Page 35 of Her Arranged Alpha
I couldn't go back. Lord, don't make me go back. I couldn't do it. I can't have someone taking over my body, taking over my mind, and doing things I would never do. Not again.
Tears burned in my eyes, and I felt my breath quicken, my body starting to shake. I took a step back, feeling my body was losing control.
I then heard the snap of a twig, and I turned as a man stepped out from behind a tree. There weren't just one, but three guys who stepped out. They were all laughing at me. "Wow, that was easy. I didn't think it was going to be that easy to scare you like that."
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't pull air in, and I couldn't let air out.
The man closest to me moved closer, still laughing. "Jesus, and to think someone like you nearly killed Frank. I'm beginning to wonder if maybe the rumors just got a little too big."
I took a step back. "Why would you do that?" I asked, through broken words.
He shrugged, continuing to laugh. "Because it was worth the fun. Everyone is going to love the video." He waved his phone in his right hand, and I stared at it. He'd recorded me.
And just when I thought maybe I had found a place to settle. I'd been fooled.
Suddenly, someone stepped out next to the guy and grabbed his phone right from his hand. The man turned, and Maddox stood there looking pissed. He growled at the guy who took a step back from him.
"Interesting. I don't recall my wife agreeing to be filmed. I don't recall my wife doing anything besides enjoying nature and being interrupted by a jackass."
All of the guys went pale. "I wasn't…"
"You weren't what?" Maddox threw the phone down and pulled his foot up, smashing hard down on it. "You were just on your way out."
I inhaled slowly as the guy practically ran for it. Maddox's eyes snapped towards me, and his face softened. "Jillian…"
I pulled a hand up, feeling my lower lip quiver. "Please…. just stay there."
I didn't want to admit how embarrassed I was, how scared I was. I didn't want to return to that dark place, and how empty it was.
But my mind went there. I thought about it. How cold I felt. How there was nothing but darkness, nothing but fear. I remembered the man telling me how I was nothing, how no one actually cared. And then I was choking Frank. I was fighting him, but I wasn't doing it. I was just a puppet having my strings pulled.
Maddox walked closer. His face fell. "Jillian…"
I felt my legs give out, but Maddox moved quickly, catching me before I fell. I clung to him, feeling my body going against me. I wanted to be strong, but my mind refused. I kept replaying it over and over.
"I have you," Maddox said, holding me tightly to his chest. "Nothing is going to happen. I have you."
I felt tears break free and tightened my hold on his shirt. I clung to the scent of him, letting it sip in through the cracks of my mind.
I focused on his breathing and his heartbeat. I took in each step he offered and every word he whispered to me.
"I have you. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
I didn't even notice we were back at home until I heard the door shut behind us. I took in the entryway and the silence of the house.
"Hey," Maddox looked at me. "Can you stand?"
I nodded as he placed my feet onto the ground. He looked at me softly, and for the first time, I think he looked at me with understanding.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded. "Yeah… I'll be okay. I just was reliving it all."
Maddox's eyebrows knitted together. "Reliving what?"
I swallowed. "My possession."
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