Page 52 of Mates: Posy

"Oh, no," he groaned. "Not puppy dog eyes already!"

The others laughed.

"What are we making, anyway?" I asked as he took my hand in his and tugged me along.

"I havenoidea."

13: New Life, Rough Start

Lilah MacGregor

Loud, rapid knocking woke me, and I shot up in bed.

My heart pounded as I gasped for breath, confused about where I was for a second. The thick curtains blocked all light from the window, and I couldn't tell what time of day it was.

Someone pounded violently on the front door again.

Something's wrong, I thought and slid out of bed.

I hurried out of my room and down the hall only to freeze when I reached the living room.

The scent on the other side of the front door was one I knew and hated.

Oh no. Not him! Please, not him! Why won't he leave me alone?

But there was no one to answer. Kestrel, my wolf, was in a deep sleep, exhausted from healing me after my latest punishment for daring to believe the Goddess had a mate for me.

"Open this door, Lilah!" roared Alpha Leo Halder.

Like a robot, I went over and flipped the lock, my whole body vibrating with fear. The door flew open and revealed my nightmare.

Alpha Halder's hands slammed into my shoulders, knocking me onto the floor. I screamed in shock and pain and scrambled back on the heels of my hands.

Then he started to kick me, destroying my already broken ribs. Weak as I was, I still fought, slashing at him with my fingernails, but that only made him hurt me more.

Kestrel!I begged with no real hope of her answering.

Unfortunately, without her, I was as feeble as a human. Not that she would have stood a chance against a full-grown, alpha wolf, but any help was better than none.

He dropped down on me and punched me in the face, breaking my nose, and more screams ripped out of me.

"Shut up!" he growled. "You ugly freak! You don't deserve to live a second longer!"

Wrapping his hands around my neck, he squeezed until I couldn't get any air in. Panicked, I thrashed against him.

I'm going to die.

The words ran through my mind over and over as my vision faded into black spots....

And I woke up screaming.

"Lilah. You're safe." Worry filled my brother's deep voice. "He can't get you here. Come on, ladybug. Wake up for me. You're safe now, and I'm going to keep you that way."

With one arm holding me tightly, Luke pressed my head against his chest and rocked us back and forth.

"Luke?"

My throat ached, and I knew I must have been screaming for a while.

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