You Broke Me First Phoenix Mountain Series Book 3

I pace the hall of Bears small medical clinic. Chewing my nails with a sick feeling in my gut.

I stop and realize I have Allies blood all over my chest.

I go to the washroom and run the water. Grabbing some paper towels I wipe myself clean.

Looking in the mirror her blood is on my cheeks.

I stare at myself. The blood is there because of me. She got hurt because of me.

I swallow the lump in my throat and wiped the blood off.

I cupped some water and poured it on my hair and face.

I lean on the sink. My hair hanging and dripping into the sink.

She better be okay.

I raise my head to the mirror. Please be okay.

I run my fingers through my hair and walk out.

Bear was talking with the doctor.

I jog up. “Is she okay? Can I see her?” I’m slightly panicked.

The doctor put his hand up. “She’ll be fine. She suffered some internal damage, but she’s healing nicely. She’s awake, but keep the visit short.”

I suck in my top lip and nod.

I turn to her room and slowly walk in. Stuffing my hands in my pockets.

She’s laying in bed and looking out the window.

“Allie?” I say quietly.

She turns to me and turns back to the window.

I walked to the side she was facing. “I’m glad you’re OK.” I say trying to catch her eyes.

She doesn’t say anything. Just stares out the window.

I walk further and I look at her eyes.

I pull up a stool and sit. She looks almost confused, but still angry.

“Allie. Talk to me.” I say.

She sniffs and turns her head. “Go away.”

I get up and walk to the other side and squat in front of her. “Why? Allie, tell me. What the hell did I do?”

I watch as tears well. “Nothing. Just…leave me alone.” She turns her head again.

I squat with my head hung. The silence was deafening.

“Allie. I don’t know what I did or didn’t do, but I’m sorry okay. I’m just glad you’re OK.” I tap the bed and stand. I head to the door.

“Thank you.”

I turn and she’s still looking out the window.

“For saving my life.” She mumbles.

I press my lips together. “You’re welcome.”

I turn and scrub my face. I put my hands in my pockets as I walk out with my head hung.

Bear stands with his arms folded. “Stop trying.”

“What?” I raise my head to him.

“Stop…trying.” He arches a brow.

I heave a sigh and tilt my head back. “I can’t do that, man.”

“Then you’ll lose her.” He eyes me.

“So what? Walk away?” I ask.

Bear nods. “You’re trying too hard. Back off and let her come to you.”

I hang my head again.

He steps into my space and claps my shoulder. “Trust me.” He whispers.

I roll an eye to him. I lick my bottom lip and nod.

He reaches into his back pocket and slaps a paper onto my chest. “The list.”

I slowly take it from him. “Thanks.”

I walk out of the clinic and jump into Zane’s jeep. I backup and I catch Allie in the window of her room. Our eyes lock and she turns away. I put the jeep in drive and head back to Phoenix.

****

For the next two weeks, I did what Bear said.

I threw myself into my work. Training hard and avoiding Allie. I didn’t even acknowledge her at the meetings. Nothing.

And it’s fucking killing me.

Every time I walk into the room, I scent her out.

I feel her in my dreams. I haven’t slept properly at all.

I’m tense. I’m exhausted. I dying here waiting for her to come to me.

I needed to relax. Release some stress.

Peter and the guys wanted to go to Starlight so I said what the hell.

I didn’t plan on hunting at all, but a few drinks with my buddies seemed like a good idea.

We're sitting at a table. Jake is on the dance floor with his two Lunas. Lucky bastard. Brody’s got a red head on his lap. Peter and Bear are pounding back bottles. Mateo is off getting more bottles.

I’m leaning on the table, tipping my bottle back. I place it down and thump my head in my arms.

Peter chuckles. “Come on, Darc. It’s not that bad.”

I raise my head and throw a hand to him “You kidding? This is fucking torture, dude.”

I lean back and grab my bottle. I chug back half of it. “She hasn't even said two words to me in two weeks.”

Bear raises his bottle. “Give it time.”

“How much time, man?” I whine at him. “Do you realize what I’m going through? I can’t even pick up a piece anymore. I haven’t been laid in weeks. I’m about to fucking explode.” I throw my hands up. I lean in. “And if I do manage to snag some ass, it won't fucking work!” I point aggressively to my pants with a growl.

Peter starts laughing and shaking his head.

“What?” I look at him.

“I’d never believe it if I didn’t see for myself.” He drinks his bottle.

“See what? What do you see?” I lean on the table.

“The Great Darcy Bourne has caught feels.” He smiles.

“Excuse me? I don’t catch feels.” I point to my chest. “No. Love em and leave em. My code, man.”

He grins. “Darcy. Face it, man. Allie ruined you. You like her and now you don’t know how to handle it.” He points to me with his bottle in his hand.

“Whatever, man.” I scoff.

I grab my bottle and lean back. I tip it back my drink as ‘Blinding Lights' by The Weekend starts to play.

The lights are flickering across the room when I catch a scent of raspberries. My head turns toward the bar.

My wolf perks up as I see her in the sexiest red dress ever.

Then I see something I don’t like.

She grabs her wine and leans between the legs of another male and kisses him.

Her hand is caressing his arm as she whispers in his ear. He says something back and she laughs. Her smile. My God. Why do I have to see it because some other douche made her laugh?

He puts his hand on her ass and my wolf surfaces. My eyes glow blue.

My bottle hits the table and I go to stand.

Brody tunes into my agitation and grabs me. “Whoa, bro. Don’t do it.”

Peter saw what I saw and stood in front of me.

I can’t take my eyes off her as my jaw ticks. My fists ball and my wolf is not backing down.

“Darc. No. She’s not yours.” Peter tilts his head to me with his hand on my chest.

I look at him and bite my top lip. I nod as I slip back into my seat.

Peter raises a finger to me. “Put your wolf away.”

I close my eyes and breathe deep, pushing him down.

My leg is bouncing as I fight with myself internally. I’m glancing over every five seconds. He’s moving on her like she’s dinner and what’s worse is she wants it. Wants him.

I turn away and chug my beer. Rubbing the back of my head to force myself to stop looking.

“Darcy. It’s no different than what you do.” Mateo says.

“I don’t do that anymore!” I snap. I take a drink. “Sorry.”

I look over and she’s laying her head in his chest. Her eyes meet mine and she smirks. She lifts her head and kisses him.

I shake my head. “I gotta get out of here.” I leave my seat and weave my way through the crowd.

Once outside. I throw my hands into my hair and blow out a breath. I rest my hands on my knees trying to calm down.

“Where you going?”

I stand straight and turn. Her sweet raspberry scent swirls around my body and hits me square in the nostrils. It infects me and agitates my wolf even more.

Allie is standing just a few feet away with her arms crossed.

“Home.” I answer.

“Alone?” She steps closer.

I eye her. “Yes, alone.”

“Oh. Surprising.” She says.

I turn. “Don’t you have a boy toy to get back to.” I grit.

“No.” She says to my back. “He’s not the one I want.”

I spin around. I rush to her. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I’m not playing it.”

She looks me up and down. “You already are, Darcy.” She turns and walks away.

I walk up behind her and grab her arm. I spin her around. “What is this, huh? Are you trying to piss me off or something?”

She scowls and looks at my hand. She rips her arm off. “No. I’m destroying you, Darcy. One piece at a time.”

I throw my hands up and growl. “Why?! Why the hell are you doing this to me?!”

She doesn’t say a word. Just walks back into the bar.

I turn with a frustrated growl, throwing my arms out.

It’s clear I’m not getting anywhere with her. Fine. She wants to play hard ball. Let’s play.

It’s clear she has some sort of agenda. I stand and think. She’s has ammo. I need some too.

****

I spend the next two days pouring over the internet for anything on Allie Fergus.

Aside from joining the Sorcerers Circle two years ago, there’s nothing.

I decide I need more sophisticated help.

The next day, I stop in at the Comms unit.

“Hey, Hunter!” I call out over the banks of computers in the room.

Hunter Adams. Our resident Comms Alpha. His shoulder length black hair is pulled back into a ponytail. Really muscular. He’s a half decent guy. A little pushy, but his pack is tough. He kind of has to be.

“What’s up?” He strides over.

“I have a background check for you.” I hold up a photo of Allie and everything I found on her.

He takes it and looks it over. “Ok. Give me a few hours.”

“I’ll be in Zane’s lab.” I say. “Thanks man.”

“Don’t mention it.” He smiles.

I leave and head for Zane’s lab for another session of mind probing.

Sitting at Zane’s table, I’m anxious to find out what the Comms find. Hopefully, they’ll find something that will allow me to stop Allie in her tracks and break her defenses.

Azriel is probing. “Alpha, please keep your mind clear.” He pleads.

“Sorry.” I mumble.

Zane leans on the table. “Still thinking of Allie are you?”

“Dude. She messes with me, and now she’s messing with other guys. Which wouldn’t be bad except she’s throwing it in my face. She’s doing it on purpose. She’s out to drive me crazy and I need to know why.” I scratch my head because Azriels magic is itching my brain.

“Young Alpha…Please!” Azriel insists.

“Sorry!” I snip.

I lean on the table and try to focus as Azriel searches.

“Knock, knock.” I look at the door and Hunter is there.

“Hunt. Please tell me you found something.” I smile.

Zane looks at me. “What did you do?”

Hunter holds up a file. “Oh, I found lots.”

“Allie wasn’t talking to me, so I ran a little background check on her.” I glance at Zane.

“Do you know how freaking creepy that is?” Zane says.

Hunter hands me the file. “Have fun.” He waves and leaves.

“It’s not creepy. She’s got something on me, I can feel it. So I’m just defending myself.” I open the file and start to read.

I flip the pages. My eyes go wide. Pages flip wildly.

“Oh shit!” I slam the file shut.

“Darcy?”

I get up and run out of the lab into the hall. I run to the stairs, taking two at a time.

I run as fast as I can to the elevator. Skidding to a stop, I push the button fast.

The door opens and press the number for Bears floor.

“Come on!” I grit as I bounce on my toes.

The door dings and opens. I push and squeeze myself through it. I run down the hall and turn the corner.

Allie is outside Bears office.

“Allie! I have…to talk to you…” I pant as I slow my pace.

She huffs and shakes her head.

“Please.”

“No!” She spits.

She turns and walks away. I follow her. “Allie, wait!”

She continues to walk away.

I heave a sigh and a whiney look develops on my face.

“Sam, stop!” I flop my arms down at my sides. “Please.”

She stops, but doesn’t turn.

I swallow hard. “Please. Turn around.”

My heart is racing. My body sweats. Total fear fills my heart.

I bite my lip as my eyes stay glued to her back, praying she turns around.

"Sam."