Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
I feel the blood drain from my face as the overwhelming sadness washes over me. Just the thought of my mate makes my heart clench in agony. I don’t feel any regret that I’ve left him; I just feel weak and dejected that I’ll forever be alone. Every memory is dark and brutal. I rub my belly, feeling a bit of peace, at least I have my pup. I’ll do everything I can to do right by him.
“We’re almost home.” Jude’s words bring me back to reality. Home? I glance in the back of the car to see both pups are still soundly asleep.
“Where are you taking us?” My voice is weak and breaks at the end of the question. The anxiety I felt when we first got in the car has returned.
“Home.” His simple answer doesn’t ease my worry. Anxiousness riddles its way through me. He gently places his large hand on my thigh and my body stills from his touch. I close my eyes just as another radiating wave of pain begins in my lower back. I breathe deep, but this time I don’t move my hand to my upper thighs since his hand would be in my way. I dig my heels into the floor of the car and breathe through the uncomfortable pain. Once it’s gone, I realize he’s taken his hand away from me and is gripping the wheel with a force that’s turned his knuckles white.
“What do you mean ‘home’?” I have to push through these questions and figure out what I’ve gotten us into. I let out a slow, shaky breath before asking, “Are we staying with your pack?”
“Yes.” His one-word answer doesn’t ease my worries in the least.
He looks out of the window while I stare at my dirty feet on the floor. I just can’t look at him without feeling nauseated. My chest hurts and I rub the growing knot of pain.
I nod my head and swallow before asking, “Whose pack is it? Who sent you?”
“The Shadow Falls pack.” My body freezes with fear. I know that name. It’s Shadow’s old pack. Tears prick my eyes as I realize why I’ve been taken. Shadow wanted to hurt their pack, and tried to take their mates, so Devin sent someone after me.
I close my eyes tight to avoid crying, but the pain comes back. I wish it would stop; I have more important things to concern myself with now. I need to know what they plan to do with me and my family. My hands push against my thighs and my shoulders hunch forward. I try to relax my body to loosen the pain, but in this position it’s so hard to get comfortable.
“We’re almost there.” His words are meant to be reassuring based on his tone, but all they do is terrify me. I’ve been taken by my mate’s enemy, and I have no clue how I’m going to get out of this. My mantra rings in my head, one day at a time, but I don’t want to think like that. Not when Addy and Reece are involved.
“What are you going to do to us?” My breath stalls as I ask; I need to know. I need to know they’ll be all right no matter what plans they have for me.
His silver eyes finally meet mine, but I can’t keep his gaze. I’m terrified that they’re going to use us against Shadow, or worse, send us back. I hear him swallow before answering, “I’m keeping you. You belong to me.”
A numbing heat washes over me as fear settles in my bones.
I’ve merely changed hands of captors.
With staggered breathing, I attempt to remain calm. I nod stiffly, acknowledging his words, as tears slip down my cheeks.
“What about Addy and Reece?” I swallow thickly, praying that he’ll show me kindness.
“They’ll stay with us.” He turns the wheel and immediately the car starts rocking unsteadily as we drive down a gravel road. I close my eyes and try to even my breathing. As long as my family is safe, we’ll get through this. I don’t have any other choice but to do my best to survive. I will survive.
Before I’ve had a moment to really pull myself together, the car slows and comes to a stop. I open my eyes to see an enormous house in front of us. The driveway is a semicircle that leads to a stone path and large entry. I’ve never seen such a beautiful home. Jude’s hand grabs mine and he squeezes. “I promise you’ll be all right. I’ll take care of you.” His voice is soft and comforting and I find myself believing him, but then a flash of Shadow comes to the forefront of my mind. My body stiffens. He said the same words. He said he’d take care of me. I look back up at the house and it no longer holds its appeal. It’s merely a gilded cage. I won’t let myself be conned with fantasies. Not again. I won’t let it happen again.