Page 67 of Fate Awakened

“Sorry,” I utter, pushing myself off the ground and trying to brush off my leggings without further injuring my bleeding hands.

Glancing down, I see my right palm split below my thumb. The tiny incision leaks beads of blood onto the dirt, now caked in the creases. My left hand has a piece of a branch stuck in it.

Perfect.

I wonder briefly if taking it out would be worse than leaving it in. At least for now, until I can clean and bandage it. The group continues, and my feet begin following on autopilot. Tugging on the sleeve of my hoodie, I slide my hands inside, leaving the large wood splinter in my skin. It's a constant reminder that I’m still alive and that there will be a life and a future after this.

Focusing my attention, I keep my eyes locked on the ground before me. The last thing I need is to fall again. Big Tony speeds up the pace causing my lungs to burn with the exertion.

I definitely need to work out more.

My heart rate increases, and I grow a bit warmer with the effort. None of the men in the group appear to be fazed by the long hike with no apparent trail. For a moment, I wish I had better navigation skills. Without my phone's GPS, I’m utterly lost. I couldn’t tell you what direction we’re moving in or even roughly how far we’ve gone. I just continue putting one foot in front of the other until the trees thin, and I notice it’s opening up to a clearing.

Wind dances over my skin, chilling me as we move out of the cover of the trees. The sky opens above me, and I’m mesmerized by how many twinkling stars filter down, lighting the entire area with their glow. I glance down at my sleeve, picturing the watercolor tattoo beneath it and wondering if the fireflies look just as beautiful against the dark sky.

My skin tingles. I can almost feel eyes on me before Big Tony abruptly halts, and I stumble to avoid crashing into his back. Once I’ve controlled my movement, I adjust to my left in an effort to see around the giant hulk of a man. Hudson and the most disgusting-smelling man I’ve ever encountered bookend me on the left and right, respectively.

I glance up, catching sight of Dante directly in front of Tony, wearing a slightly smug expression. The relief I feel in that moment allows me to relax my tense muscles and causes that tiny bit of hope I’m holding onto to grow.

Without even seeing him, I can feel Cain’s stare, and my heart jumps to my throat as I worry for the first time about what he’s feeling. All he knows is that I left him in the middle of the night, didn’t answer his calls, and ended up here for ransom. I never got to explain myself, ask him any of the million questions I had, or even say goodbye.

Intentionally, I take a deep breath, knowing that the look I’ll see on his face could spell out our future, and I set my jaw, preparing myself for anything—hatred, anger, apathy, annoyance.

Telling myself I can survive whatever it is, my eyes slide over to him and lock onto his. The storm warring within them allows me to let out a breath as I see the emotions flit across his expression, not hidden by his usual mask—relief, fear, need.

They pour out of him as he scans my body asking questions without saying a word. His hand moves slightly as if he wants to reach out to me, and my heart clenches, aching for him to do just that.

The realization that I’m in love with him crashes into me like a wave at high tide, knocking the wind out of me. I’ve been a fool to run from the feelings that he’s awoken within me since the moment we met.

Seventeen days doesn’t seem like enough time to have these feelings, but if I’m being honest, I knew on day three when he calmed down my panic attack and gave me control of the car. I knew on day four when he showed up with sandwiches after I pushed him away. I knew on day eight when he made me laugh until my cheeks hurt and on day fourteen when he showed up with ice cream so that he didn’t have to go a day without seeing me.

I knew.

I knew, and yet, I pushed every one of those green flags away because I was so scared I’d have to let him go. I was terrified that loving him would break me in ways that could never be repaired.

Just the idea that I could’ve lost him in all this has a single tear threatening to fall.

I love him.

I’m in love with him.

It’s absolutely terrifying, but I feel a weight lift as I accept both my feelings and what they could mean for my future. I square my shoulders and lift my chin, ready for whatever comes from this.

As both groups stand, lined up across from each other like a bad game of dodgeball. I scan over the members who stand with Cain and Dante, noting they all look ready and capable of fighting through this. Well, all but the one they have in thick handcuffs and wearing a dark cloth bag over his head. I imagine he won’t be fighting anyone in his current state.

He must be “the heir” they’re trading me for.

Dante’s voice breaks the extended silence and has my eyes sliding back to where he stands at the center of his group, looking every bit like their leader and exuding a confidence that inspires.

“Antonio.”

Big Tony, who doesn’t look one bit like an ‘Antonio,’ responds.

“Stone. I see you have what I asked for. Now, as you can see, I don’t have your property in restraints.” He motions toward me, and every fiber of my being wants to shout at him. ‘For the hundredth time, I’m not anyone's property,’ but instead, I drop my gaze to the ground hoping my anger doesn’t show.

“Yes, because an adult Alpha male and a young college woman offer the same threat level?” Dante answers in a tone that has Big Tony’s neck turning red.

“Release him,” he growls out.

---