BOUND BY FLAMES

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Laura.

Of course, he found me! Ethan had said he would but I had not expected him to find me so soon!

My lungs burned, and my legs threatened to give out, but I didn’t dare stop running. He didn't seem to be following me like I had initially thought but I wasn’t foolish enough to stop. I knew he would come for me; Dylan seemed like he always got what he wanted; his reputation made that clear.

The forest seemed endless, the trees towering above me, taunting my every move.

I wasn’t too sure where I was going, only that I had to keep moving till I could find somewhere to hide.

After a while, my body began to give out. I had run for miles and now it seemed I was lost.

How was I supposed to get home from here? I was unfamiliar with this part of the woods.

Stumbling over a root hidden beneath the underbrush, I crashed to the ground, biting back a cry of pain as sharp twigs scratched my palms.

“Laura,” his voice called out, low but commanding, from somewhere behind me.

I froze in place. He'd followed me.

“I know you’re out here. There’s no point in hiding,” he said, his tone calm, almost…gentle.

I pressed myself against the nearest tree, willing myself to become invisible. The snapping of twigs and rustling leaves told me he was close. Too close.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” he continued, his voice nearer now. “You’re making this harder on yourself. I just want to help. You must be injured.”

I clenched my fists, shaking my head. “No,” I whispered, though I knew he couldn’t hear me.

The forest suddenly became silent, and for a moment, I thought he had given up but that was my mistake because then, out of nowhere, a hand gripped my wrist, yanking me to my feet.

I gasped, my soul almost leaving my body, as I stared into those familiar dark eyes that somehow felt different, almost warm.

His face was impassive, but something was unsettling about the way he looked at me—like he was trying to piece me together.

“Running was a bad idea,” he said, his voice low and steady.

“Let go of me,” I spat, struggling against his grip.

He didn’t budge. “If I let go, will you bolt again?” he questioned. There was a softness to his face that unsettled me just a little.

“Maybe,” I snapped.

His lips twitched, almost like he was amused, but the seriousness in his eyes didn’t waver. “You don’t trust me. I get that. But you’re not safe out here. You need to come with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said, glaring up at him. “I’ve seen what you do to people. Do you think I’d willingly go back to your pack? You’re a monster.”

Something flickered in his expression—hurt? Annoyance, confusion? I couldn’t tell at all. There was too much going on.

“I’m not who you think I am,” he said quietly.

“You’re exactly who I think you are,” I shot back. “I saw you kill those people without a second thought. You didn’t even flinch. What kind of person does that? I'll tell you, a monster and I don't want to be mated to someone like that.”

“What? I've never…” he started to say but a flint of realization came over him.

He sighed, releasing my wrist but blocking my path with his body. “You don’t know the whole story, Laura. Those people weren’t innocent. They betrayed the pack and sold information that led to the death of a child. I had no choice.”

I stumbled back, glaring at him. “There’s always a choice. You just didn’t care enough to make the right one.”

He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. “You think I enjoy it? Do you think I sleep soundly after making those decisions?”

“You were sleeping just fine when I escaped last night.”

He groaned.

“Look, just come with me and I can find a healer to…”

“I told you I'm fine. It was just a scratch, I just want to go home.”

“But you are my mate; it's my duty to protect you now. Don't you understand that?”

I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. “I don’t want to understand. I just want to be left alone. I don’t need a mate like you.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The tension crackled between us, thick and suffocating.

“You might not want a mate like me,” he said finally, his voice softer. “But you have one. And that means I’ll protect you, whether you like it or not.”

Before I could respond, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “There’s a hotel nearby. You need rest and food. I’ll take you there. After that, you can decide what you want to do.”

I blinked, taken aback. “Why would you do that?”

He looked at me, something unreadable in his eyes. “Because I’m not the monster you think I am.”

Reluctantly, I followed him to the car, keeping my distance. I didn’t trust him, not entirely, but exhaustion and hunger had worn me down. Plus, if he wasn't a monster like he claimed, my plan may still be on, and that was all that mattered.

The ride to the hotel was silent.

I broke the silence after a while with a question.

“I'm guessing Ethan told you or did you find out I escaped on my own,”

“Huh?” He glanced at me briefly in confusion before looking back at the road.

“Ethan? Your beta?”

“Oh, yeah… he told me.”

“And so you came all the way to come get me?” I asked, wanting to hear the right words.

“Yeah,” he nodded.

After a few minutes, he pulled up in front of one of the hotels that Vivian always frequented but never took me along.

He led me up to his suite.

Dylan opened the door to his suite, stepping aside for me to enter. The room was spacious and modern, with neutral tones and large windows overlooking the forest. It was far too nice for someone who had just spent hours running through dirt and twigs.

I hesitated, standing in the doorway.

“Go ahead,” he said, his voice softer than before. “You’re safe here.”

Safe. The word rang hollow in my ears. I wasn’t safe—not with him, not with anyone from his world. But I was too exhausted to argue.

I stepped inside, feeling his presence behind me like a shadow. He moved to the mini-fridge, pulled out a bottle of water, and handed it to me.

“Drink. You need to rehydrate,” he said, his tone leaving no room for debate.

I took the bottle but didn’t open it. “Why are you doing this?”

His dark eyes met mine, a flicker of something unguarded passing through them. “Because I need you to see me for who I am—not who you think I am.”

The intensity in his gaze made me look away, my chest tightening. I didn’t know what to say to that. He was being awfully different from the Dylan I met.

“You should get some rest,” he added after a pause. “The bed’s yours. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

I blinked. “You’re staying here?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You think I’m letting you out of my sight again?”

“Figures,” I muttered, turning away. I didn’t trust him, but I was too tired to care. For now, I’d play along. Tomorrow, I’d find a way to escape.

As I sank onto the bed, the soft mattress felt like heaven after the harsh forest floor. My body ached, my mind spun, but sleep began to pull at me.

I woke up to the sound of yelling.

I stood up from my bed and made my way to the living room, scared.

I paused and froze in place when I saw Dylan talking to another man who looked exactly like him.

Was I in a dream?

“D…Dylan?” I asked in confusion.

One of them turned to look at me.

“Ah, I see all of that running got you back into my brother's hands.” He said.

“What's going on here?”

The one that was dressed in yesterday's clothes stepped forward.

“I have a confession to make, Laura. I have a twin, and I am not Dylan; I'm Damon. That's my twin brother, Dylan.”

My breath caught. So, this wasn't a horrible dream.

“But that's not possible, I feel the mate bond with the both of you.”