Chapter 45

We took cover behind some sandbags and a bunker-looking thing. Tension ran high and suddenly my nerves were up as well. He shot up, firing a paintball and then came back down.

“We need to move, which means running through the main part. Walk ahead of me so I can watch your six.”

Screams and laughter could be heard when I stood up and made my way through the middle. I noticed something coming from my right and it wasn’t our team color. I aimed and managed to hit the guy which means he was out.

“Good shot.”

This went for a long time, and it was down to just us and a few others on the other side. We ended up separating somehow as I swept the area. It was too quiet. Way too quiet. But before I could say anything Anthony had jumped in front of me taking a hit. I looked up and found who it was and took the shot which got him out. Turning around and taking the shot getting the last person out.

“Game!” The ref said. Anthony was on his feet before gave me a high-five.

“You did great for a beginner. You do have great reflexes,” he said.

“Yeah well, you didn’t have to take the hit for me. You’re more equipped,” I said.

“Yeah, but this was me showing you that I will always protect you. Even if that meant giving my life for you.”

He did all this just to prove it. My heart felt warm and like a million bucks, and the walls had broken down. It was all uphill from there. I was a teenage girl at heart, and that had to do with my lack of relationships. And it stayed just as amazing for the next few years. He wasn’t so happy to learn my real name after a year of us being together, but he got over it. I took a chance on him, and it was the best decision I ever made. But when things are great, they go bad.

3 YEARS LATER….

I rolled over to find Anthony staring at me which made me jump.

“How long have you been up?” I asked while stretching.

“Easier question is how I slept through all your snoring.” He teased but it earned him a pillow in the face.

“I don’t snore, I just have trouble breathing when you sweat so horribly.” He reached over and kissed my cheek.

“So, I’ve been keeping a secret.” I sat myself up against the headboard and looked at him.

“We have a visitor coming in and he is pretty important,” he said.

“Yeah? Who is it?” His smile extended more.

“The Alpha King.” Then suddenly my smile disappeared. I knew this day would come but now? I jumped out of bed and ran to our closet and aggressively started packing it.

“Babe, what is going on?” The ringing in my head was blocking him out. I needed to leave today. He grabbed hold of my arm and made me look at him.

“Hey what’s wrong?” The truth will come out eventually.

“I can’t be here when he arrives, okay. I just can’t. They will take me back and it’s best if I am not here or at least not around.” He sighed.

“More secrets huh?” He looked disappointed in me again, but I didn’t care. He knew there were things that I didn’t want to open up about but sometimes he pushed.

“If you know, you wouldn’t understand. You like to jump to conclusions and not see the full picture sometimes,” I said.

Great here I go again sabotaging any good thing in my life. Because I could never have a perfect thing and not demolish it.

“How can I try to understand anything if you never tell me things? I have to force it out of you and you call that overreacting?”

I walked over to the bed and just sat down and started to tear up.

“I don’t want you looking at me any different when you hear what.” But he gave me a comforting smile.

“I am not going anywhere, how many times do I have to say that?” He knelt in front of me and pulled my chin up “Twenty more times. Might need more.” We both laughed at that but maybe he is right. Maybe it’s time he knew the truth and if I keep it bottled up any longer, I might explode.

“Alright, let me shower and get ready and then I will tell you. But I will hold you to your words so I will castrate you if you run.”

I think in all these years he has helped me grow up more. I wasn’t so resentful towards anyone who didn’t have daddy issues. I was happy and free and making something of myself. This pack was filled with so much love and care that the thought of leaving made my heart hurt. I had Anthony who was stable and kind. He put me first and always made sure that we were equal. The way he presents himself and doesn’t hide how goofy he is. But what really made me love him was the respect he had towards everyone.

No one gets singled out. He was safe. No. He was home and because of him, I grew up. I took a long shower dreading the conversation but knew it was the right thing to do. I didn’t want to push him out of my life by keeping secrets, but would he stay really if he knew. I changed and saw he had showered and gotten ready.

“When is he supposed to show and why is he coming?” I asked.

“Later I think, and I guess just doing his duties and checking in with all packs.”

We decided a walk would do while I explained to him everything. But before I could say anything. I was too late apparently.

“Ryleigh.”