Chapter 97

Eleanor:

I sat on the couch that was in the room that Elton had me staying in. I knew that it was just a big game for him, one that he was testing me with, and the thing is, I couldn’t help but find myself fearing where things were going to go from here.

“I told you that this was a bad idea.” My wolf muttered, clearly annoyed with what I was doing. But I knew that it was my one way out. If I stayed in whatever dungeon he had me in, the man would have abused me day and night. I just needed to think of the right decision to take now that I had a chance to make one.

“I swear that I wonder how the two of us are supposed to be ‘connected’ as one.” I said, watching as the door opened. I got up, still knowing my rules when it came to dealing with Elton.

“I have to admit, either Killian didn’t influence you or you are just too well trained to forget your manners.” Elton muttered, walking around me. If only he knew the man that Killian was, I knew that he would be more than a little scared.

“I know my limits when it comes to the way that you want me behaving.” I said, careful as I chose my words. One wrong word could be considered more or less a sin, and I didn’t need him holding a mistake against me right now.

He hummed in response before picking up the picture that was on my bed. It was the one that would be spread around the media, and I knew that it could, hopefully, reach Killian’s hands. I just really hoped that he didn’t misunderstand what was going on here. The last thing that I would be able to do is deal with losing him for false news like this.

“You have the picture on your bed.” He stated, and I took a deep breath.

“It is our wedding announcement. Plus, I know that you often liked it when I kept a picture of the two of us on my nightstand, and considering that the two of us decided to start fresh…”

“You seem to be enthusiastic about announcing our wedding when you chose to run away from it in the first place. And don’t fucking think of giving me some stupid lie that you are trying to cook up. I don’t think that you believe that I have become that stupid to believe them.” Elton said, stopping me from completing my sentence. I looked down at my feet, avoiding his eyes as I ran my finger over the emerald necklace that I had wrapped around my wrist. 

“I am not lying.” I said, taking a deep breath before he wrapped his hand around my arm, raising it as he had me looking at the emerald, raising an eyebrow as he did.

“And despite all the jewels that you have, you chose to wear the emerald that you came with.”

“I wanted to put it on as it looked well with my clothes,” I said, avoiding his eyes. “As for our wedding, I think that the two of us know that it would be better for me and my baby, if I wish to live in peace, for me to submit in such a situation.”

“Your days of peace have been long over, you do realize that? And if you believe that you are fooling anyone here, you are going to be thinking twice about that later.” He asked, making my chest ache. 

“I am merely trying to survive, and I am not aiming to fool anyone as I have nothing to lose.” I said, and the man chuckled before putting a hand on my stomach, squeezing it as he kept his eyes on mine.

“Do you want me to show you what I can take from you? Or will you remind yourself of your limits with the person who is standing in front of you?” He asked, glaring daggers at me. I took a deep breath and looked down at my feet just as he let my hand go, glaring at me. “If you are alive now, it is because I want you to be, and if the baby is still growing inside you, I believe that you know my reason.”

“And I am guessing that you would know mine when it comes to me being a mother, and if anyone knows anything about a mother, it is that she would be more than willing to do everything and anything for her baby.” I said, and he chuckled. He took a step toward me before grabbing me by my throat, choking me as he pinned me against the wall behind me. I stayed quiet, knowing better than to react right now. 

“Your sass is getting out of control, but I will give you until our wedding night for you to remind yourself that the man that is standing in front of you is not someone that you can try and take advantage of. Believe me, I would rip your heart out of your chest in a minute because you looked at me in a way that I didn’t like, and I doubt that you of all people need to be informed of that.” He said, making my chest burn. He let my neck go, and I watched as he walked toward the door, leaving me alone in the room.

I put my hand on my stomach for a second, taking a deep breath as I did before I nodded. The last thing that I was going to do was give him a reason to hurt me right now. I just hoped that Killian got the message that I was trying to give him.

“He is going to hurt you,” my wolf said, breaking my train of thoughts. I rolled my eyes at how supportive she was, and I could swear that she scoffed.

I looked at myself in the mirror before putting my hand on my swollen stomach. My child and mate were the only reasons why I was being strong right now, and knowing that I was going to have to protect my baby from the demon who held me captive was one drive that made my chest ache.

“He has done what he can do.”  I said, watching as my eyes turned into a deep shade of golden as my wolf made herself known. She was angry, and that was something that I saw in her intense gaze despite it being a reflection.

“He has done it to you, but the worst pain lies when a child is used against a mother.” She said, making my chest ache. “I do suggest that you don’t depend on your messages and that you start taking action. Otherwise, you are going to be too heavy to be able to fight or run, and God forbid that this baby is born in this hell hole…”