Dark eyes narrowed to a dangerous glint. “Who?”
Realizing what she’d just done, Willow clamped her mouth shut and spun from the room. But he followed her, grabbed her arm, and spun her around.
“I’m like who, Willow?” His voice was hard, his eyes angry and a little sad. It was on the tip of her tongue to ignore him, to tell him to fuck off because he didn’t deserve to know...but it was that hint of sadness that pulled at her heart. She couldn’t deny him anything when he asked like that. Or maybe she just finally wanted someone to know. Though why she’d ever want that she didn’t know.
“David.”
He straightened, his face guarded. She watched the light of recognition turn on his eyes. She hadn’t been a virgin when she met him.
“He was the one...”
A clipped nod.
“Tell me his name.”
“David Co—” she stopped, eyes narrowing. He’d asked it so deceptively soft, like a simple inquiry. Angry or not with him, she knew what he’d do if she told him. Even she didn’t wish that on the bastard. “No.”
“Tell me what he did and tell me his name.” His voice was stiff like he had a hard time controlling it.
Willow sighed. Her heart feeling like it was breaking all over again. “Just forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything. This isn’t what I wanted.” She wanted to rail at him with all her pent-up anger not discuss her previous, failed, fucked-up relationship.
She turned from him and when he made to grab her arm, she dodged it and fled down the stairs. Her foot caught near the last step and she went soaring through the air.
A choked scream left her throat, panic immobilized her as she flew towards the hard ground. My baby! At the last second she tried to push her arms out in front of her to break the fall but it all happened so fast. She wasn’t going to make it in time.
Her knees slammed hard into the wood floor and then she was caught, thrust back against Lyonis’ hard chest.
He turned her to face him, breathing wild, eyes wide with fear. He clutched her to him and she latched onto him with all her might. A choked cry left her, and she couldn’t stop the rush when it came. She broke down like an old, beat up car. He held her tight as she cried every tear of worry and pain and frustration.
He spoke soft words to her, his hands creating warm comforting strokes around her back. It made her feel safe, like everything was okay, like he’d always be there to protect her. She’d only ever felt that with Papa, but this was still a bit different. This wasn’t the paternal comfort from father to daughter, but the loving comfort between a man and woman.
Tears stopping, Willow pulled back at the thought. When his arms refused to let her go, she pushed hard at him. Love. Loving comfort. He didn’t love her.
“Don’t touch me,” she said coldly.
Jaw clenching, he did as she said. Something dark and spiteful built inside her. She was just so angry at him. Her body burned like a fever, her hands shook with the need to clench and hit something. She’d always thought she’d loved David. That’s why she let him do the things he did and how, in her mind, she excused his actions with reason after reason. But she couldn’t have loved David, because she was head over heels for Lyonis and his betrayal hurt so much worse. What David did had hurt her emotionally, maybe even mentally, but Lyonis’ actions broke her damn heart.
“I’m asking you once more. Please, don’t do this,” she pleaded with him. His mouth opened, closed, and finally he looked away from her. With one shake of his head, she had her answer.
Suddenly, all the anger went out of her. Her body turned cold, body unfeeling, numb like the dentist had just novacained her entire body. The only thing she felt was her heart, so tight in her chest, it was almost unbearable.
“Until the baby’s born and this demon is dead, I can’t do that. I won’t take any chances.”
“Somehow going out in the pack is dangerous?”
“We already know that Stephanie has been used by the demon for whatever purpose. Is it really that far-fetched that she, if not others, may be under the demon’s control and want to hurt you, Willow?”
“Yes it is,” she said simply. He looked like he was about to shout but then he took a deep breath.
“Lily already told me that Stephanie spoke to you at the festival that the demon was...inside her. Is that true?”
Nodding, she said, “It’s true, but if it was using Stephanie to kill me then it would have done it then. We were alone after all.”
He closed his eyes. “I’m not taking that chance. You’re my mate now.”
“Then I wish I never did it.”
Pain flashed across his face. He shook his head slowly and went back up the stairs with heavy steps.
At the top the stairs, she called out to him. “Are you even sorry?”
He didn’t look back at her. “Not at all.”
“If I tell you about David will you let me out of here?” She couldn’t believe she’d just said that. But she was desperate.
Without a word, he shook his head and went into the bedroom.
Willow stared after him, stunned and heartbroken.
She didn’t go to bed with him that night, and he didn’t make her. Huddled on the couch, she made her plans.
Chapter 37
Lyonis left the next morning without a word. She wanted to pretend it didn’t hurt, that she didn’t care, but it was big fat lie. She cared way too much. Watching his silent back retreat, he just cemented her decision.
With only one thing left to do, she grabbed her backpack and tossed a few of her things into it. She still had no idea how she was going to leave, but she’d find a way. She always did. Grabbing the few meager belongings she’d come here with, she shoved them in her bag and tossed it under the bed in case he came back early.
Heading downstairs, she walked outside to the guard posted on her porch. “Where’s Draven?”
“He left a few days ago.”
Her face paled. “What?”
The guard shrugged. “He had a fight with his lady friend, then took off after her when she left him. Said he wouldn’t be coming back.”
Willow thanked him and closed the door. So much for her only plan. If he wouldn’t do his little dissolve thing and get her out of here, then she’d have to figure something else out.
By late evening, she still didn’t have a plan. Genuine worry started to creep in that she may never think of a way to get past the guards. But luck was on her side, when, at six o’clock that evening there was a knock at the door.
Willow opened the door and her eyes widened in surprise. “Rachel, what are you doing here?”
The shapeshifter smiled gaily and wiggled her fingers at her. “John’s watching the baby tonight, so I have the night off. Unfortunately I couldn’t find anything to do so I thought I’d stop in and check on you.”
Willow let her in and they took a seat on the sofa. It felt strange seeing another face that wasn’t through a window as someone walked by. Of course now she had something more interesting to stare at as the streets were littered with tall, battle-ready Atal Warriors. It wasn’t until now that she realized how much she felt like a prisoner.
“It’s so good to see you.” Willow meant it from the bottom of her heart.
Rachel smiled kindly. “I heard that you’re being kept under lock and key. I’m so sorry, Willow. It’s really unfair.”
Willow laughed bitterly. “Tell me about it. Is this normal or something?”
Rachel looked contrite as she shook her head. “Not really. I mean I’ve heard of some Alphas who went off the deep end when their mates’ lives were in danger. But this is different. Danny went missing today, Sara’s boy.”
Willow nodded, unsure what to say to ease Rachel’s worry.