THE LYCAN ENFORCER

~Chapter 5: The Bath~

ANNABETH'S POV~

"I can't be your mate. You're lying," I said, my voice cracking. I stumbled back toward the door, my mind racing. It can't be. I can't be. I will never accept it.

"Annabeth, I know this is confusing for you. But let's not talk about it now you're still tensed. Come, sit on the bed. I'll find you something to wear, your dress is filthy."

He went to his dresser, rifling through drawers. I didn't wait. I took the opportunity. I turned, threw the door open, and ran. I hit the hallway, my heart hammering rapidly. I heard him curse loudly when I reached the staircase and rushed down, missing a step toward the bottom, but the momentum only propelled me faster down.

I raced to the front door, pulling it open only for it to be shut close back with full force by someone behind me. I rested my forehead on the door unwilling to turn back because I already knew it was him.

He grabbed my arm. I begged him to let me go, but his grip was too strong like iron, bruising my freckled arm. He noticed my arm and quickly let go.

My legs gave out, and I crumbled to the amber floor, burying my head in my arms. I wasn't a wolf. I couldn't run fast enough. I couldn't escape. There was nowhere for me to go.

"Annabeth," The Enforcer whispered. He knelt on the floor next to me, his hands stroking my hair soothingly. I didn't move. He said my name again, more assertively this time. When I still didn't respond, he gathered me into his arms and brought me back upstairs.

I hid my face with my hair as we passed by the other wolves who were watching us with mouth wide open.

He brought me back to the room and sat me on the edge of the bed. I pushed his arms away, but he set them right back, forcing me to sit still.

He knelt in front of me and began taking the dirty sandals off my feet, setting them by the nightstand. His thumb lingered on my skin, noticing a dark bruise his hand had created in the car. He looked physically pained.

He gathered a pair of grey sweatpants and a large white t-shirt from the dresser and set them beside me. "Would you like a bath? It might help calm you down," he offered.

I looked at him through my tears. He looked sad, genuinely sad. It was a contradiction I couldn't process.

How dare he look sad, he did this to me.

He led me to the bathroom as I didn't have the strength to fight anymore, a room of marble and glass with a large, soaking bathtub. He drew the water, adding oils that turned the water pink and foamy.

"Do you need help?" He asked, noticing I was still visibly shaking. I shook my head no, and he nodded, leaving the room and shutting the door halfway.

I stripped quickly, hiding my ruined dress and underwear, and shamelessly slid into the warm water. It felt like heaven in this cold place. I let the heat of the water soak into my bones, trying to pretend I was anywhere but here for now.

I heard a knock once and the Enforcer came in, sitting on a small stool beside the tub. I flinched, curling over my knees. "Go away!"

"Annabeth, please. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to make sure you're okay."

He grabbed a soft sponge, dipped it in the water, and came closer to me, "Don't touch me!" I warned angrily and glared at him hatefully.

He forcefully started running the sponge down my spine. He was too strong, I couldn't fight his hands off with just one of my hand, as I covered my breasts with my other hand to prevent him from seeing all of me. He took a comb and brushed my curls aside to reach my shoulders, his touch steady and strangely gentle even with my nonstop resistance. He moved the stool so he could wash my arms, then moved to the end of the tub to scrub the dirt from my feet. I struggled to keep my body hidden from him but he seemed not to be interested in looking over that direction. He was only focused on what he was doing.

Once he made sure I was clean, he massaged my scalp, washing the grime from my hair. I tried to stay rigid since I couldn't overpower him, but under his touch, I felt a treacherous wave of exhaustion. He wasn't acting like the monster who had dragged me into the SUV. He was acting like... a mate. Which made my skin crawl the more.

He left the room to let me dress after leaving some clothes for me on the clothe stand. The clothes were huge on me, the sweatpants drooped over my feet and the t-shirt reached my mid thigh. I stepped out of the bathroom, stumbling like a newborn fawn.

He met me at the door, immediately bending down to fold the sweatpants up so my feet were free. He stood up and scanned me.

"Would you like to sleep? You must be exhausted now."

I shook my head no. I didn't want to be unconscious around him.

"No one will hurt you here," he promised.

"It's not everyone else I'm worried about," I muttered giving him a glare.

He looked crushed. "Annabeth..... I would never hurt you. Not on purpose."

I held up my wrist, showing him the dark bruise he’d left earlier. It was a silent, ugly accusation.

"Little one," he whispered, a low whimper escaping his chest. "I'm sorry. I didn't know how fragile you were earlier until later. I didn't mean to... I promise you."

"I'm not fragile," I hissed.

"You are, Annabeth," he insisted softly. "Come sleep. I won't touch you."

My tired muscles eventually won the argument. I went to the side of the bed, and he reached over to pull back the covers.

"Climb in." He commanded and I shook my head. "You are clearly tired, and you need some rest. Now climb in. Or do I have to force you again?"

I quickly climbed in, laying on the very edge of the bed with my back turned to him.

I thought this was the moment he would pounce and have his way with me but surprisingly he didn't get in. He simply pushed my hair back from my face, his fingers lingering for one last second. "I'll be in my study," he whispered. "If you need anything, just call. I would hear your voice from the next room."

I didn't answer. I waited until I heard the door click shut before I let out a breath I’d been holding in.

I must find a way to escape this place before it's too late. I will never accept the fact that it's over for me.

~