Alpha Nicholas
Chapter 15 –

Lilly

You know that saying 'Life is a bitch then you die' well, those words couldn't be any more true than at this very moment. My whole life has been my very own version of hell and after my father moved my Mom and me to a new pack and away from our family, things only got worse. You see before we moved we were surrounded by family daily so my dad's abuse was just verbal, but once he moved us to our new pack, we were away from everyone we knew and loved, and that was when the abuse turned violent. My dad always says that he moved us here because my mother wanted a fresh start but I don't believe that for a second. If I had to guess, I would say that he moved us here to allow his abuse to escalate without family members being able to get involved. He's a nasty bully and I'm almost certain that he was the reason for my mom's death.

Meeting Bonnie was a lifeline but to replace out that she was also abused at home was heartbreaking. She is such an incredible person and I was blessed the moment she accepted me as her friend, but to replace out that not only her father but her siblings also abused her broke my heart. She doesn't deserve any of it and she certainly doesn't deserve to be blamed for her mother's death. We have been by each other's side from that very first day of pre-school, and have had our escape planned out since we were 9. Everything was planned out to the smallest of details and yet, it's all gone so wrong.

Of course, we couldn't factor in the fact that Bonnie would receive several beatings and days of starvation from those bastards in the days leading up to the escape resulting in her being in insane pain and getting weaker by the minute. nor did we ever factor in the fact that we could get separated. That thought never entered our minds and yet, here I am hauled over some asshole Warrior's shoulder relentlessly pounding on his back while he drags me back to the place we just run from while Bonnie is more than likely already back there, and Goddess only knows what's happening to her.

We need to replace a way out of this mess but I just don't know how we're gonna do it. For Bonnie going back to that pack means her dad replaceing out that she tried running which could ultimately lead to her death and on top of that she has to face the Alpha of the pack who is also her mate but doesn't want her. I swear I don't know what the Moon Goddess is playing at by constantly hurting my best friend, but the day I meet my maker she and I are going to be having words.

As for me going back to that pack... Well, it will mean my father also replaceing out about us trying to escape our lives and will no doubt get me a beating. But that's not what bothers me about going back there no, what bothers me about going back there is him. He is going to be there and he'll want to punish me for trying to get away and I just know that his form of punishment will be worse than any beating could be because his revenge stems from a secret that we have been keeping for the last 5 months. A secret that has had a crippling hold on my life since that day. A secret that will destroy Bonnie's world and break both of our hearts.

Bonnie is my best friend... My only true friend and she's also the only person outside of my house that knows about my life. She knows all of my hopes and dreams for the future. All of my trauma from the past. The pain that I carry with me every day from losing my mom and all of the abuse that I have received at the hands of my father. She has always been there for me, she's been my shoulder to cry on more than once and until 5 months ago I would have said that there were no secrets between us but now... Well, now I can't say that because I'm hiding the biggest secret from her and it kills me every day. I've had to keep it secret, had no choice but I had always planned on telling her one day, and by the looks of it, that secret is going to come out sooner rather than later and I'm terrified.

You see 5 months ago I found out who my mate was. Yes, I was only 17 so I wasn't supposed to know but my... him he doesn't give much crap about the rules and decided to tell me. He's older than me so of course, he picked it up way before me. I'm also his second chance mate but I don't want to be. I wanted to tell someone, I needed to talk, scream, and cry it out, but unfortunately for me, he made it very clear what would happen if I told anyone which included what he would do to my best friend. He knows she is the most important person in my life which played into his hand greatly.

He has plans for us, for a future but I have no intention of being a part of his plans, and I would have told him that already but when I found out that he was my mate and somewhat lost my shit, he was quick to lay down the law. Luckily for me despite what he is, there is a small part of him that wants a decent future with me and I was able to play on that. I gave it a few days then acted like I had come to my senses and wanted him. Thankfully that part of him also made it so that he wouldn't touch me in any way until I was 18 and legal and for that, I'm fucking thankful as it allowed me to keep stringing him along until I could get away.

Just before we left the pack house, I called him and rejected him over the phone. He was raging mad but it felt incredible to do. That was the only reason I had played ball and pretended all those months because I already knew that I would be rejecting him and running. Only now I'm being dragged back towards him. Fuck, he's gonna kill me.

"For the love of Goddess, put me down!" I bang my fists as hard as I can on the giant ape's back and he laughs, he fucking laughs! Granted he's well over 6ft and the size of a fucking tree compared to me but still, I'm going to try with all I have to get away because the only other outcome will be my death.

I saw the look on Bonnie's face when she begged me to run. She wanted me free from this life even if she couldn't be and as heartbroken as I was to leave her there, I knew that she would be even more heartbroken if I had stayed and got hurt, and now... Well, now, if I let this ape get me back to the pack house then I'll be dead. We both will and this will have all been for nothing.

"I swear to Goddess if you don't put me down right this second I'm going to kill you!" I growl feeling my wolf Rain trying to take control. She wants away from this place just as much as me. "I've heard kitty cats with a better growl than that." Ape laughs as we start clearing the edge of the forest. "You're an asshole!" He laughs like I've just told the funniest joke while I continue to swing around trying to get free. "Why, thank you." Yeah, I hate this dude.

"I'll be setting you down in just a few minutes so calm your tits." Calm my tits? I kick out as hard as I can while anger rushes through my veins and feel a tiny bit of satisfaction when he lets out a grunt. I am seconds away from letting out another shitty comment when my senses kick in. This guy is the only hope I have of getting away from here and if I continue to piss him off I'll have even less chance of him helping me, if I have any at all.

"Please, let me go. I can't go back there." I'm letting him hear how serious I am and praying that he will listen. I feel him tense up a little but he makes no move to stop. "Why can't you?" Fuck, where do I start? "I can't say but please believe me when I say I can't go back there." He grunts not seeming happy with my answer and I feel any hope I had fade as we approach a back door to the Packhouse. "The Alpha is expecting you. If you need help then talk to him. He's a good man and will help if he can."

He sounds sincere and while I appreciate that, his Alpha is also the person who has broken my best friend's heart. I'm not about to be besties with him. I don't get a chance to say anymore as I'm suddenly swung off his shoulder and set on my feet outside a massive door. With nothing else to lose, I try to run but of course, he catches me and a battle starts as I fight with all I have while he drags my ass towards the door and swiftly opens it before yanking me inside.

The moment I step inside I instantly spot Bonnie sitting in a chair, she looks heartbroken to see me and I get why but I can't say that I'm not glad to see her again. I go to speak to her only my thoughts are quickly thrown as a sudden smell invades my nose and before I even have time to process anything else Rain bellows out the one word that blows my world apart... again "MATE!"