Learning to trust again

Chapter 4, Take it if you want it

Juniper POV

What are you doing? I am ready to give you everything you want and you just cover me up? I am not a toy who you can play with! Just do it! Efraïm pulls up his brow while looking at me.

What are you doing? You're doing nothing. Look at my body! Here, take it. You really want it, right? Please don't see me as a toy. I cannot handle that. I yell. He can take it all because it does not mean anything anymore. Suddenly, Efraïm turns around, opens the door and is gone. The door closes with a bang. I hear the lock being turned. Great, a man who does not know what he wants.

I sit up on the bed with the blanket still around me and look outside.

It happened over a year ago. My 18th birthday was supposed to be an amazing day. My father, who was the beta of my old pack. The California hills pack. My father organised a birthday party. It was wonderful. On my way back after the party I saw my alpha, I found out he was my mate, and a mate weakens you. It distracts you from the important stuff in a pack. Normally, you should reject your mate immediately. But, this feeling was different. We felt different. I was so happy (I thought). Jay took me with him to his room and ordered me to undress myself. I tried to leave the room but Jay grabbed me and pushed me on the bed. He touched me and put his manhood in me, it hurt me so much. It was so painful. When he was done, he told me he rejected me as a mate and banished me from the pack. It hurt so much, I cried and i felt my heart break. I felt every connection with my pack leave my body and I never felt more alone. After a few hours, two men came in and took me outside to the border of the pack. They threw me to the ground. When I stood up, I saw James. He was one of the wizards of the pack. He casted a spel. After that, I wasn't able to find the pack. I have tried i after that but it was like it disappeared.

I stand up and pick up my clothes. I have to leave this place. I look outside and see the moon shining. I dress myself and put my boots on. I walk over to my balcony and look downstairs. The men who have to guard me are all looking another way. I pull myself up on the railing of the balcony and jump on the roof. I take a minute to feel less dizzy. I look around and walk slowly to one of the sides of the house. Luckily no one is there. I find a tree next to the house and climb unto it. after a while, I put my feet on the ground and look around. It's time, I run into the woods as if my life depends on it. Well, technically it does.

Efraïm POV

I feel tears running. Why would she do that? This was not supposed to happen. Was I wrong. Did I show her wrong intentions? I walk into my office and close the door. I take a seat after my desk and open my laptop. Time to do some work, because sleeping is going to be hard. On the mainscreen of my laptop I see a picture of Katherine. I close my eyes. You would have known what to do.

After two hours of work Adam mindlinks me. Efraïm, she is gone. She what? I was just with her, there are people who are supposed to guard her. I run to Junipers' room. I see Adam standing there. Matt one of my best trackers, is in there with him. Well, why are we still here? We need to get her! I yell. Matt runs away and, for a moment, I am alone with Adam. Oliver comes running in. There you are! Efraïm, we know which way she went. Together with Adam and Oliver I run outside. I shift and run to the last known location. It takes another hour before one of my trackers mindlinks me. They found her.

After another 30 minutes, I reach Juniper's location. When I come closer I see her walking on the road. Well it looks more like she is limping. I see Adam in the car behind her shining his lights so we can see her. I decide te walk next to her, for 15 minutes we walk side by side. I see her stumbling and almost falling, her foot seems to hurt. I take a step in front of her and I stop her. She tries to walk around me but I put my arms around her. She start to hit me and tries to push me away. I lift her up and take her to the car. She still tries to push me away i wont budge. Someone opens the door and I put Juniper in, and take the seat next to her. I grab a blanket that Adam hands me and put it over Juniper. I see you are tired. Please try to sleep, your safe. I won't hurt you. After around five minutes I see her falling asleep.

The entire ride home she is asleep. I look at her and wonder.

Juniper POV

What's that smell? I open my eyes and look around. I see Efraïm standing with the female Doctor, Hannah. I see they are mindlinking (their eyes look kind of cloudy), which means I can't hear them. I lift my hand to rub my eye. Ouch, what is in my hand? I lift my hand to see an iv. The iv runs to a pole with a big bag with some liquid in it.

Juniper your awake, Hannah aprouches me and checks my iv. Juniper, I gave you some fluids, you where dehydrated, which means you have to start eating and drinking, because I know you didn't eat when you where in the hospital. I look down and avoid her look.

Also I took a look at your foot and your seemed to have sprained it. The wolfsbane is almost out of your body so I hope it will be healed in no time. I nod. While Hanna keeps talking to me, I look behind her at Efraïm. He took a seat in one of the chairs and looks outside. He has some kind of sadness in his eyes.

I hear Hanna leaving the room. Suddenly, Efraïm turns to me as if he senses I am watching him. He looks me straight in the eyes, I see tears coming out of his eyes. My first reaction is to look away but something about him intrigues me. We look at each other for minutes without saying anything.

Suddenly, Efraïm gets up and walk over to the dresser. He grabs a tray and approaches me. Juniper I want you to eat. He puts the tray in front of me, I see some yogurt, croissants and a big glass juice. Without looking I answer. I'm sorry a alpha but I I am not hungry,. I try to push the tray away. I feel my stomach rumble in protest. I try to look away but Efraïm sits down on the bed and puts his tum under my chin to lift my head up.

Efraïm POV

I lift her head up. Juniper after everything that has happened, I think its best you eat. You have two choices; you will do it yourself or I will make you do it. I see a hint of fear in her eyes. Slowly, I see her hand grab a croissant, she takes it to her mouth and takes a small bite. I get up and sit down in the chair near the window, while I keep looking at her. After thirty minutes, the tray is empty.

I stand up and remove the tray from the bed and put it back on the dresser. I sigh. Juniper we need to talk. Juniper turns her head to me. I walk over to the bed and sit down. Juniper follows every move I make. Juniper, why are you so afraid of me? Juniper looks away and pulls the blanket up. When she stays quiet, I ask her again. Juniper, I need to know. I would never do anything to hurt you. I want you to believe me. Junipers sighs. I I.... she stays quiet for a while. I can't give you what you want. please just let me go.

Hanna walks in, to pick up the tray and to check if Juniper ate something. In the meantime Adam mindlinks me. Efraïm we've got visitors. I stand up, Juniper I need to go downstairs, but I will be back and I really want to talk to you. I see her nod. Hanna, could you stay with her until I am back?

When I come downstairs, I see two men. They bow their heads when they see me. Alpha Waters thank you for talking to us. I nod, gentlemen, how can I help you? Well, we are Dave and John from the California Hills pack. Our alpha is looking for his mate. She rejected him while she was pregnant. They show a picture, we are wondering if you could take an eye out for her. We would be grateful if you would contact her when you find her, she is extremely dangerous. I see a picture of Juniper, I keep calm and don't show any emotion. Of course, gentlemen. I will keep an eye out for her, can I keep the picture so I can show it to my men? They nod Of course, alpha, thank you. I see the men out and watch them drive away. As soon as the men are out of sight Adam looks at me. Efraïm I don't believe this. I nod, me neither, but something happened and what I do know is that Juniper's gonna have to tell the truth so we can protect her. Adam and I continue the talk in our office.