\[Elise’s POV\]
I step out onto the grounds and take a deep breath while listening to the sound of footsteps behind me. Turning, I watch as Marty and William make their way toward me.
“Why are you following me?” I ask, eyeing them curiously.
“Because you dashed out of there like a bat out of hell.” Marty responds.
“It looked like you were attempting to escape.” William adds. “And isn’t it our responsibility to make sure that you don’t do that?”
“Not yours,” I counter, nodding toward William. “Only Marty’s.”
Grinning, Marty comes to stand beside me, but when he places a hand on my shoulder, William’s gaze darkens before he storms forward and removes it.
“Why were you so eager to go check the borders anyway?” He asks while Marty glares at him. “Are you afraid that something may have happened?”
“Not really.” I counter. “I just wanted an excuse to escape before the big lug came after me.”
Even if he wasn’t pursuing the subject currently, I knew that Rosco and even Jose still wanted my help with locating those cloaked freaks. As long as I was in the big lugs line of sight, he was going to remember and attempt to push me once more. I was working too damn hard to forget those images to bring them back now.
“What exactly are you trying to hide from?” William asks, examining me. “I never got the chance to ask you the other night why you were escaping from Rosco and Jose. But now that I think about it, you owe me an explanation.”
For a moment, I don’t speak as I take William in. Owed him an explanation? Who the hell was he to need one? No one told him to appear at that time and follow me.
Instead of responding, I turn on my heel and begin to skip toward the borders while whistling. Nope, I wasn’t going to share what I was keeping hidden from either of them. If they wanted to know, they could ask Rosco and Jose. And while they did that, I would hang out in one of the border towers to help protect the lands where I was safe from both men.
“Hey!” Marty calls, catching up to me. “You just do everything as you please, don’t you?”
“And?” I ask, continuing to move. “What’s the point of doing what others want of me? Life is too damn short to not do what you want.”
“Depending on what that thing is,” William counters, coming up on my other side. “Within reason is something you truly should become acquainted with.”
“And why would I do that?” I growl, quickening my speed. “I’ve always lived my life as I saw fit; why should I start giving two shits what others want from me now?”
As the question leaves my lips, I can see something shift in William’s expression as he opens his mouth in preparation to respond to me, but he stops himself. That action alone caused a pang of pain to shoot through because I was sure he was going to mention my past misdeeds.
“Hey,” Marty says, clearly catching onto the shift in the mood. “Who wants to race? Loser has to answer whatever question the winner asks. What do you think?”
Remaining quiet, I examine Marty, trying to make sense of what he is trying, but decide to bite at his offer. There was something I was curious about anyway, so I would play along.
“Alright.” I grin. “Are we to take off at the count of three, and where is the finish line?”
“Up there.” Marty announces, pointing to the guard tower in the distance. “First to reach the top is the winner.”
“Got it.”
Bracing myself, I wait as William and Marty flank either side of me, and when a howl escapes Marty’s lips, I begin to move.
Together with either man on each side of me, I move forward, tapping into my alpha abilities so that the world around me begins to fade. Once again, I feel that familiar feeling of being free as I run with the wind whipping at my face and the earth brushing along my skin.
Letting go of everything, I surge forward, leaving both Marty and William behind me. At least, that was what I expected to do. However, both men keep up with me, and when we reach the guard tower, it is a race to the top, with each of us taking a side and climbing like our lives depended on it.
When I reach, I hoist myself over the banister and then lean against the railing, taking in the city just beyond. It’s beautiful with the sun and sky reflecting off the sides of buildings and the white clouds that drift by lazily.
“I win.” I grin when Marty and William come to join me. “You two can argue over who lost while I take in the scene in front of me.”
“If you think that looks good, you should see it when the sun is setting.” William chuckles, coming to stand beside me. “We can hang out up here until then if you want.”
Turning, I let my gaze meet his as he stares at me unflinchingly, and despite myself, I feel butterflies erupt in my stomach as my breath hitches over how handsome he looks with his hair wind mussed and his skin dyed a beautiful pink.
“I’m here too, you know.” Marty points out, ruining the moment. “Could you two flirt when you’re alone?”
“We could be if you left.” William points out, not even attempting to deny what he said. “Why don’t you go and talk to the guard and explain our presence?”
For the first time since arriving, I look over and find a man dressed in camouflage watching us curiously.
Shit, I was so lost in the moment that I forgot about everyone else around me.
“Sorry,” I huff, knowing that it must have been a shock when I suddenly appeared. “We came with a purpose, I swear.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself.” The guard chuckles. “Alpha, already informed us of your arrival.”
“Did he?” I sigh. “Then you know that we came to keep an eye on the borders in case they came looking for someone.”
“Yes,” the guard responds. “We have already been put on high alert. I assure you, no one will get in or out for the time being.”
Nodding, I turn my gaze to the ground below and take in the area. The grounds are empty aside from animals roaming. If only things could remain this peaceful permanently. I was ready to find my bastard father and those cloaked frees and do away with them.
‘Then shouldn’t you cooperate with Rosco and Jose?’ Anna announces, not missing the chance to take a jab at me. ‘I know that you’re afraid of seeing that again, but...’
‘I’m not afraid.’ I growl. ‘I just don’t want to have to see that sick shit again.’
Even though I killed quite a few people, there was never a time I thought of eating them. Just remembering that left me sick and with the heebie jeebies.
‘But it could help.’ Anna reminds me. ‘And aren’t we trying to show them that we aren’t the enemy?’
‘No amount of showing will prove that.’ I sigh, leaning forward against the banister in front of me and lifting my gaze to the city beyond again. ‘After everything we’ve done, there is no redemption.’
I was already certain that once all of this was over, I would be thrown back in that cell so I could await my trial. Once that was over, I would live out my days as someone's subordinate. There was no chance I would ever be free.
“Penny for your thoughts.” William murmurs, snapping me out of my head.
Shaking off my unease, I turn to find that his face is mere inches from mine. For a moment, I don’t move as I remember how good it felt to kiss him. Why was it that when he looked at me, all my worries just seemed to drift away?
“You were brooding.” He continues while I stare him down. “I thought maybe speaking it aloud would help.”
“How do you deal with it?” I find myself asking.
“Deal with what?”
“Living with such a huge responsibility bearing down on you?”
Up until I met Alexander, I lived to the beat of my own drum. Even with him, I had some semblance of freedom aside from completing the tasks he set for me. But I couldn’t possibly imagine having my entire life planned out for me like him. Even now, I could feel the weight of the world on my shoulders due to everyone’s expectations that were smothering me.
“Some days are easier than others.” William shrugs. “You just take it in stride and do the best that you can do.”
“Do the best I can do.” I repeat, frowning. “But what if that isn’t good enough?”
“I’m not sure.” He admits. “I’ll tell you when I find that out myself.”
Eyes widening, I realize, for the first time since meeting William, that maybe we weren’t as different as I thought we were. This whole time, I was trying to keep my distance because I didn’t feel like we would ever be on the same wavelength, but maybe that was simply my prejudice.
‘Shit.’ I hiss inwardly. ‘I’m in trouble.’
If I even thought for a second that he could be mine, I knew I’d be doomed, and just now that was exactly how I felt.