Chapter 15: Midnight's Escape

**Amina**

Shit.

It had been hours since I woke up from my nightmare, and although I managed to calm my nerves down, most of my feelings never changed. I was still as scared and angry in this reality as I was in my dream. After all, my friend was a freaking werewolf. 

How could this have happened? How could I have not seen it coming? I thought back to every memory of our friendship, and still, I was at a loss. Of course, Roxanne was a gifted woman, strong, fast, agile and beautiful beyond belief, but so were three-quarters of the human population. I never suspected a werewolf nature as the reason for her incredible abilities, and why should I have? These killer beasts weren't supposed to exist.

Killer beasts, yes. How else would one describe a creature whose every trait was tailor-made for hunting and butchering others?

Double shit.

I was in trouble, stuck in a house, and worse, a town full of people like my friend. And even though I knew Roxanne would never hurt me, I didn't know anything about the others. Who could guarantee my safety in Jester if I decided to stay? Her? Her parents? Or the blue-eyed man who had unknowingly reached into my heart and tugged at strings no longer supposed to be there? 

In a single afternoon, Benjamin had threatened to destroy all of the defensive walls I spent years building around me, so perhaps, in some ways, he alone was more dangerous to me than a million of his kind. He was the real threat, the handsome devil in a tight shirt, and I would no longer blindly fall for the devil, even if his smile, gaze, and scent spoke to the very core of my existence this time around. 

I had to leave, get away from this place, especially him. And now was my chance; the Millers weren't home, gone for who knew how long.

"Come on, Mina," I groaned as I rushed to stuff my clothes inside my black duffel.

The last of my shirt was in when suddenly, a soft ringing caught my attention, and from its charging station, my cellphone's screen shone. Several messages from my mother scrolled by, one after the other and I couldn't help but sigh in remorse.

With everything happening, I had forgotten about my mother, and though I felt horrible, she and my guilt still had to wait. There were more pressing things to deal with, like finding a way out. No bus left Jester so late at night; I knew from my short time at the terminus. No bus, no boat, no plane, and a ten-hour cab ride was out of the question. I suddenly felt defeated, and just when everything began to look dark and hopeless, I remembered Roxanne's car. She mentioned it years ago and, likening it to mine, called it old and disappointing. Tonight, however, that old thing would be the answer to my prayers.

I ran hell for leather through the house, dragging my bag across the marble floor down the wooden stairs, and raced until I reached the garage outside. By some miracle, the Millers had left the lights and two of the three large doors open, and within seconds my eyes focused on the brown key-box displaying the keys to every expensive car they owned.

The slew of vehicles before me attested to the Miller's wealth, once again, from one high-end brand to another. None of these cars were old, cheap or beat up, and absolutely none reminded me of my ramshackle, blue little Volvo at home. So which of these was Roxanne's so-called disappointment? I couldn't tell, but in truth, it didn't matter. I needed a car, plain and simple, and so, I grabbed the first sets of keys my hand landed on and a few minutes later sped off the property. 

I was on hot coals, driving full speed down the dark road until I approached the town's limits, the same ones I crossed reluctant two days ago yet, oddly enough, reached sorrowful tonight. I was leaving behind Jester, werewolves, and all the dreadful things that shouldn't be of this world, but instead of pure relief, I felt only sadness. I wanted to see and talk to my best friend one last time because, despite everything else, she was still one of the few people I loved the most. 

"Fuck, Roxy, you shouldn't have kept this from me. I trusted you," I mumbled as the town's farewell sign appeared, and my friend's face slowly took shape in my head. 

Tears streamed down and clouded my sight as I struggled to stay on the road, and with every yard the white sedan gained, my heart began to sink more and more.

"Just go, Mina!" I screamed at myself, fighting against my unexpected and overwhelming urge to stop and turn around. "Just fucking leave!" I yelled, and suddenly, my scream turned to screech when a huge, black truck appeared out of nowhere and cut me off.

I swerved to the right, tires burning under me as I brought my car to a full stop near the ditch. My heart raced, and my body shook like a leaf from almost dying, and as I tried to catch my breath, I could hear car doors opening and slamming shut on my left before my own swung open. 

"Mina?" a deep voice called out to me and prompted me to look up. "Mina?" it said again as my gaze locked in with the very entrancing blue eyes I tried to escape moments ago.

"B-Benji?" I said weakly, rubbing the back of my head.

"Fuck, Mina," Benjamin groaned, heaving a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry. Are you okay? Goddess, what the hell were you thinking?" he asked, pulling me from the driver's seat and pressing my body against his. 

"Me?" I shouted, infuriated, pushing his arms from my waist. "Are you out of your mind? You're the one who almost killed me."

"Funny, I was going to say the same to you," he replied with a wave of anger as deep as mine.

"What are you talking about? Why are you even here?"

Benjamin's mouth opened, but before he could answer, Roxanne suddenly appeared. "Mina, are you okay?" she cried, worried as she hurried to us.

"Roxy?" My eyes widened with surprise. "What are you doing here? How- how did you find me?" I asked her, glancing between her and the strange, tall, blond behind her.

"Mina, I'm sorry. I couldn't let you leave."

"But you weren't home," I stammered, trying to understand what happened. "How did you know?"  

"She didn't, I did," Benjamin said and gave the most annoying look when I asked him how. "What did Roxy tell you about us exactly?" he asked back, rolling his eyes instead of answering. "How much do you know?"

"She, umm-"

"Benji, stop. Can't you see she's scared?" Roxanne cut him off. "Listen, Mina, please don't leave. I'll tell you everything you want to know, but stay."

"I - I don't know," I replied, tearing as my eyes went from Benjamin to meet hers. "This place isn't safe. You're-"

"I'm your best friend," she sighed. "I'm still the same Roxanne you met in college, werewolf or not. I wish I had told you the truth sooner. Maybe I could've protected you better if I had, but I'm telling you now. And I promise, Mina, you're safe from now on. No one is going to hurt you here."

"Maybe *you* won't," I said, noticing the subtle yet heavy glance between Benjamin and the stranger.

"Hey," the blond man then smiled. "If it's me you're concerned about, don't be. As your Beta, my duty is quite literally to make sure you're safe."

"As my what?"

"Goddess, Ryan, not now," Roxanne turned with an eye roll and suddenly, Benjamin let out a loud, frustrated moan.

"This is ridiculous. Enough! You're not g- she's not going anywhere," he told his sister about me. "Get her back to the house-"

"I'm not going back!"

"Benji, you can't force her!" Roxanne shouted above me.

"Yes, I can," he yelled back, focusing solely on Roxanne. "I'm her Alpha as much as I'm her mate, damn it, and I don't have time to deal with that or her right now. So bring her back, tend to her wound and, for fuck's sake, keep an eye on her this time."