(!) Trigger warning: there's some violence a bit to the end.
The Return
Elijah.
It has been about a week and a bit now and honestly, I am sick and tired of hiding. I just want to go home, I need to go home.
I've been so homesick I've let Elisha link me so she can give me updates of what's been happening back at home. She's the only person I haven't completely shut out. According to her, our parents are a little out of it. They feel that my disappearance is all their fault â which is one hundred percent true.
Alexander on the other hand, well, I don't how he is. One moment he's really sad and seems to actually want me back. The next, he couldn't even care. It was insanely confusing. I had been visiting him here and there when I missed him, I always left feeling upset so I stopped going.
I've been living among the human's and the only soul that had kept me here for this long was the friend I made, Ryan. I enjoyed his company so much, he was a much-needed companion. I had Isaiah but I was still wary of him and he was from back home so he wasn't really helpful at keeping my mind off of it.
Ryan is so carefree and welcoming you can't help but tumble out all your problems. I hadn't told him anything incriminating like I was a werewolf. I just told him I ran because my family and Alex's families were rivals and my wanting to marry him was a no go. I didn't mention the possible death, just that they might shun me.
Ryan has been my somewhat tour guide too and it was great, he took Isaiah and I around to his favourite places and shown us the human life. It was quite different from ours and I was immensely thankful for my Pack life.
I liked the adventures more for Isaiah's sake though, he missed out on a lot living out there in No Man's Land. Being exiled as young as he was he barely had much joy and enjoyable experiences. So going around Mossel Bay and surrounding areas ice skating, paintballing, surfing and cliff diving were all things I was glad we could experience.
I drew the line when they went sky diving though, I'm no daredevil â I value and cherish my life way too much to be adrenaline chasing. Dangling my life above death's hands was not my vision of a good time.
Either way, I was immensely grateful for Ryan and these memories he has given me in this short amount of time.
"So you're heading back?" Ryan asked, laying on my bed.
"Yeah. I mean, they're my family. My sister has been keeping me updated and I don't like what I'm hearing. Sure I am here because of my parents but I don't necessarily want them blaming themselves. It was okay when I was only blaming them in my head."
"Such compassion is rare." He mused.
"Whatever." I roll my eyes, "Let's go get some waffles."
At the mention of food, he instantly jumped up, "I thought you'd never suggest it and I was getting worried." I laughed.
I shut the hotel door and made my way outside with Ryan. It was a normal hot day in Mossel Bay. Isaiah and I decided to stay here once I got tired of keeping tabs on Alexander. The sun was blistering hot but the wind would cool you down making the sun's heat bearable. I put my shades on as we walked a few blocks downtown.
We arrived at Spur and sat outside so we could get the breeze, I also enjoyed the view better from here. We ordered our waffles and chatted a bit more.
"I'm going to miss this." He spoke with his mouth full of waffles.
Such a gentleman don't you think?
"Me too. I promise I'll visit you." I beamed.
"I'll hold that against you." He pointed his fork at me.
"Well, if I don't you could always come to visit me. My brother doesn't live with me so you always could."
He was intimidated by Isaiah, I found it funny how Isaiah fell right into his older brother role. I wasn't used to it yet so I would have to hold myself back from fighting him for doing it but besides that, I thought it was sweet.
I appreciated Isaiah a lot more after this time away.
He laughed before he leaned forward and whispered, "I'm not visiting a werewolf community."
My eyes bulged, "What?"
How did he figure it out? No human is just going to think, 'oh hey, this one's a werewolf.' So what in the worlds made him think so?
"I know what you are, Eli. I don't really care but that doesn't mean I'll jeopardise my life by entering territory."
"How the heck do you know?"
"Obvious things like your eyes, your hearing and your sister contacting you when I haven't seen you use a phone." He said the last one with a duh tone.
"Well, I didn't tell you. So, it's not my fault. Also, I vehemently deny your crazy accusations." I ate my waffle.
The conversation continued on from there and eventually, I was once again laughing my head off. Enjoying my last moments with this good friend I had made.
I was laughing at something Ryan had said when I felt him, my body wanted to relax finally being around him but instead, it stiffened. I could feel that pair of chocolate brown with dusts of green eyes on me. I could smell the perfect smell of rain infused with the ocean.
He finally found me, honestly speaking â it took him longer than I thought it would. Once I started living among the human's I didn't bother myself with the cloaking anymore. Isaiah removed the spell and we just went on about our business.
I didn't even care that he found me, I was about to return anyway. He might as well bugger off until I get home, just allow me these last few hours of peace. These last few hours of pure joy and ignorance. Because dammit, ignorance is bliss.
"Elijah." He greeted, sliding into the booth.
I hadn't heard his voice in so long, it brought chills down my spine. It even threatened to spill out a moan, but I kept it at bay.
His leg and arm brushed mine as he took his seat setting off the sparks. My wolf was losing her it once the sparks jolted, she wanted him and she wanted him now. She had been away from him for far too long.
Abel, thank the Goddess, slid in next to Ryan. I was glad it was the rational brother.
"Alexander. Abel." I mutter.
"You don't seem happy to see me, mate."
Oh, if only he knew the part booming over at my wolf's side.
"I'm not. I was on my way home, you might as well return to wherever you came."
"That three-star hotel?" He scoffed.
He stopped at the hotel first? I guess that should've been expected, my scent was probably the strongest there because my belongings were there and I had spent quite a bit of time there.
"No, the North Pack."
"With this human here?" He finally acknowledges Ryan's presence.
"No. Ryan's got his own life." I shrug.
Alexander pulls my plate towards him, cutting off a piece of my waffle and shoving it in his mouth. He was about to slide it back to me but shook his head and shoved the rest of it in his monstrous mouth.
"Hey!" I yelled seeing him devour the whole thing without my consent.
Ignoring that outburst he instead focused on Ryan, "Own life, huh? What a pity."
My eyes grew wide, "Alexander, please don't â"
"You're coming with me."
The douche blew something in my face and as soon as I inhaled it I was knocked out.
* * *
My eyes slowly fluttered open and I was in what I remembered to be Alex's room. I slid off the bed, making my way towards but seeing my suitcase that was previously in the hotel sitting by the door brought me to an abrupt stop.
Did he think I was going to stay here? He must be out of his mind if so. This, unfortunately, wouldn't be considered as kidnapping because we are mates. This was my home. He's an Alpha as soon as he found me this immediately became my home.
However, we've been taking our on road in this mate ordeal so I don't understand why he would think I'm just going to live here â did he not listen to Elisha tell him I was not about to accept my parents treating me as an outcast?
Maybe I'm jumping the gun, perhaps he only brought them here because I'm here, let me just go and find him.
"Alexander!" I yell as soon as I have swung his bedroom door open.
Abel is already walking down the stairs when I get to the foyer, he silently starts leading me somewhere. We exit the Russo household and make our way across the land to a cellar.
Once we're inside he shuts the door and types in a code and the room we had just entered detached itself from the door leading out and started moving underground like an elevator.
When he opened the door once we had reached the ground all I could hear was muffled cries. Alexander was definitely torturing someone.
"Is Ryan in there?" I ask Abel.
He opens his mouth to say something before shutting it again, opting to just nod his head instead. My eyes grew wide, it was one thing to torture wolves but to torture a human being? What the fuck is wrong with Alex!?
"Is he torturing him? He's human, what the fuck!?"
I took off running, trying my utmost best to follow the screams â Alexander's scent was a bit tainted but the smell of blood and mould so I couldn't depend on it alone. I ran until I found them, I swung the door open and immediately starting shouting.
I couldn't believe him, Ryan hadn't done a damn thing. He was a good friend to me that did not warrant torture, his body wouldn't even be able to handle it. Why would Alexander do this? How could he be this cruel? Did he hate me that much that he had to attack anyone who got close to me?
"Alex! Leave him alone! What the hell has he done wrong? Alex!" I screamed.
Alexander did not even turn to spare me a glance he just continued to whip Ryan. Ryan was chained by his arms, they were pulled back and he was on his knees bleeding. Sweat and blood covering his body as he just took in his beatings. Alexander didn't stop, he kept pulling his arm back and throwing it forward making sure to use his full force.
The sound of the whip connecting with Ryan's skin made a sound that reverberated throughout the room. I cringed hearing it so close, Ryan let out a strangled scream. I ran to get in front of him in hopes Alexander would stop if I intervened but he didn't let me get close he reached out his free hand and forcefully pushed me back.
The momentum of my run combined with the force of his push made me fall back rather painfully, "What the hell are you thinking!? He's human you can't do this, you freaking monster!"
"Monster?" His voice wasn't his own, "I've been called worse. Although I gladly accept being a monster over a pathetic weak human." He says.
"Does it feel good to beat other people for no good reason? People who are weaker than you at that. You disgust me â"
"Shut the fuck up!" He boomed, "And don't try to get in the way again. I'm not done with him."
I stood to my feet and approached him slowly, his eyes were charcoal black â no brown and certainly no dusting of green. You couldn't see a hint of any emotion, you couldn't see anything but black.
His voice wasn't even the same one that I loved so much. This one was thick with rage and something I could only best describe as demonic.
"Alexander, please."
"You're only making me angrier."
"Al â"
He marched towards my retreating form that was obviously too slow because he picked me up by my shirt and placed me on the bed in this room. I kicked and screamed, trying to wriggle my way out but he growled a menacing growl that struck fear in me. I whimpered not enjoying this at all, I had never actually feared Alexander but now, now I did.
I once again felt like that girl who had her back against the bark of a tree begging to have herself and her sister's life spared and I hated it.
He chained my arm, "For your own safety."
He turned his back on me and made his way back to Ryan, I shut my eyes and blocked my ears trying to zone out of this nightmare. It wasn't enough though, I could still hear every whip, every beating, every bone cracking and every helpless yell Ryan let out.
Tears were streaming down my cheeks at a rapid rate and I just wanted to be anywhere but here. I wished more than anything I could make him crumble to the ground the same way Nathaniel had made him. I wished I could throw him to the side, break Ryan free and let him get far far away from here.
"Elijah," Alexander calls in this terrifying voice.
I know it's dangerous but I ignore him, I keep my eyes shut and continue to rock myself back and forth, my hands blocking my ears. I didn't want to look at him, I didn't want to see those black orbs.
"Look at me." He demands, his voice depicting his rage.
"No," I whisper.
"Look at me or I swear, I will do it!" He shouts.
I'm not completely sure what 'it' is but I'm sure it has to do with death. Although the poor kid probably wants exactly that. I want that for him right now. It must be a lot less painful than what he's probably going through.
Slowly, I reluctantly remove my hands from my ears and pick up my head from my knees, I open my eyes gazing up at him. As soon as I do â I wish I hadn't. Because as soon as I do Alexander snaps Ryan's neck. I gasp, tears sliding down my cheeks even faster than they were before.
My mate is a monster.
"I told you." He laughs, "I am a monster. And guess what?" He pauses, as if daring me to say something, "I don't intend on changing for anyone and especially not you."
He let Ryan's head go and his body fell in an awkward position, my body jerked forward as though ready to throw up but instead my eyes started to fuzz and Alexander started to blur. I fell onto the bed, my eyes shutting â so much for my return.