Chapter 25 - Gina
I stared at the door, feeling angry. Why would he just expect me to get over something with the snap of my fingers? He's done nothing but cause me pain since I was little. Everyone had. Everyone in our pack treated me like garbage, and suddenly, because he'd done a few things for me, he expected me to be over it.
I grabbed the flowers, ready to throw them. I wanted to scream, to ruin everything that he'd laid out. I wanted to destroy it all, so he understood just how I felt.
But I couldn't. I froze as I held the vase of flowers. Their scent filled my nose, filling the space. The candles twinkled in the dark, and the low light gave the room a romantic vibe.
I felt my throat clog, tears burning in my eyes. My hands shook as I tried to throw the flowers but couldn't. My body wouldn't let me.
He wasn't nice. He was cruel. He watched as the others treated me like shit. He helped. He helped my brother hurt me. He did nothing. Nothing to help me.
But the flowers. The candles. The house. All the meals he’d brought over. Every compliment he'd given me. I knew he'd meant it all. He'd done all of this because he cared, and I pushed him away because it was the only way I knew how to protect myself.
I felt my hands shake on the vase as tears started to fall free. As much as I wanted to deny and hate him, he'd proven he cared. He was there for me when no one else had been. He's stood with me against Chris. He'd helped me get the house and stayed with me because he didn't want me to be alone. He cared about me, and it scared the shit out of me because no one ever had.
I was always the last person anyone thought about, but I was the first for Lucas. He thought about me and wanted what was best for me. He cared—he truly cared about me.
Tears fell, and I felt a sob break free. I tumbled to the ground, the vase falling from my fingers as I cried. I could hear the vase break but ignored it, holding onto my knees tightly.
I cried for all the confusion, all the pain I'd suffered. I'd been forced to be strong when I didn't feel I was. I hurt and never wanted someone to love me. I never thought I was worthy of it.
I'd put up my wall so high I couldn't even realize that someone wanted to hold me rather than rip my world apart.
As I cried, I wondered if I'd be able to fix everything. Had I destroyed a relationship before it had even started? Would I be able to trust Lucas fully the way I wanted to? Or would I continue to screw things up and never allow him in?
I leaned back, wiping my eyes. I looked over the flowers that lay on the ground. I took in the candles, some of them fluttering out now. I felt alone, utterly alone.
I used to love it. I loved being able to let my walls down and bask in the silence, but suddenly it hurt. I didn't like it the way I used to. The silence was suddenly loud.
I got up, turned, and looked for my phone to call Lucas. I needed him to come back. I needed to tell him I was sorry and that I let myself become angry rather than trust him. But I wanted to do this. I wanted to at least try and see where this leads.
But as I moved, I heard movement to the left by the living room. I watched as some bushes moved, wondering if maybe Lucas was coming back to talk to me himself.
I felt relieved. I moved towards the door, opening it. I stepped outside, the light outside flicking on. I knew his car was still here, so he had to be just around the corner to come back.
"Lucas, I'm sorry," I said, stopping a few steps from the door. The wind blew, and I shiver. "I didn't mean to yell. I...I want to talk about this."
But as the figure rounded the house, my body tensed up, realizing it wasn't Lucas. It wasn't anyone that I knew or anyone I'd ever seen in Honeyville. My entire body tensed up, taking the large man in.
He was bulky, with short-cut hair and a scar going over his left side by his ear. He was tall, easily towering over me in the darkness. His eyes narrowed a cold blue that looked murderous, and then there was the smell. That tangle of blood mixed with dirt.
I took a step back, confusion filling me. And then all of Lucas's warnings slammed into me. We aren't friends with the pack next to us. We have people watching. I don't like you being alone. Who knows who's in the woods
I knew this person wasn't our own, and my defense went up. My wolf growled, and the hair on my body stood up.
"Who are you?" I asked, finding my voice. I made sure it was strong and did not let it quiver. Whoever this was, he was the person that had been watching.
The man didn't answer. He took another step toward me, and I took another back. I wanted to shrink back, but I didn't. I squared my shoulders, forcing my body to hold my ground.
"I asked you a question!" I snapped, growling at the man. "You are on my property."
"Such a small wolf for one of Ayden's men's mates."
Fear gripped me. How did he know I was Lucas's mate?
"I may be small, but that doesn't mean I don't know how to protect myself," I snarled back, baring my teeth. My wolf growled, angry at the insult.
The guy smirked, and suddenly, without warning, he was charging at me. I quickly ducked, dropping low as he tried to grab me but missed.
I moved quickly, stepping out of his way and taking a couple of steps away from the door. I wanted to run inside and shut the door, but I wouldn't make the distance. I thought of screaming, but I had no idea where Lucas was going. He could be miles away by now, unable to even hear me. I couldn't waste the air screaming, not if I had to run.
"You're a real piece of work," the guy said, turning to her. "I've been waiting for you to be alone. Seems Lucas keeps a close eye on you."
I ground my teeth together. "What do you even want from me?"
I knew there was a disagreement between the packs. I heard what happened and how Owen saved his wife from the alpha. What I didn’t understand was why he was watching me. What did he want from me?
"Logan doesn't like being insulted," the guy said, shrugging casually. "And he wants to hurt the guys. We've been watching and waiting. He is looking for the weak link to really piss Ayden off, but he keeps a pretty tight leash on his wife and children. All of them do. But you..." He smiled at her, and it sent a shiver down her spine. "You were an easy target. Not exactly the person we want, but you'll work."
I took a deep breath in through my nose, trying to remain calm. If I started to panic, I would make mistakes. Remaining calm and collected was the only way I was going to survive. Lucas warned me that the pack was becoming unhinged, and I should have listened better.
"So, your alpha thinks taking the women is going to even the score? Seems a little childish if you ask me. Why doesn't he just get over himself and find a new woman?"
The man smirked, "Who said anything about taking?"
I swallowed, suddenly realizing he wasn't going to let me live. Clearly, Logan wanted to make his point. You steal my woman. I kill yours.
The man charged at me, and I quickly moved out of the way. He was fast, and I knew I didn't have many options. If I ran for it, I wouldn't get far before he was on me.
I watched as he unclenched his hands, his nails growing. His hair started to grow longer as he shifted. I swallowed, knowing I didn't have an option.
I shifted into my wolf form. I kept my eyes trained on him as I did, watching each step he made.
I knew shifting in my wolf while pregnant wasn't a good call, but it was my only shot. I couldn't fight him in my human form.
I took a backward step, watching the man in front of me move. He was pure black, larger than I was. I was utterly terrified, but I held my ground. I made sure to remain still while he moved, circling me.
I wasn't backing down. This was my home and my land. I wasn't the weak link that everyone kept seeing me for. If this man wanted to fight, then so be it.
The man charged, and I wasn't quick enough. He shoved us backward, and I lost ground rolling. I quickly flipped myself back over just as he snapped his teeth at me.
I swiped my front feet, clawing at him.
He continued to snap his teeth, and I took a few more steps back around the house near my gardens.
A low growl came from him as he charged at me once more, our bodies slamming into each other. But I managed to hold my own, breaking him off me before he could sink his teeth into my skin.
The shove sent us into my garden. I tried to catch myself but wasn't quick enough, and I tumbled into my shrubs.
I scowled, looking at my garden. Only one plant was ruined, but it hit a nerve.
I growled, rushing forward, snapping my teeth at the wolf. I wanted to move us forward, out of the garden and towards the open space. I moved, biting into his front leg, catching him off guard. He moved, smacking his body against mine, and we fumbled backward farther into my garden. I hear the snapping of flowers and the crushing of branches.
Pure rage filled me, and I charged forward, slamming into the wolf and shoving him hard against the wall of the house.
My eyes scanned the space, seeing the damage that was done. My garden!
I slammed into him again, not letting myself stop. I bite at his neck, pawing at his fur. I took the upper hand and held it. I dug my teeth in, tasting blood, and the wolf howled.
I broke free, stepping backward, giving him space.
Rage filled his face, and he charged at me. He slammed into me, and we smacked hard into the fence, and the new wood gave away, breaking. Pain radiated over my body at the impact, but it was short-lived as I looked over my shoulder, taking in the space.
My eyes widened at the horror of my fence.
It cost me three thousand dollars to buy and install the small fence. It was put up a couple of weeks ago after I decided to get rid of the metal one that was up.
I kicked the man off, surprised at my own strength. I knocked him clear off me into the fence. I heard him howl, clearly something breaking.
I huffed, and I spotted Lucas in the corner of my eye. His eyes were wide as he took in the space and the damage that had been done to my garden.
I shifted back into my human form, looking at all my bushes. My roses were snapped, the pedals bleeding over the space. The lilac and tulips were all tramped into the ground. My fence was ripped to shreds, and I didn't dare look at the ivy on the house that I had loved.
"You fucking dickweed," I snarled at the man. "Do you have any fucking idea how hard this was? How much time and effort I put into my fucking garden?!?"
I kicked at a rock, watching it aim at the man, smacking him in the chest. I then heard the sirens and turned, watching as blue and red sparkled over the dark night. I wasn't sure how long I had been outside or how long Lucas had been standing there, but I was grateful to see him.
Lucas stepped closer, seeming unsure of what to do. He looked stunned.
"Don't move," he snapped at the guy who didn't. He held his shoulder, and I knew I likely snapped it out of position. I was proud of myself. All those years of training had paid off.
"What happened?" Lucas asked, stepping closer to me. I watched a cop car pull in. I could hear another behind it and looked at Lucas.
"I defended myself," I said, staring into his eyes. "Like I said I would."