Page 42 of Fractured Mates
Tears leak down the sides of my face as I consider the best path, but Thane doesn’t give me even the blessing of time to think.
Show me your neck, he demands loudly, making me yelp. His paw smacks across my face. Don’t be so pathetic.
You have to let me end him, my wolf says, her words causing me to shake my head, and I realize too late what a mistake that is.
No? he roars. You dare to deny me what is mine?
Before I can protect myself, his claws extend and rip down my side, deep enough that blood starts to seep into the earth beneath me.
Now, Sophie! my wolf yells, pushing her presence forward until I can no longer refuse her need for control. I know it’s the right decision, but he’s still my fated mate…
Our shift takes Thane by surprise, and he’s no longer on top of us once we’re standing on four feet.
Stand down, Wolf, he warns, but my girl isn’t doing anything of the sort.
She leaps for him, teeth bared and claws searching for owed blood.
I want to close my eyes and pretend this isn’t happening. That what was supposed to be the best thing in my life isn’t my worst nightmare. That Thane could maybe one day look at me with any amount of admiration.
But that’s not my reality. I’ve known it since ten seconds after meeting him. I’d only been able to dream of a happier future for mere seconds before he ripped it all away from me.
My wolf’s sharp canines puncture into skin for the first time. Fur and blood fill our mouth, making me want to vomit, but I’m not in control. Not now.
Yet as Thane begins to fight back, his own claws going for my spine, I know I need to do this. My wolf isn’t alone with this desire to be free of this man.
You little bitch, he screams in our mind. I will claim you as is my right, then lock you away until you learn some fucking manners.
No, Thane, I say with a strength I don’t know I have until that moment. You will never touch me again. I am not yours.
Combining my will and energy with my wolf’s, we act as one and finish what he started. Our bite increases until bones begin to crack under our unrelenting force. Thane needs to die. He’s going to die. Right now.
He continues to fight back, but our surprise attack gave us the upper hand and no amount of clawing at our fur is going to save him. There is no pain to feel right now for us. It’s only pure determination to survive.
Finally, his movements slow. Still, my wolf doesn’t ease up. She shakes our head several times, and only when we no longer hear his heartbeat does she unclench her jaw.
We need to run, she says, a sadness I more than understand lacing her words.
I know. We can’t ever come back.
Not when my own mother encouraged me to bend to Thane’s will.
A soft touch has me jumping in my seat, and reality comes crashing in. My lungs burn, and there are fresh tears in my eyes from the memories I’d much rather have scrubbed from my mind, never to be thought of again.
“Are you okay, Sophie?” Kyler’s kind voice breaks through my rush of emotions.
Still, I can’t answer him yet. I can’t even turn my head toward him until I know I have my shit together.
It’s several minutes later before I turn to him, a grin on my face. “Got a little carsick. Feel free to make fun of me for it.”
I expect him to crack a smile in return, but the pinched expression on his face shows that he is anything but convinced of my words.
“You don’t have to?—”
I cut him off, because I really don’t want to lie to him anymore than I already have. “Did you ask your question yet? This was your idea. You can’t make me play and then not do the same.”
He continues to stare at me when his gaze should be on the road. Still, I know I’m completely safe with him.
Fuck. Where did that come from?