Chapter Twenty-Six

Reed hasn't come to see me at all this afternoon, so I take it as a bad sign. He was quiet throughout lunch, didn't even say a word to me. Did he overhear what Gregory told me? It seems impossible, but then again what do I know? I'm having a hard time looking at him. I just can't believe he would lie to me and try to keep me here for his own benefit. What kind of person is he?

I take small bites of my lunch, but only to not make anything obvious. Gregory is sitting across from me and he doesn't look my way once. I think he too has noticed something off about Reed, so I think we better act like that conversation never existed.

I'm making plans. There's an exit through the kitchen, and there's the front door. I don't know how much this area is watched, but I think I should be fine. I could always tell them that I need some time alone with nature. I'm a guest of honor, they'll believe me.

It's not like I'm his prisoner.

I excuse myself earlier than usual and I retire to bed. I leave the door a little open so anyone passing by can see me. There's no way I can escape through the window, it's two stories high. I'll never make that landing. I need to use an exit downstairs. I'll need to be cautious, and I need to try to run before bedtime, otherwise the doors might be locked and I don't need that inconvenience.

Now that I know that Raphas isn't coming, I'm out of my mind with worry. I imagine him wandering the woods, looking for me with Max by his side. Is Gregory right? Does Raphas think I'm dead? I try to reach out to him, but there's nothing there. Like he said, we're just too far apart. How could Reed do such a thing? Why would he want to mate with me of all people? He could have any female. He's an Alpha, and the females here are all agreeable and excellent warriors. Why me? Why his brother's own mate? If he knows about us, he knows that the Moon chose me specifically for Raphas. We're meant to be. Why would he want to take that away? Everything's he's ever told me was a lie.

I wonder briefly if Sylvia knows about this. But if she does, what could she possibly do? Reed is powerful, she doesn't stand a chance against him. I'm so anguished I could scream. How could I have been this stupid? If he and Raphas never got along, it was for a reason. I should have trusted Raphas' judgment. In a way, I let him down. I betrayed him by believing his lies. Forgive me, Raphas. Please, forgive me.

I twist and turn in the bed, waiting for the sun to set. I've been lying here for hours. No one comes to my bedroom, which is a relief, but is also concerning. What's happening down there? I want to go downstairs, but I don't want to risk coming face-to-face with Reed. What would I say to him? Faking at lunch is one thing. Having a whole conversation with him, just the two of us, is another. How would I take another one of his lies? He was never worried about Raphas. He never cared. It sickens me, how I could be so thankful to a monster like him.

Night falls, but the house is still agitated. I sit up slowly from the bed and I make my way out to the corridor. There's no one walking by, and the lights are off. It's the perfect opportunity. I make my way down the stairs without making a single sound. The dining room is empty, and so is the entrance. The front door is wide open and there's no one around. My heart leaps. I can't believe my luck. I run out as fast as I can, never stopping, never looking back. When I start running past the trees, I get this overwhelming sense of déjà vu. This has happened before, when I was running away from Raphas. Now, I'm running to him. How ironic? Ever since I became a werewolf, my life stopped making any sense. It's dark, but I can see well enough. Branches tear at the skirt of the dress, but I couldn't care less. I just need to get out of here and get back to Raphas. Somewhere out there, he's searching for me. I imagine jumping into his arms and holding him tight. We'll never be apart again. I'll never leave his side.

I hear a howl behind me and I stop. The rapid movement lifts dust from the ground and I cough.

"Where do you think you're going, Bea?" It's Reed. Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I start running again, but I can feel that he isn't that far behind me. He knew. He knew about everything. He probably watched me run out of the front door and followed me here. Or he was waiting for me in the woods. Either way, I'm in serious trouble. If he catches me, I'll never get out of here.

"You think you can outrun me, Bea? I run these woods. I have since I was a pup. I'll find you eventually!" There's so much malice in his voice. I can't believe I didn't notice it before. I'm so stupid. I run as fast as I can, and my limbs are burning. I pray to be make it out of this.

"Bea!" He yells my name again and I stumble. I roll down a small hill, and I think I've sprained my ankle because when I try to stand, I fall again and pain explodes in my leg. I rub my ankle. Now isn't the time. Now is not the fucking time for this.

"I know you're hiding somewhere! Come out, Bea. Show yourself!"

I limp my way across the woods. There's sweat running down my face in thick torrents and I'm breathing in puffs. The ankle hurts every time I put weight on it, and I can't keep this up for long. But I can't give up either. There's so much at stake. Too much.

I take another step and a large wolf appears from out of nowhere. It's large and black and its eyes are a brilliant green. I scream. I know it's Reed, because he looks exactly like Raphas.

He shifts back to his human form. His bones snap and shift beneath his skin and he stands tall and naked before me. I take a step back but I put weight on the wrong foot. I fall backwards and he's already on top of me, not wasting any time. "On second thought, don't. I love a good chase. I always have." He's smirking and my anger flares. I hate the fact that he looks just like Raphas. In fact, I can't stand it.

I take the opportunity to punch him, but all it does is hurt my wrist. I clutch it against my chest. "You lying, manipulative son of a bitch."