Page 60 of His Bullied Fated Mate

“They wouldn’t listen to you,” I grumbled.

“Then I’ll help you get out. I’ll drive the car, for God's sake. Whatever you need, I'll do.”

“He would follow.”

“He wouldn’t find you.” His face hardened. “I won’t let him ruin you.”

My stomach flipped knowing my brother meant every word. No matter what, he’d always be by my side. “Aren’t you scared I’m evil?”

He laughed at this. “Please, you cried when you ran over that cat’s tail for a week. You don’t have evil in you.”

I smirked, looking outside the little window towards the house. So many good memories were here. I was beginning to wonder if maybe I let the hard times fog the good. Had life been as terrible as I remember?

The space fell quiet, and my mind seemed to settle. “I can’t leave.”

“Because?”

“This is still part of my home. This treehouse and this house are full of memories. I couldn’t let anything happen to it. I can't leave knowing I could have done something.”

My mind traveled to Riley and his face. How upset he looked. “As much as I hate him for everything…I think maybe I’m letting my past affect my present. Because he's not all terrible.” Riley had been trying, and I couldn’t deny that. He had been offering me help with training. He was asking how my day was, and he was there. This wasn’t like before.

Troy's eyes widened. “You like him.”

I scowled at him. “I didn't say that.”

“You don't have to. It's written all over your face.”

I rolled my eyes. “I just...it's not the same as it was before.”

Troy smirked. “You like him.”

“I'll kick you out of my treehouse, Troy.”

“I thought you said you gave up your rights.”

I couldn't help but smirk. I felt my shoulders relax and took in the silence. Once I pulled myself together, I could go home. I owed Riley an apology for yelling at him.

I lost track of time as Troy and I talked. I wasn't even sure what time it was when I arrived back at the house.

I pushed the door open and found the house quiet. I slipped my shoes off and flicked the light on. I froze when I noticed there was glass shattered in the dining room. There was a flipped-over chair and water covering the floor.

I swallowed. “Riley?”

I looked into the living room, finding it empty. I turned and headed down the hallway towards his bedroom. I frozewhen I noticed a few hung pictures shattered onto the ground. Glass was shattered down the hallway. I felt my stomach sink as I moved carefully over it. “Riley?”

I could hear movement in his bedroom and slowly knocked. “Riley? Are you okay?”

There was silence. I knew something was wrong. I grabbed the handle and turned it. I pushed the door open, and my eyes widened as I took in his room.

There was paper all over the floor. His dresser was tipped over, and his bedding was thrown all over the room. There was glass on the ground, a hole in the wall above his dresser. There were feathers in the air from ripped-up pillows. Stuffing was thrown all over the ground.

I would have thought he’d been robbed if he hadn’t been standing there heaving heavily over his hung mirror that was shattered. I could see his knuckles were bloody, and my body stiffened.

I could see the darkness in his eyes. They weren’t his but rather his wolf’s.

My heart stopped beating as I took it all in, wondering what the hell had happened. Riley turned, not giving me long before he charged at me. We fumbled into the hallway, where my head smacked the wall, and he growled at me. His hand wrapped around my neck tightly, and I suddenly couldn't breathe.

I could feel his hands shaking, and I realized this wasn’t him. He was being affected by the bond.