Page 54 of Wolf Fated
Did Stephen even know they were werewolves? I chewed on my lip not sure and if he did, he'd sell them to those hunters they talked about. So, I decided to bide my time and plant doubt in Stephen's mind. "There's no way they'd pay you for me. It wasn't like that. I'm sure they have women at their mansion all the time and I was just a nuisance. They let me go just before you came over—I was fixing to call you even—"
"Shut the fuck up." Stephen swerved into another lane, barreling toward the exit. "You're a fucking cunt that's not worth anything."
Tears burned the back of my eyes. Sure, I had thought about breaking it off with Stephen, but I had thought he cared about me. To hear such venom in his voice cut me. And I was so glad I hadn't told him that the guys put money into my bank account. He'd probably make me withdraw all of it and give it to him. Though if I thought he'd let me go and leave us alone if I did, I would have offered. But something told me he'd never be happy with any amount.
We turned onto a gravel road, Stephen's car bouncing along the path until we came to a dead end.
Terror slammed into my chest, and I couldn't breathe. This looked like the spot where murderers took their victims. I didn't want to die. I'd barely found myself and love. I wanted more helicopter rides, playing games, reading all the books in Axel, Drake, and Nathan's library. Wanted to learn how to shoot a rifle and bake like Drake. Most of all I wanted more time with them. Kissing them and feeling their arms around me. I wanted a life with them. A future.
"Don't," I squeezed the word out past my tightening throat. "Please."
Stephen glared at me with such disgust and hatred that I blinked, thinking that this had to be some nightmare. Some mistake, and this wasn't Stephen at all. How could a man I nearly married look at me like that? I hadn't even told him I didn't want to marry him yet.
"Get out of the car, Brookie, or I'll take you out in pieces if I have to."
I shook my head. My stomach tightened. If I was going to turn into a werewolf too, this would be a really, really good time.
Instead of sprouting fangs or fur or even claws, I only got a sick feeling in my stomach like I was going to throw up.
Stephen reached in and grabbed me by my hair. He yanked me out across his car until I fell in the dirt next to his tire. Then he pressed the switchblade to my throat. "On your feet, bitch. We got some hiking to do."
When I didn't stand up fast enough, he jerked me upright by my arm. He motioned me forward to the dense woods up ahead.
My legs trembled with every step as we walked deeper into the forest. As though the animals knew something bad was about to happen, they scampered through leaves, taking off. The only sounds were cars driving past in the distance and the wind drifting through the trees.
At a clearing, there was a silver chain. It glinted in the sunlight, and I let out a shaky breath. If this was here, then that meant Stephen wasn't going to kill me and bury me. But I still didn't have warm fuzzies about this either.
"Don't think of running or I'll cut you." He chuckled like he hoped I would try. "Don't want to damage that pretty face of yours for your lovers."
I didn't even argue with him that I hadn't had sex with the guys. Stephen was going to think whatever he wanted, and it wasn't like I hadn't desired to be with them either.
Stephen gestured me closer to the chain and stake with the switchblade. When he reached for me, I jumped back.
I spun on my heel and ran faster than I ever had in my life. If I could make it to the road, I could flag down a car. I could get away. Get back to Axel, Drake, and Nathan. I had to warn them that Stephen was crazy and dangerous.
Vines tangled around my ankles and thorns cut into my bare feet. I ran with Stephen yelling behind me. I swore he was breathing along the back of my neck. But still, I raced ahead. Branches scratched at my face, and I held up my arms as they slashed into my skin. My breaths turned into pants. I pumped my long legs harder and faster. I hadn't run this much since high school track.
A stitch pinched my side, but I didn't stop.
Ahead, my heart lifted at the sound of traffic. Almost there. A few more yards and I'd—
Stephen slammed into my back, knocking us both onto the ground. All the air whooshed out of me with a grunt.
"Help me," I screamed.
"Stupid bitch." Stephen hit me in the back of the head.
Yellow stars danced across my vision. He wrenched my arm behind me and forced me to stand. Pain fractured up my arm and shoulder. My head throbbed like it was bleeding as we marched back to the chain.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked between sobs. "We were engaged... supposed to be married."
Stephen twisted my arm and I felt like he was wrenching it out of my socket as he dragged me along the grass back toward the stake. I clawed and smacked at his grip with my free hand. My heels dug into the dirt to try to stop our return. Pain radiated through me as he dragged me back.
At one point I snagged a tree root with my foot and halted him enough that he muttered a curse and kicked me in my side. I doubled over, the pain shooting through my whole abdomen.
He grabbed both of my arms hauling me back as I tried to remember how to breathe. Every inhale hurt.
Despite my struggle, Stephen rammed the cuff around my ankle. He took a step back brushing his hair out of his eyes and smirked. "That's what you get."
