Chapter 14
"Do you recognize them?" I whispered back, trying to keep my voice calm.
"No, I've never seen them before," Ava replied, her eyes still fixed on the figure outside.
I gasped, "Who do you think it is?"
Ava shrugged, "I have no idea. But we should probably alert the authorities."
I nodded in agreement and reached for my phone. But just as I was about to dial, there was a knock on our door.
Ava and I exchanged a glance before she cautiously made her way to the door. She peered through the peephole before opening a crack. Standing on the other side was a familiar face. "Peter? What are you doing here?" Ava questioned.
Peter grinned sheepishly, "Hey guys. I was in the area and thought I'd stop by for a visit."
I let out a sigh of relief, "You scared us for a second there. We thought we were being watched by some stranger."
Peter's expression turned serious, "What? Are you sure?"
Ava nodded, "We saw someone lurking outside our window just a few moments ago."
Peter's jaw clenched as he pushed past us to look outside. "Stay here," he instructed, before slipping out of the cabin.
A few moments later, he returned with a relieved expression. "It was just a lost hiker who stumbled upon our cabin," he explained.
I let out a sigh of relief, glad that it was just a misunderstanding. But it made me realize how vulnerable we were out here in the wilderness.
"We should probably be more careful from now on," I said, looking at Ava.
She nodded in agreement, "Definitely. Let's make sure to always lock the door and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity."
We spent the rest of the day on edge, but thankfully nothing else happened. As the sun set on the horizon, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Peter's surprise visit. It made me realize just how much I valued the safety and comfort of our lives. That night, I lay in bed, staring at the roof. Ava's snores filled the room, but my mind couldn't focus on anything but Maximus.The way he had hurt me, the way he had used me, it all felt so fresh in my mind.
Even though he had done terrible things to me, I struggled to hate him. It was the mating bond, keeping me tethered to him even when I didn't want to be.
I looked over at Ava, fast asleep in her bed. Could she possibly understand what I was feeling? How could anyone?
My left hand tingled, reminding me of the bracelet he'd given me. It made me furious, the mere sight of it caused anger to boil within me.
"Why do I feel this way?" I whispered to myself. "Why can't I just hate him and move on?"
I tore it off and threw it on the ground, wishing I could do the same to Maximus.
But even as the anger consumed me, I couldn't bring myself to hate him. It was a complicated emotion, one that I couldn't fully understand. I hated myself for feeling this way.
Just then, I heard Ava stirring in her sleep.
"You okay, honey?" Ava mumbled in her sleep.
"Just a bad dream," I whispered, wiping my tears.
"Want me to come over there and keep you company?" she yawned.
"No, thank you. Get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow."
I quickly got up, picking up the bracelet in silence and slipped it into the plastic bag Ava had given me for my clothes.
As I tucked it in, tears streamed down my face. I couldn't help but think about the baby growing inside me. What kind of life would it have with a mother who was so stuck in her emotions?
I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "I hate feeling this way. I hate that I can't hate him. It's so damn complicated. F*****g mating bond!"
"What kind of life will you have with me? I'm so lost in my emotions. "I murmured, my hand on my belly."
I caressed my belly, trying to calm myself down, but the tears kept flowing. I wished I could just forget about Maximus and move on, but I knew it wasn't that simple. The mating bond had a hold on me, one that I didn't know if I could break. "I can't deal with this right now," I muttered to myself, wiping away my tears. "I need to sleep."
I went to bed. As I closed my eyes, I couldn't help but always think about Maximus. What was it about him that had such a hold over me? And could I ever truly break free from him?
I found myself back in Maximus's castle, my body dripping with sweat as I clutched onto my belly protectively. I felt a wave of fear wash over me as I saw Maximus standing in front of me, his eyes cold and calculating as he glared at me.
"You thought you could run away from me, little mate," he snarled, his lips twisting into a cruel smile. "But you can't escape me. You belong to me, body and soul."
I backed away from him, my heart pounding in my chest. "Please, Maximus, let me go. I don't want to be here," I begged, hoping that he would listen to me.
But Maximus advanced on me, his hand reaching out to grab my arm. "You don't have a choice, Emily. You're my mate and you will do as I say."
Tears streamed down my face as Maximus snatched the baby out of my arms. "Please, Maximus, don't hurt her," I pleaded, reaching out for my child.
But Maximus just laughed, a cruel sound that echoed through the empty halls of the castle. "Why should I care about a girl? She's useless to me. And so are you, Emily."
With a savage flick of his wrist, Maximus threw the baby across the room. I screamed as I watched my daughter collide with the wall, her tiny body crumpling like a rag doll.
"No!" I cried out, lunging towards my child. But Maximus stepped in front of me, blocking my way.
"You're mine, Emily," he snarled. "And now you know what happens to those who try to defy me."
I woke up, gasping for breath as sweat poured down my face. It took me several seconds to realize that it had all been a nightmare - my baby was safe in my belly, and I was far away from Maximus's grasp.
But the fear and horror of the nightmare stayed with me long after I opened my eyes. I knew that breaking away from the mating bond wouldn't be easy, but now it seemed like an even more daunting task. I couldn't let my child suffer the same fate, and I would do anything to protect him or her.