I sat in my chair, staring at Samantha as she sat still, her mind distant. Her eyes were solemn and sunken, I wondered what it was she was thinking about. I wondered what had transpired between her and her father, and how long the manipulation had gone on. I knew she had always had some attraction to me ever since we were kids, but I honestly thought that was something she had outgrown when we went into adulthood. Teenage crush, if you will. I wondered if her father had wielded her love against her as a weapon or dangled it in front of her nose like a carrot.
Gabriel stood beside her sofa, his eyes glowing a bright golden color and staring holes into Samantha’s head. If looks could kill, Samantha’s body would have been cold in the ground long ago. I lowered my head to hide the smile that spread across my lips. Although it was ill-timed, I couldn’t help but think how Samantha had saved me a lot of trouble having to break things off with her. There was no deception any longer. I and Gabriel could be together.
“I’m sorry…” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
Gabriel growled at her, his palms folding into a fist. She flinched at the sound, not quite used to being around werewolves. They intentionally hid themselves away from humans, so even though everyone knew about their existence, no one could tell when they’ve met one…unless of course, you try to kill their mate.
“I’m afraid…” she said again, choking on her sob.
I stood from my seat crossed the short distance to her, and settled myself next to her on the loveseat. My hand crossed her shoulder and pulled her in for a side hug, smiling to myself as her head rested on my shoulder. That seemed to open the floodgates for the umpteenth time, and I simply held her, allowing her to bear her heart out in tears. Regardless of what had happened today, or what would happen in the future, Samantha was my friend. Memories of our childhood regaled me and I smiled in melancholy. Right then and there, as I held Samantha, I swore that I would do whatever it took to protect my friend.
What do you want to do?” I asked.
She looked up at me with red eyes. “I want to go somewhere far…far from anywhere that knows who I am, and start life afresh.”
Her eyes became distant, her mind straying to her dreamland. I held her, waiting and watching, and smiled to myself as life seemed to steam back into her eyes.
“I want to disappear,” she said. Her eyes fixed on mine, her browns piercing into my soul. “Help me disappear. Help me go away.”
I studied her face, her resolve clear despite the vulnerability in her tear-streaked eyes. Samantha’s desperation was palpable, but so was her determination. She wasn’t just asking for an escape—she was asking for a new life, a chance to start over, far away from the manipulative grasp of her father and the memories of a love that could never be returned.
Gabriel’s eyes softened, the golden glow dimming as he released a slow breath. He stepped away from the sofa, his rigid posture relaxing just slightly as he recognized the gravity of Samantha’s request. I could tell he was still furious, but he seemed to understand that her actions were driven more by fear and despair than by malice.
“Are you sure?” I asked Samantha gently, my voice barely above a whisper. “This won’t be easy. You’ll have to leave everything behind—your family, your friends, your entire life here.”
Samantha nodded, her lips trembling but her gaze unwavering. “I’m sure, Oliver. I have to. I can’t stay here, not with my father…not with everything that’s happened. If I stay, he’ll never let me go. He’ll find a way to force me into that marriage, and I can’t…I won’t be a prisoner to his schemes.”
Gabriel finally spoke, his voice low and measured. “We can help you, but you need to understand what this means. You’ll need a new identity, a new history. You’ll be cutting all ties with your old life.”
“I know,” Samantha replied, her voice steadier now. “I’m ready. I just…I need to be free, Gabriel. I need to be free from him.”
I looked at Gabriel, who gave a slight nod, indicating he was willing to go along with the plan. I turned back to Samantha and squeezed her hand reassuringly.
“We’ll make it happen. We’ll find a way to get you out of here and give you a fresh start.”
Samantha exhaled a long breath as if releasing all the weight she had been carrying. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice full of gratitude. “Thank you both.”
Over the next few hours, we devised a plan. Gabriel had contacts—people who could help forge new documents, secure travel arrangements, and set up a new life for Samantha far away from her father’s reach. We discussed possible locations, eventually settling on a remote town in South Africa where no one would think to look for her. It was a place where she could blend in, live quietly, and build a life of her own.
“We’ll also need to make sure you’re financially secure,” Gabriel said as he pulled out his phone, already making arrangements. “You’ll need enough money to start over, and it has to be untraceable.”
I nodded in agreement. “We’ll give you cash to cover your immediate needs, and we’ll also set up an offshore account for you in the country. It’ll be filled with enough money to ensure you never have to worry about your father tracing it or finding you.”
Samantha’s eyes widened in surprise and gratitude. “I…I don’t know what to say. You’re going to do all this for me?”
“Of course,” I said, smiling softly. “You’re not just doing this for yourself, Samantha. You’re helping us too, by freeing both of us from this mess. It’s the least we can do.”
Gabriel made a few quick calls, arranging for a substantial amount of cash to be delivered discreetly. “The account will be set up in a few hours,” he said, his tone all business. “We’ll make sure you have everything you need before you leave.”
Samantha’s face brightened for the first time in days. It was as if the hope of escape had already started to heal her wounded spirit. She hugged us both tightly, her tears now of relief rather than despair. Once everything was set, Samantha excused herself to her room, brimming with joy, leaving me alone with Gabriel. The tension between us had shifted from the chaos of the last few days to something warmer, something that had been building for a long time. I met his eyes, and for a moment, we simply stood there, letting the silence speak for us.
“I’m sorry,” I finally said, my voice breaking the quiet. “For everything. For keeping you at arm’s length, for all the confusion… I never wanted to hurt you.”
Gabriel shook his head, his eyes softening as he stepped closer to me. “It’s not your fault, Oliver. We’ve both been through a lot. But now… now we have a chance, don’t we?”
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. “Yes, we do.”
Gabriel took my hand, his grip warm and reassuring. “Then let’s take it.”
Without another word, I leaned in, and our lips met in a kiss that felt like a promise—a promise of new beginnings, of a future we could finally have together. The weight of the past began to lift, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to hope. As we pulled away, I smiled up at Gabriel, knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together. Samantha would find her freedom, and… we would find our happiness.
The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like it was a road worth traveling.