Let Me Go Book 2 of the Contract

20 tell me

Chapter 20

Brady POV

I honestly didn't know what to say. Bella was standing in front of me, looking completely overwhelmed, and I couldn't blame her. If I were in her position, I'd probably be just as confused. One minute, she had been fighting a wizard who was trying to manipulate her mind. The next, she had discovered she could use magic, her wolf had apparently been hiding a lycan inside her since she was five years old, and then she found out that I was her mate.

And, of course, there was the little problem of our contract. The contract that specifically said we weren't supposed to fall in love.

The contract we had both signed because neither of us wanted a real relationship. The contract that was supposed to make everything simple. Nothing about this was simple anymore.

I took a step toward her.

"Bella..."

She immediately held up her hand. "Don't."

I stopped. She looked at me with narrowed eyes.

"I don't even know if I want to hear what you have to say right now."

"I understand."

"Do you?"

I nodded. "Yes."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Because you've known for weeks"

I sighed. "Yes."

"And you didn't tell me."

"I was trying to figure out what to do."

"By yourself?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Because I was terrified, I couldn't say that out loud. I had known she was my mate for months, but I had been afraid of what would happen if I told her. We had a contract. We had agreed that neither of us would fall in love. We were supposed to have a child, fulfill our obligations, and go our separate ways. That was the plan. At least, it had been. But the moment I discovered she was my mate, everything changed. I wanted to tell her. Every single day. But I was scared she'd reject me.I was scared she'd hate me. And now I knew she'd been angry because I kept it from her.

"I didn't know how to tell you," I admitted.

Bella's expression softened for half a second before she shook her head. "You could have just said, 'Hey, Bella, we're mates.'"

I almost smiled. "It wasn't that easy."

"Why not?"

"Because of the contract."

She went silent. I could see the realization hit her. Our contract.

The reason neither of us had allowed ourselves to get too close.

The reason we had kept our feelings buried. The reason I'd convinced myself that finding my mate didn't matter. But it did.

It mattered more than anything. Bella looked down at the ground.

"What happens now?"

"I don't know."

She looked back at me. "That's comforting."

"I meant I don't know what you want."

She frowned. "What do you want?"

There it was. The question I'd been avoiding for months.

I stepped closer. "I want you."

Her eyes widened. "I want you as my mate. Not because of the contract. Not because we need to have a child. Not because I'm an Alpha and you're expected to be my Luna."

I swallowed. "I want you because you're you."

She stared at me. I could see the battle happening behind her eyes.

Then she whispered, "You should have told me."

"I know."

"You should have trusted me."

"I know."

"You should have given me a choice."

"I know."

She looked away. "I don't know if I can forgive you yet."

My heart dropped.

"But..."

She looked back at me. "I'm not rejecting you."

I froze. "What?"

"You heard me."

My wolf practically exploded inside my head. “Mate!”

I had to fight the urge to smile. Bella pointed a finger at me.

"Don't get excited."

I immediately tried to control my expression.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm really not."

"You have the biggest stupid grin on your face."

I couldn't help it. I smiled. She rolled her eyes. Then suddenly, her expression changed. She looked toward the dead wizard.

"Wait."

I followed her gaze. "What?"

She crouched beside the body. "There has to be a reason he came here."

My smile disappeared. She was right. Someone had sent him.

I looked around the forest. The warriors were still searching the area, checking for anyone else who might be hiding. Bella stood.

"Who sent him?"

I didn't answer. Because I already knew. Or at least, I had a pretty good idea. Someone wanted Bella. Someone knew about her.

Someone knew about her powers. And now that her lycan had awakened, I had a feeling whoever was behind this wasn't going to stop.

Bella looked at me. "Brady?"

I looked into her eyes. "We need to get back to the pack."

She nodded. Then Winter's voice suddenly echoed through the bond. "No."

Bella froze. "What?"

I looked at her. "What did she say?"

Bella's face went pale. "She said no."

"Why?"

Bella closed her eyes. A few seconds passed. Then she opened them. "She says we're being watched."

Every warrior around us immediately reached for their weapons.

I stepped in front of Bella.

"Where?"

Bella looked toward the trees. Winter answered. "Behind us."

I spun around. Nothing. Just trees. Darkness. Silence. Then I heard it. A twig snapping. Something moved between the trees.

I growled. "Show yourself!"

Nothing. Bella stepped beside me. "Brady..."

"I've got you."

Then a voice came from the darkness. "Do you really?"

My blood ran cold. Because I knew that voice. Bella didn't.

But I did. And the last person I expected to hear in these woods was standing somewhere in the shadows. Raven. My hands curled into fists. He had come for Bella. And this time, I wasn't going to let him take her.

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