Chapter 41

Ellie.

A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I spotted him.

My savior. I held on tighter on a stump, "Be quick. Get over here."

He walked quickly toward me, hoisting me up from the edge, and finally released my hands from the rope.

"What took you so long?" I asked. Garret sighed as he held me up.

"I came here as fast as I could. Why didn't you send a signal or something? I wouldn't have known if your girls didn't inform me."

I glanced over to the side, at the unconscious body on the floor, "Well, so much for being a mouthful."

Garret's hands held mine, as he observed the burns on my wrists. I flinched a bit as his hands brushed over the tender skin.

"I should kill him for inflicting such...."

"You would do no such thing, Garret! It's just silver. It'll heal in no time. First things first. I need to know what his endgame is. But in the meantime, you need to leave. Lorenzo is most likely to be on his way here. You do not want him seeing you here. By the way," my eyes darted to the man on the ground, "why isn't he moving? Is he dead or what?"

Garret sighed as he released his hold on my hands, " I don't care, Ellie. I came all the way here because...."

"You will do as I say, Garret! I need you to leave. Lorenzo is on his way here."

I wasn't going to take any chances anymore. I need him to leave as I wouldn't want Lorenzo setting his eyes on Garret. No one should have any idea we were seeing each other.

"Fine!" He said, his lips set in a thin line, "Don't worry about him. He would be out for a few more hours. The wolfsbane I used on him is pretty strong."

He stared at me for a few seconds and then he turned, disappearing down the woods.

I took a good look at him, lying on the floor. Contemplating for a minute and I just shook my head.

My legs wobbled as I tried to walk, Opting to take a different route than the one Garret had taken.

The woods were eerily quiet as I ran, and I noticed the sun was about to set.

At some point, I thought I heard footsteps behind me and I increased my pace, which was more of a hassle on my part. I couldn't shift, due to the pregnancy. I wouldn't want anything to happen to it.

I must have gotten a reasonable distance away when my knees gave out. I crouched low on a tree stump, catching my breath.

Suddenly, a hand held my shoulder and my eyes widened in shock. My heart rate increased as I dreaded looking back at once.

"Ellie?" I heard his voice.

With a newfound relief, I swiftly turned to meet Lorenzo's gaze on me. More relieved by the fact that his eyes held nothing but worry and concern for me.

He came for me. I felt tears sprung from my eyes as I immediately wrapped my arms around him in an embrace. Comforting myself with his scent.

"Where were you, Lorenzo," I cried out, clutching at his chest, "I was so scared..."

His strong arms held me so tight, I almost broke down in real tears. I couldn't recall the last time he ever held me this way. During sex didn't count though.

"What happened, Ellie? Are you okay?" He asked as he slowly pulled me away, glancing me over.

But I could only gaze at him in pure love. He grabbed a hold of my hand, where the faint visible marks of the chains were and he growled lowly, "Where is he? The man that got you, where is he?"

"You don't know how happy I am to see you here, Enzo. I...I was so scared. He almost hurt our baby!"

His eyes flashed at that, and his eyes quickly snapped to my stomach. Ever so gently, he brought forth his hands, placing them on my belly, as he released a deep breath.

I almost didn't hear him, his voice barely in a whisper, "My Pup."

But just as suddenly, a loud growl was heard, shaking the forest's trees with so much intensity, that I shivered.

Lorenzo's arms quickly tightened around me, as he slowly stood, glancing round the woods.

The growl sounded again, this time, more fierce and close by, until a big brown wolf emerged from the wood.

I tightened my fists in Lorenzo's shirt as I tried to get a close look at it, but Lorenzo swiftly pulled me to the side, blinking my view.

A sense of awareness prickled my senses and I felt my wolf, Rose, began to rouse.

I called her Rose not because I wanted to. I mean I didn't have a choice. She was supposed to be Ivory but she refused the name.

More like, she never wanted anything to do with me. We never had the best of relationships, even though we are literally one.

Rose's views and approaches were entirely different from mine. She was weak-minded and foolish.

Funny, that she thought I was the foolish one.

However, she always shows up whenever she has something snarky to comment on or taunt me with.

The wild growled so loudly and I felt its paws hitting the ground as it menaced closer to us.

Glancing down, I noticed Lorenzo's fists clenching and unclenching. His claws were extracted and I could see he was fighting for control.

Well, he should fucking shift, I thought. Cause there was no way in hell he could be able to take on this wolf in his human form alone.

Rose was fully rousing now, pacing around slowly.

"Go back to your hell hole, bitch!" I cussed inwardly. We were able to communicate internally with our wolves, and at this point, I needed her to sit the fuck down, as I was getting antsy and restless.

Rose purred and scratched, wanting to gain control and I scoffed, "Are you insane? We are fucking pregnant! We can't shift!"

She growled, "Shut up, Ellie. I think our mate is around here!"

Her words made me snap my head up in complete shock.

"What, what do you mean by that? I...I don't understand!"

Safe to say, I was kinda in a panic mode. Well, that would explain the feeling I was trying so hard to suppress.

I knew for sure it wasn't Enzo. I had deduced the fact that we aren't mates and if...if at all the moon goddess ever decided to give me a fucking mate, he would be so damn unlucky, Because ita gonna be useless.

I wouldn't be settling with any bastard now...but Lorenzo. Not in a lifetime.

It was a blur of activities, as Lorenzo pulled me aside as they stalked toward each other. The big wolf came forward, lunging at Lorenzo.

But the wolf went past him, stopping right in front of me. It was like I was hit with a tornado of wind carrying the sweetest scent ever. Rose was fucking ecstatic as she tried to get control. She screamed the word, 'Mate', in my head over and over again.

"No!" I shook my head.

His eyes shone a dangerous golden color and I found myself drawn to it. It's him!

But how...?

I thought Garret had...?

The wolf growled loudly and I heard Lorenzo make his way to us. "Get away from her!!" He lashed out.

Just as quickly and before I could make a sense of what was going on, the world shifted back to its human form.

Grabbed me by the arms and pranced away.

I didn't have the time to protest or scream out for Lorenzo until I found myself back at the cliff.

For a few moments, I allowed myself to feel the tingles, his touch sent to my being. His scent... It was so addictive I could bask in it all day.

His eyes stared down at me, and in a fleeting second, every fiber in me that once screamed fear, radiated with want for him.

The way he looked at me...I didn't think Lorenzo had ever...

"Mate!" He growled out. His eyes were still shining golden, but it was more like he was still fighting for control.

"Mate..." I.whislered back, lost in the ecstasy of feeling.

He growled lowly, shaking his head as his hands tightened on me until his eyes went back to its normal color.

This time, though, he stared at me with so much anger in them.

"The Moon goddess must be fucking hilarious for pairing us both!" He rasped out.

"I'm guessing Lorenzo was never your mate then. That is quite sad, my love."

Rose was whining now, in my head, and I snapped at her, 'Shut the fuck up bitch!'

"As much as this feels fucking fantastic...I would be damned if I actually accept to be your mate."

He smiled, cheekily, "My wolf says otherwise, and I know yours do, too."

He leaned away slightly, and I noticed I was a bit closer to the edge of the cliff, again.

Glancing back down, at the ridiculous level of height down there and the massive torrent of water down below.

No one was likely to survive a fall this deep. But he wouldn't drop me, would he?

He followed my trail and he spoke, "By the way. Nice job earlier on, with your friend. It's just unfortunate that his body is deep down there. Gone and forgotten."

My heart skipped a bit, "No...you didn't."

He didn't actually kill Garret, did he? He must have gotten away already.

"You underestimate me, dear. Do you perhaps think a little wolfsbane would take me down? Next time, be more creative."

A gasp escaped my lips, at his words. No! Garret isn't dead. I kept on chanting in my head. Not now, at least. For my sake, though, I really hoped he was bluffing.

My panicked eyes scanned around and I wondered where Lorenzo was. This here, was a monster and the earlier I got away from his claws, the better. I did not want to imagine him ever dropping me. At this juncture, I think he might just have.

"You...you wouldn't do that to me!" I said. He seemed like a strong male wolf of strong blood. And if I wasn't mistaken, they tend to feel the mate bond thrice as strongly as we, females do.

Rustling was heard nearby, and in a flash, Lorenzo materialized in front of us. He made to lung at him, but I was pulled backward, and one of my feet was dangling off the edge.

"Come any closer, and I wouldn't hesitate to let her fall." He threatened.

He flashed his eyes dangerously at him. Lorenzo, as he stood in front of us.

"It is nice to finally meet you in person. Alpha Lorenzo of the Silver Moon Pack. But not for much longer."

I could see his eyes trying to access him. Staring him down, like a predator to a prey.

"Get away from her," he seethed.

"Why? Because she bears your pup? How about I rip it out of her, just like you ripped out the entire of my brother's Pack and family? Huh?"

My breath hitched at that. For some reason, he sounded so sure of himself. Like, he would actually do it. Hurt me.

"What?" Lorenzo countered, his brows creased, "Who the hell are you? What the fuck are you talking about? I am not playing any games with you."

"Help me, Lorenzo. Please!!" I managed to scream out.

"Shut the fuck up, love. Not happening anytime soon."

Turning to Lorenzo, I could see he was mid-shift, but controlling it. And then my capturer laughed, "You know, you should let your wolf come out. I can't deny I have been curious about this wolf of yours for a while now."

"Now, shall we talk?"

"Not until you release her." He bit back.

"Well, that wouldn't be fun anymore, would it?"

He went on, "You see, Lorenzo. Your..." He glanced at me, and then him, "Well, I was quite surprised you too aren't mates. But trust me, I do not work with loose ends. I am always two steps ahead of you."

"Oh, right! How's she doing right now? What's her name again?" Creasing my brows for dramatic effect, enjoying the curious look in his eyes, "I do not have an affinity for names that I forgot the name. But I am pretty sure, it starts with a V?"

Valerie!? That bitch!!

As expected, Lorenzo's expression turned furious.

"Now, that's what we're talking about! I believe this one is useless then."

He leaned closer to me, and whispered, "You were quite mistaken about me, Love. Have a safe flight."

He released his hold on me.