An Unwavering Promise--Completed

Chapter Sixteen

Eleanor’s POV

Slapping his hands off my face, I took a step back and glared at him. This guy was seriously a fool if he believed I’d ever willingly go anywhere with him. The nerve of him even suggesting such an idea burned with anger. Not only did he know nothing about me if he thought this would work, but he also severely underestimated me if he believed I wouldn’t fight back. There was no way I’d be going down without a fight. I wasn’t an alpha for nothing, and I didn’t go through hardships to let others walk all over me. I was a changed and new woman. People had used and abused me for far too long to let anyone else dictate how I lived my life. If Dominic wanted me as badly as he indicated, he’d have to incapacitate me in order for me to cooperate.

“Are you actually being serious right now?” I challenged him with a raise of my eyebrow.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Dominic smirked at me. “Of course I am. We belong together, Eleanor.”

“Either you’re stupid or delusional if you think I’d purposefully go anywhere with you,” I said icly. “I have made myself very clear on a multitude of occasions. I don’t want you. I won’t go anywhere with you. I didn’t come here for you.”

I watched as Dominic’s demeanor changed from a stance of ease and lighthearted banter to hard and cold. He clearly didn’t like my response.

“I could always take you by force,” he replied evenly.

“I don’t think so. You see, what you may not understand is that no one, and I mean absolutely no one, tells me what I can or can not do. I’ve been through enough s**t now to realize that I’m f*****g tired of men believing they know what’s best for me or can control me. Luckily, my mate supports me in this. And yes, Dominic, I said mate. Alex is my mate. As a werewolf, I’m sure you realize what that means.”

Dominic’s eyes widened as he took in my words.

“What? Since when?”

“Since the Moon Goddess deemed it to be fate. So, put aside your stupid concept of us being together. I’ve already had someone f**k around with my mate bond, so it’d be a little cliche to do it again. Isn’t that in your file?” I snidely asked, rolling my eyes.

Half turning to face Brit, I added, “And it’s commical that you think Alex would ever choose you over me. He’s the one who fought for this bond. We’ve been through some serious s**t together, and if you think your history is enough to break us, then you’re just a stupid b***h. I don’t care what scheme you two have crafted because it isn’t going to work. If you want to be in my story, pick a new and interesting plot.”

Both stared at me in stunned silence. And then Dominic roared out in anger, reaching his arm for me. I dodged his grab by ducking under his arm, as I had been expecting it. Then, I delievered one swift kick to his nether-regens and watched him crumple to the floor. That move never ceased to bring me pleasure. Such big men taken down by such a small part. Turning my body to face the exit, I felt a heavy mass jump onto my back. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Brit and felt her hands go around my neck. Though she was tougher than I had calculated, she made the mistake of giving me leverage. Arching my back, I braced myself and then threw her over my shoulder. She landed on on her back, the air whooshing out of her lungs. I punched her once in the face, breaking her nose, and then again, which knocked her out. As soon as I confirmed that she was still alive, I sprinted towards the stairs.

Dominic was beginning to stir again, and I heard him curse under his breath. Knowing that I didn’t have much time before he was up and after me again, I threw all my strength into reaching the stairs and climbing up. Nearly making it to the top of the stairs, I abruptly stopped. Dominic had grabbed onto my ankle, causing me to falter and hit the stairs hard. Groaning, I clutched at my head, which had hit the metal staircase, and felt myself being dragged down.

“I won’t let you leave like this,” Dominic grunted.

“I’m not yours to have,” I yelled down at him.

With my other leg, I kicked out at him, hitting his chin. I heard a sickening c***k and then Dominic’s laughter. I tried kicking again, but he caught my foot in his hand and pulled me down more.

“It’s your choice, Eleanor. Stay with me willingly or I’ll kill them all. Alexander. Angel and her mate. Hailey and her unborn child. I’ll kill them all in front of you,” Dominic laughed maniacally.

Gritting my teeth, I held onto the railing of the stairs and used it as leverage to pull myself up a few stairs. Dominic was still hanging on, but I felt his grip on me slip and used it to my advantage. I wiggled away from him and scrambled back up the stairs.

“DON’T TEST ME, ELEANOR!” Dominic roared.

Reaching for the door handle, I opened it. New, fresh air hit my face, and I greedily suced it in. I allowed myself only a moment of joy. Two more steps is all I needed to get off the stairs and rush into Alexander’s arms. I briefly saw my mate and the others before a yank on my hair pulled me away from the door. Dominic flipped me over and then bashed my head into the stairway. My head exploded in stars and my vision blurred as Dominc’s laughter filled my ears. I cried out, but he banged my head into the stair again.

“Eleanor!” I heard Alexander call out as Dominic slammed the door shut.

I saw hit grinning face beam down at me in victory. He thought he’d won. My throat suddenly closed up, and I instinctively brought my hands up to my neck. I could feel his hands wrapped around my neck, pressing tightly. I gasped for breath, and my vision began to darken.

“If you won’t come with me willingly, then I’ll just take your unconscious body with me. You’ll eventually come to your senses, and then we can move forward in our relationship. Everything will be fine if you just accept your fate,” he said in a light-hearted tone.

“S–st–stop,” I weakly managed to say.

Dominic pressed himself closer to me and whispered into my ear, “I’ll never stop pursuing you. Your mate is only a barrier to what I want. You’ll see, Eleanor. You’ll see one day when we’re happy together. And in that moment, you’ll thank me. I’ll be waiting for time to come. You’re everything and more. I won’t lose you again, and not even your mate can take away the happiness I deserve by being with you.”

I felt the life draining out of me as he squeezed harder on my neck. Digging my claws into his hands, I fought for every dragged-out breath I inhaled. This wasn’t how I was going to lose. I refused to let anyone man-handle me again or control my life. Dominic was no different from Robert or Charles or Nicholas. Thoe men had already done enough damage to my life, and I wouldn’t let another man do any more.

Squinting my eyes shut and grasping for every last ounce of strength I had, I focused on the darkness that came bubbling up from deep within me. I didn’t know what it was, but it offered me a chance at escaping this lunatic choking me. It seared my skin as I felt it wash over me, and I tried to scream out, but no sound left my lips. Whether it was from Dominic’s grasp on me or something else stealing my voice, I couldn’t tell. A loud boom sounded, and the entire building shook. Heat radiated from me and another deafening boom went off. I opened my eyes for a second and saw black flames engulfing the building. Smoke billowed from the windows and people were screaming. I tried to stay conscious, but couldn’t fight off the exhaustion that spread over me. The last thing I saw was the ceiling caving in and feeling the stairs underneath give way. Weightlessness overtook me and a weird sense of peace settled in my being. If I was to die, at least I was dying under my own volition.