Fire & Ice

Chapter 2: Escape Plan

Eva's P.O.V.

I tapped my foot anxiously as Axel leaned on the kitchen door frame, staring at me. Natalie was checking my vitals and making sure everything was fine. "Alright, now for some blood tests." She smiled and I jumped out of my seat away from her.

"No!" I shouted and they all looked at me like I grew a third head. "I, mean, I'm fine. No blood work necessary." I smiled as an older blonde woman walked in with a older man with brown hair, Logan wasn't far behind them.

"Mother," Logan warned to the blonde woman.

"Shush," she said as she walked over to me. "Hello, I'm Laura."

"Eva," I whispered looking at the tile floor.

"It's nice to meet you, Eva. This is my husband Asher." He smiled at me and I smiled back. "My son didn't frighten you, did he? Sometimes he can't control himself when it comes to Natalie."

"No, he's not... never mind." I smiled biting the inside of my cheek.

"He's not what?" She asked as she sat down next to Natalie. Laura was analyzing me and I gulped.

"He's not... that scary." I sighed and she, Natalie, and Asher busted out into roaring laughter. Axel smirked and Logan punched his arm. "I've seen a lot so don't take it personal." Axel stiffened his playful smirk gone replaced with an angry glare.

"I like you and you're just what Axel needs, Cas will agree." Laura smiled wrapping me into a hug. Who's Cas?

"Well, you seem healthy. What happened in the woods anyway? How'd you get up in that tree?" Natalie asked as we all settled into wooden seats around the table.

"I... uh... climbed it." I lied playing with the hem of my shirt. "And I don't really know why I passed out." That part was true, it had never happened before but it wasn't like I had someone to ask.

"Well, you must stay here." Laura smiled and panic settled in my bones. I couldn't destroy this family too.

"She was already going to do that." Axel spoke for the first time since we walked back through the front door. Laura ducked her head but I could still see the smirk on her face.

"Since when did you make my decisions for me?" I asked standing from my seat. Axel straightened and we stood toe to toe. "I am not an object. I can not be controlled, so get that through your thick alpha skull." I seethed and a dark look settled over his eyes. I know it was wrong to compare him to Girard but that's all I could think about. I was an object, a prize to Girard, a prize he wanted to control.

"Come with me," Axel grabbed my upper arm, not hard and I knew he'd let me go if I asked. I followed him upstairs to the room I woke up in. He let go of my arm and shut the door behind him. "You can not leave, Eva."

"Listen here, Axel, I don't listen to anyone, no matter who they are. I'm a rogue for a reason," I snarled trying to get him to overreact, to throw me out, yell or shout, but he didn't. Instead he sighed and walked closer to me, tucking a strand of my blonde hair behind my ear.

"I don't think that reason is because you don't listen, my Eva." He whispered and I felt my heart constrict with an emotion I hadn't felt since that fateful day. I looked down at the floor, not daring to look into the eyes of the man that should hold my heart. A tear slipped when I realized I wouldn't have a normal life again, I couldn't be with my mate and it was all Girard's fault, all my fault. Axel tilted my head up and wiped away my tears. "Who hurt you, Eva?"

"No one you'll meet." I said as he dropped his hands to his side and I took the opportunity. I kissed his cheek then leaped out of the open window. My feet hit the grass and I tried to run but Axel was quick. In a blink of an eye, he was on the ground his arms around my waist.