Mae POV
I watch my father's every move. His eyes are searching mine to see if I am serious or not. I thrust my arm in his direction, silently begging him to get it over with. But he doesn't move closer to me.
Celeste is howling in my mind. Her cries are slowly breaking down my resolve, and I am beginning to lose my nerve.
'This is a mistake,' she tries to reason with me. 'I will be your best friend. I am part of you.'
'But there will be a war because of me,' I tell her. 'I can't let that happen.'
'Do you think the war will stop just because you are no longer a werewolf?' Celeste growls at me. 'The war is coming whether you are part of it or not. It isn't happening because of you or me.'
'You heard what Dad said,' I cry. 'My mother saw me bringing war between the worlds.'
'War is already upon us,' Celeste screams. 'It has been since the moment Kieran chose his sister over the recusants. You are merely the catalyst.'
I feel my father's clammy hand on mine, and he grips hard. He isn't going to let go. His hand is shaking as he approaches me with the syringe.
"Wait!" I scream.
My father's hand freezes, and I try to catch my breath. "What will happen if I let you turn me back?"
"What do you mean?" My father asks.
"What happens to Kieran and his family? What happens to Raven?" I demand to know.
Dad shrugs his shoulders. "The plan remains unchanged."
I try to pull my hand away from him, but he digs his fingers into my skin. "Dad," I whimper through the pain. "You are hurting me."
I expect my tears to stop him, but he has a crazed look in his eyes. "You aren't turning back now."
"No," I struggle against him. "Why take this away from me if it isn't going to change anything?"
"Because I am saving you," my father smiles.
"Saving me from what?" I snap. "I was just almost raped? How are things better with you?"
Dad lets go of my hand and grabs me by the chin. "Once the war is over and the twins are disposed of, I will kill Francesca and her minions."
"And after you have killed them, you will stop hunting?" It is a loaded question, and my father knows it.
He rips his hand away from my chin, and my head snaps to the side. I turn my head back slowly in his direction and snarl. My hand claps over my mouth. I have never made a noise like that before. It seems to shock my father as well.
Anger is written all over his face, and his eyes are bulging out of his head. "You have to let me save you. You are already starting to turn."
He tries to grab my hand again, but I jerk it away from him. "Don't touch me. I am not letting you take this away from me."
Dad raises his hand and strikes me across the cheek. A cry leaves my lips, and tears spring to my eyes. My father has never laid a hand on me before. I never received so much as a spanking when I was a child. This is completely out of character for him.
He is looking at the palm of his hand as if it is on fire. He backs away from me and shakes his head in disbelief.
They say your body goes into fight or flight mode when you are threatened, but neither of those is happening to me. I am frozen to the spot, still in shock that my father hit me.
"Mae," he whispers my name, but adrenaline finally starts coursing through my veins.
I look at the door, and it is cracked open. This is my chance.
I spare my father one last look, but he isn't looking at me. His eyes are still focused on his hand. Exhaling loudly, I head for the door.
My father isn't following me. I peek my head into the hallway, and it is clear. I tiptoe down the hallway and try not to think about the fact that I am exposed from the waist down. There is no time to find pants.
The stairs creek as I step on them, and I wince at the sound. I hear the sound of someone rustling around in the kitchen, and I know it must be Francesa.
'You can do this,' Celeste whispers. 'Just go slowly.'
I want to listen to her, but I am too nervous. I race down the stairs as fast as I can. My feet get caught on the rug, and I fall. I try to catch myself by grabbing the banister, but the old wood breaks off in my hands. I tumble down the stairs head over heels, and my head slams on the tile at the bottom.
'Get up,' Celeste screams at me, and I listen.
I don't know where I am finding the strength, but I get to my feet. The main door is only feet away. I just have to make it that far and I am free.
My ankle is twisted awkwardly beneath me, and I drag it behind me as I limp to the door. The sound of laughter rings in my ears, and I grab the doorknob and try to wrench it open. It doesn't open.
I let out a frustrated growl and shake the door violently, and the laughter only grows behind me.
Pressing myself against the metal of the door, I turn and see Francesca watching my every move.
"Going somewhere?" She laughs.
"Back up, Bitch," I hiss at her.
The smile on Francesca's face is unsettling. "Let's play a little game."
She reaches around me, and I try not to flinch. I can hear her pressing the buttons on the keypad, and the lock clicks open.
I reach for the doorknob again, but Francesca stops me with a single glare.
"I will give you a head start," she smiles. "If you make it to the highway, you are free."
"And if I don't," I say through gritted teeth.
"You are mine," she whispers into my ear.
Goosebumps rise on my skin as she steps away from me.
"Run, little wolf," Francesca laughs.