Stay with me

I decided to break the silence and start a conversation.

“So, where are we going?” I asked him.

He glanced at me briefly and smiled.

“To my place,” he said.

“Your place? Where is that?”

“Not far from here. It’s a small cabin in the woods. It’s quiet and secluded. No one will bother us there.”

“Why do you live in a cabin in the woods?” He shrugged.

“I like it there. It’s peaceful and relaxing. I don’t like crowds or noise.”

“Are you a loner?” He chuckled.

“Something like that. I don’t have many friends or family. I prefer to keep to myself.”

“What about your pack?”

He tensed up and his grip on the handlebars tightened.

“I don’t have a pack,” he said in a low voice.

I sensed there was something more to his answer, something he didn’t want to tell me. I decided not to push him further. He had his secrets, and I had mine.

We drove for another half an hour until we reached a dirt road that led into the forest. He turned off the highway and followed the road until we came to a clearing where a small wooden cabin stood. He parked the bike in front of the cabin and turned off the engine.

“We’re here,” he said.

He got off the bike and took off his helmet. He helped me get off and took off my helmet too. He held my hand and led me to the cabin door.

“Wow, this is nice,” I said.

“Thanks. I’m glad you like it,” he said.

He closed the door and locked it. He turned to me and smiled.

“Make yourself at home,” he said.

He walked to the fireplace and lit a fire. He then went to the kitchenette and opened a cupboard. He took out a bottle of wine and two glasses. He poured some wine into the glasses and brought them to the table.

“Care for a drink?” he asked me.

I nodded and walked to the table. I took a glass and sipped the wine. It was sweet and smooth. It warmed my throat and relaxed my nerves.

He sat down next to me and drank his wine. He looked at me with his blue eyes and smiled.

“So, Cherly,” he said. “Tell me about yourself.”

I hesitated. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to lie to him, but I also didn’t want to tell him the truth. I didn’t want him to know that I was a princess of the Ashenclaw pack, that I was supposed to be mated to Oliver, and that I had run away from him after discovering his betrayal.

I decided to tell him a partial truth, something that wouldn’t reveal too much about me.

“Well, there’s not much to tell,” I said. “I’m 18 years old. I just graduated from high school. I like reading and writing. I don’t have many friends or family either.”

He nodded and listened attentively.

“What do you like to read and write?” he asked.

“I like fantasy and romance novels,” I said. “I like stories about magic and adventure, about love and destiny.”

He smiled and touched my hand gently.

“Me too,” he said.

He leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear.

“I think you’re very beautiful and smart, Cheryl. I think you’re very special.”

I felt a blush rise on my cheeks. I felt his breath on my skin. I felt his lips on my neck.

He kissed me softly, then moved up to my jaw, then my cheek, then my mouth. He kissed me passionately, making me moan and sending shivers down my spine.

But I still couldn’t believe what I had just heard. Oliver, my boyfriend, was planning to betray me and hand me over to his father’s enemies. He had been using me all along, pretending to love me and care for me, while secretly plotting to take the most precious thing in my life and drain my power.

How could he do this to me? How could I have been so blind?

I felt a surge of anger and hurt, mixed with fear and confusion. I wanted to confront him, to make him pay for his lies and deception. But I also wanted to get away from him, to escape his clutches and find safety.

I looked around the room, searching for a way out. We were in his bedroom, where he had brought me after our date night. He kissed me passionately and told me he wanted to make love to me. He had said he loved me and that I was his mate.

He was in the bathroom now, probably getting ready to come back and claim me. I had overheard his phone conversation with someone named Rex, who sounded like a leader of a rival pack. They had agreed on a time and a place to meet and exchange me for some kind of reward.

I shuddered at the thought of what they would do to me. They would not only take my virginity but also my life force, my essence, my soul.

They would use me as a weapon against my pack, the Ashenclaw, who had been at war with the Bloodbound for decades.

I had to get out of here. I had to find someone who could help me.

I grabbed my purse and ran towards the door, hoping Oliver wouldn’t hear me. I opened it quietly and slipped out into the hallway.

I looked both ways, hoping no one would see me. I knew Oliver’s house was heavily guarded by his pack members, who would stop me if they knew what I was doing.

I ran down the stairs, trying to be as silent as possible. I reached the front door and opened it, feeling a gust of cold air hit my face. I stepped outside and ran towards my car, which was parked on the street.

I fumbled with my keys and unlocked the door. I got in and started the engine, hoping it wouldn’t make too much noise. I backed out of the driveway and drove away as fast as I could.