There hasn’t been a time in my life when I’ve dreaded waking up in the morning until now. For the first time ever, I don’t have control. I don’t know what’s going to happen anymore. All I know is the past two weeks have been torture, not only physically but mentally. I feel like I’m at a breaking point, but there’s nothing I can do. If I go on the attack, I’ll lose. When I get back to normal, Sierra will be the first person I go after. I’ve never been so humiliated or degraded in my life by another female. There is still a slight bruise on my cheek from where I fell on my face after she tripped me. Did I want to kill her after that? More than anything, but I brushed myself off and got back to work. Over and over in my mind, I’ve repeated the words, Bide your time. Being in California is temporary. Soon, I’ll be free.
Yesterday, I stayed in my room all day. Thankfully, no one bothered me, not even Chase, which surprised me. I thought for sure he’d tell me I had to go back to the restaurant. Even if I said no, he could haul me over his shoulders and make me. Then again, he’d like that too much. I refuse to give him or any of the other mongrels in his pack the satisfaction. However, Chase is the only one who’s been decent to me. It doesn’t make me hate him any less.
After grabbing my phone off the dresser, I scroll through mine and Evangeline’s texts over the last few days. She’s been in Tahiti visiting her family, but she’s on her way back. I have no idea when she’ll arrive.
I look over at the clock, and my stomach growls with a vengeance. It’s late morning, and I’ve been dying to eat something for at least twenty-four hours. I didn’t eat a single thing yesterday, and I’m paying for it today. I’m already weak to begin with, and this just adds to my pitifulness. It’s disgusting how pathetic I am right now. There’s a knot in my stomach of pent-up rage, and if I don’t let it go, I’ll lose my mind. Unleashing my anger will only physically hurt me, not anyone else. I doubt I’d be able to punch someone without breaking my hand.
If I don’t eat, I’ll only weaken myself more. No one around me cares if I eat. It’s up to me to try to stay as strong as I can. I need all my strength if I plan on escaping. Tossing my phone onto the bed, I tiptoe to the door and open it slowly. I can’t hear anything, but that doesn’t mean Chase or his wolves aren’t around. My stomach rumbles, and this time it hurts.
“Screw it,” I hiss. I fling open the door and march down the hall toward the stairs. So far, so good. No wolves. When I get to the kitchen, I push on the swinging door, and the second I enter, the smell of apples and cinnamon makes my mouth water. There, on the counter, is a basket full of muffins. Beside them is a roll of paper towels, so I tear one off and reach for a muffin, only to stop cold when I sense someone behind me.
“I could hear your stomach all the way down the hall,” Chase teases.
Jerking around, I clench the paper towel in my fist and scowl. Chase’s clear blue eyes rake down my body, and he leans against the doorframe, wearing a pair of jeans and a form-fitting, gray T-shirt. There’s an insult on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t get the words out. Losing my wolf abilities has taken away my biting wit.
Smirking, Chase motions toward the muffins. “Get some. They’re delicious.”
I scoff. “Did your girlfriend make them?”
Chase’s brows furrow. “Girlfriend? And who exactly are you referring to?”
I throw my arms in the air. “How the hell should I know? I’m sure you have plenty. My guess would be the dirty trollop who thinks she’s better than me.”
Chase laughs. “Trollop? What are we in the 1600s?”
All I can do is glower at him. “I’m old-fashioned.”
He nods. “That’s right. You are over two hundred years old.”
“Exactly, little boy,” I snap back. “You have no clue what all I’ve seen.” Of course, he’s anything but a little boy, but I had to say something, even if it was ridiculously lame. Chase smiles again, and I half expect him to call me grandma or something in that nature, but he doesn’t.
Instead, he moves closer, his expression genuine. “I’d like to hear some of your stories one day.”
Who does he think he’s kidding? Rolling my eyes, I focus on the crumpled paper towel in my hand. “That’ll be a waste of time. You don’t give a damn about me or what I’ve been through.” Reluctantly, I lift my gaze to his, hoping he can see the determination in mine. I don’t want him or anyone else seeing the truth, that a part of me is genuinely broken. “All you and the other packs see is a threat. I guess, in a way, I like that. It makes people stay out of my way. Just know that once I get this bracelet off, I’m getting the hell out of here.”
Chase crosses his arms over his broad chest. “Where will you go?”
“As far away from you and the others as I can.” I snatch a muffin out of the basket and storm toward the door, but Chase blocks my path. I had a feeling he wouldn’t let me go so easily.
“Raina is the one who made the muffins. She’s newly mated to one of my most loyal wolves.”
“Must be nice,” I say, hoping he can hear the disinterest in my tone.
Chase stares down at my lips. “It is. Every week more of my wolves find their mates.”
For a split second, I get lost in his eyes when he brings them up to mine. He moves closer, and it breaks me out of the spell. “But not you,” I utter quickly.
He shakes his head. “No, but I’m enjoying life nonetheless.”
Rolling my eyes, I push past him, muffin in hand. “It’s not hard to guess what that means.”
Chase follows close on my heels. “Am I sensing a bit of jealousy?”
“Please,” I snap, “I’m not jealous of anyone.”
I start up the stairs, and he doesn’t back down. “What happened to us, Kara? We used to talk all the time. Some would say you enjoyed conversing with me.”
He’s right, I did. I used to love giving him hell at all the different wine competitions. When I get to the top of the staircase, it’s my turn to block him. He stops and stares up at me, giving me that lazy grin that I always used to find sexy. Used to. Not anymore. However, my racing heart says otherwise.
“That was before you became my warden,” I hiss. “Yeah, I enjoyed flirting with you, but that’s all you’re good for.”
Chase smirks. “I beg to differ.”
His focus lands on my chest, where I know he can hear my treacherous heart. Turning quickly, I open my bedroom door and slam it just as fast, hoping to get some distance between us. I march over to the window and glare back at the door, wondering if Chase is still there. I detest him for making me feel like things I shouldn’t. I’ve never given in to him before, and I’m not about to start now. It will only end in heartbreak, and that’s something I can’t afford.