Chapter 53
I’m Not Giving Up
LUKE
TWO WEEKS AGO:
Emerald Pack Territory
Acouple of hours later, Jessica still hasn’t returned to the manor, even though my brothers try to convince me to let her be.
I ignore them and set out to look for her anyway.
I follow her scent and her tracks and find her sitting on a large boulder at the cliff ’s edge, overlooking the seventh territory.
Her legs are crossed in front of her, and her eyes are closed, chin tilted toward the sun. I quietly step closer so I don’t disturb her. I enjoy seeing her calm, at peace.
Trails of dried tears streak down her face.
Is she crying over what happened earlier today, or is she crying over him?
This was their meeting spot. I only know because I saw them come here together once.
I remember the looks on their faces, how happy she seemed, how in love she looked. She never looked at me that way.
I want to punch something. No, I want to shake her and ask why? Why him and not me? Why can’t she love me the same way that I love her? But I already know the answers. She did—once—even though some part of her held back a little. She loved me, and then fucking Elaine happened.
My hands clench in front of me. If Elaine wasn’t already rotting in jail for the rest of her life, I would hunt her down myself and kill her.
Glancing back at Jessica, I lower my first, sadness deflating my anger.
I can’t force her to take me back. I can’t force her to love me again. Defeated, I turn to leave.
A twig snaps under my foot. Birds fly from a low-lying tree branch, and bird shit plops on my shoulder. I close my eyes, wrinkling my nose. Fucking great! Giggles echo behind me.
“You think that’s funny?” I ask, turning to face her. She covers her mouth, hiding her smile, but then she laughs even harder. I snort. In a few quick strides, I reach her as she stands on the boulder. “You didn’t answer my question.”
She clears her throat, trying to stop smiling. I miss that smile. “Well, I was planning on attacking you for spying, but I think the birds did me a solid.” She bursts into more giggles.
I can’t help but smile at her. An idea hits me. Narrowing my eyes, I lunge forward and grab her by the legs, swinging her upper body over my shoulder, right on top of the bird shit.
“Oh, ewww,” she screeches. I chuckle. I think the birds did me a solid, too. She pounds my back. “Put me down, Luke!” I slap her ass. “Dammit, Luke! Put me down!”
I ignore her and race into the forest. Trees and brush part, creating a clear pathway, and I keep running. Her legs try to kick free from my grasp, but I hold firm.
“Luke, this isn’t funny. Put me down!”
When I reach my destination, I set her on her feet. Roots and vines from the ground surface, twining around her legs and arms. She fights the bindings, but they are too strong for her. I finally have her right where I always wanted to bring her. This time, she can’t run, and she will listen to me.
“Luke, let me go!” Fear flashes in her eyes.
I caress my fingers down her cheek and grip her neck, bringing her forehead to mine. Her breathing quickens, and she struggles more. “I just want you to listen. I won’t hurt you.”
Her eyes dart between my own, seeking confirmation. The roots and vines turn her as I turn. I point to a low-lying tree branch above us. She gasps. A bit of rope still hangs from the branch, evidence of where we found her.
I pull her to me and kiss the top of her head.
“It was Queenie who led me here. Something spooked her, and she ran.
Every time we got near her, she ran again.
She never behaved that way before. It was almost like she was leading us directly to you.
When she reached this very spot, she started whining, snorting, and stamping the ground.
The rain fell in heavy sheets, and lightning struck through the sky above where we stand right now.
“When the second flash hit, Queenie reared up, waving her legs in the air. That’s when I saw you, hanging from the tree.
At first, we didn’t know what the hell we were looking at.
I brought you down using my magic. In that moment, I didn’t care about keeping my magic a secret or that I wasn’t alone.
The rope barely hung by a few threads. It was easy to break.
We couldn’t administer CPR because your neck and face were so swollen.
I found a knife on the ground and used it to make a hole in your throat.
Well, you heard the rest of it the other day. ”
Waving my hand in the air, the vines release her.
“Something deep inside of me screamed that there was still some spark of life inside of you. Everyone thought I was crazy, but I refused to let you die.”