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Chapter Eight

She hugged me just as tight before kissing my head. Alpha Damien hopped out of the car.

Grandma lifted her head and smiled at him. “You must be Damien, Aria told me about you being Lily’s mate” She spoke softly.

“Nice to meet you, Ma'am,” He said.

“Hush call me grandma; we are all family now” She said before escorting us inside. I didn’t like the way she said we were all family.

I barely knew Alpha Damien, and he was currently trying to kidnap me. Why doesn’t anyone see anything wrong with the entire situation? Walking inside, I walked straight to one of the booths.

“Is Abel here?” I asked hopefully. Grandma Zoe shook her head.

“He still isn’t back, I am sorry Lily I know you miss him” She whispered, seeing the disappointment in my eyes.

Abel may not be my father, but ever since the attack he has been traveling the globe, trying to find a way to help me and my wolf. Trying to find anyone else with the same problem or anyone who could possibly help our tethered bond.

I think he felt responsible for what happened. He would come home every few months and check on everyone before leaving again. But after twelve years I knew he wouldn't find anything;

I don’t know why he continues to look. Everyone else has given up, but not him.

I walked behind the counter and retrieved some mugs and the coffee before pouring everyone a mug.

I was familiar with everything here, having spent most of my childhood here, and my teenage years. I used to come every afternoon after school when I was in my early teens to help grandma.

I loved this place, it always felt like home. Grandma and Damien seemed to hit off right away. They were happily chatting when I handed them their cups.

“Are you excited Lily that you found your mate?” Grandma asked. I looked at Damien and I could tell he was interested to hear what I had to say. I have made it very clear I don’t want a mate, so he wasn’t surprised at my words.

“Layla is,” I told her.

“You will come around dear; Mates are a blessing from the moon goddess. You’ll see” I raised an eyebrow.

I found nothing great about Mate bonds. Hated the idea of being forced to be with someone just because of a bond.

I sat in my seat when I felt my phone Bing in my pocket. I reached for it and saw that Brent sent me a text message. When I suddenly got an idea.

I message him back.

Meet me out in the back alleyway of Joe’s diner. I sent him. He replies instantly. He knows I don’t want a mate. Brent agreed. I just now had to find a way to sneak away from the Alpha.

We chatted quietly for a while, when a customer came in and Grandma Zoe had to get up and quickly serve them.

“Who messaged you?” Damien Asked. I looked away from his penetrating gaze.

“It was Amber,” I lied. He nodded, but he kept watching my face to see if I was lying. I didn’t know if he could tell, but he didn’t say anything more on the subject. After a few minutes of tense silence, I got up.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Damien asked, reaching forward and grabbing my hand. I ignored the sparks running up my arm, pulling my hand from his.

“I need to pee if you must know,” I told him. He let go and sat back in the booth watching me. He didn’t try to stop me. Grandma came back over and sat down.

“You will need the key deer, I haven’t unlocked the doors yet being this early, '' She said. Obviously hearing mine and Damien's conversation. I nodded before walking behind the counter and reaching under the counter for the key.

“Leave it unlocked for me Lily” I nodded, and I could feel the Alpha’s eyes on me as he watched me leave the room toward the back of the diner.

As soon as I was out of sight, I walked toward the staff toilets out the back. As soon as I was outside, I unlocked the toilets before turning around and running down the alley, towards the side street.

I could see Brent waiting at the end, a panicked expression on his face when he saw me running toward him.

“What’s going on Lily?” he asked, glancing around nervously.

“We need to go, before the Alpha finds out I am running”

Brent looked toward the diner before hopping in the car. I jumped in the passenger side.

“Running? Why are you running, what did you do?”

“I will explain later just start driving Brent” I told him. He put the keys in ignition when suddenly the driver’s door was ripped open.

Alpha Damien ripped Brent out of the car by the scruff of his shirt.

“Shit” I gasped before jumping out myself. Alpha Damien was on top of Brent pummeling him with his fists, Brent trying to block his hits, but it was of no use. Brent was only a warrior, no match for an Alpha.

I ran over to them. Brent was bleeding, his nose was broken and his face all swollen and bloody. I shoved the Alpha off him, and he growled at me.

“He didn’t do anything wrong” I screamed. Dropping beside Brent and pulling him towards me.

“Oh, dear” I heard Grandma Zoe say before running over to us. She pulled off her apron, handing it to me. She glanced at the Alpha before turning her attention back to Brent. Brent was completely unconscious.

“Help me get him inside”

“Leave him” The Alpha’s voice laced with his anger. I looked at him and his eyes were pitch black; his breathing hard as he tried to reign in control of his beast.

“I am not leaving him here” I said. Looking down the alleyway.

The Alpha growled at me; I had to fight the urge to put my head down and submit. He was furious, and I could tell he wanted to kill Brent.

I started pulling him to his feet. He was dead weight and bloody heavy. Grandma also helped when suddenly his weight was gone.

Alpha Damien grabbed him, throwing him over his shoulder before placing him back in his car. He pulled his phone out and sent a text. His phone binged a second later.

“Aria is coming to get him” He said before walking over and grabbing my elbow.

“We are leaving” I shook my head, trying to pull my arm from his grip, which only tightened.

“I am not going anywhere with you; I am not leaving my friend” I tell him.

“Either you come with me now Lily or I fucking kill him”

I didn’t answer. He wouldn’t, would he? When I didn’t answer he walked back toward the car, opening the door. I scrambled after him, putting myself in front of him and Brent, blocking him from hurting him more.

“Okay, okay just don’t hurt him” I said, my hands on his chest trying to hold him back. I could feel his entire body shaking with rage. I looked toward Brent, who was slumped over the steering wheel.

A tear escaping at seeing him so injured and broken. It was my fault, I should have known better than to involve him.

“You will cry over him but have no feeling toward me” The Alpha growled loudly, making Layla force her way forward.

I could feel her peering out, trying to figure out what had upset her beloved mate.

“What did you do Lily?” She asked, panicked.

“Nothing,” I said, rolling my eyes at her.

The Alpha was staring down at me still, his arms folded across his chest. He suddenly grabbed me, pulling me back through the diner and towards the car.

“Say goodbye we are leaving” Zoe was standing behind him having followed us. She quickly came over and hugged me, squeezing me tightly.

“Please, Lily, give it a chance. Stop running from it, what have you got to lose?” She whispered softly. I felt tears brim before I felt Damien’s hand on my waist.

She let go and stepped back. I see Aria's car pull up behind ours. Reid hopped out with her. She ignored me, going to tend to Brent. I could see how angry she was at me. Reid stopped and kissed my head softly.

“Behave Lily, you’re only making things worse for yourself” He said before shaking the Alpha’s hand and going to help Aria, I watched as he kissed grandma’s cheek softly on his way past, before walking inside.

Alpha Damien opened the door. “Get in the car”

I glared at him. “Now lily, it wasn't a choice” He glared back at me, making me shiver. I hopped in the car.

Alpha Damien jumped in the driver’s seat and started the car.

“You ever pull a stunt like that again Lily” He didn’t finish that sentence. He was angry, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel so hard, I thought it would snap under the pressure.

He pulled away from the curb before speeding off towards the highway.

“Don’t ever run from me again,” I turned and looked out the window.

“Understood Lily?” He growled out when I didn’t answer, ripping the car off the road and stopping again.

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