ELENA

I felt something cold pass my cheek. It was followed by a sharp pain as the gunshot rang through the room. I waited for the pain to fully come, expecting it to rip through my chest or skull and I would fall to the ground dead.

I held my breath and for a moment, I thought that my miserable life would finally end. But nothing happened. I opened my eyes, blinking through the tears.

I was alive.

“Stephen, Stop this madness! You’ll go to jail if you kill her!” my mother-in-law shouted from the corner. She cared more about her son than my life ending.

Stephen lowered his gun with a arrogant smirk. “I know,” he replied, putting the weapon back into his pocket as if it were a wallet and not a weapon of destruction. “I’m not stupid enough to kill her in my own home. At least not like this. Best believe I wanted her to feel what I’m capable of.”

I could barely breathe.

Fear rolled off my body in waves and I was sure he could smell it. He walked down the stairs and my heart beat even faster. I tried to stop my body from shaking so I folded my hands into fists.

"You should know never to make another mistake, princess," he said. His voice was as poisonous as a snakes venom. He grabbed my chin roughly and forced me to look into his eyes.

I looked at him through the tears. "Dear, dear, wipe your tears. It wouldn’t take a second to blow your brains out and make you disappear forever.” He said calmly.

“I’ll burn your body, scatter the ashes and erase every trace of you. No one will bother to look for you. I’ll replace you with someone better, someone who is more obedient. You’re nothing to me, Elena. Just a worthless woman I’ve been stuck with.” He finished.

The words hurt more than I thought. I wanted to fight back and tell him how wrong he was. But no sound left my mouth. I swallowed the burning tears threatening to fall and forced my body not to shake under his grip.

“I-I’m sorry,” I managed to force out. I hated how weak my voice sounded.

Stephen’s lips lifted into a cruel smile. He let go of my chin, pushing my head to the side. “If you’re really sorry, then you’ll make up for it tonight. You owe me.” He said.

A chill travelled down my spine. I realized that he wanted me to satisfy him in bed. I wanted to vomit. His eyes stayed on me as he stepped back.

My mind was racing as I flashed back to the nights of rough love making. I couldn’t do this anymore. I couldn't continue to live like this. I had to escape.

***

Later that night, before Stephen returned from drinking with his friends and my mother in law went to bed, I walked around the house.

I had roughly two hours before Stephen would return and bring me hell. The main doors were locked and the keys were with my mother-in-law who was ignorant and was in her room for the night.

I served her dinner, my hands shaking. She didn’t seem to notice. Once she was settled, I made my way back to the bedroom. I locked the door behind me.

“This is it, Elena,” I muttered to myself.

I rushed to the window. There, the clothes I had tied together to form a rope were on the floor. I glanced around before throwing the length outside the window. I looked down. It wasn't reaching the ground but, it was good enough.

I took the small bag I had packed for this and climbed out the window. With a deep breath, I began to climb down. I prayed to the goddess that the rope wouldn't lose and I would fall.

My mind screamed at me to hurry up. I had to stay calm and move carefully or I would end up falling and breaking my bones.

At last, my feet touched the ground. I made it out of the house. That was the first step. I adjusted my clothes about to run toward the forest when I heard a voice.

“What the hell do you think you’re trying to do, Elena?”

I froze. That was Stephen's voice. When I turned in the direction his voice came from, I saw that he was watching me. I didn't know how long he had been standing there. His eyes moved to the clothe rope hanging from our bedroom window.

My heart dropped. He wasn’t supposed to be back from drinking with his friends now.

“I-I-” I stammered. I told myself to lie but I couldn't think of anything. My mind was blank.

“You were trying to escape,” he said, calmly. It was more scary than when he yelled. He moved his hand to his pocket. I gasped.

I didn’t need to see the gun. Without another thought, I turned and ran for my life. My legs moved faster than they ever had before.

“Get back here, you bitch!” Stephen furiously yelled behind me but I didn’t dare look back.

Branches and leaves scratched at my skin, and the ground beneath my feet wasn't stable but I didn’t stop. I ran through the woods. Fear kept me from stopping.

I had to get away. I had to be free, I thought. But Stephen was faster. I could hear his footsteps coming closer. He was going to catch me.

“Help me!” I screamed, though I knew it was no use. No one would hear me out here. No one ever did.

And then, ahead of me, I saw him.

A man standing in the shadows, just watching me. He seemed impossibly tall. His face was hidden in the darkness but I noticed him.

I felt relieved. He was someone who could help me.

I ran towards him, begging. “Please help me! He’s going to kill me!”

The man didn’t move at first. His eyes glowed red and they locked on mine. Something about him wasn’t right. I could feel it.

But I didn’t have time to think. Stephen was getting closer. I could hear his threats louder than ever.

The man stepped forward, his eyes narrowing behind me. “What do you need my help with me?”

I was still lost in his eyes. They were nothing like anything I've ever seen before, even among the Alphas. Something about them sent a shiver down my spine. Was he really here to help me? Or was he here to kill me?

Before I could answer, Stephen yelled. “Elena! Get back here, now!”

I turned my head to look at him. I was trapped. On one side, my ruthless husband who brought death with him. And on the other, a man with the eyes of a demon.

I had to choose.