Running From The Big Bad Wolf

30

The next three months were quiet. We celebrated Rhydian's third birthday. We moved out of my childhood house. Nothing got packed except what I thought Rhydian and I would need. The furniture stayed. Everything else stayed.

We moved in to Axel's place, a large house that boasted five large bedrooms, seven bathrooms, two studies, a kitchen, dining, breakfast room, a lounge, a gaming room and two sitting rooms. Yes, I explored with Rhydian.

Rhydian's bedroom was next to mine. I lived there, sad, worried and stressed.

Shortly after we moved there, Axel hired out a nanny for once a week and he takes me out. I abide him, but I won't play the game on the same level.

I was introduced as his wife when he held a large dinner and I gave out the fake smiles, dressed beautifully, my hair perfected and redone with the auburn red.

I was introduced to many people. Influential men, their wives, their statuses. One thing that really pissed me off was the women were happy. They knew what their husbands do, some even have their adult children as well and I was furious, but I kept smiling, my cheeks hurting from the forced action.

In those three months, my stomach grew and it spread like wildfire in the underground that Axel Wolf's wife was pregnant. He even sent out a message to everyone, friend and foe, what will happen if anyone threatens his family.

Axel was happy with his life. He kept Rhydian happy, but he knew me better than anyone, he knew I wasn't happy.

And he didn't care.

I gave him sex as little as possible, at first, making excuses that I was tired, I didn't feel well, my stomach hurt and for a while, Axel took it, then he stopped being a gentleman altogether. He always got what he wanted. He instilled that into me. Axel Wolf ALWAYS gets what he wants.

Whenever we return from our weekly night out, dinner with the most powerful men in Axel's circle, I thanked the nanny while Axel paid her an exhoborant amount of money. I went to the bedroom, getting out off my dress and changing for bed.

That night, I did what I do every night.

I checked on Rhy, I laid down and felt Axel come to bed, his hand on my stomach, his lips on my temple as he held me.

I hated his touch. But I took it. I knew my life was safe and my children's lives. I knew I couldn't escape, there were more guards here than my house ever held. There were security cameras as well and the guards took shifts, always manning the doors, always on patrol.

So many nights, I lay awake in the quiet hours of early morning. Listening to anything that reaches my ears.

Light footsteps of the guards outside the house. Possums running up and down trees, every now and then, I hear Rhydian yell out or cry out in his dreams. Axel's breathing right next to me.

Even the distinct noises of cars down the road. Every night.

But tonight was a bit more different.

Those footsteps were at a faster pace, heavier as my ears pricked up. My heart started racing as I slowly inched upwards.

"Stay." Axel muttered before he groaned.

"I'm going to check on Rhy." I whispered, pulling the blankets of me.

Axel's hold on me released as I got up and very quietly, I slowly went to the end of the bed. Now to get to the door.

My heart in my throat, one step, then another, I heard another noise. A soft thud.

I inhaled sharply then I was pulled back on to the bed. Axel was on top of me, wide awake. "Stay." He hissed at me.

"Rhydian." I whispered, pushing Axel off me. Now I was concerned.

Another thump was heard and both Axel and I turned our heads to the noise. Axel got off me, moving swiftly to the door as I held my breathe, sitting up on the bed, ready to run.

I didn't care if I was in a white night dress, or the fact I wasn't presentable for other people. My main priority is and always has been Rhydian.

"Stay there, Caity." Axel whispered harshly, picking up his shirt off the floor.

Sure, I said in my head with a highly sarcastic tone, jumping up and running to the door, opening it.

"Caitlyn!" Axel hissed and I ignored him, my eyes on Rhydian's open door. It shouldn't be open.

Then someone stepped out off the room, making me skid to a stop, slipping and falling backwards, sliding against the cold tiles.

He was huge. A muscular tall man, bald and hairy on the face, holding my son.

"No!" I screamed out, picking myself up, going to Rhydian.

"Caitlyn!" I heard Axel scream behind me, I felt his finger tips brush me as I lunged forward, trying to get Rhydian while he screamed in the man's arms.

Then I fell again, pulled in a different direction, arms around my waist as I watched Rhydian get further away from me.

"Stop." I heard the gruff voice and a clicking noise, something hard against my temple.

I froze, my eyes filled with tears, keeping them focused on Rhydian.

"Wait." Axel said softly and I turned to him. He held his hands up in defeat, the look on his face was screaming concern as his eyes darted between me and his son. "Let them go. Take me. Don't hurt them." He begged, slowly inching closer, keeping his hands up, open to show they are empty.

Suddenly, the grip around me loosened and I elbowed the man holding me and went to Rhydian, snatching him out of the other strangers arms. I held Rhy in a protection hold, backing away from the two men.

That's when I noticed that the one that held me had a balaclava over his head and we weren't alone. There were about ten men, some wearing balaclava's.

The one that had me stepped closer, a gun held at Axel and I held Rhydian closer.

"Take those two downstairs." The man said in a gruff voice. I couldn't breathe properly but I let them lead me and Rhydian away, gripping him tightly as he cried in my ear. I tried to calm him, my cheek against his as we went down the stairs.

My bare feet slapped the cold tiles as I was led to a couch, a gun pointed at us and I sat, as modestly as I could, protecting Rhydian.

Scared for my sons life, my unborn childs life. Angry that a situation like this had presented itself. Yet, I felt the tiniest glimmer of hope.

Hope that if I get killed, I will be free from Axel.