The Fighter and Her Mate

Chapter 9: Save Your Breath

  Brooklyn's POV

I woke up with my shoulder in pain. I looked up to see me handcuffed to his bed. I guess I had forgotten about earlier. He took away my best friend. How could I forget that?

I sat up and tugged on the restraints. They wouldn't budge. I felt lonely without Axe by my side. I felt the tears form in my eyes thinking about what he said earlier. He probably hates me now.

I buried my face in my elbow and sobbed. I couldn't live without my best friend. At least, I feel that way. When I heard the door open, I curled myself into a ball and cried even harder. I didn't want to see him.

I felt Hunter's hand touch my side and looked up.

"Hey Princess", he said, making me bury my face in my elbow. "You're still upset, aren't you?", I nodded.

"Look. I-", he started, but I cut him off with my free hand.

"Save your breath. You don't even care about how I feel", I said, Winter whimpering in my head.

Hunter kneeled by the bed and grabbed the hand that was restrained to it, "Why would you say that?"

"Because of these", I said, motioning towards the restraints.

He looked at the cuffs and then at the floor. Winter and I knew that he felt bad but it didn't make up for what he did. His face was suddenly serious and he stood.

"You wouldn't stop running if I didn't do this. You can't hate me forever", he caressed my face in his hand.

He started to leave and Winter took control. I let her since I kind of owed it to her being a jerk to him earlier.

"Don't leave me", she said, sounding more desperate than I would've. It made him stop in his tracks and turn on his heels.

"What's wrong, princess?", he said, walking back towards me.

I nodded, "I just don't feel safe without Axe."

I batted my eyelashes and made circles on the sheets with my finger. I tried being cute but I know I'm not. He pulled the key to the handcuffs out of his pocket and released me.

"Listen. You hang out with me but, if you disappear for any reason, you will come right back up here and spend the rest of the day chained up. Got it?", he said, making me nod in reply.

He grabbed my wrist and dragged me out of the room. He pulled me into his office and sat me down in the chair. I sat quietly and played with my hair. He had my phone and wouldn't give it back to me. I didn't really understand that because what was I going to do? Call my old pack leader to pull me away from him?

When I looked up at them, I caught Hunter staring at me. But, he wasn't staring at my face. He was looking at me the way Brendon used to. I pulled my legs to my chest uncomfortably.

"Don't look at me like that", I said, much colder than intended.

He looked at me cruelly and then, his expression softened.

"I can't help it", he said, walking towards me, slowly.

I got up of the chair and backed away from him until my back was up against a wall. He closed me in and I put my hands up in defense.

"Please stop", I choked out, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.

"Why?"

"Because I don't like it."

I started crying and he stopped stalking towards me. He grabbed my hand, interlaced our fingers, and lead me to his desk. 

He sat in his chair and pulled me onto his lap. "Are you ok?"

I nodded my head. Brendon used to corner me all the time and Axe would scare him away. That's why I got so freaked out. I felt alone.

Hunter stared at me and smiled. I looked down at my hands, trying not to smile at him. He lifted my chin and stared into my eyes before he kissed me. When I pulled away, he smiled at me. I refused to smile. I needed Axe to be next to me.

"Smile, princess", he said, "It looks better on you than that frown."

Edited on: January 30, 2020