Running from His Claim (Beauty and the Beast #2)

Chapter 3

When we got home, I jumped out of the car in my haste to get in. I was worried about Keith since I now kind of had a rep of disappearing on him.

Warren came round the car, meeting me at the front. He'd been brooding all through the drive and now gritted, "I still do not understand why we cannot simply disappear!"

Uh-oh. He was in no mood to deal with his family. I placed my hand on his broad chest and looked up, meeting his hard gaze. "Stay with me tonight?"

He sighed and covered my hand with his. "I shall put the car away if you promise to dine in my absence."

"You have yourself a deal, Captain." I hugged him and he kissed my temple.

When I walked in, I could see Dad's relief even though he pretended to be focused on the TV. Dane was in the kitchen holding off dinner as they waited for me.

Warren was already waiting for me when I finally made it to my room. When he looked up, his eyes were sad, but he smiled in welcome. I crawled over the bed into his arms. He stayed over most nights, so I'd learnt to dress for bed early so I could maximise on my time with him. He cradled me comfortably, and I just started talking. I can't even remember what we talked about, but he slowly relaxed and was soon laughing with me.

It was late when I finally decided to sleep. He shifted us so that I lay with his arms around me. There was silence for a bit, then I asked carefully, "Warren, what're we going to do?"

He was silent for so long I thought I'd lost him. Finally, his voice holding a grimness I'd never heard before, he said, "Time will tell." He tipped my face up and gazed into my eyes for a long moment, then he kissed me tenderly and said, "Sweet repose, my love."

I awoke alone.

When I sat up and saw that he wasn't in my room, I ran a hand over my tangled hair, trying to remember if he'd mentioned leaving last night but drew a blank. I figured he'd gone home, maybe to tell his father that he wanted us to leave after all. So I got ready for the day then debated what to take with me. I knew Warren could provide all I needed - and then some - but still... In the end I took my toothbrush, hairbrush - and as an afterthought, my shampoo.

Once downstairs, breakfast posed another dilemma. I struggled to find a way to say goodbye and to let them know I'd be okay without letting on that I was leaving. I settled on being perky and hinted that I'd be late getting home.

Warren wasn't in my car but my keys were in the ignition, so I figured I was meant to get to school. I kept expecting him to suddenly show up in the middle of the road so I was surprised when I arrived at school alone. His car wasn't in the lot and he wasn't with the Black Cats.

When I reached Biology in fourth period and didn't see him, I finally faced facts. He wasn't in school. In fact, no one from his family was. I didn't hear a thing during Biology, or lunch. The whole day flew by. I was consumed with wondering where he was, what was going on.

I turned down Victor's invitation to hang out with him and instead went home to wait for Warren. Every time I tried to call him, his phone was off. Warren's phone was never off. I considered driving to his place, but I wasn't sure I was welcome just yet and besides, I kept missing the turn to his house. I'd just get myself hopelessly lost.

So I waited, watching the hours pass. As day finally gave way to night, I sank deeper into despair. Dane was worried when I didn't have supper, and talked me into eating while we hung out in my room. I managed to relax with him, but after he left and I got into bed, the anxiety came crowding in. Warren was still not communicating but that didn't stop me from waiting. I slept little that night.