The DarkNess Within Him | ✔

Chapter Thirty Nine

SEVERAL MONTHS EARLIER...

It's like my body won't move when my eyes open. There is a roughness against my cheek. Pain shoots through my body and it feels like my brain is going to explode when my fingertips curl around the rough fabric beneath me.

The scent breathing life into my lung sates me but at the same time, pain shoots through my veins with an urgency that has me feeling like I'm on fire and death is searching for me.

I curl my toes, a painful sound escaping the cage of my throat and I lie here for what feels like hours, squirming on a bed that isn't mine. When I'm finally able to move without pain, I'm too tired to and so, I lie face up on the hard bed and stare up at the ceiling.

When the door opens, I know who it is. Having stayed in his scent for a long period, struggling to make my body work, I know and I feel the anxiety form in the pit of my stomach when he enters. I also feel the need to get an explanation as to why I'm here.

He looks down at me. Grey eyes of my mate, Jayce that I've spent weeks dreaming about since the first time I saw them. His chestnut coloured hair falls across his face as he does so and he can't help the wry smile while I only look up at him, unsure if I should be terrified or happy to see him.

"Mikayla, relax. The drug should wear off fully in a few minutes," he says carefully, eyes starting to drag down my body and I feel the heat of his gaze as it goes over my clothes and then back up to meet my eyes.

"W-why am I h-here?" I manage to ask, feeling the strain of each muscle in my body when I speak.

"I wanted you," is his only answer and then he sits right next to me. The heat of him feels like it's penetrating into me and I can't help the way I relax instantly but my eyes never leave their trail of him. "And you're my mate."

"So you just t-took me?" I ask incredulously, my lips starting to quiver slightly at the comprehension.

"It's more complicated than that," he answers casually, trying to brush it off and not succeeding. I begin to move away with pained effort, not liking the fact that I was just kidnapped. I stop only when my back hits the bed head.

"Take me home," I near scream, hysteria evident in my mind as the nerves start to kick in and jumble me up, prompting my eyes to search for the door. It's closed.

I push my legs up to my knees, not wanting to look at him but unable to resist. I can't decipher what's going on in his mind as his face remains neutral. He doesn't make any move to come close to me or touch me as he remains perched at the edge of the bed while I just stay in my spot.

"Jayce, I want to go home!" I yell out, my lungs in pain the minute I strain it but he doesn't flinch, only shakes his head.

"We're mates. This is your home now," he deadpans from across the bed.

"I know and I want to be with you too but I don't want us to rush. I'll come with you eventually. Just don't force things. Please," I plead, not wanting things to go this route. I will him to understand that I just need more time  before I leave home. It's home after all. Even if it's unhappy, it's still home to me.

He only shakes his head.

"Logan will kill you. You know that. He's my brother. He protects me. When he realises that I'm gone, he'll search for me and have your throat. I don't want that," I say, my words tumbling out of my mouth as I desperately try to make him understand even though I know that he is stronger than my half-brother.

Jayce only stands up.

"Logan won't look for you because Logan is the one who gave you to me," he states and it takes me a long moment to understand. When I do, I shake my head, not liking the thought. He continues as he starts to walk towards the door. "Sold you, actually."