Chapter 1

I’m racing through the forest, my heart is beating fast and my breathing is heavy. It’s dark and cold.  Suddenly, everything around me becomes eerie. I can see blood dripping from the trees like heavy drops of rain. I try to wipe it away when it falls on my face, but it only smears. I trip over a stump sending my body skidding across the forest floor and I can feel myself losing my focus, but I turn over with the feeling I’m not alone. I feel this beast coming toward me with bloodshot eyes and I open my mouth to scream, but what comes out surprises me. “Malachi,” I whisper, reaching my hand out to touch the wolf’s face when in an instant he snaps his jaws shut around my hand. 

I scream awake and jolt myself up. I am breathing heavily with terror as I look around to see it was only a nightmare. “Hey, are you okay,” Luca asks beside me, he begins rubbing my shoulder in comfort. I look at him with annoyance and sneer. “How the hell do you think I am,” I retort, standing from the bed to head for the restroom. 

I walk past Paisley’s crib and see she is fast asleep. I know she doesn’t understand what is going on, but one day she will and I promise she will know her father. It has been six months since I was dragged away from Malachi screaming like a child throwing a tantrum, but it was no use. Now, I have been forced to live with Luca, who wants to play house, while I’m still mourning over the love of my life. I cry every night for him in sorrow from losing him and the fact that this is my life now. “I hate this coven so much.  When I get out, I’m going to burn this shit box to the ground and smile,” I think to myself. 

I continue to the bathroom, turning the faucet on to splash some cold water on my face. When I look at myself in the mirror, I don’t see the same Chloe that used to be. I was once bright and smiling, now I  look depressed and exhausted with bags under my eyes. I also look like Jack the Ripper with all the weight I’ve lost. I honestly don’t feel like I want to live anymore, but as I look back toward the crib. Paisley is the only thing keeping me alive.

I turn the water off and wipe my face with a towel. When I head back out, I see Luca coming towards me and I can’t help but release a heavy sigh. “Chloe, please come back to bed. You look exhausted,” he claims to bring his hand to cup my face. I turn my hand deliberately avoiding his touch. “I will never love you, Luca! You destroyed my life when you killed my mate. You’re a selfish bastard,” I snap at him and turn to walk for the kitchen. 

I take a seat at the table and look out the window wishing for freedom, but the coven no longer trusts me to be free. Blair had to put a spell on the entire coven so I can’t leave. I continue looking out the window into the forest and I know I’ve gone crazy. I swear I can see Malachi standing by a tree and hope swells in my chest. “Oh, Malachi. I miss you so much,” I whisper aloud, even though I know it’s all in my head. 

I wipe a tear from my cheek with the sleeve of my shirt when I hear Luca walk in. I turn to look at him and see he’s standing by the door. “I have to do some things for the coven, but I will be back in a couple of days,” he declares making his way to the table to take a seat across from me. “And you tell me this way,” I retort, lifting a brow in question. “Chloe, can you please stop this nonsense,” Luca says, he looks irritated, His words cause me to narrow my eyes. “Nonsense? You and this coven killed the love of my life, kidnapped me and my daughter and you call my behavior fucking nonsense! How stupid are you,” I  snap, but he doesn’t seem fazed. “You are my wife, Chloe. You need to start acting like it. I have been patient enough for you to mourn that beast you called a mate, but now we need to get on with our lives.  I haven’t even been able to touch the person I love,” he explains, reaching for my hand. 

I move my hand away before he can. “I am not your wife! I should be married to Malachi right now and living my life with him freely, not in a cage. I will never love you! Get that through your skull,” I snap glaring at him. I stand quickly and start to walk away. I hear Luca following behind me when he grabs my wrist. “I have waited for months without your touch. I have to sleep next to you and try to control myself. I will let you have your way for now, but I will want to make love to MY WIFE,” he says sternly. 

I rip my wrist free from his grasp. “I will never let you have me. You might as well just kill me now. My body belongs to Malachi,” I retort, challenging him with my gaze. “We will see,” Luca says, matching my fierce expression with his own before walking away. 

I stand there for a moment looking back out the window. I wish I could see Malachi still standing there,  but my illusion of his is gone. “I will be yours until the day I die,” I whisper as if he can hear me. Gathering my will, I walk to the cupboard, grabbing a pan and placing it on the stove, and begin making  Paisley some eggs for breakfast. Once I finish cooking, I cover them with a lid and head to get Paisley from her crib. 

I step into the room and see Luca going through some paper at his desk. I don’t say anything and just head for the crib. As I get closer, I find it odd that Paisley isn’t babbling up a storm like usual. It’s quiet.  When I look in the crib, she isn’t there and I turn abruptly storming my way towards Luca. “WHERE THE  FUCK IS MY DAUGHTER,” I shout, shoving him out of the chair, ready to fight. He looks up at me from the floor. “My mother came by a few minutes ago and took her for the day, so we can spend time together before I leave,” he explains, standing and straightening his clothes. 

I stare at him with fury. “I don’t want to be alone with you. I WANT MY DAUGHTER NOW,” I shout, rage filling my body. “Calm down. She will bring her back tonight when I leave. I promise,” he says with a softer expression. I soon realize there’s nothing I can do. “Fine. She better be here by tonight,” I replied turning to walk back to the kitchen but stop when Luca grabs my hand. 

I turn towards him, looking down at his hand on mine. “What are you doing,” I ask, bringing my gaze up to his face. “I want to feel your body close to mine. Chloe, I have been in love with you since we were kids. I’ve never dated other girls. It was always you,” he professes. I move my hand away from his. “I  need you to understand this, Luca. I don’t love you back,” I tell him gently, but it’s like a switch went off in his head causing his demeanor to change quickly.

Before I can react, Luca grabs me pushing me into the wall. “What are you doing, Luca,” I shriek in surprise. “You are mine, Chloe. I have had enough waiting for my wife to let me make love to her,” he mutters with his face in my neck, and I swallow hard. “I need to say something that will get him out of this lust-filled trance he’s in,” I think to myself. “You’re going to force me to have sex with you? That wouldn’t be lovemaking. That would be rape,” I snap and he instantly lets me go, backing away. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” he apologizes, then Luca leaves the room, not saying another word. 

I don’t know why, but I feel bad for him. He has been raised to love me and not able to choose his own path. “Ugh, why do I have to feel guilty,” I think, walking into the living area, where I see Luca sitting with his head in his hands. I quietly sit down in the chair across from him. “Luca, I don’t want to be mean, but I am honest. I won’t pretend that we will have a future together. I’ve told you so many times that I love Malachi,” I explain. He brings his head up to look at me. “Malachi is dead,” he says, annoyed. 

A scowl forms on my face and I take a moment to control my emotions. “That’s because you and your people did that for some stupid decision,” I reply. “These are your people too, Chloe. Have you forgotten that” he snaps, while standing, I get to my feet quickly, afraid of what I saw earlier. “I have to go. I’ll see you in two days,” he vaguely says and walks to the door, but he pauses before opening it. “I know you feel hate for me right now, but I want you to know, if you had your memories you wouldn’t feel this way. I love you, Chloe. I won’t leave without saying that,” He declares keeping his back to me, then he walks out the door. 

It seems like I have been waiting for Blair to bring Paisley back for ages. I have been reading a book until she decided to come around eight o’clock. We sit in the rocking chair by the window and I feel so much better having my daughter in my arms. I rock her while reading her a bedtime story. “Dada,” Paisley babbles and I grin brightly at her first word, but it soon fades as I think about him. I look at her and hug her tight. “I miss Dada too,” I whisper, but I hear something hit the window. I get up, holding Paisley secured in my arms, and look out the window, to find a pair of eyes staring back at me.