Chapter 58

Crystal I was sitting alone waiting for Diego to come in. The rest of the girls had gone their separate ways for the night. It would be just the two of us. I hadn't had a chance to really talk to him since all the chaos at Phoenix's. When Jade was telling her story I couldn't bring myself to tell my own, not yet. There were so many issues with us that I barely knew where to start. Just as we were making progress, just when things seemed to be going well for us, things take a turn for the worst. I still remembered how he treated Jade, how he treated me.

"Diego you can't hurt him" I said frantically. I didn't know her mate personally but I wouldn't let Diego kill him it would destroy her. He looked at me emotionless before he spoke.

"I may consider it, if she cooperates. I want answers and she has them. If she does as she's told and gives me the information I need I will allow her to go to him. If not, well I hope their last moments were memorable."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He was being so cruel. Just when I was beginning to think there was hope us, that we could work.

"Take me to him and I'll tell you what you want to know," Jade said looking at him in the eye. They stared at each other in silence before he spoke.

"Answer me now or there won't be a tomorrow for him. You don't get to negotiate with me. You're my prisoner, not the other way around. I tell you what I want and you either obey or suffer the consequences."

"Diego," I said outraged at his behavior.

"Stay out of this Crystal. Know your place."

Those words stuck out in my mind. Even though I confronted him I still couldn't manage to shake them. I thought of all the things he said to me when I was chained to his bed.

"I don't care I never will."

"Then what's the point of keeping me here?"

"I told you I need an heir and you're going to give me one."

"And if I refuse?"

"It's not up for discussion. I won't take no for an answer."

"So that's it? You just want an heir. Where does that leave me? Am I supposed to be happy just popping out pups for you? Am I just something you plan to use to warm your bed at night and obey your every command?"

"You can be happy or don't. But that is the idea. I am an alpha, you are my luna. What else is there?”

"Love dammit. Passion. Commitment. Joy. Happiness. The list goes on. Have you never had those things? Have you never wanted to experience them?"

"This is the real world, not some fairy-tale or fantasy, time to wake up."

I thought about the time we first met, when he took me away.

"I found you little mate. You're mine."

"I'm no one's. Especially not yours. I could never belong to a tyrant like you."

"You will not speak to me that way. You are my mate and you will show me respect dammit. Even if I have to force you to."

The word force made me think of the way he treated me in front of Jade. Like I didn't matter. Like I was beneath him.

"Crystal leave."

"No."

"I said leave now or I'll have you dragged out. I don't have time for this. My patience is wearing thin. Do as your told or things are going to get a hell of a lot worse for your sister."

Then I thought of the breakthrough we had before I began to question everything.

"You really do hate me don't you?he said softly breaking the silence. I had never seen him this way and it broke my heart.

"I don't hate you," I responded taking a step closer to him.

"Why? Why don't you? You deserve better, better than I could ever give. You believe in love, you believe in happiness, and all things good in the world. I don't. You want to experience all the joy life has to offer. I'm keeping you from it for my own selfish reasons. You should hate me. You should have run as far away as you could. But you're still here. Why are you still here?"

I didn't have an answer. Honestly I didn't know why I was still there but in that very moment I felt I was where I needed to be.

"I don't know. All I know is that as much as I might want to, I can't just run away. It won't solve my problems. You're my mate. I owe it to myself to at least try to make things work."

"But I'm no good for you. All I've done is hurt you since you walked into my life. You can do so much better than me. You can find someone out there who will love you unconditionally. But the thought of it drives me insane. I just can't let you go."

I stood right in front of him. He was looked up at me. His eyes held so much hurt, pain, and anger it was overwhelming. He pulled me closer wrapping his arms around my waist. I didn't have the heart to push him away.

He pulled me into his lap and I couldn't take my eyes off him. Despite everything he was beautiful.

He buried his face in my neck inhaling my scent. It felt so good being near him. He planted soft kisses on my neck and I moaned softly knowing that only he could make me feel this way.

"I need you. I need you so fucking much" he whispered and I felt my control slipping.

"Diego I-" I wanted to tell him to stop but the words wouldn't come out.

"Please don't leave me." He held me tighter and the kisses stopped. I looked into his eyes and I saw sincerity. He was afraid of me leaving him, he wanted me to stay, he was begging me to stay.

I caressed his face as he leaned into my hand sighing.

"Teach me. Show me how to love you."

He walked through the door at that very second. I looked at him and I saw that broken man. Maybe it was the look on his face, maybe it was the trip down memory lane, but I wasn't the least bit angry. All of the things he said to me, all the things he put me through, couldn't compare to that moment when I saw him at his most vulnerable. It reminded me why I had to give this relationship my all. Why I had something to fight for. I didn't know if we would work out, but I knew I wasn't ready to give up. I was in love with him. He closed the door and walked over to me. I saw the concern in his eyes mixed with something else. He was almost hesitant as he approached me. He reached up and wiped away a tear I didn't even realize had fallen.

"Did I do this?" he said softly. "Please tell me I'm not the cause of this." I didn't answer. He was silent before he sat down next to me and pulled me into his lap.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know what I've done, but if I made you feel this I want to take it all back." I willed myself to say something, anything but no words would come out.

"I haven't treated you very well recently. I know that. Old habits die hard. I'm not used to listening to someone else when it comes to running my pack, or anything else. For so long the only person I had to consider has been me." He ran his fingers through his hair. Something I noticed he did when he was frustrated. This time with himself.

"Your words hurt Diego. I won't lie to you. When you said those things to me in front of Jade, it was like we had taken twenty steps backwards. I felt like I wasn't important. Like I meant nothing to you." I found my voice. I had to let him know how I felt. Even if it hurt.

"I never meant to make you feel that way. I was angry, about everything. You and the pack’s safety was my primary concern. I had a prisoner escape, then I find out you're connected her, some freaky shit happens and all of a sudden I'm chained up and Phoenix loses his damn mind. I'm pissed just thinking about it all. Everything has been happening so fast I haven't had time to spend with you, to work on us. I want you to know that I will try harder. I will do whatever it takes because I need you in my life." I understood where he was coming from and he was right. It didn't excuse his behavior, but I could sympathize.

"I'm not giving up on us. I know you didn't mean to hurt me. I just want to be treated fairly. I want you listen and take what I say into consideration. It's okay not be in control all the time. You can let me shoulder some of the burden. It's what I'm here for. Most importantly Diego I need you to trust me." I didn't take him long to reply.

"I do trust you, more than you know. In fact, you may be the only one I trust. I just have to get used to the idea of sharing the burden with someone, especially you. I want to shoulder it all so you won't have to. I want to shelter you, protect you and have you believe that life is perfect. Like in those fairy tales and fantasies of yours," he said smirking making me laugh.

"You mean the ones that don't exist."

"Exactly," he said grinning.

"Well I think I can find my happy ending. Make my very own real life version. It won't be perfect. But I'll love it more than any fairy-tale that has ever been written."

"Is that so? And who may I ask will be your prince charming." I laughed at his teasing playful tone. It was like we were in our own little world.

"I don't know. I'm still looking for him. But in the meantime I'll settle for you," he growled playfully before kissing me. It felt so good to have his lips against mine I couldn't help but get wrapped up in the moment. Things would have definitely gone further if it wasn't for the person bursting through the door. Diego arms tightened around me and his body was tense.

"What is it?" he said through clenched teeth glaring at River.

"Hunter is gone," he said as Sapphire appeared next to him looking nervous.

"And Jade went after him."