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Life inside a werewolf pack isnt the fairytale people sell it as. Sureif youre born into the right house and the Alpha happens to like you, you get an easy version of it. But theres a whole ugly layer that never reaches him. The people closest to the Alpha have learned how to work around him, how to get what they want while he stays blissfully unaware. Some of them are good at it. Too good. After graduation, a nearby college offered me a full scholarship. Its the closest one to our territory, and it takes humans and werewolves alike. My parents still shut it down. They told me I wasnt leaving. Not even to live on campus. I was expected to stay under their roof like I was still fifteen, and I wasnt allowed to ask why. In our house, questions werent something you earned. Id turned eighteen a couple months ago. Adult, technically. Free, technically. In reality, I already knew what would happen if I tried to go anyway. My parents would march straight to the Alpha and push him to deny any request I made to leave. The pack listens to them. The Alpha listens to them. So my choice wasnt a choice at all. What I did get was a job at the high schooltutoring kids who were falling behind. I actually liked it. Better than most things in this town. And it paid. The school cut the checks because it helped their numbers when those kids started dragging their grades up. One afternoon, I stepped out of the building while most of the students were still trapped in class and spotted two familiar figures posted outside. The twins. The same boys Id grown up with. The ones whod been there for every mess and every good moment. My best friends, the two people I could count on without thinking. Finally, Grant said. Took you long enough. Sorry I had to work, I shot back. Some of us werent born loaded. Adrian clutched his chest like Id stabbed him. Wow. Cruel. Oh, youll live. I laughed and jabbed a finger into his chest. He started chuckling, which was a mistake on his part, so I poked him again and again because I knew exactly how ticklish he was. Grant shook his head like he was already tired of us. So where are we going? Anywhere, I said. I dont care. He tilted his head. You hungry? Yeah, I said. We crossed to their beat-up-but-beloved 1960s Mustang, then drove downtown to the diner. The second we walked in, heads turned. Nothing new. We slid into a booth before a waitress swooped over. She wrote down our order while looking at the twins like shed forgotten other people existed. Eventually she drifted back toward the counter, and I leaned against the window glass, facing them with the street at my back. Adrian grinned. So how were the little monsters today? Couldve been worse, I said. Theyre werewolf kids. Attention span of a gnat. Grant snorted. If you hadnt helped me, I wouldnt have made it out of that place. Im aware, I said. You owe me for that. He laughed, and Adrian leaned in a little. Word is people are at the swimming hole, Adrian said. Then go, Grant snapped. You dont need us holding your hand. I narrowed my eyes. What are you two even talking about? Grant jerked his chin at his brother. His ex is going to be there. She invited him. Hes thinking about crawling back. Which ex? I asked. Grant barked out a laugh. No, I insisted. Seriously. Youve collected a whole set. Whos the lucky one this time? Adrian rolled his eyes. Doesnt matter. Im not going. He smirked. Maybe Ill make her earn it. She should have to, Grant said. All of them should, I added. After the way they treated you. Grant looked at Adrian like hed won. See? Told you Tessa would back me up. You two always team up on me, Adrian complained. I held up a hand. Im not teaming up on you. Im being honest. Every girl youve been with has been a power-hungry asshole. They wanted your name, your place in the pack, the perksanything they could use. Im not trying to be cruel. Youre better than every single one of them. Adrians expression softened. Thanks. That was way nicer than Grants version. Whatd he say? I asked. Adrian deadpanned, He said, You have the worst taste in women. I burst out laughing. Like he can talk, I said. Adrian nodded, fully in agreement. After lunch, we climbed back into the Mustang and spent a while driving with no destination, music up, windows cracked. Eventually we ended up at the park. I headed straight for the swings. Adrian started pushing me, and Grant dropped onto the swing beside mine. When are your classes again? Grant asked. Tomorrow, I said. All day. He made a face. Thats awful. We wanted you around town tomorrow. Why? I asked. Adrian pushed a little harder. We dont want to be stuck at home. We need something to do. No, I said. You two need a damn job. Grant laughed. Not everyone can work like you do. I stuck my tongue out at him. A couple people walking by stared. Also normal. Apparently it was unimaginable that Id be close with the Alpha and Lunas younger sons. Pack royalty. The twins werent interested in settling down, producing heirs, or living like their title meant anything. They just wanted to be eighteenlike meand grab whatever fun they could before responsibility swallowed everything. I dragged my feet, slowing my swing. Okay. Whats really going on tomorrow? Why dont you want to be home? Grants jaw tightened. Because Aidens going to be back, and hell be the only thing anyone can talk about. We dont feel like watching it. When hes around, its like we dont exist. I stopped completely. Aiden, I repeated, too carefully. Your older brother? The heir. The one meant to take over when their father stepped down. He was coming backand this was the first Id heard of it. Panic sparked through me so fast it made my chest feel too small. I forced my lungs to behave, forced my heartbeat to slow. If I didnt, the twins would hear it. Theyd know something was off. I couldnt let them hear it. I didnt want them seeing what his name did to me. I didnt want him here either. But if his father had called him back, then he was coming back. Alpha training had to start sometime. He was twenty-four alreadylate, honestly. I didnt care. Not about the timing. Not about the politics. Adrian kept pushing, gentler now, and I started swinging again as if nothing had happened. I shoved the thought down hard. All I had to do was avoid Aiden. Stay out of his way. Stay out of his sight. And I was sure he wouldnt want to see me, either. That partthe why of itwas its own story. We stayed out together until late afternoon. Then they drove me home and dropped me off in front of the house my family lived inbig, well-kept, and close enough to the packhouse that it was obvious where we sat in the hierarchy. Nicer neighborhood. Bigger lots. We werent working class. We were important. The second I stepped inside, I set my bag on the table by the door and walked into the living room. They were waiting. My father, Harrison. My mother, Stella. My older brother, Simon. All three stood there with crossed arms and tight mouths like theyd been practicing the expression. My stomach slammed up into my chest. I didnt need a word to know what kind of night this was going to be. I turned on my heel and headed down the hallway. The basement door opened under my hand. I went down the steps, one after another, and when I reached the bottom I saw themchains hanging from the ceiling. My breath caught. My stomach flipped, butterflies sharp and sick, because I knew exactly what those meant. Chapter 2 I took my place beneath the hanging chains like I always did. My brother came up behind me, caught both my wrists, and hauled my arms up until my shoulders screamed. Cold metal cuffs closed around my skin, and he snapped the locks shut, leaving me stretched overhead. Dad stayed where he was, planted against the basement wall like a spectator. Moms attention drifted to the table along the sidelaid out neatly with tools meant for nights like this. She chose what she always chose: the leather whip. She had already soaked it in wolfsbane, because she liked the way it made the damage linger. With wolfsbane involved, my body didnt knit itself back together nearly as fast. The silver biting into my wrists wasnt helping either. The burns there were going to take their time. Mom approached. I kept my gaze on the floor. She tore my clothes off without ceremonyshirt, then pantsuntil I was left standing in my bra and underwear, bare and exposed under the basement lights. Bruises in every shadeyellowed old ones, fresh purples and bluescovered me from all the other nights they had decided I still needed punishment for something that had happened years ago. Mom circled me slowly with a photograph in her hand. I heard the wet hitch in her breathing as she stared at it. Then she stepped back. The first lash hit my back like fire. I didnt make a sound. I didnt do that anymore. No screaming. No crying. It had taken me a long time to understand that noise was what they were after. They wanted to watch me crack open for them. I stopped giving them that. She kept going, again and again, until warmth started sliding down my spine in thin lines. Blood. Eventually she paused, chest rising hard as she tried to pull air back into her lungs. That was when Simon moved in. He had brass knuckles on. He grabbed my chin and forced my face up, making me meet his eyes, and then he started driving his fists into my stomach over and over. One punch snapped my head sideways when he finally hit my face. Simon. You know not to hit her in the face, Dad said. I lost control, Simon muttered. I know, Dad replied, calm as ever. Dont do it again. Blood gathered in my mouth. I spat it onto the concrete, right at Simons feet. When I lifted my eyes, he read it as defiance. So he hit me again. And again. And againlike he had no intention of stopping. Some distant part of me started counting in a different way, wondering how far they could go before they finally did enough to kill me. Wondering if he had already done something inside that I couldnt seebleeding, tearing, organs bruising. It felt like he had. My ribs had the sharp, wrong ache of breaks, but everything inside was guesswork. It wasnt like I could go to a doctor. A hospital would ask questions. A doctor would alert the Alpha. And then it would get worse. My parents were experts at wearing the right faces. The Alpha and Luna always swallowed whatever story they offered. They wouldnt believe me. That was why the twins didnt knowwhy they couldnt. You know what you did, dont you? Mom said. It was an accident, I answered. The whip cracked again. After all this time you still cant take responsibility? she screamed. What is wrong with you? I didnt do it, I snarled. It was a fucking accident. Simon took that as his cue and slammed his fist into me. You caused it, he shouted. You did this to our family. You broke us. The only thing broken here is you, I spat. You freak. His mouth twisted, and he drove three more heavy punches into my stomach, each one stealing more air. He laughed while I fought for breath. Anything else you want to say to me? he asked. I lifted my head slowly and smiled at him. Mom answered for meseveral lashes in quick succession, the wolfsbane stinging like it was alive. I knew they should have gotten rid of you the moment you were born, Simon growled, close enough that I could feel his breath. Sorry, I said, smirking through blood. That one wasnt my fault. He hit me again. I shouldve killed you when you were born and ended all of this, Mom screamed inches from my face. Then why didnt you? I asked. She stared at me like she hadnt planned for an answer like that. Thats enough, Dad cut in. Shes had enough. What? Mom snapped. She hasnt had anywhere near enough. She hasnt paid for what she did. She has school tomorrow, Dad said. If we keep going tonight, people will start asking questions. Mom rounded on him. Why dont you ever hit her? Why dont you ever join in? She hurt you too. Dad didnt even move from the wall. I dont need to hit her. She already knows she means nothing to me. Simon went to the chains, unlocked the clasps, and my arms dropped so fast I couldnt catch myself. I hit the floor. They set the whip and the knuckles back on the table like they were putting away dinnerware. I dragged myself upright, shaking. I made it up the basement stairs. They followed close behind until we reached the ground floor, and then I had to climb again. In my room, I pulled clothes from my cupboard with stiff hands and crossed the hall to the bathroom. In the shower, I watched red swirl down the drain. I could barely lift my arms. The water burned over every mark, and the rings around my wrists were so angry and raw they looked like third-degree burns. Id have to hide them for days. When I got out, I dressed in a singlet and track pants and went back to my bedroom. I brushed my long blonde hair on autopilot, then collapsed onto the mattress and tugged the covers over myself. The clock glowed: 2 a.m. Not much sleep, then. Id learned how to function that way. It wasnt the first time Id taken a night like this and still shown up for work or school the next day. I lay there trying to disappear into the dark when I heard Simons phone ring. I couldnt make out who he was talking to. Probably one of the many whores he kept around town. He left fast after the call. Relief loosened my chest when his footsteps passed my door and he didnt come in. I spent the rest of the night twisting in the sheets, catching a few minutes of sleep here and there. The welts across my back made it impossible to settle, and even my legs were bruisedMom must have caught them too. I hadnt noticed at the time. The pain in my back and torso had swallowed everything else. Still, I got a little sleep. Then a voice shoved its way into my mind, shattering what little quiet Id managed to find. Tessa. Are you there? a man asked. My eyes flew open. It had been months, but there was no mistaking that voice. Aiden. Chapter 3 I could feel Aiden pushing at the edge of my mind, trying to link with me. The clock read 6:00 a.m., so I played deadeyes shut, breathing evenwhile my wolf practically screamed that I was lying. Just answer him, Laura prodded. I told you, no. I kept my voice low. He walked away from the pack because of me. Now hes back, and I cant I cant look at him. I still cant stand what you did, she shot back. You wrecked him. It was for him. You know that. Do I? Lauras tone sharpened. Or are you finally buying all the garbage your parents have been hammering into you? Laura. My jaw clenched. Shut the fuck up. Stay out of it. I shoved her presence deep, locking her down in the back of my mind. When I tried to swing my legs off the bed, my body answered with a hard no. The second I put weight on my feet, my knees buckled and I went down to the floor. So much for thinking I was fine. I caught the bedframe with both hands and dragged myself upright, and that was when the pain really registeredhot and spreading, like it had been waiting for me to notice. Across the room, I stopped in front of the mirror and lifted my shirt. Bruisesblack, blue, uglycovered my skin. Between them, torn spots gaped where nails or something sharper had opened me up. Last night hadnt been a warning; it had been a message. Burns ringed my wrists. More marks ran up my arms, and there were a few on my legs too. The spot on my head, thoughthe place Simon had hitwas clear. At least Id gotten lucky once. I dressed slowly: long-sleeved black shirt, jeans, black boots. Then I grabbed my bag, checked it for everything Id need, and eased out of my room. Downstairs, the house was quiet. No voices, no footsteps. I didnt know where they were. I didnt care. Outside, I slid into my car and left. An hour later I pulled onto campus, parked, and headed toward my first class. People called my name, hands lifted in greeting, and I gave the performance backsmile, wave, normal. Human friends. Werewolf friends. Friends wasnt the right word, really. More like people who liked me enough at a distance. Today was the one day I had all three classes. Business administration and finance first, then a short break before my secondary education coursesbecause apparently I wanted to become a high school teacherfollowed by psychology. By the time it was over, my brain felt scraped raw. I sat in my car for a while, staring out at nothing, thinking about the drive back. Thinking about every reason I didnt want to go home. I didnt want that pack. I didnt want that house. But choices werent something my parents allowed. They never let me move out for a reason. If I left, theyd lose their easiest target. They needed their punching bag close enough to reach. Eventually I started the car and drove back. Before going to the pack, I stopped at the diner. If I didnt eat now, I knew I wouldnt eat later. When I finished and stepped outside, two familiar faces stopped megirls from high school. Iriss eyes widened. Tessa! Yeah, I said, thrown off by how startled she looked. Sorry, she rushed on. Its just its weird seeing you without the twins. I dont spend every waking second with them, I said. Almost every second. Not every single one. Rebecca crossed her arms. How are they? We all live in the same town, I said. Go ask them yourselves. You see them more than we do, Iris insisted. I looked between them. Youve both had crushes on them since forever. Why not just talk to them? We tried, Iris said, and there was a bitter edge under the words. In high school. They never really responded. Usually because they were always doing something with you. Oh. My stomach tightened. I didnt know youd approached them. They never mentioned it. Because they werent interested, Rebecca said, since they were always busy with you. I met her stare. What exactly are you implying? Im not implying anything. Bullshit. The word came out sharp. If youre thinking theres something between me and the twins, youre wrong. Were friends. Best friends. Nothing has ever happenednothing. If they used me as a reason to brush you off, then Im sorry, but that means they werent into you. Deal with it. Footsteps approached. Grant and Adrian came up from the street, and Iris and Rebecca went stiff, faces flushing like they were sure the twins had heard every word. Bye, Tessa, Iris said too quickly. They disappeared down the sidewalk in a hurry. Grant watched them go, then looked at me. What the hell was that about? Same shit, different day, I said. He huffed. So youre getting blamed because we werent into girls at school? Exactly. Adrians mouth twisted. Were sorry we always used you as an excuse. Why? I said. It was true. We always had plans. That part is fair, Grant admitted. Dont stress, I told them. I can handle those two. I hope you can, Adrian muttered. Grant tilted his head. How was school? Brutal. Three classes in one day, and none of them are easy. I can imagine, he said. So what are you idiots doing now? I asked. Heading back, Grant said. We left our car at home, so we figured wed walk until Dad finally called. Smart. Then walk with us, Adrian said, catching my arm. He didnt ask so much as decide. He tugged me along before I could even open my mouth to argue. The last thing I wanted was the packhouse. As we headed up the road, Grant scowled. Your dickhead brother has been there all day. Hes so fucking annoying. I wish Aiden would pick better friends. Thats not happening, I said. They were tight before Aiden left. Adrian frowned, still trying to puzzle it out. Weve been trying to figure out why he even left. He wont tell us anything. What do you mean? I asked, even though I knew. I mean he just vanished, Adrian said. A couple months ago. No explanation. We dont even know where he went. Yeah, I said carefully. It was weird. He mustve had something going on. He did, Grant said. But hes acting like its classified. Its driving me nuts. Maybe stop being so nosy, I snapped. Not everyones life is community property. Its probably personal. Adrian sighed. Yeah, okay. Still. Ever since he left, weve had to deal with Dad more. Theres nothing wrong with your father, I said. He made you teach a couple training sessions to the younger kids. Youll survive. I know, Adrian said. It still sucked. You complain too much. Instead of going straight to the packhouse, we drifted past it toward the training field beside the house. We were halfway down the hill, laughing like we always did, when a scent hit meso good it made my mouth water. I stopped so abruptly my boots skidded. On the field, Simon stood at the front with the trainees. But it wasnt my brother that pinned me in place. A man in nothing but athletic shorts turned at the sound of us, and his eyes found mine immediately. The look on his facepure intensitylocked me where I stood, frozen, staring straight back at him. Chapter 4 I went completely still. Aidens gaze locked on mine, hard and hot, like there was a flame behind it. Skipping him this morning hadnt fixed a damn thing. Simon stood off to the side, watching with that familiar glare, while Grant and Adrian kept flicking their attention between Aiden and me like they were trying to piece together a puzzle they werent allowed to see. You know what? Ive been at school all day, and Ive got a ton of homework and study to get through. Ill catch you guys later. I aimed it at Grant and Adrian, then turned and got out of there fastalmost a power walk. I reached my car, climbed in, and drove out past town. Instead of heading anywhere familiar, I pulled into the small car park near the forestthe one nobody ever used. It was basically a quiet little pull-off with a clear view over the pack lands. I never saw anyone up there. No families, no random couples, not even bored teens looking for trouble. Even patrols didnt bother with it. It was far enough inside the border that they stayed closer to the edges, and for some reason everyone else acted like this rest stop didnt exist. I got out and wandered around for a while, trying to shake the feeling under my skin. Eventually I dropped into one of the chairs by the picnic table, facing the town spread out below. I didnt know what I was doing anymore. I felt scared and scrambled and I didnt want to be hereanywhere near this pack, anywhere near these people. I wanted to leave. I wanted to get away so badly my chest ached. I stayed there until it was well past dark. Then I drove home, went inside, and went straight up to my room, shutting the door behind me. A few minutes later it hit me: the house was empty. I went back downstairs, grabbed something to eat, and when I finished, I cleaned everything until the kitchen looked untouchedlike Id never even stepped into it. My best guess was that my family was having dinner at the packhouse. I was pretty sure Id heard something about it earlier. I wasnt going. No one had invited me anyway, and honestly? I didnt care. Upstairs again, I took a shower, washed my hair, changed into pajamas, and sat at my desk to work. Id had all three classes today, which meant I had a ridiculous amount to catch up on, and I wasnt letting myself fall behind. The only thing I was clinging to was graduation. If I finished college, maybe I could finally get out of this pack. I was trying to push through as quickly as possible. Even so, it was going to take time. That part was unavoidable. I was staring at my notes when Aidens face pushed into my head againuninvited. The look hed given me earlier. Like he could kill me where I stood. I hated it. I hated being looked at like that by him. We used to be finemore than fine. We used to laugh and talk and actually get along, and now he hated me. And I hated that he hated me. I wanted things to go back, but I couldnt see a path that led there. Hed been a friend once, too, back when I was at the packhouse all the time. Id been best friends with his brothers for years. And I knew why it was different now. It was my fault. I never seemed to get anything right. My phone started buzzing nonstop. Grant and Adrianboth of themasking why I wasnt at dinner. I told them I hadnt known there was a dinner, and I wasnt interested. I had too much work. Grant didnt drop it. He kept coming back with: why wouldnt I want to show up and hang out? So I kept repeating myself in different ways. Homework. Studying. And I had to prep for my next tutoring session tomorrow. I had too much crap piled on me right now. Eventually they stopped pushing, but they didnt stop texting. The tone shiftedless interrogation, more jokes. They sent goofy emojis and complained about how painfully boring the dinner was, how everyone kept talking pack business like it was a meeting instead of a meal. It was driving them insane. They demanded I promise to put them out of their misery if something like this ever happened again, and I told them I liked them too much to murder them. I already knew Aiden was back to start his Alpha training. I think the whole pack knew without anyone needing to announce it. What I didnt expect was what the twins dropped on me next. Aiden had appointed his future Beta. And when he took over, Simonmy abusive, piece-of-shit brotherwas going to be standing at his side. What the fuck? Apparently the packhouse had been celebrating. Everyone thought it was a brilliant decision. Grant and Adrian didnt. They didnt like Simon, never had. But they also didnt know what he was really like. No one didexcept my parents. And they would have been thrilled. Future Beta. Power. Status. Something to brag about. How was this even happening? Simon with that kind of authority would be unstoppable. Hed do whatever he wanted, and I could already see the outcome: Aiden would lose this pack because of him. Aiden thought Simon was some loyal friend. Aiden had no idea who he was choosing. And for me? This wasnt just bad. This was dangerous. My heart started slamming so hard it felt wrong, like it was skipping and stumbling in my chest. My breathing turned harsh and shallow, and before I could stop it, panic grabbed hold of me. I slid off my chair onto the floor and pressed myself against the wall, knees pulled tight to my chest. I tried to force deep breaths, but my eyes burned and tears gathered anyway. I was terrified. Simon as future Beta already meant he had more power than he should, and he loved making me his target. Hed always enjoyed it. Even if I didnt want to call myself a victim, it didnt matter here. Not one bit. He could do whatever he wanted, and now he would knowreally knowhed get away with even more. And if I ever tried to tell the truth? No one would believe me. Aiden hated me. Simon would have control. Hed have influence. Hed have protection. Fuck my life. Chapter 5 I forced myself to breathe. College first, I told myself. After graduation, I wouldnt owe anyone here a thing. I was done with this pack the moment I could leave, and I was going to disappear the first chance I got. I tried to drag my focus back to my booksback to anything that wasnt my lifewhen a roar of voices and stomping feet rolled up the street. It swelled closer and closer until it hit our porch, and I knew before I even heard the names that it was my family. Simon was still riding the high of his new titleBeta-in-waiting, the one who would slide into place when the Alpha stepped down and Aiden took the pack. My room stayed dim, only my lamp on because I never used the overhead light. I sat there wishingpraying to the moon goddess, bargaining with whatever listenedthat their good mood would make them forget I existed. Of course it didnt. I barely had time to still my hands before my bedroom door flew open so hard it smacked the wall. I jolted in my chair. I got up fast, heart punching at my ribs. Simon filled the doorway, hallway light outlining him like a warning. He was unsteady, a beer bottle dangling from his grip, and his eyesthose eyeswere sharp with something Id learned to fear. Id seen that stare before. He took another swallow, never looking away. Whatever people called that feeling in their stomach, it wasnt butterflies. It was worse. It was a nest. Footsteps clomped behind him. Mom and Dad wandered up the stairs, laughing under their breath, and paused long enough to glance into my room. I stood stuck in place, like if I didnt move I might vanish. My mother didnt even stop. She just kept going to their room. Enjoy yourself, son, Dad said, giving Simon a proud pat on the back. Youve earned it. Then he followed Mom, leaving us alone. Simon stepped into my room with slow, deliberate strides and pulled the door shut, clicking it closed like he was sealing a lid. My eyes flicked around for anythinganythingto use. There was nothing within reach that would matter. The window. Two stories down. It would hurt, but Id live. Id live even if I had to go through the glass. He moved before I could. In a rush, he was on me, hands clamping around both my arms. He yanked me close and stared straight into my face. There wasnt a shred of warmth in himonly hatred, clean and bright. Then he threw me. My back hit the bed hard enough to knock air from my lungs. He stumbled after me and whipped the bottle to the floor. It shattered across the hardwood, beer spreading in a dark slick. I tried to scoot away, but the bedframe boxed me in. Even if I could get over it, hed still catch me. Drunk or not, a werewolf didnt get slow. I watched him fumble at his belt. My elbows dug into the mattress as I tried to sit up, eyes darting for an exit that wasnt there. He saw itmy calculating, my panic. He lunged, crushing his weight onto me, pinning my arms down while he kept that stare locked on mine. He dropped his face into the side of my neck and inhaled like he owned the right to my skin. The way his body reacted made my stomach turn. He was heavyso heavy. My chest couldnt expand right under him, and every breath came short and tight. Gentle was never going to be part of this. I twisted, fighting to free my hands, but he trapped my wrists with one grip and used the other to keep working at his pants. I fought harder. His response was immediate. He swung, fist connecting with my mouth. Pain flashed white; my lip split, warm blood spilling. He shoved his jeans down and kicked them away, shorts still on underneath. For a second, his legs shifted wider. That second was everything. I drove my knee up as hard as I could, right into his groin. He went rigid, a strangled sound ripping out of him. I shoved with everything I had, and he toppled to the side, rolling on the bed. I was on my feet instantly. Broken glass bit into my soles as I hit the floor, but I didnt stop. I sprinted for the door, flinging it open, and flew down the stairs while Simon howled behind mespitting curses, calling me names that blurred together with the pounding in my ears. Doors opened upstairs. My parents stepped out, and then they were coming too. I hit the front door and clawed at the lock. It wouldnt budge. The keybecause of coursewasnt there. They kept it in their room. I veered into the living room, right beside the door, and went for the window. Locked. Heavy footsteps thundered closer, barreling down the stairs, and my brain stopped offering options. I did the only thing left. I punched. My fist crashed through the glass. Shards sliced into my hand, sharp pain flaring up my arm. I tore the remaining pieces away with blood-slick fingers and hauled myself through, glass raking my feet, my legs, my stomach as I forced my body out. I dropped from the patio railing, landing hard on my ass. I scrambled up and randown the street, past sleeping houses, toward the tree line. I didnt look for curtains twitching or porch lights flicking on. It was late; maybe Id already passed before anyone realized something was wrong. I couldnt have the town whispering. I couldnt let anyone see what my home really was. That truth was something I had always sworn I would take to the grave. Behind me, shouting erupted againSimon and my parents yelling loud enough to wake the whole block. They werent hiding anything, but I still ran like silence mattered. My pulse hammered up into my throat. The edges of my vision smeared. Not now. I shook my head, forcing air in, forcing my legs to keep moving. I couldnt afford a panic attack. I had to put distance between me and that house. I didnt know what would happen if they dragged me back. I only knew it would be bad. Right now, all that mattered was getting away from Simongetting away before he could rape me again. I glanced over my shoulder mid-stride to see if any of them were chasing me. I slammed into something solid. Before I could hit the ground, an arm hooked around me, stopping my fall. I turned, breath ragged, and found Aiden in front of me. He held me tight against him, like catching me had been effortless. We meet again my precious mate, he growled, eyes black and cold. I was starting to think you were avoiding me. Aiden, I rasped, barely able to breathe.