Page 53 of Curvy Alpha Bride
How can he do this to me?
Then Xavier turns and sees me standing behind him, listening to his every word. His face tightens with shock, and in his eyes, there is nothing but regret.
“Mabel,” he says, taking a step towards me. “You have to listen. This isn’t what you think it is.”
“You’re betraying me—again,” I spit, wrapping my arms around myself. “You promised me you’d get me out of here. Now you’re saying you’re going to stay!”
“Let me explain,” he says, taking a slow step in my direction as if he’s trying not to startle me. “It will all make sense if you just let me tell you what’s going on.”
“I don’t care!” I cry, trying to hold back my tears but not succeeding. “It doesn’t matter what the reason is—you’re letting me down. I’m just not important enough to you!”
“Mabel, that isn’t true!” he yells. “Please, just stop.”
“No!” I scream, leaping back into the cabin and slamming the door behind me. As I slide the deadlock into place, the irony is not lost on me.
I spent the last twenty-four hours trying to get out of here. Now I’m locking myself in.
“Mabel!” Xavier yells, banging on the door. “Let me in, please!”
I don’t bother to answer, just take myself over the pile of cushions on the floor and curl up in the blankets. I’m so shocked, frightened, and angry that the outburst has left me completely numb.
I’m stuck here. I’m really and truly stuck here, and the only person who can help me won’t.
Even though I know Xavier must have a good reason for doing this, and the entire town is in terrible danger, for the moment, my head can’t fathom any of that. I went to sleep last night knowing that Xavier was going to get me home, and that if he could put me first, I might be able to forgive him.
Then, the contract, the consummation, all of it becomes a thing of joy. Like we were always meant to be, and the moment of rejection was a necessary step to us finding true happiness. But he’s betrayed me again. This is just who he is. He will never put me first.
Xavier bangs on the door and yells as I just stay curled up on the floor, crying softly and trying not to think. My head is aching from stress, and I don’t know how to move forward from this.
I was always so good at planning my future. Now, every single path ends in “stay trapped in this cabin until I die.”
Wrapping the blankets more tightly around me, I look into the dancing yellow flames and give in to the horrible, empty ache in my chest. The noise outside settles down, and I’m just glad to be left alone.
I don’t care about ancient evils or mysteries. They can keep their damn secrets.
After a while, I drift off into a light sleep. I fall into a comfortable darkness, with no bad dreams, and when I wake, I actually feel well-rested.
I’ve been in a constant state of escalating stress since I first laid eyes on Xavier in the rose garden. It’s amazing I could rest at all.
I sit up slowly, listening for any noise outside. I don’t know if the elders are still out there, intent on keeping me prisoner, or if they’ve left me unguarded because they think I won’t leave.
A few options roll through my mind. I could try sneaking out right now. If Xavier’s truck is still in the driveway, I could probably get to it and haul ass out of here, keeping my foot to the floor until I hit the top of the Pass.
If I left right now, I could be home by midnight!
The image of my small, cozy room rises in my mind, so real that the memories overwhelm my senses. I can see theordered chaos of my books and magazines, the sprawl of clothes, and the faint glow of the plastic stars stuck to the ceiling.
I want to go back there so badly, it almost feels like my feelings could teleport me if I just wished hard enough for it. I focus on my desire, trying to give myself the courage to bolt out the front door and into Xavier’s car.
They wouldn’t try to stop me, would they? Yesterday, Serra said to break Xavier’s arm… would they do that to me, too?
A shudder of horror ripples through me as I realize they might.
These people are so bug-nuts fucking crazy, they could do anything!
In my plans for escape, I’ve very carefully avoided thoughts of the mysterious evil stalking the town. Even though it’s scary, it feels pretty impersonal. I know Dove got taken by it, and it kills people, but my only experience with it has been an eerie feeling and some nightmares.
The townsfolk, the elders, and Xavier, however, hit me personally and are far more frightening.
