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| Griffin Maxwell |
I could feel her pain as she stood there frozen in place, everything she couldn't say out loud was bouncing all around inside my head, her thoughts were becoming clearer and clearer. Her small frame began to tremble beside me and her breathing was becoming rapid and shallow. Fear began to course through my veins as I saw her small frame falling backwards away from my reach, her head nearly inches from hitting the wooden floorboards. Her body was limp in my arms, her breathing had slowed down i didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. I repositioned her in my arms and cradled her closer to my chest, she must've liked that cause her heart was finally settling down.
"I think it's best I take her home, Mrs. Lockhart," I spoke to her mother but my gaze never left Arabella's face. I could hear her soft sniffling whether it was from the scene her husband had caused or the fact her daughter had fainted I didn't know.
"Griffin," she gasped, "Garett was just angry he doesn't mean any of the things he said." She managed to say through tears and whimpers.
Frustrating, it was just frustrating hearing her defend and make up excuses for her mate's actions it was clear to everyone in the room how he felt he made it loud and clear that he thought very little of his own daughter, and I'd be damned if they thought I would leave my Bells here.
"What's going on?!" Kaden asked angrily, he had been quietly standing on the side watching as his father badmouth Arabella. I think he was in just as much shock as Bells was. "What is dad going on about? Broken? Burden? And mom," he looked at her in disappointment, "what the fück? How can you stand there, hear all of that and still defend him?"
She looked away in shame.
"Regardless," I spoke firmly using a bit of that Alpha authority, they both straightened up, "I'll be taking her home with me, she's my mate after all." Mrs. Lockhart nodded submissively and head upstairs. Kaden just stood there trying to calm himself—or rather his wolf. It was good to know he just as frustrated as me.
"I'll pack a bag with a few of her things," she spoke softly, "she can always come back to get anything else."
"Thank you." I walked into the living room and laid Arabella on the sofa. I kneeled beside her and brushed her hair gently. She was so beautiful, it gave me so much pain seeing her this upset and it only hurt more because it was own father who was causing her pain. Through our bond I could feel it swelling in her throat, she wanted to scream at him so bad but she couldn't, she wanted to give him a piece of her mind, that made me smile. Despite her fragile demeanor she was strong and brave inside. I pressed a kiss against her forehead.
"You really gonna take my baby sister away from me." He spoke from the living room doorway. He had a smile on but his eyes told the truth, he didn't like it.
"She's my mate," I replied simply but sternly. "And don't act like you won't see her anymore. You'll be moving to the pack house as soon as my old man steps down, which if you don't remember is actually happening tomorrow."
"You know that's not what I mean." He took a careful step forward. I hadn't realized it but I had taken a defensive stance the moment he spoke, my wolf was on edge from all the stress Arabella was under. "I mean she's only eighteenth, Fin, and you see what happens when she's put in a stressful situation. What do you think will happen when you tell her not only does she have to move out but she also has to move in with you?"
"I'm hoping she'll be okay with it." I said looking at her, her heartbeat was steadily beating, she had fallen asleep.
"She hates men," Kaden said bitterly, "you can only imagine why."
"She doesn't seemed too bothered by me." I chuckled as she cuddled into the palm of my hand, like a kitten. "Kitten." I blurted out.
"Don't," Kaden warned, "don't call her that."
I laughed, "it suits her don't you think."
He shook his head in what I could only describe as disgust.
"I just hope for your sake she never has to call me—for any reason." He said seriously and it was more than just a funny warning, he was dead serious. Kaden was my best friend so I knew him better than anyone—better than I knew myself—and there was no doubt in my mind that he would beat my ass if Arabella so much as teared up.
"I know you don't want to hear this, Kaden, but I would never make Arabella cry at least not in the way your thinking." I smirked.
"Okay! Shut up!" He shouted and covered his ears.
I couldn't help but laugh pretty loudly which must've startled Arabella because she started to mumble and move. She turned around to face away from us, we were too noisy. Her moving around made her little blue dress rise just a little too much I could see—
"That's more better." Kaden announced as he draped a larger knitted blanket over her body and tucked her in.
I glared at him.
"Uhm, Alpha Maxwell?" Mrs. Lockhart had made her way back from upstairs, she was holding a large suitcase and a small backpack. "This should be enough for a couple of nights, until Bells decides to come back."
"She won't be coming back, Mrs. Lockhart," she flinched at my harsh tone, "at least I won't be bringing her back, if Arabella decides she wants to come see her family she can," I tried to sound as calm as possible, "I won't forbid her that, but she will be staying with me from now on."
"Oh." She gasped softly, tears brimmed her eyes. "I understand."
She looked heartbroken.
"I'll take those," Kaden approached his mother and pried the bags off her hands. "I'm going to put these in the truck, Fin," Kaden said as he walked down the hall with both bags in hand, "Bells is a heavy sleeper she won't wake if you pick her up, actually I don't think she'll wake up until tomorrow."
Even so I picked her up gently and cradled her against my chest, bridal style, as Kaden had said she was still peacefully sleeping despite the sudden lack of sofa. She even snuggled deeper into me, that—as corny as it sounds—made my heart skip.
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