Chapter 98

Chapter 98

She kept running through the woods. She doesn't stop, even when the sharp branches cut through her legs. It wasn't as painful as her shattered heart. It's nothing like her bruised heart.
 
He has completely destroyed her and she doesn't want anything that has to do with him ever again.
 
She should've known this whole time. She should've known that the reason he has been rejecting her was because he had someone. She should've stayed home. She should've ignored him. She should've listened to her friends when they told her not to go after him.
 
Her friends...
 
Auburn...
 
She covered for him. She told her there wasn't anyone. She told her that her brother loved her. She told her that they were fated mates. She told he's hers and they were meant to be.
 
Max...
 
He told her Hunter was still into her. He told her Hunter was the man for her. He told her she was going to have a happy ending.
 
Elise doesn't stop until she was in the incomplete building she used to hide in with Ethan when they needed privacy. The last time she was here was when her and Ethan mended things when he first neglected her.
 
She slumps down the in the dirt and burst into fits of tears. Her heart was beating wildly because she has no idea what to do next. She can't stop the thoughts rushing through her head. The girl keeps flashing in her eyes, making her feel more range than she already felt.
 
She wasn't going to blame her even though by the looks of it, she knows Elise. The shocked that registered on her face when Hunter called her name testifies that she knows her. He must've told her how she left him. He must've told her how he came after her in New York but she shunned him away.
 
Her throat was so thick with agonizing pain. She couldn't even make up who was walking toward her. Her tears blurred her vision—her knees and ankles hurt from running. She was bruised—she was a mess.
 
"Elise?" His voice rang in her ear. She doesn't answer because her throat hurts too much to even respond to him.
 
He comes to his knees and used his finger to raise her chin. He looks worried and angry at the same time. She was afraid because she'd never seen Ethan like that. His brown eyes turn to the bloody shade of red. It's so scary. He was fuming with anger that his fangs came out.
 
"What happened? Who did this to you?" He asked, referring to her bruised legs.
 
She shakes her head and swallowed hard. "I ran. I'll heal." She managed to speak with trembling voice. She doesn't do anything but just hung her head and let the tears flow. It's the only thing she could do now. She was too numb to make the effort doing or thinking about anything.
 
"Who was chasing you?" He asked her with his brows furrowed. She doesn't like the look on his face because knew what it meant. If she told him what happened, no doubt he'll go after Hunter. And it was the last thing she wanted to deal with.
 
"It's him, right? It's that selfish, arrogant man that calls him self an Alpha," he vented out the anger.
 
Elise doesn't say or do anything. Her head was still hung as the tears cascade down.
 
Her silence gives him the answer he needed. He growls lowly, shifting his eyes away from her. He was staring out the frameless window for couple of seconds before something flashed in his eyes.
 
He briskly got to his feet and looked down at her. The anger expression on his face completely changes to a relaxed one. He shoves a hand in his pocket and cleared his throat.
 
"Just stay here, okay? I'll be back in a couple of minutes," he told her and she nodded without hesitation.
 
He backs out as though she was going to run if he turned around. He finally turns and head out of the incompleteness building.
 
She darts her head down and hug her legs to her chest. She doesn't even care about the pain or the blood that had covered her legs. The pain she felt in her chest can't even be compared to the pain Hunter has just placed her in.
 
She knew what she had done to him before was way out of the line but she was confused at the time. She was afraid—afraid he'd leave her so she did before he could get the chance to.
 
Now she regrets everything. She regrets walking out on him. She regrets losing hope on their love.
 
It's the consequences of her own actions she has to eat up and deal with.
 
She stayed in there for more than ten minutes. No sign of Hunter or Ethan. She had a little hope that he'd come after her. Maybe it's officially time to give up completely.
 
She hears the marching-like footsteps coming towards her. She furrowed her brows and got to her feet. Of course Hunter has his pack warriors searching for her. How dare he not look for her?
 
She stood there proudly, waiting for them to approach her. She doesn't even know why she was still somewhat feeling the need to see him. Maybe he can explain how he got that girl pregnant and why she was in his house.
 
Oh God! She is his mate! She's definitely his mate and that was it!
 
The March in and surrounded her. The daggers they sent her way tells her they aren't what she thought they were. She'd never even seen them before. Now they got her guarded around without a single escape way.
 
She cautiously scans around, hyperventilating. There still wasn't sign of any of the two many she was counting on.
 
She doesn't know she was in great danger until one of her father's greatest enemies came to view. She narrowed her eyes as she groaned despite her weak and hopeless heart.
 
He lets out a loud humorless laughter that echoed through the room. "I never thought this day would come," he began, taking casual steps towards her. "Elise..." one step... "The only daughter..." two steps... "oh Alpha Burton..." he stands in front of her. "The alpha of Scuris pack. A helpless pack that can't run on its own," he spat and she could feel his bloody breath on her face.
 
She stiffens her back and stood her ground. It is now or never. She doesn't care if he decides to end her now. He would be doing her a huge favor by saving her time from the painful loss she was about to go through.
 
"Oh, I cannot wait to see your father's pathetic face when he hears the news I've got you captured." He laughs out again, enraging her into spitting on his face.
 
He growls and instantly smacked her face with the back of his hand. She hits the hard ground and winced in pain. She could taste the blood in her mouth but it can't compare to her bleeding heart.
 
"What you don't know is..." she wiped the blood off the corner of her lips as she got back on her feet. "You'll never get away with this. You'll never succeed. You'll never get what you want. You will never. Ever be half as strong as my father..."
 
He slammed his fist against her jaw and she fell on the ground for the second time weightlessly.
 
"What the fuck, Vincent?"
 
Her vision was too fuzzy but she could hear loud and clear. Ethan just walked in. She's saved.
 
"Hitting her wasn't part of the agreement," he said. She's not saved. She's been betrayed. For the second time before the day even ends.
 
She raises her bloodshot eyes up and looked at Ethan. He not for once even look remorseful for turning her in to Vincent. His face looks careless and heartless. He doesn't even have a glimpse of sympathy or look apologetic for betraying her trust.
 
Hunter warned her about him. But that's not the point. The point was, she was about to face her death any moment.
 
"Oh shut the fuck up. You've gotten your share, why the fuck are you still here? Aren't you going to look for a way to fucking leave this town and go to your pathetic girlfriend?"
 
There was a pang in her chest. She wasn't even angry. She was just disappointed. Her eyes were still on him and he also never looked away. His just tensed at the mention of his girlfriend. He wasn't even worried that he just handed her to the bad guys. His concern was that Vincent just announced that he has a girlfriend.