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“Of course not. I’m absolutely in love with him. But I’m not good enough for him. And if I stayed here, I would be veryunhappy, and that would make him miserable too. It won’t work.”
“But why not try? Why not work together?”
“You’ll go back to the packhouse for now. Get yourself together and reevaluate your priorities. Once your stalker is caught, we can discuss any changes from there.” Axel’s no-nonsense tone pushed her over the edge, his orders already suffocating her.
She shook her head, unable to speak as the tears started forming again. She felt trapped and scared, and that was bullshit. This was unfair. This was her life—the only one she got.
Everyone else stood reluctantly, but she took some calming breaths, trying to speak through the tears. “Respectfully, you are not my Alpha. And Ava already knows all this. You can’t keep me here. I’m going back to Aisling.”
Axel paused and turned slowly to look at her. “Ava knows Nassau is your mate? She sanctioned this?”
Bailey lifted her chin, knowing she was in the right, that it may not be a popular decision, but it was still her decision to make. “Yes. She knows everything.”
“According to shifter law, unranked female wolves join the male mate’s pack. Making you my wolf. You belong to me. Do not test me.”
“That is…that is ridiculous. I am not accepting the mating. He hasn’t marked me. No.” She took a deep breath, ready to fight as her mind cleared. “No. And you can’t make me.”
Axel studied her for a minute, and she could feel his fury with her. “We will not be repeating mistakes. You can hate me if you want, but you will come to understand in time.” He looked over at Nassau, and using his Alpha Command, issued his last ultimatum. “Mark her, now. She is not to leave pack boundaries. At all. End of discussion.”
She looked desperately at Nassau. No, no, no. He wouldn’t. He knew how she felt about it all. But he looked at her, his struggle clear, but he didn’t say a word, didn’t try to go against Axel’s order. Panicking, she looked around the room for help. Both Lana and Zhair looked shocked, frozen in their spots, but didn’t dare defy their father.
Nubia only looked at her in concern, then back at Axel, murmuring softly. “Ax, this is not the way. Let’s not be hasty.”
“No. She has already been given too much leeway. She will learn how to respect shifter law.”
“Wait, can I at least contact my parents first? I…this…they were expecting me home by now.”
“Quickly. They will understand.”
A plan forming, she pulled her phone from her pocket and hoped that her lifeline could do something from this far away. She pulled up Cassie’s number, and her hands shook as she typed out her text. Nubia moved to Axel, speaking to him in a low voice while both Lana and Zhair came to stand by her side, silently showing support.
“SOS. 911. Axel commanded Nas to mark me. He is refusing to let me go back to Aisling. What do I do?!”
She watched as the text sent from ‘delivered’ to ‘read.’ The bubbles popped up, then disappeared, and she glanced up nervously. Immediately, Nassau’s eyes locked with hers. His eyes blazed with anger, and she tried pleading with him.
“Nas, please. Think about this. It can’t be what you want. You’re just doing what is expected of you again.”
“How can you say that? I’ve made it clear that I wanted you from day one.”
“Wanted me for what? What…you want me to stay home and cook, have your children while you go into an office and do paperwork you hate? Are you kidding me right now? That’s not the life I want. I would be miserable, and so would you.”
“You’re wrong. Having a fated mate changes everything. Nothing you do would make me miserable. You are enough for me, and I would do anything for you.”
“Would you? Anything?” She searched his eyes pleadingly, trying to get him to remember all their conversations. “Would you let me go?”
The question hung in the air, and as the weight of it ran through him, his anger dissipated, and the hurt took over, clear in his next question.
“It’s that easy for you?”
“No. It’s not easy. It’s what’s best. I’m not meant to live a life running in a circle I hate.” She was sobbing by now, and she took a breath, calming herself. “I’m not a possession you can train or keep locked away against my will. I need the freedom to do what I choose, even if it’s hard for me. Let me go.”
“I can’t.”
His voice was strained, vulnerable. She didn’t know what to say or do to make him understand, to give her the final rejection, so they can move on. But then, her phone buzzed in her hand, and without opening it, she saw the single word Cassie replied with.
“Incoming.”
Within seconds, the room buzzed with magic, and Kathleen stood in front of her. With one look at Bailey’s face, she pulled her into an embrace, then turned to face Axel.
