Alec’s

Pressing my lips into a thin line, I don't say anything. It was obvious I was alive, so there was no need to confirm what he could already see. "How? How is it possible?"

"Elder Martin, it's good to see you," Alec's voice interrupts from behind. "Let's leave, we'll explain everything once we get to the pack."

"I don't think the pack will be receptive to having her around given what she did. They still believe Lola was your mate."

Ah, so Alec's pack doesn't know that Lola was a fraud? That's interesting. I wonder why he hasn't told them, given he knew the truth way before we found out we were mates. "I'll explain it to them," Alec replies dismissively. "There has been a new development."

Elder Martin looks at him questioningly before he nods his head and moves aside. Unlike before, this time I travel with Alec in the same car. An arrangement that I didn't like at all.

I was pissed and irritable. The fact that we were getting closer and closer to the pack that brought me so much misery raised my hackles even higher. A very small part of me wanted to run and never look back I just didn't know whether it's because I wanted to escape the pain, I tried so hard to bury, or it's because of the danger I was sensing on the horizon.

"Sadie?"

"What" I snap because his deep and, gravely voice just irritated me.

I used to dream of that same voice telling me how he loved me. I imagined his voice getting even deeper when he was aroused. I used to imagine that vibration against my clit when he asked me to look at him while he did dirty things to me with his mouth.

Now that same voice frustrated me and irritated me. It reminded me of how deep and dangerous it got right before he caused me pain while I was locked up. It reminded me of his taunts as I begged him to believe me. If I could shut him up permanently so that I didn't have to listen to him, then I would.

"I just wanted to ask if you are okay."

I scoff at his statement.

"Do I look okay to you?" I hiss. "I'm going back to the one place where I suffered humiliation and pain at your hands. Did you think I'd be happy? Or that I'd be excited to see the place that holds so much pian for me?"

Something flashes in his eyes, but he conceals it before I can get a good read.

"I don't want to fight, Sadie. I'm just wor-"

I cut him off before he can finish. "Save it, Alec. I'm only here because I want to be free of you. Nothing more, nothing less. We will work together to lift whatever curse your pack is under and after that you'll accept the rejection. We'll go separate ways. You'll find your Lola, and you'll leave me and Aspen alone. Am I clear?"

His jaw clenches, but he doesn't say anything.

The bond screams against the idea of a rejection. It pushes against the idea of both of us choosing other mates, but I ignore it. Too much has already happened between us.

There is a deep and dark past. There is too much pain. I'm bitter, hateful and angry. I doubt I can ever forgive him and let go, so how can there be hope? Besides, Lola was the love of his life. Even if there wasn't such a heinous past between us, I would come second to her.

I may be a lot of things, but I refuse to be settled for. I come second to none.

The car comes to a stop, and it's then I realize that we were at the border. This is it. I was back after three years.

Home sweet home (Note the sarcasm).