all gone

“Answer me!!” He yelled, running up the stairs to stand beside me. I felt sick standing this close to him.

“I am perfect” I said, throwing my head to the side. I was clutching tightly to the paper, not wanting to let go.

“I sensed you come by the pack house. ‘His voice had a bit of panic to it’. “I thought you were going to go home?”

“Yeah” I said, my voice as neutral as possible. I watched him study my face as though he was waiting for any reaction

I smirked internally. There was no bloody I was going to give him the satisfaction of knowing this information.

“You came back to the pack? Why?” he asked, this time more pressing.

I shrugged. “I just did not want to be alone, but then I changed my mind mid way” He nodded

“That’s it?” he said again, looking at me as though he wanted me to say something else, so I looked him straight in the eye, even though every thing inside of him screamed otherwise.

“Is there something else? You sound as though I should have reacted a different way” I tried as much as possible to not let the venom I felt inside of me show.

He took a step back, looking at me with wide eyes which he quickly masked but it was too late. I had already seen his reaction but I feigned ignorance

“I just… Is anyone threatening you about the mating” I said nothing so he came closer, stretching the paper towards me. “I saw this on the floor outside the pack house and it smelt of you. You know that you can tell me anything right? Trust” he said so softly that I would have believed him if I did not see how much of a horrible bastard he is few seconds ago. “… That’s what we are building our new relationship on right?” He said, sounding so vulnerable. I looked at the paper in his hands, feeling so foolish. Out of shock, I had let go of the paper but more so, I was shocked at the words that were coming out of his mouth.

I looked at him, not believing my ears.

I blinked, using my fingers to pick out my ear in case I was leaving out something. “Trust?” I said, trying to still sound as clueless.

“of course!” he said, holding on to me even tighter.

I nodded. Not even having the strength to say anything anymore “Of course Ethan.” I said, looking at the space between us.

It was too small. He could easily reach out to me and do some horrible things to me. My skin crawled.

“I think you should leave” I said, fighting the new set of tears that had threatened to fall.

“What? Why? I thought..”

“Ethan” I called, cutting him off. “My parents are supposed to be here for the happiest day of my life” I said as a cover up as the tears started to fall. “I just need some time to soak it all up before the mating ritual tonight, okay?” another look of relief washed over his face as he heard what I had said.

“Fine then, I understand. After tonight, you would be joined with them” He said, coming close to me and kissing my forehead.

I tightened my muscles, letting him do what he wanted. After today, he was definitely going to regret it.

I nodded. “I would give you all the time you need then” He said, kissing me on the forehead again.

I wanted to push him away but I forced a smile. “Thank you for being so understanding.”

He nodded, looking at me with a smile before he left.

As soon as the door shut close, I fell to my knees. My back sliding down the wall to give me a bit of support.

I felt myself taking large gulps of air, trying to calm myself as best I could.

“They would fucking pay” I muttered, this time letting the tears drop.

I went back up to my room, the paper still in my hands. I let out another breath.

“Down town creak before sun rise” I looked at the paper, checking the back to see if there was more note, but that was it. It had no more details.

‘what if this was just some trap?’ I thought to myself, looking at the paper for the longest time.

I shook my head.

The person was right about the mating. So why would the person want to hurt me now?’ the thought crossed my mind.

Except it is Esme trying to silently kill me. Or Ethan….

My hand found their way to my chest as I tried to calm the aching feeling that was starting to overwhelm me.

He had dared to come here, even after everything.

‘I can’t be focused on that now” I muttered, picking myself up with trembling lips as I made my way out of the house.,

My legs carried me a distance, the biting cold even in the afternoon making my tears dry up which I was honestly grateful for.

I put my hand in my pocket. Trying to focus on taking one step at a time.

“Hey!!” someone called, most likely the guards on duty. I stopped, looking at the man who was basically an uncle.

“You should not be here Anny” He said, his voice light. “The alpha put a ban on the place you know?”

“I know” I lied “I just.. it’s my mating ritual you know” I could see the smile spread through his face as he had a bit of pride on his face. “I need to bathe there for good luck, you know how it is” I said, looking at him, with the most puppy eyes I could muster.

“You witches and your fetish” He sighed, looking around. “Three minutes and you are out, okay??” I nodded, already on my way.

The further I walked, the more I sensed my mother’s magic.

I shook my head ‘my emotions were all over the place so I could not think straight anymore. My mother was in Ethan’s land, he would not have lied about that, right?’ the more I thought about it, the faster I walked, causing me to trip on something as I was barely looking.

I turned back, trying to see what had tripped me, when I saw it.

My mum’s hand with her bracelet still wrapped around it, her magic stronger, but still faded, the remnants of it hanging in the air, but most importantly, the blood that covered her hand.

I looked, trying to focus on the view in front of me but I could not. The panic made everything out of focus as I screamed, before everything went black…