Page 17 of Plus-Size Sold Mate
I have never hated someone so quickly or intensely before, but somehow, Luke has managed to secure first place for himself in only a matter of hours.
It’s an overwhelming feeling to carry around. It’s heavy and insistent, constantly burning within my chest every time I think of his face. He looked so decisive before, while he condemned me to the last thing I need.
He’s expecting us to get married—mated, in a proper ceremony.
The words came out so easily, as if he had already been planning it, but I know better than that. It’s a spontaneous plan, and one made without my input or consent.
Just like before, I’m being pushed into something I don’t want, in a place I have no intention of staying.
I know how packs like these work. Even if the fact that I’m a witch didn’t seem to alarm him, I know the rest of his wolves won’t take that information lightly. Magic is forbidden, and now he’s going to use me for whatever he has planned.
After resting, my magic has started pulsing faintly under my skin again, reacting to my anger and to how everything has unfolded. Though I keep it buried as far as I can force it to be. If it gets out of hand, I’ll only be proving everyone right.
As much as I don’t want to believe it, or further the narrative, someone like me does need protection here. I’d rather not be forced into anything by him, but the thought of being prosecuted by the rest of the pack for losing control isn’t a nice one, either.
I don’t need him…I don’t want to need him. I just need to get on the ferry and as far away from Willow Island as possible.
But the next morning comes too quickly, and I didn’t manage to come up with an escape plan during the night. I hardly even slept through the night after being too stuck on Luke’s claims.
I barely manage to get much down for breakfast, only suffering through it to keep my stomach from aching. But it does anyway as I stand behind the front door, left all alone in the house.
From here, I watch as the others move about, getting things prepared. That’s where Luke has been all morning, leaving me to sit and stew in all of this.
And now, I’m staring at the doorknob, wondering how far I might manage to get away if I break into a sprint in the opposite direction.
Would it be idiotic of me to run from a pack of wolves capable of shifting, unlike myself, and their Alpha? Definitely.
Yet, the thought of being tied to anyone I don’t know so intimately has panic consuming me from the inside out.
He doesn’t know me, and I don’t know him. He’s the Alpha of a pack that will want nothing to do with me or what I am. I have another Alpha trying to use me for his benefit, and yet, I’m supposed to just go along with everything.
Before I can stop myself, I turn the doorknob and step onto the porch.
The breeze is warm and fresh, but it does little to calm me down. Instead, anticipation buzzes through me as I stand there, prepared to run but not knowing how this might end for me, or if I’ll make it far at all.
My hands shake subtly as I take a step forward, drawing closer to the top of the stairs.
“Hi!”
I freeze at the soft-sounding voice the moment it reaches me, and with a glance, I see a young woman standing nearby. Caught now, I stumble over my thoughts at the sight of her.
“I’m Evelyn, but you can call me Eve,” she says, dirty-blonde hair tied back in a loose braid as she steps onto the porch with a smile and a warm gleam in her blue-green eyes. “I’m Luke’s sister.”
Luke’s sister. Of course.
“Uh, hi,” I murmur lamely, taking a small step back to give her some room as she joins me on the porch. “I’m Sera.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she says, taking me in with open curiosity rather than suspicion. She gestures to the big makeup bag under her arm and to a garment bag. “I’m here to help you get ready.”
I feel as the color drains from my face. “Ready?”
“For the ceremony,” Eve explains, expression softening fractionally, obviously picking up on my discomfort. “I have everything you need.”
Hearing someone else acknowledge the ridiculous idea only makes it burn worse. “I’m not participating.”
She tilts her head fractionally, and the way she studies me feels startlingly kind. “I imagine this isn’t what you want, but Luke isn’t trying to hurt you.”
“It sort of felt like he was when he threatened to send me back.”
