Page 85 of Awakening

I raise my eyebrows and tilt my head. “Werewolves?”

“Yes.”

He’s crazy. “I see. And, you said I wasn’t always a…werewolf. How did I become one?”

He looks down at the floor and back up at me. “I turned you.”

“You? So, you’re saying you turned me, a perfectly normal human being, into someone who is capable of turning into a wolf?”

“Yes, but you agreed. You wanted to transition so we could lead our pack together.”

“Our pack?” I bite the inside of my cheek as I contemplate how I’m going to get away from this lunatic. I don’t know how he did it, but he somehow has everyone here thinking they’re werewolves. Well, not me.

“Yes, Olivia. We’re the Pinewood Pack. The wolves you thought you heard, those are our people.”

“You mean the wolves I heard, but you denied their existence?”

“Yes. I didn’t tell you because I was hoping your memory would come back. I was afraid if I told you, it would just be too overwhelming and unbelievable.”

I take a deep breath and release a long sigh. “Well, it’s out now.”

He frowns and tilts his head. “You seem to be taking this really well.”

“You wanted to explain. Now you have.”

“And?”

“And? I think you’re out of your fucking mind, Ethan.” I stand and move toward him. “I don’t know what kind of fucked up shit you got me twisted up in before, but it’s over now. I listened, and now I’m done. I’m leaving.”

“The hell you are.” He crosses his arms and widens his stance. “You’re not leaving me.”

“You said if I listened, I could leave.”

“No, I said I’d let go of you if you listen, and I said you aren’t leaving this room until you listen. I never said anything about letting you walk out of my life.”

“I am not your fucking prisoner.”

“No, you’re my mate, and soon to be my wife.”

“The hell I am. I will never marry you. You’re a fucking lunatic.” I have to fight against his intoxicating scent, which I’ve noticed tends to build up and soften me when we argue. “Let me out.”

“No. You’re not leaving me, Olivia. You belong to me.”

“I don’t belong to anyone. Let me out of this room.” He looks at me like he wants to throw me on the bed, and I feel it too. I want to slap him and kiss him all at once. That’s how fucked up I already am just from being here.

“I love you, Olivia. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you see reason, even if you don’t like my ways of getting it done…at first.” I know exactly what he means by that. Sex. Not happening, though the aching between my legs might convince someone I have other ideas.

“Don’t make me hurt you, Ethan. I’ll do it if you won’t get out of my way.”

He throws his head back in genuine laughter. “How exactly do you plan on doing that, baby?”

I get close enough so that my chest is against his. I look up into his steel blue eyes as he looks back at me with pure arousal. I place my hands on his powerful biceps and he allows his hands to fall to my waist as our lips barely brush against one another. That’s when I raise my knee straight up and into his groin. Hard. He doubles over in a loud groan, stumbling away from the doorway.

“What the fuck, Olivia?” he croaks out as he drops to the floor. I know I won’t have long before he recovers and comes after me, so I jump around him as he groans on the floor. “I love you. Don’t leave me,” he calls after me.

I race down the stairs, and I grab my handbag and car keys. I’m not even out the door when I hear movement upstairs. He’ll be up and able to come after me soon. I’m hit with a reminder of when they talked about quick recovery, but I shake it out of my head. That’s nonsense, though, he does seem to bounce back more quickly than most.

I get in my car, turn it on and open the garage door. Throwing it into reverse and backing out, I’m instantly chased by Ben and another guard, very much like I was my first night here. People are staring at me as I speed through the neighborhood until I finally reach the iron gates. They’re closed.

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