Chapter 45 Chapter 45

Chapter 45 Chapter 45


ADRIANA'S POV

I usually wasn't so perceptive, especially when it came to telling when I'm in danger, I guess it is why I landed in more trouble than everyone else in this world. Not to mention how I have the longest streak of bad luck in the entire universe. I should have listened to the voice in my head that told me how much of a bad idea wearing this nightie was. Dacia said it was the only thing she could find that would fit me.

My jeans are so much better than this. I'd tried closing my door after she left since we had dinner together but then I started feeling sick and I had to open the door. I barely even made it to the door on my feet. I felt like I was falling, my chest felt tight and the walls were closing in around me. It was a terrible feeling and I hope to never experience it again.

If that wasn't sign enough, I should have gone to change after I saw Xander standing by the doorway. I have heard of the boogeyman from tales that Carlson forced me to listen to, just to terrorize me and it was almost like living through that nightmare I had so many times in my childhood. Except the boogeyman wasn't some scary monster, it's the man my father sold me off to.

Xander is still facing the bed, his hands gripping the sheets. I wanted to run, every fiber of my being agreed with that notion. With the way his body was shaking, that would be the best thing for me to do. Except, I couldn't move. It felt like I was rooted to the floor, it felt like my feet were cemented to the ground of the bedroom.

He could smell my fear and I wouldn't be surprised if I found out it was giving him a weird rush of energy. Some people said he feeds off people's terror and I'm anything that explains terrified right now. My fingers were almost tearing through the sheer fabric of the nightie. That fact that it is red in color didn't help the matter, now he is probably going to think I did this intentionally. Or Daciana did, I didn't want to believe that though. She knows how I feel about her and I know her loyalty lies with him, but this is just something morally wrong and I can't bring myself to accept she did this on purpose.

She did say he didn't sleep up here, so she must have thought he wouldn't be here tonight. How was she to know I wouldn't close my door? That was my own bad decision.

"Leave." The growly voice made a shiver run down my spine. My eyes widened in horror and a small petrified sound leaves my mouth when he shouts the command a second time. He isn't looking at me and this time I force my body to move. I start to run for the door, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. My heart is pounding in my chest and my brain is blank. I had no idea where I was going, I just realized I didn't even know where Daciana's room was. If there was anyone that could help me then it was her.

My leg injury and the wheelchair were just a passing thought in my head. All I care about is my escape. I look to the left then right of the hallway outside the room, praying desperately for Xander to not move from his position until I'm in a safe space.

He is the alpha and I doubt there is a place I can hide around here where he won't find me, for one, my scent would lead him directly to where I am, and if that isn't enough, he has a very good sense of smell and is so much faster than me.

I take the stairs two at a time, not glancing back to see if he is following me. I almost face planted when I reach the landing of the second floor, after not stopping at the right time. I brace my hand for the fall which never comes, I can't place my hand on what stopped me from falling but I wasn't about to stay and examine that right now. I kept running, I could hear my heart beating loudly in my ear, in fact it was the only sound I could hear.

I didn't stop until I reached the front door. I'm not very sure how I got there since I could swear I didn't know the way from the floor. Fear is a very good motivator and I guess the one person you feared the most in the world telling you to leave would push you way past your limits. I have long passed my limits, adrenaline being the only thing keeping me from face planting so many times. There isn't anyone in the living room, I couldn't hear voices or smell anyone else apart from the still air and my fear. I doubted they would have helped me if there was anyone. Their alpha wasn't someone they messed around with.

They must have gone to bed because the place only had dim lights on. It didn't help that I am just figuring that out now. I turned back toward the stairs, my palms rapping on the door like someone from outside was going to magically hear and help me. If lycans live here and they didn't bother to check what is going on after hearing me run for my life, then I guess that should be enough answer for me to know, no one is saving me.

I risk a glance toward the stairs, feeling a sliver of calm when I don't see or smell Xander anywhere near here. Maybe he decided to stay back there because he actually didn't want to hurt me. It is natural to sometimes lose control of your animal side. Wolves couldn't fight it, talk less of lycans whose everything was more.

After feeling around the doorknob, accepting no one is going to come to my rescue and I would have to figure it out myself. My palms feel around the door blindly, only touching a flat surface that definitely did not feel like a door handle. How the hell do they open this

thing?

My heart is beating unsteadily in my chest and my breathing is beginning come out shallow, my palms clammy with sweat and my hands tremble against the hardwood. I looked like a mess and I didn't care that I was more or less naked with this gown. The real danger is Xander, no one would touch me even if I was found like that. As long as I don't leave their territory. I'm to be his wife, no matter how insignificant they think that role is. It would offer me protection for tonight at least. That is good enough.

A light bulb flickers on in my head, giving me an idea that might just be my saving grace. Feeling proud of my heightened senses, I finally put it to good use and start running in the opposite direction of the door. My bare feet making enough noise on the marble floors to let Xander know my precise location but I didn't care. If he hasn't come down till now, I doubt he will. Though I would still rather

sleep elsewhere.

I'm realizing too late I should have thought use my now better sense of smell to locate Daciana's room when I was still up there. It wouldn't be smart to go back now. The distinct smell of leftover food lead me to a much darker part of the house. I stepped over the threshold, passing another hall before finally reaching a door. The setting is nothing like that of my father's pack where the kitchen is more an open kind. I don't stay long enough to admire how modern it is, I just run straight for the backdoor. Hoping to God, it has a

back door.

sa

At least one thing worked out for me tonight. The moon streaming in through the open windows, letting me see where the locks are. I unlatch each without thinking, the adrenaline mixing with a sense of relief when I see my escape just a few feet away from my reach. I swing the door open and almost trip over my feet while trying to run out, I hold myself back up and step out, taking note of where I'm

going this time.

I stop for a second to look behind me to make sure there isn't anyone watching me before I go off, running into the night, with only the moon and a few security lights as my guide. I have no idea where I am going, just the sense of not being inside the house is enough for

me.

I run for what feels like hours, though it couldn't be more than ten minutes. My lungs burning with each step that I take, the sheer gown has long since soaked with perspiration. My bare feet burned six different ways after stepping over stones and many other things I don't care to know. I don't stop running until I reach somewhere that is either a park or a training ground.

I finally stop, when my legs feel like they couldn't carry me. I crouch, my hands on my knees while I try to catch my breath and then think of how to navigate the way back to the house. The last thing I would want is for Xander to think I ran away. God knows what he would do to me.

This would have been easy for any wolf, it is just running and wolves love to run. It's why chase is their favorite game. The thought almost knocks the remaining wind out of my lungs when it clicks in my head what this must feel like to Xander. Wolves love their chase and me running probably looks like a challenge.

I hear a growl from behind me the same time that thought solidifies in my head. My knees wobble and I almost reach the ground. I'm heaving so loud, it's a surprise no one has heard and reported a stray woman running in the dead of the night. What time is it anyway? I hear the unmistakable rumble of a wolf's grunt, and the sound of paws crunching grass. I spin in the middle of the park, trying to know where he is exactly so I can run in the opposite direction. I've already messed up by running, now I need to save myself for real. No wonder I didn't hear him in the house, he knows the only place I would think to run to is outside and he must have climbed out of the window. I'm so dumb.

I almost shiver when I hear Xander's deep voice in my head, I didn't know he did that because I'm not part of his pack and I haven't been linked to him, that becomes the least of my worries when I make out the words he says.

'Run, little wolf. Because if I catch you, you wouldn't be able to walk for a week.'