Liberty POV
Something has happened, something has shifted the mood. The atmosphere in the lake house was no longer tranquil, it was fast paced and scary.
Oh shit, has he escaped?
“I want to know how this is possible? My cells are impenetrable.” Reuben roars down the phone, as Pierce all but pushes me inside. I didn’t want to be in here, the atmosphere has become threatening…like a thunderstorm readying to strike.
I don’t need a wolf to know Reuben is furious, dangerously so.
I watch Evelyn join Reuben, as she walks back over from having put the television on for the children in the lounge. She doesn’t flinch once at his swearing and shouting down the phone, she remains a calm figure by his side.
I go to move towards the children who are safely sitting this one out when Pierce grips my hips, not willing for me to leave his sight.
“I’m just going to sit with the kids, I can’t really help here.”
He eyes me curiously at first, my heart beating loudly but he must think it’s just the shock of the change of mood because he lets my hips go.
I walk towards the children, Cassandra already sitting with them as I stand behind the couch, pretending to watch the show, but really listening on what is happening behind me.
“What’s happened?” Evelyn demands.
“He’s managed to escape. I’ve felt two pack links snap. He’s killed two of my men.”
Oh no, I didn’t mean for that to happen. Maybe this wasn’t such a smart idea of mine after all,
“What how?”
“I’m finding out now. I need all guards on border patrol around the Lake House. I need the alliances informed and put on alert. Why does this shit keep on happening.” He growls as he thuds his hand onto the table. I’m not meant to be listening but I can’t hide the jump at the sudden noise.
“I don’t understand. He was chained. Do you think there was a breach internally? One of your warriors.”
“No!” Reuben roars.
“..not after Vicky and that weasel, I made sure all my men were loyal. That they were well watched.”
Vicky and that weasel? The young man that took me from my apartment, is that who he could mean? Vicky never mentioned he was part of Reuben’s pack.
I keep my face turned towards the television, trying my best to engross myself in the dog cartoon, but I can’t help but listen. They were being loud anyway, it would be hard not to.
“I told you, we should have killed him before we left.” Evelyn seethes keeping her voice low.
“I know sweetheart, I’m sorry. I should have listened.”
“If the kids are in danger…”
“I won’t let anything happen to you or the kids.” Reuben tries to ease Evelyn’s slight panic.
“Alpha…” Nate interrupts and I have to fight the urge not to turn around.
“CCTV camera five miles from our pack lands….the fuckers fast. It’s him, getting into a vehicle.”
“Zoom in on the driver…” Reuben orders. I can’t see but I can tell they are all looking at a laptop.
The Lake House was clearly built for a weekend retreat. It didn’t have the pack management space or electronics Reuben’s pack house was equipped with.
“Fuck me, it’s her alright. It’s Vicky!” Reuben growls, and my heart beat spikes at the fall out of what I have done. Why would Vicky have been so close to the Red Stone pack lands. Why did she pick up Malcolm…he was meant to use the chance to start again. To go into hiding.
“I want everyone on full alert. Evelyn… we will need to return to the Silver Moon main pack house, it isn’t safe here.”
“I’m always safe here Reuben. She wouldn’t dare come here. I don’t understand, how the hell did he get out?”
I can feel the blood pumping in my ears, my body frozen as I can feel a pair of eyes on me. I don’t dare turn, I don’t dare look at his disappointment.
“Libby? Do you know something?” His voice is the calm amongst their frantic worry. I was now perhaps realising what a grave mistake I have made. Silence follows as all eyes start to burn into the back of my head.
“Libby…if you have something to say, say it now.” He must be able to read my heart beat, the panic flooding around my body.
I slowly turn, facing all of them. At first I can’t talk, my tongue too big for my mouth. Reuben’s low threatening growl however gets me to talk.
“I just wanted to give him a fighting chance….”
I’m not entirely sure what has happened, all I know is I can’t finish my sentence because the wind has been knocked from out of my lungs.
A hand…a hand is tightly wrapped around my throat. Cutting off my air supply and my back is aching having been pushed at fall force up against an internal brick wall.
“What the fuck did you do?” Reuben roars in my face, his eyes a dark stormy blue. His teeth preparing to tear into my flesh. I try to talk, but his grip is so strong that I find myself clawing at his hand, trying to gain any oxygen that I can.
In the corner of my eye I see Cassandra scoop up the two children and race upstairs with them before my head is thrown back into the wall. A blinding pain shooting through my head.
“Reuben, release her!” Pierce and Evelyn both roar at the same time, standing next to him. It’s Evelyn’s arm on Reuben’s that momentarily calms him down long enough to let me go. I fall from above his height, where he was holding me up, to the floor gasping for breath.
“What did you do?” Evelyn demands off me, as she takes a step in front of Reuben, blocking him from me.
“I just wanted to help him…”
“What the fuck did you do?” Reuben roars at me, his eyes turning so dark navy that I could swear they were almost black like Pierce’s.
“I gave him something…just a kitchen knife…” I respond standing back up.
“Liberty no…” Nate gasps from behind Reuben, resulting in all eyes snapping to him.
“I’m sorry.” I used him, I betrayed his good trust and I am sorry for that.
“Nate?” Reuben turns to his beta, his aura continuing to darken the space around us all.
“She baked some bread. She just asked that I deliver it to the cells, so that he could at least eat.”
“It’s not his fault, I used him…”
“You’re damn right you used him. What the fuck were you thinking you stupid little bitch.” He roars at me and I know I’ve done wrong but the way he says little bitch really gets under my skin. Causing my own anger to flare.
“I’m not like you Reuben, I can’t make life and death decision without guilt. I saw a man in need, and I just wanted to give him a chance.”
“He would have killed my mate and children, he was behind bars for a reason. Now I have two pack members dead and two families to break the news of their death’s to.”
My mind goes crazy with the thought of the guards having children of their own, children that would never see their dad’s again.
“Was there a message? To Odin?” He growls menacingly at me. His body trying to get closer to me but Pierce was now aiding Evelyn in keeping him away from me…just. He was still close enough to reach out and claw my face if he so desired and I think he did.
“Yes…”
“Saying what?” He seethes through gritted teeth, fighting his shift.
“That I would return to him.” I frown, looking to the floor to avoid Pierce’s shocked facial expression.
“After everything we have done for you, you would return to him?” Evelyn looks just as disgusted with me. But they didn’t understand.
“He’s my father…”
“A father that has used your inheritance to try and gain power, to attack my family and fund the killing of innocent people.”
“He’s still my father Reuben.” I shout, he doesn’t understand. He was still my father.
“You don’t get on with him, that’s fine. But I do. He was never cruel to me Reuben, he loves me…”
“Love?” He scoffs, taking a step away from me.
“If that’s the type of love you crave, then you are welcome to it. Go on…I won’t stop you anymore…”
“Reuben…” Pierce gives a warning growl.
“No Pierce, she doesn’t deserve you. She’s twisted, just as her wolf will be. Better she died in that warehouse…..”
“Reuben.” Evelyn gasps at his words as Pierce pushes his friend away, his own wolf fighting for control.
“You heard me…GO!” He finally gives me permission to leave but I am rooted to the spot.
I can’t move. He gives me a deathly stare before turning on his heel and walking towards the stairs. I can see that he is done with me, that to him I am dead.
“I want all warriors dressed for battle in ten minutes.” He orders before walking up the stairs. All eyes turn to me, many of them filled with a new hatred. A look on many faces that I’ll never be rid off. They are judging me without understanding my side of the story.
“Evelyn…” I try to make her see reason but she just shakes her head and walks away from me. She heads towards the stairs after Reuben.
One by one the people that I’ve gotten used to over the last month, turn their backs on me.
Silent tears start to fall down my face from the severity of what I have caused. The packs were having to prepare for battle? Really? For two people in a car? But something inside of me didn’t even believe what I had just said. These wolves were trained to defend alliances, a kingdom. If they were so worried, it was for good reason.
“How could you?” Pierce’s heart broken voice delivers the most painful blow.
“I escaped one prison just for another ”
“That’s how you really felt? I was just trying to protect you. You don’t know what he is truly like. He won’t hesitate in killing you Libby.”
“I didn’t mean for this to happen. I thought Malcolm would just run away. I’m sorry.” I take a step towards him, my arm reaching out to him. My chest was aching at the thought of him being angry with me.
“It’s a little too late now for that.” He shakes his head before walking away from me. As his back turns away from me like the others, his rejection is the one that hurts the most. Oh god, what have I done?
