me and turned his face away from me.

I stood for a few minutes waiting for Jason's arrival and not too long I saw him coming toward me.

"Valerie, what are you doing here?" He asked as he approached me with a stern expression, "Why do you want to see Ezra? I've told you several times that he is busy."

"That's what you've been saying to me for the past three days. I'm tired of hearing that lie." I said and gave him a stern look too. "I want to see Ezra right now!!"

Jason stared at me and said nothing.

"Didn't you hear me?!!" I yelled.

"Valerie!! Listen, you have to calm down and stop playing these tricks. It won't work on me." He lectured me.

"What do you mean by that??" I asked, wearing a confused look on my face. "I am not playing any tricks. I am not planning on running away again. All I want to do is to deliver this food to Ezra. You are welcome to escort me."

"Wait.. what?? You are delivering food to Ezra??" Jason yelled out in surprise as I showed him the basket of food that I was carrying. "Are you serious? Are you mistaking Ezra for someone else?"

"No, I'm not mistaking him for anyone else. I just want to give him some food and I want to show him that I care. Call him Jason." 

Jason was taken aback by my words and asked, "Valerie, did you poison the food? After all, you used to hate Ezra, he was your worst enemy."

I just smiled and said, "No, I didn't poison the food. Why don't you just trust me?? I just came here to do something good for Ezra."

"Why the sudden change in attitude? It makes me think that your motives aren't pure." He asked.

His questions were beginning to annoy me so I just fixed my eyes on him, staring at him intently. I was determined to see Ezra no matter what it took. I knew that Jason wouldn't make it easy for me, but I was willing to fight for what I wanted.

"Listen, Jason, I just need to see Ezra," I said firmly as I tried to hide the desperation in my voice.

Jason shrugged, wearing a smirk on his face. "I don't think that's going to happen," he replied nonchalantly.

I frowned as my anger rose within me. I took a step forward, and my eyes never left his. "You listen to me, Jason. I will do everything in my power to make sure that I see Ezra under your watch."

Jason's smirk immediately faded and he raised an eyebrow. He seemed taken aback by my sudden determination. He fumbled with his phone for a moment before finally dialing Ezra's number.

The call connected, and I could hear Ezra's voice on the other end of the line when suddenly, the door burst open and Ian appeared out of nowhere. I was taken aback by his sudden arrival, but then I saw Chelsea lurking in the corner and I knew that she had let him in. That bitch!! That damn bitch!!

"What are you doing here, Ian?" I asked with a shaky voice.

Ian stepped forward wearing a sinister smile on his face. "I'm here to take you away Valerie," he said in a low voice.

At that moment, Ezra answered Jason's call, and Ian's words echoed through the room. Ezra heard every word that came out of Ian's mouth but there was a moment of silence before he spoke out.

"Jason, what's going on?" Ezra asked.