Page 31 of Rejected Plus-Size Mate

Someone who had been abused. Someone who had nowhere else to go. Someone who wanted to be free.

He started to pace, shaking his head. "You made your point. Get your stuff. We're going home."

I shook my head. "I'm not going back with you. I told you in the letter that I was done. I wanted out."

His eyes narrowed slightly, and a sinister smirk pulled at his lips. "See, Riley. You're not understanding. I have no patience left in me. I waited for you to have fun and return home, but now it's over. And I came all the way down here to this stupid ass town to get you. Do not make this harder than it needs to be."

I swallowed, staring back at him.

He paused his movement and took a deep breath in. "Just because your friend is ending her relationship doesn't mean you get to end yours."

I scowled. Did he think that was why I did this? April's marriage was over, and I didn't want to be with him suddenly.

I shook my head. "April's relationship has nothing to do with ours. I decided this because I deserve better."

Brad watched me for a moment before his face shifted. It softened up, reminding me of the first time I met him. He seemed so sweet, so caring.

"Honestly, Riley. Think about this for a moment. I understand you needed a little space, and you had it. But you know your place is back home with me. Who else is going to put up with you like I do? Don't tell me you deserve better when I've treated you well. You live in a luxurious penthouse with money that can buy you anything."

It was a double-edged knife, and it stabbed hard. It was how he perfectly landed the blows. He made me think I was terrible, and he was a knight in shining armor putting up with me anyway. He made it seem like money was going to buy my happiness.

But that wasn't true. If I was so terrible, why did Cayden put up with me? Why did any of his friends have a conversation with me? If I was terrible, why was everyone so nice here?

For the first time ever, I knew better. I grabbed my phone and took a deep breath in. "No. I already told you that I'm not going back, and there is nothing you can do to make me."

I just needed to call Cayden and have him come over. He could handle Brad.

But before I could even pull my phone up, Brad was quicker. His hand flew up, smacking me across the face and sending me backward. I tumbled to the ground in utter shock. But before I could react, Brad was shoving me down, pinning me to the floor.

"You ungrateful bitch," he snarled, his hand pressing down onto my throat. His fingers squeezed, and I tried to breathe, but nothing came.

My wolf howled in my ear, begging to be released, but I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe.

I started to panic, watching as he pressed harder on my windpipe, his eyes turning frantic.

"You will never escape," he growled at me. “You are nothing. You are like the dirt beneath my shoes." Tears built up, and my lungs burned, begging for air. My brain was begging for oxygen.

I clawed at his hand, but his hold was stronger. His nails biting into my skin.

I gasped for air, but still nothing.

This couldn't be how I went out. I couldn't die like this. Not like this. I still had so much I wanted to do with my life. I had just started to figure it out.

Tears blurred my vision, and dark spots started to blotch my vision.

"You have been a pain in my ass, Riley. And after everything I've done for you. I was the one around making sure you were taken care of, and you...you little fucking bitch!"

I moved my hands around, feeling for anything, and then my fingers landed on my phone. I quickly wrapped my fingers around it, holding it tightly in the palm of my hand.

I then swung up, making sure to take a corner of my phone and jabbed it into his bone, right where the bone met with the jaw. I put all my might into that swing and felt the hit land, the blow radiating down my arm.

Brad's fingers released, and I gasped for air, sucking in a deep breath. I coughed, gasping for air. Brad tumbled backward, and I moved quickly. I rolled on my stomach and quickly clawed away. I just needed to get to a room with a door. I just needed to lock myself in, and I was okay. I was safe.

"You bitch!" he snarled behind me.

I tried to pull myself to my feet, but they didn't work. My brain ached, still trying to get oxygen back in. I begged them to move, begged my limps to work. I stumbled up and made it to the corner of the hallway. The bathroom had a lock.

I felt a hand grab my hair, yanking me back, and I screamed. I pulled my hand up, trying to break his hold free, but his other hand grabbed my face, turning to make me look at him.

---