I had to be strong

I breathed a sigh of relief as I put some distance between me and Oliver’s house. I felt a pang of sadness as I realized, I was leaving behind everything.

Our first kiss, our first date, our first “I love you.” They all meant nothing now. He had been lying to me the whole time. He had never loved me. He had only wanted my power.

I wiped away the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. I couldn’t afford to be weak now. I had to be strong. I had to survive.

I checked the rearview mirror, making sure no one was following me. I didn’t see any cars behind me, but I knew Oliver wouldn’t give up on me so easily. He would send his pack after me, or worse, he would come himself.

I had to find a safe place to hide. I had to contact my pack and tell them what was going on. I had to warn them about Oliver and his father’s plans.

But who could I trust? Who could I turn to?

I thought of my parents, who were the alpha and beta of the Ashenclaw. They loved me and cared for me, but they were also very strict and protective. They had forbidden me from dating anyone outside our pack, especially someone from the Bloodbound.

They had warned me about the dangers of losing my virginity to a non-mate, how it would weaken me and make me vulnerable.

They would be furious if they found out what I had done. They would blame me for putting myself and our pack in danger. And would punish me for disobeying them.

But they were also my family. They were my pack. They would help me and protect me, no matter what.

I decided to call them. I took out my phone and dialed their number. It rang a few times before someone picked up.

“Hello?” It was my mom’s voice.

“Mom, it’s me, Cheryl,” I said, trying to sound calm.

“Cheryl? Where are you? Are you okay?” She sounded worried.

“I’m okay, mom. But I need your help. Something terrible has happened.” I said, feeling a lump in my throat.

“What is it, honey? What’s wrong?” She asked, sounding more alarmed.

“Mom, I…I found out that Oliver is a traitor. He’s been working with the Bloodbound to betray us. He wants to take my virginity and use it against us.” I blurted out, hoping she would believe me.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Then I heard a gasp.

“Oh my God, Cheryl. Is this true? How do you know this?” She asked, sounding shocked and angry.

“I overheard him talking on the phone with someone named Rex. He said they were going to meet tonight and exchange me for something. Mom, he lied to me. He never loved me.” I said, feeling tears stream down my face.

“Oh honey, I’m so sorry. This is horrible. Where are you now? Are you safe?” She asked, sounding concerned.

“I’m in my car. I managed to escape from his house before he came back from the bathroom. But I don’t know where to go. Mom, please help me.” I begged, feeling desperate.

“Okay, calm down honey. We’ll help you. We’ll find you and bring you home. Just tell me where you are.” She said, sounding reassuring.

“I’m on Highway 20 heading west,” I said, looking at the road signs.

“Okay, good. Stay on that road until you reach the exit for Raffles Ridge Road. Take that exit and follow the signs for the Pine Ridge Motel. It’s a small place run by one of our pack members. He’ll let you in and keep you safe until we get there.” She said, sounding confident.

“Okay Mom, thank you so much,” I said, feeling relieved.

“You’re welcome, honey. We love you so much. We’ll be there soon.” She said, sounding loving.

“I love you too Mom,” I said, feeling grateful.

I hung up the phone and followed her instructions. I hoped she was right and that the motel would be a safe place for me.

I hoped Oliver wouldn’t find me before my parents did.

Liam carried me towards the castle gates, the weight of the past few days hit me all at once. I felt as though I had been carrying a giant boulder on my back, but now I was free. I let out a deep breath, leaning my head on his shoulder, feeling the strength of his muscles and the warmth of his body. "Thank you," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper.

"Shh," he whispered, pressing a finger to my lips. "No thanks are needed. You are mine now, and I will protect you at all costs."

I felt my heart flutter at his words, and a strange mix of emotions washed over me. On one hand, I was grateful for his protection, for his strength. But on the other hand, I felt a sense of unease. Liam was the true alpha king, the most dominant male in the pack, and I couldn't help wondering what was expected of me.

He carried me through the castle gates, I looked around in awe. The castle was massive, with tall, stone walls and large towers that stretched high into the sky.

Despite the late hour, the castle was alive with activity. The pack members were scurrying around, going about their business, but when they saw Liam, they froze. They bowed their heads, showing respect to their alpha king, and I could see the fear in their eyes as they looked at Liam.

As he carried me, Liam's grip on me tightened, and I could feel his muscles flexing beneath my fingers. He was sending a message to his pack members, letting them know that I was his now. I was both scared and excited by the feeling of belonging to someone so powerful.

When we finally reached Liam's private quarters, I could barely catch my breath. The room was massive, with high ceilings and a large fireplace, and it looked like a king's suite. There was a large bed in the center of the room, with a soft, feather mattress and heavy curtains that hung from the ceiling. The room was dimly lit by candles, casting a warm glow on everything.

Liam set me down on the bed, and I felt my heart swell with gratitude. "Thank you," I said again, looking up at him.

He smiled down at me, a mysterious smile that lit up his face. "You're welcome, my lovely princess.''