Chapter 45: Going Home
Rosalie:
The car screeched to a stop so suddenly that muddy water splashed across the road, and for a second I could do nothing except stare at the bright headlights cutting through the storm before they switched off suddenly, turning the surroundings dark all over again.
My heart was still pounding wildly when the driver’s door flew open and a tall figure stepped out into the rain. He didn’t hesitate for even a moment and immediately started running toward me. His dark silhouette moved through the downpour with a speed that no ordinary human could ever possess.
I barely had time to process what was happening before strong arms wrapped around me, and everything came to stop. The cold, the fear, the panic, the exhaustion - all of it vanished beneath the warmth of that embrace. Because the moment he touched me, the bond came alive.
It wasn’t subtle, nor gentle. It surged through me like a living thing that had been desperately waiting for this exact moment.
"Eiden..." His name escaped my lips as nothing more than a whisper.
The storm should have swallowed the sound whole. The rain was deafening and the wind was howling. Yet somehow he heard it.
His arms tightened around me as though reassuring himself that I was truly standing there and not some illusion. Then I felt his lips brush against the top of my rain-soaked hair.
"You are safe," he said quietly. "I have got you now."
The words were nearly drowned out by thunder. But I heard them, and a strange ache formed inside my chest. Maybe I was foolish and reckless. Maybe after everything that had happened with Alastor, Darien, and Kaiser, I should have been more careful about trusting anyone. Yet standing there in Eiden’s arms, I realized I wasn’t afraid.
For the first time since returning to Blackthorn, I felt safe. Truly safe. Unfortunately, the moment didn’t last.
The voices behind us were getting closer. I could hear them now. The sounds of warriors moving through the forest.
Eiden heard them too. I felt his entire body tense instantly. The warmth disappeared from his expression and something dangerous settled into his eyes as his gaze shifted toward the darkness behind me, and for a brief second I saw exactly why he was considered one of the strongest Alphas in existence.
He looked ready to kill. No. He looked ready to destroy.
His arm moved around my shoulders as he guided me toward the passenger side of the car.
"Get inside."
I knew that tone though he had never used it on me before. It wasn’t a request, but a promise. He intended to deal with whoever came out of those woods.
The realization made my stomach twist. The last thing I wanted was a fight or a confrontation between Eiden and the trio. That would lead to disaster.
So just as he reached for the door handle, I grabbed his wrist.
Immediately, his attention snapped back to me and those deep blue eyes searched my face. "What is it?"
I shook my head. Rain dripped from my hair and down my cheeks, making it impossible to tell where the storm ended and my tears began. "I want to go home."
For a second he didn’t respond. His jaw visibly tightened and I knew exactly what he was thinking. He wanted justice. He wanted answers. He wanted to confront the men who had reduced me to this state. And judging by the look in his eyes, he wanted all of that very badly.
His gaze shifted toward the approaching voices again. They were closer now. Much closer. I could even distinguish individual voices among them. My heart immediately started racing again.
"Eiden."
I tugged lightly on his arm snd his eyes returned to mine.
"Please."
The single word seemed to hit him harder than anything else. For several long seconds he remained completely silent. Then finally, he nodded.
The dangerous edge in his gaze didn’t disappear. But he opened the passenger door for me and I quickly climbed inside, fully aware that not only I was thoroughly drenched but also covered in mud.
The warmth of the vehicle felt unreal after being soaked by the storm. Eiden closed my door and walked around to the driver’s side. The instant he settled into his seat, he started the engine.
Neither of us spoke.
The car began moving. Slowly at first, then faster. And before long, we were racing through the storm.
Just before the road curved away from Blackthorn territory, Eiden glanced into the rearview mirror. And I followed his gaze. Far behind us, dark figures finally emerged from the forest.
Alastor.
Darien.
Kaiser.
Even from this distance, even with all the rain and the darkness, I recognized them instantly.
They had made it to the road. But they were just a moment late to notice the car speeding down the road in complete darkness.
The storm did its job in keeping us hidden, while the rain erased our scents, making it impossible for them to continue trailing me.
The last thing I saw before the road curved was three motionless figures standing beneath the rain.
Then they were gone.
Only after several more minutes passed did I finally allow myself to relax. My shoulders slumped against the seat and the tension slowly drained from my body.
Finally, I wasn’t running. No one was chasing me. No one was trying to stop me. And the nightmare was finally over.
I was free.
The realization nearly brought tears back to my eyes. Eventually, my gaze drifted toward the man sitting beside me.
Eiden’s hands remained firmly on the steering wheel. And his eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead.
At first glance, he looked calm, controlled, and focused on driving. But the longer I watched him, the more I noticed the small details - the tightness of his jaw, the rigid set of his shoulders, the way his fingers occasionally tightened around the steering wheel.
And suddenly I realized something.
He was angry.
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