My Not Yet Mate

Chapter 137

My Tortured Mate Chapter 15

Lily

The bell rang to signify the end of the school day and she rushed to the cubby holes in the back of the room to get her backpack. She loved the end of the day. It was the moment she longed for all day. She just knew her father and her mother would be waiting for her outside. They always had a snack and a

juice box for her to have on the walk liome.

She pulled the bag up on her arms and limped out of the room. She was shoved into the wall and she bit her tongue to keep from screaming out in pain. She had learned a long time ago that if she showed how

much she was hurt, they would just bully her worse. She held onto the wall as she slowly made her way, doing her best to avoid the other students.

She got outside and excitedly looked around. She saw the king and her heart sank. She tried to shrink back into the shadows to hide but he grinned and started heading her way. She froze. He got to her and held out his hand. She took a step back. He knelt in front of her with a smile on his face.

“If you don’t take my hand and leave with me, I will kill your parents. Do you understand me?”

She nodded and took his hand. He flashed her his teeth..

“Good choice.”

His nails dug into her skin as he led her down the sidewalk to the street. She tried to pull away when they neared her street but he growled at her. She looked up at him fearfully.

“Please, I just want to go home,” she begged. “Mommy and Daddy will be worried.”

He rolled his eyes as he dragged her past her street. “You are going to live at the castle now.”

“W–why?”

He stopped walking to turn to her. He slapped her in the face and a small scream escaped from her. Tears filled her eyes and she covered her stinging cheek. He pointed towards the castle.

“March or I will drag you.” She straightened her back and marched past him, heading to the castle. “Defiant little shit,” he growled. “Keep up that attitude. I’m going to enjoy breaking you.”

She gulped as fear filled her. She slowed as she neared the castle, glancing at him over her shoulder.

“Excuse me, Sire? I have nothing at the castle.”

He rolled his eyes. “You won’t need anything. Now, hurry up. There is a special event planned just for you.” His lips curled up in a sinister smile. “A kind of a welcome home present for you.”

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My Tortured Mate Chapter 15

A shiver ran down her back. Something in his voice frightened her and her hand tensed on her bag strap. She glanced at the woods and clenched her jaw. She heard her father’s voice start to whisper in her head. Run. Fast. And don’t look back. Go. NOW! She dropped her bag and slowly raced into the trees. She reached into her pocket for the vial that her parents made her keep in her pocket.

She smashed the vial against her chest as she stumbled through the forest. She heard him behind her and she dove into a bush. He charged past her and she bit her hand to keep silent. When he

was out of sight, she slowly crept out of the bush, and made her way in the direction her parents had shown her.

She kept looking around for him, terrified of what he would do if he found her. Her parents had told her that if she could escape she should. She was to keep running and find her way to Deegan. She moved through the forest for hours, resting inside of holes in trees or bushes when she needed a break. The sun began to set and she sighed.

She slowed even more when the only light that guided her path was the moon above her. She stumbled out of the trees and fell face down on the gravelly pavement that cut the forest in half. She heard people talking behind her and she darted across the road to hide in a bush. She watched as the king and four other men peered around, looking for her.

She took a deep breath as they disappeared back into the trees. She crawled out of the bush and followed the road, moving carefully between the trees, sticking to the shadows. She walked for several more hours until dazzling lights lit up the night. She let out a relieved breath when she was greeted with the smell of wet dogs. Wolfsbane. She crept up to the gates and the guards there eyed her. One of the guards came towards her.

“You, girl! What business do you have here?,” he spat. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

She bent down and yanked her left shoe off to retrieve the folded–up paper in it. She unfolded it.

“I… I need help,” she whispered.

He folded his arms across his chest. “Are you lost?”

“No. I am looking for a ummm… King Ste.. Sterling?” She looked up at him. “Or Prince Lukas?” She bit her bottom lip nervously. “I was told they could help me.”

He held up his finger. “One second. Let me see what our alpha would like to do.”

She wiped her face as she waited. He gave her a big smile and waved his hand over his shoulder. The gate opened behind him and he led her down a street. He huffed in annoyance at her slow pace. She shuffled behind him.

“I’m sorry, sir. I have walked for a really long time.”

He bared his teeth at her and she jumped. “Just try to hurry up. We aren’t going far.”

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My Tortured Mate Chapter 15

She picked up her pace a little. By the time they got to a large three–story house, she was out of breath and dizzy. A man and a woman waited outside for them. The man smiled at the guard while the woman held out her hand to Lily who took it without an ounce of hesitancy. She took Lily inside to a bedroom.

“You look exhausted, sweetheart. Why don’t you shower so you can lie down?”

She shifted nervously. “Excuse me, ma’am, but do you have any food? I am very hungry.”

The woman nudged Lily towards the bathroom. “I’ll have some waiting for you when you get out.”

Lily went into the bathroom before coming back out to the main room. “Excuse me, ma’am?”

“Yes, Lilianna?”

Lily’s heart started to pound. “Nothing, ma’am. Thank you.”

She went back into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. She quickly looked around, frowning when the bathroom was windowless. She pressed her ear against the door to listen for the main

door to close. She went over to the shower and started it before running back to the door to listen.

Moments later the door closed and Lily hurried out of the bathroom. She looked around the main room only to find that it too was devoid of windows. She limped to the door and turned the knob. Her hand twisted around but the knob itself didn’t move. She backed away from it to cower in a corner. She wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face in her legs.

She was trapped. She had failed her parents. They had made her promise that if she ever escaped, she would stop at nothing to get to Deegan. The door bounced open and King Luis stormed in. His angry eyes landed on her and she whimpered.

He gripped her arm tight and yanked her to her feet. He shook her hard and she bit her tongue as her head moved violently back and forth. He let her go suddenly and she stumbled back against the wall. He grabbed her hair and lifted her off the floor by it until she was at eye level with him.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he growled. “You have been a bad child and you must be punished.”

She wrapped her hand around his wrist. “Please, I’m sorry.”

He gripped her cheeks, squeezing hard. “It’s too late for your apologies. You are just like them. And just like them, you will learn.”

“Learn what?,” she asked fearfully.

He chuckled coldly. “That you answer to me.”