Shane
The pain etched in her features knocked the wind out of me. She was looking at me like I’d just struck her. I wanted nothing more than to take her up on her offer. I wanted to whisk her away and take her far from here. It was all I’d ever wanted to do. I still wanted to, but for once in my life I was trying to do what’s right. I was thinking about her well-being. I was thinking about after we ran from here. We weren’t kids anymore; we couldn’t just expect a happily ever after. I needed to make it happen and right now I was in no condition to fight or protect her.
Blood trickled down my back as if to confirm what I already knew. I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but right now I was weak. I was nothing. I couldn’t help her.
They didn’t know about us right this minute, but when would they know? Ethan would eventually lose his patience and send someone after her. I was not in the best condition and I didn’t think I could shift. She hasn’t shifted yet, and I didn’t want to take the chance they’d find us.
I didn’t care about myself. I cared about her, her well-being. I needed her alive and I was not sure I could do that when I went back. If we were caught trying to run from here, it’d be the end. Not just for me, but for her, for us. I’ll be punished and then executed, but she’d be punished too. I’d be dead and she’d be alone. At least if I left I’d be doing what I needed to do for me, for us. She’d still be alone this way, but at least I’d be coming back for her. We still had hope. Our future would still have hope.
The last thing I wanted to do was leave her here under her father’s rule. I didn’t want to leave her knowing that that piece of shit, poor excuse for an alpha would be taking her from here. If he waited a few days before he left, there was still the time it’d take to travel back to his territory. It’d lessen her time with him.
Never in my life would I have ever thought that she would have to spend a single day here after she turned of age. I remembered thinking we would be gone before she was of age. Never would I have thought that I would even consider leaving her in Ethan’s care, but at this point, I didn’t have a choice.
At least with Ethan her father couldn’t control her or hurt her. Even though it felt like I was switching one out for another, right now my hands were tied. It tore me up inside knowing that I couldn’t do anything for her right now. I wanted to punch something. I felt like less of a man having to depend on the obsession another man had with my woman.
If I weren’t hurt, I’d be confident I could get away with her, but that wasn’t the only problem here. I needed to go back and take what’s mine. I couldn’t provide for her and I couldn’t give her what she deserves. I couldn’t even give her what she needed. I was a pathetic excuse of a man, but I’d do everything I needed to be the man she needed, the man she deserved.
I’d challenge my father and kill him when I was healed. I’d take my birthright back and when I was Alpha, I’d get her. It wouldn’t be long; it shouldn’t be long. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. I was weak. If I had gone back earlier, maybe I could have prevented this. My weakness was costing me and it was going to cost her, and that’s what hurt the most about this.
If I could just have some time, I believed I could provide her with everything she wanted and needs. I can make something of myself and then we can have our happily ever after. Her pleas made me want to give in, but I needed to do this. Even if she didn’t forgive me I’d come for her. I’d never forgive myself for this, but it was all I could do.
Her hands pushed against my chest, but it did nothing. Her fists bounced off my chest and I held her close. I shook my head and her shoulders started to shake. She asked me why, but I couldn’t tell her yet. Telling her would only scare her. I needed to make it happen and I needed her to trust me. I needed her to wait for me.
I promise I’ll come for you.
“Wait for me,” I pleaded.
“No, please,” Adea cried. “Please Shane, please don’t leave me. Don’t leave me here with them. Don’t leave me with Ethan,” she choked.
“I-I know, I don’t want to. Please,” I begged. “Please wait for me.”
“How can you ask me to wait for you when you’re leaving me?” Adea hissed. “You’re not giving me a choice, you’re not explaining, you’re just… you’re just leaving me to him! How can you love me if you’re okay with him… if you’re okay with me being with him?!”
“I’m not okay—” I started, but she cut me off.
“Don’t… don’t. Just leave,” Adea whispered.
I could hear her heartbreak and I could feel her pain as if it were my own. I hated myself knowing that I was hurting her. I needed to do this for us. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she closed her eyes so she couldn't see me anymore. My hands fell to my side in defeat.
I look at her one more time because this would be the last time I see her. I memorized her face; her red eyes from crying, her nose, the cute freckles sprinkled across her face, her lips. We hadn’t been separated for a long period of time since we first met, and I already missed her.
I pulled her toward me and kissed her. She resisted me at first, but eventually opened up for me. I tasted her salty tears on my tongue. This kiss was painful and consuming.
“I love you,” I murmured when we separated.
She didn’t say anything, but she didn't need to. It didn’t matter how angry she was, or how much she hated me in this moment. I knew she loved me.
I didn’t want to, but time was running out, and I knew I needed to leave. It took every fiber in my body, but somehow I got to my feet, put my mask back in place, turned from her, and walked out the door.
I’ll come for you.