Chapter 51


    My head spins and pounds as I slowly crawl out of the car. Once I hit the asphalt, I search for Anna, my


    eyes roaming the entire incident but seeing her nowhere. Suddenly, when they reach the forest, I spot


    Anna on the ground being dragged away by a stranger. My eyes bulge from my head and I immediately


    attempt to get up, but my body refuses to cooperate.


    Frantically, my hand feels my surroundings and my eyes stay fixed on her until she is engulfed into the


    trees.


    Looking back into the car, I see my phone resting on the floor, tucked underneath the seat. I groan as I


    move myself forward, only a few inches at a time. Thankfully, I grab it and check to make sure it still


    works.


    The screen dimly lights up and a see a missed call from Tyler. Sighing, I hit the notification and hold the


    device to my ear. He picks up after two rings. "Tyler," I manage to call out, my voice hoarse. "Tyler?"


    "Katy, is that you?"


    "Car ident," I briefly breathe out as my throat runs dry. "The car crashed."


    "Where are you?" He asks, rushed. "Where''s Anna? Are you both okay?"


    "She''s gone."


    "What street are you on?"


    My head gazes to the street sign. "Regent, somewhere by an open field... forest on the other side...


    hurry."


    I drop the phone and look up at the sky. I have to try and get up.


    After rolling onto my stomach, I push my chest up with both arms and begin to slowly move my knees


    so they are against the road. One on my hands and knees, I reach out to the car and try to pull myself


    up. My limbs shake and my face heats up. My entire body is sore. I nce to the truck, the car who


    collided with us, to see the driver incapacitated with his head against the wheel.


    I steady myself and slowly make my way over while holding onto the car. Walking bes easier and


    I begin to move faster. "Sir!" I call out but the person makes no movement. "Sir!"


    I grip onto the drivers seat door handle and tug it open. Reaching out, I feel for the mans pulse, and it is


    there. Next I check for breathing, and he is. The man must have been knocked out on impact. Distant


    sounds of a car fill my ears and I nce behind me to see someoneing from down the road. Soon


    enough I realize it is Tyler.


    ***


    Getting up from the bed, I shakily move towards the door and press my ear against it. Sleeping through


    the night, or what I assumed to be the night, benefited my weak bones greatly. My arm is still sprained


    and my legs are still bruised and batter along with the rest of my body, but I have managed to get out of


    bed.


    Listening carefully, I hear no sounds until footsteps draw near. Swiftly, I step to the side of the door


    when the handle giggles and the clicking noise sounds. The door opens and a man walks in with food,


    standing behind the door, I slip out and push him to the ground.


    "What the—"


    Before he can draw too much attention, I throw themp at his head, knocking him out cold. My heart


    races in my chest as I slip through the door and creep along the hallway wall. Stepping gently, I pause


    every now and then when sudden noisese flying at me.


    A door ahead grabs my attention, so I rush towards it, not wanting to waste anymore time. The door


    thankfully opens and I close it once I am inside. The room is empty, and I immediately curse inwardly.


    Peeking out into the hall, I slide out and rush to the next door, but this room is again empty. Frustrated,


    my hands fight to yank at my hair.


    I take a deep breath and continue on.


    Arger door opens smoothly and I swiftly shut it behind me. My eyes search the room. It must be


    some sort of office.


    My eyes grow wide when theynd on a phone resting on the desk. Before I can attempt at using it,


    footsteps grow near and I begin to panic.


    I tuck myself underneath the desk and pull the chair in to cover me as much as possible. The room


    The door leisurely swings open and someone walks in. Their feet reach the edge of the desk and seem


    to stop there while shuffling urs above me. Assuming they are grabbing something from the desk, I


    keep quiet and wait until they turn around and leave the room.


    Swallowing, my hand reaches on top of the desk, and I pull the phone underneath. I hurriedly dial


    Tyler''s number and hold the phone to my ear.


    Nothing.


    I stay close to the walls as I rush back to the room. Since the phone does not work, my hopes have


    withered. I slip back through the door but freeze when I spot someone crouched down beside the man


    who brought me food. My heartes to a harsh halt when the stranger gazes up and Tyler''s eyes


    beam into mine. "Thank god," he murmurs and traps me in his arms, squeezing me tightly.


    Tears spring from my eyes.


    "How did you..." I mumble.


    "We don''t have time right now, we have to get out of here," he tells me and I nod my head, eager to


    leave.


    Together we sneak down the hallway and search for any exits. I stay close behind him as he navigates


    through the building, pulling me around corners or into rooms when someone walks by or seems to be


    close. He does not let go of my hand.


    As wee around a sharp corner, Tyler immediately stops.


    "How interesting."


    My eyes shoot up to find Richard standing before us, like a wall keeping us from my safe haven. Tyler


    moves me behind him, though my eyes do not leave the ones who haunt me. "This is over now," Tyler


    tells him. "It''s over."


    Richard does not seem fazed. "You know, I was thinking simr things. This is over, you have to be


    removed."


    My grip on Tyler tightens. My heart jumps asrge hands grab me from behind and restrain me in their


    arms. Before Tyler can make any moves, he too is detained. Richard watches as the two of us struggle,


    uninterested. "I would not try anything stupid."


    My eyes wander down to the de gripped in the mans hand as he holds it close to my chest. Not


    being able to move, I whimper at the thought of being cut, sliced, and bled out. "Obviously," he


    continues. "I cannot physically hurt my Annalee, but I can kill you," he says to Tyler. "And I think I will."


    "You can''t!" I shout at him. "If you do I''ll... I''ll kill myself. You can''t have your pack without me!"


    Richard eyes shift to me. "I will not let you, but it was a very romantic gesture."


    My face heats with furry.


    Richard makes a quick motion to the men holding Tyler, and one lifts their silver de to his neck.


    Tears pour from my eyes, sobs erupt from my lips, and my limbs do not stop fighting. "Stop please! You


    can''t! You can''t!"


    Just as the de touches his precious skin, and intruder swings open the door. The men are distracted


    along with Richard.


    Standing in the frame are too easy I have never been more grateful to see.


    Jackson, he is here.


    In a matter of seconds, Jackson attacks Richard and Tyler escapes from the de. Stupidly, the man


    lets go of me to assist his leader, as Jackson has shifted and pounced. The two take on Richard and


    the men, as I cower with my hands on my bump. I cannot let anything happen to my baby.


    Tyler''s eyes find mine. "Go, Anna, run as far as you can."


    Before I can tell him anything, he is busy with the guards, holding them back from seizing me. Though


    my heart urns to stay with my love, I know I have to run. I dash out the open door, experiencing


    sensations and feelings I have felt before. Men fight outside, bodies in on the grass floor, guards


    battling with no hesitation, this all feels terribly familiar, like I have lived through this moment before.


    Avoiding all interaction, I sprint into the trees and disappear with in them.