6: Stop her!

Ronnie's POV 

The words kept echoing in my head.

"I would rather die than see you with another man."

The nerve of him made my vision blur with anger.

This was the same man who disregarded our bond to be in my step-sister’s bed. The same man who had looked me straight in the eyes weeks ago and told me I wasn’t enough.

And now he stood there talking about ownership, all because someone stronger had shown interest in me.

The hypocrisy almost made me laugh.

“Now you better move cause you're coming with me.” Elisha barked.

His fingers dug into my arm so hard. 

Something inside me snapped.

Not the quiet kind of snap. This one was loud and violent. Like a dam bursting open after holding too much water.

“Get your filthy hands off me this instant!” I growled.

The sound shocked even me. It tore out of my throat like something wild.

Elisha flinched, though just for a second.

But he didn’t let go.

“Ronnie, stop being difficult,” he said through gritted teeth. “You don’t understand what you’re dealing with. The King...”

“I understand perfectly,” I cut him off.

I leaned forward until our faces were inches apart.

“I’m dealing with a coward.”

His jaw tightened.

“You must be very stupid if you think I’d crawl back to you after everything you did. You think you’re saving me? Please... You’re just trying to protect your ego.”

He dragged me out of the hallway toward the living room.

My barefoot scraped helplessly against the floor.

“Elisha, stop!” my mother cried as she rushed forward. “You’re hurting her!”

“Baby, what is wrong with you?” Keisha said, rushing to his side.  

Her cheek was still red from the slap I gave her earlier. 

“You don’t love her! You chose me!” she shouted. “Why are you even doing this?”

Elisha didn’t even look at her.

When she grabbed his sleeve, he shoved her away like she was nothing.

Keisha fell to the floor, shock written all over her. 

If the situation wasn’t so insane, I might have laughed.

“I would rather face the King,” I shouted, twisting against his grip, “or any other monster, than spend another second with you!”

He ignored me.

His eyes stayed locked on the front door. His breathing came out heavy and uneven.

He was scared.

The mighty Elisha, the man who thought he could juggle two women without consequences, was terrified. 

My mother stepped in front of him, pale and shaking.

“Elisha, please. Let her go.”

“Stay out of this, Sarah!” he snapped.

That was it, I was done being dragged around like property.

When his grip shifted around my waist, I saw my chance.

I didn’t think.

I just acted.

I leaned forward and bit down hard on his arm.

“Argh! Dammit, Ronnie!”

He jerked back instantly, clutching his arm.

I stumbled away from him, nearly tripping over the rug before catching my balance.

My mother rushed to my side.

And so did Jessie.

Keisha joined too, but judging by the way she glared at Elisha, she seemed more interested in keeping him away from me than helping me.

“You’re pathetic, Elisha,” Jessie lashed out at him. “You really think the world revolves around you, huh?" 

“It’s honestly sad. You chose your part, so move on and let my girl live her life. Or at least let her face her fate without your greasy hands all over her.”

“You don’t understand!” Elisha shouted, his voice cracking. “He’ll kill her! Or worse!”

“I’d take worse over you any day,” I shot back.

He tried to push past them and grab me again, but I quickly ran back towards my room. 

I dashed down the hallway and slammed my bedroom door shut behind me.

The lock clicked.

I leaned against the door, chest rising and falling really fast.

My heart slammed against my ribs like it wanted to break free.

“I should’ve done this a long time ago,” I whispered.

My hands shook so badly I had to clench them into fists.

“I should’ve locked them all out.”

The shouting outside didn’t stop.

Elisha’s frantic voice. Keisha crying. Jessie snapping back at him.

The noise blended together into a chaotic sound. 

Then suddenly, everyone went silent. 

Completely silent.

After which, I heard the front door fall open. 

The air changed.

Suddenly Elisha’s voice rang out again. But this time it sounded terrified.

“You can’t take her!” he shouted. “Tell the King she already has a mate! She’s claimed! You can’t take a mated female!”

My blood turned cold.

The idiot.

A deep voice answered him.

Low and a little too calm. I could barely hear the words, but I knew it meant danger. 

“She’s mine!” Elisha yelled again.

A loud thud followed.

Something... or someone... hit the wall.

Panic rose in my chest.

If I stay here, I’d be taken like a prize.

If I went with them… I’d become a breeder. A servant to a King who probably didn’t know mercy existed.

I looked at the door.

Then I looked at the window.

I rushed to the window and pushed it open, Cold night air rushed into the room.

My bedroom was on the second floor, but there was a trellis and a rosebush below. It wasn't safe, but I had to take the chance. 

“Ma'am!” a voice called from outside, knocking heavily on the door. 

That wasn't Elisha's voice. 

“Open this door right now! By order of the Lycan King!”

I didn't respond. 

“You have five secs ma'am." 

I swung one leg over the window.

The door frame began splintering.

“One!”

I grabbed the trellis and started climbing down.

“Two! Three! Four! Five!" 

The door burst open behind me.

Heavy boots pounded across my room.

“The window!” Someone alerted. 

Fear ran through me so much that I jumped down from that floor without even thinking of how I would land. 

Then I hit the ground.

The air rushed out of my lungs.

Pain exploded through my ankle, and thorns from the rosebush scraped across my shoulder.

But I didn’t stop.

I pushed myself up and ran.

My bare feet slapped against gravel as I raced down the driveway.

Each step burned.

Behind me, men shouted. “Stop her!”

I reached the main road and ran without thinking.

The night was dark. I didn’t know where I was going.

I just knew I couldn’t stay.

My legs started to slow.

My vision blurred.

I glanced back for just a second...

And that was my mistake.

Bright headlights suddenly appeared around the curve.

I turned forward again, but it was too late.

I tried to jump away, but the car hit me even before I could. 

The world spun.

Pain slowly crept into every part of my body.

I tried to move, but my body refused to respond. 

I heard the car door open.

The owner of the car had come out, probably to check if I was still alive. 

He stopped beside me.

I couldn’t see his face clearly cause my vision had become blurry. 

Then he spoke.

His voice was deep and annoyingly calm.

“How could someone be so desperate to get hit by my car?” he said dryly.