Chapter 25 25
Lena's pov
As my back hit the wall scrambling back on hands and feet, a familiar sense of recognition rushed through me, every nerve ending in my body screaming at me to freeze.
The panic clouds in my head cleared, and with narrowed eyes I accessed the approaching wolf with a clearer mind.
It growled incessantly again, lowering its head as it approached me. Unblinkingly, the overwhelming sense of familiarity much more stronger, his scent implodes inside me and without thinking I reach forward, eyes closed, fingers shaking as I trace it over the fur on his head before lowering it down to the snout.
Opening my eyes again, I breathe out, almost in relief, but I'm more or less appalled at the sudden appearance. Regardless my relief overshadows any other emotion I have brimming inside of me. Moments ago I would have died if he hadn't come in time.
"Ash, what are you doing here."
The wolf steps back and growls- almost equivalent to a grunt of approval before he heads for the bed and drags down a blanket. Watching him approach me again, I absentmindey hug my bare shoulders, rubbing my palm against my skin in a bid to warm myself up before I take the blanket he offers me.
My eyes narrow in suspicion, as I take it quietly, tossing it behind. I remain seated down in my spot, back to the wall with the blanket around my body, my arm pulls it tighter and snuggle.
Before me he shifts back and his brilliant eyes take mine captive, my breath is almost stolen as my heart rapidly beats when we lock eyes. He approaches me even more quickly than he shifted back, barely giving himself the time to recuperate before he grabs my arms in his.
For a moment forgot I hated him. I forgot I was mad at him and he was the reason- part reason I was even in this situation in the first place. I forgot he had betrayed me, I forgot he had used my feelings for him as a trump card to letting my father run ne over again. I forgot he had been willing to watch me get mated to someone else. Horribly people who would have treated me worse than my father.
Instead I sit there, my finger tightening around the fabric around my body as I watch him, completely nude, trying not to glance over his tanned skin, swat glistening muscles as he knelt before me, grabbing my arms in his before pulling me for a hug.
We stayed in that position for a while, I could see the Omegas at the door now with the Pack guards who had come running, completely shaken from what had happened earlier, even more distraught seeing the company I had.
Ash's ragged breathing was the only thing in the room before he pulled back to stare at me. I watched his eyes trace every inch of my skin, my features, my face, down to my mouth, and heat swelled in my belly as I glanced down, mirroring his eye movements before I lock gazes with him.
"Fuck I've missed you."
"Ash... how did you know when to come save me," my eyes travelled to the unmoving shifter before slowly rising. He moved to help me but I swapped his hand away. I ignored the hurt in his eyes as I pretended it didn't also affect me, but he should understand that I didn't plan on melting at a touch of his. I walked past him, only to turn, glaring at him.
"Do I have reason to believe you orchestrated this."
He looked bemused, but more than that, angry. He chuckled, but it sounds bitter, like he's outraged. "With a shifter? Come on Lena. I know you're smarter than that. No Lena. I came for you.."
He IS smart enough to know by the look on my face that I don't trust him. I can't trust anything he does anything he says.
"Why? That you suddenly regretted what you? That you wished things could have turn out better and that you didn't betray me. And the same night I'm almost killed you just show up out of the blue wanting to do badly protect me and what? You think this littl reunion of ou is going to change anything? Why are you here Ash?"
Suddenly he reached forward, the look in his eyes wasn't all too familiar. That was the kind of look my father had in his eyes when he was just about hurting me, I have never associated Ash with it not even after that night where he had tricked me like I was stupid. It seeing his now, the crimson glow swallowing up his face yes as he grabbed my wrist tight and forced me to my feet, pulling me close.
"Ash!" I snapped, struggling but his grip around mine was hard, unmoving and I did all I could to hold onto the blanket around me tightly with one hand, brows furrowed as I glared hatefully at him.
"Ash you're hurting me!"
"I know I made a mistake, Lena. One so foolish you probably won't ever trust me- you hate me right now I understand, but you have to know that right now, I will rather die than do anything to hurt you- much more involved myself with a shifter."
"You might not have aimed to hurt me," I almost sigh in relief when after much futile struggling he let go of me and I stepped back, my back to the wall. "But that doesn't mean you didn't intend to do something just to make you appear like you're the hero. I know what all his about. You call the shifter to come attack me and then you swoop in save me and then have me forget the horrible thing you did to me right? That's it? Well that's not going to happen Ash because the moment you broke my trust and sided with my father I lost all the trust I had in you and nothing, absolutely NOTHING Ash will change that. " I realize I'm shaking with tears running down my cheeks. I step back, avoiding his touch when I reached out.
A bigger part of me is aware that he didn't do it. He didn't orchestrate anything. Him coming probably clashed with the exact time the shifter attacked me. It was giving him the benefit of doubt to call it a coincidence.
But I haven't even started. Because I knew even though my words hurt him, nothing will comore to that night. That night we had shared our first kiss, and he had drugged me, made me look like a fool. My father had hit me. He had willingly agreed to be by my side ready to marry off to the two most horrible people on-
I froze, my eyes alert as I looked up at him with suspicion, they narrowed as I goanced over him.
"Did they send you here? The Twins. That's why you're here right?" I chuckled bitterly, my eyes glistening from pain and shock.
"You decided to actually obey their orders like a dog and.."
"Lena, I didn't come here on any one's orders. You of all people should know that I don't listen to anyone. I don't take orders from anyone." He told but I can tell he's restraining alot.
"Then why are you here. And don't expect me to believe the cock and bull story about you coming here because you missed me because I know- ".
He suddenly approached me without warning, and with his eyes glistening, he took my arms in his and pulled me close, saying softly.
"I want us to elope. I want us to run out of here, Lena."
"What?" Confused, I shake my head, probably wondering if I was hearing wrong. Although I can't hide the way my heart swells, my stomach lights up and my pulse beats even faster.
"That's why I came, Lena. Why do you think I would come here? You think Godric knows where I went? You think I didn't know Lucien wouldn't be here?"
"B- but.. wait Ash I don't understand."
"You don't have to, " he draws me closer and as much as I want to resist, I'm reminded how long it's been since he last held me like this. His scent washes any sense of nervousness I have, my wounds- I can feel them heal, I feel alive and a new in his embrace. "I don't even know if I'm thinking right now but I know now, I'm doing what's right. Lena you have the chance to leave- all these. The toxic environment- these Alphas who think they can dictate your life anytime of the day."
I swallow raising my eyes to meet his. I can tell he sounds serious, and if it had been that night. I know I would have loved more than ever to have followed him in a heartbeat without even thinking for a second.
Where would we go? How would we start? What if they find us?
Questions imploded my mind, and then I realize as much as I thought I hated Ash, I didn't exactly hate leaving with him somewhere no one would ever know about.