Talons

Chapter 80: The Fiancé

Rhea's POV

 ----Trigger Warning 16+----

The next day, I met with my counselor about transferring. I vaguely remember a clause in the contract I signed with the school saying that I had to complete my education with them, or I would lose an additional twenty percent of my company.

That is not an option for me. I’m packless and I need money to invest into protecting myself. Copying my aunt, I will create a safe haven for those who have nothing, like the rogue who saved me; he deserves my help after putting himself in danger to help me.

After a lengthy discussion with an advisor, I'm left feeling bitter and helpless. Just as I thought, I cannot transfer schools and the best the university is willing to do is allow me to fulfill most of my credit requirements online.

That however does not help me. Many of my classes are labs, and those classes cannot be completed online. While I can attend the lectures from the comfort of my home, I cannot do the hands-on experiments I need to graduate.

I'm so irritated by the fact that I made my parents sign something so restrictive that I have a strong urge to cry regardless of the fact that I'm in public.

"You couldn't have known what the future held for us. If you did, I know you would have made a better choice. Not finishing school has never been a choice for us." Sylvia is right, but my tears fall anyway.

Not really wanting to dwell on the what ifs, I head to the gym and since no one is around, I put on loud music. I don’t know how long I was running on the treadmill, but each step forced another tear out of my eye, and it now burns to keep them open.

I glance around and I notice that some of the guys have come into the gym, but no one has said anything to me, which I appreciate. Even Mike, who usually wants to know everything, has silently fallen into his own routine, and I can’t say that I mind.

Eventually Angel comes into the gym, and he dramatically covers his ears, making me roll my eyes. He beelines toward the radio and turns off my music and I take it as a cue to leave. I’m hot, covered in sweat, irritated, and in no mood to argue. 

“Is that what you listen to?” I ignore Angel who starts going into detail about metal being evil music. Personally, I believe that there are bad songs in every genre, but as a supernatural being, I know that demons are not interested in the kind of music a person listens to; its character that counts.

I start to leave, and Angel decides it's a good idea to follow me. He has been pretending to be remorseful for the lies he spread about me, but he only started to care when I was pulled from tutoring him. 

Coach Jim wasn't kidding when he said that the school took that kind of thing seriously. While nothing is true, the university took preemptive measures. They even continue to pay me to make up for the trouble Angel may have caused.

Ignorant to the truth, the administration believes that Tucker reacted to the rumors that are spreading, and while that is false, I don't exactly want to correct the school that is now sponsoring Raven's new hobby; shopping.

"Can you please stop running?" I glare at Angel, and he uses my brief pause to grab my arm and pull me into his chest. 

I hear a menacing growl and I look up just in time to see General. I push Angel away for his safety as much as mine, and I start a slow retreat, but Sylvia tells me not to run.

If I do, General may take it as a challenge and since he claims that I’m his mate, he may mark me as a sign of his victory or worse.

"Who the f*ck are you?" Angel asks, and General extends his hand. I stare at it because somehow, I know there is nothing friendly about the gesture; he is going to break Angel's hand.

"I am the fiancé of the woman you were just holding and I'm not very happy about it." General's hand is still extended, but Angel hasn't taken it. When he goes to reach out, I whimper and just as I expected, Angel screams in pain when their hands touch.

"Please General, he didn't mean any harm," I say. He glares at me before releasing Angel's hand.

"Come give me a hug," he says, and I start to shake.

"B, you don't have to do anything," Angel says, pulling me back a few steps. "Gavin told me that your family is crazy. If they are forcing you to be with that man, just run away." General roughly pushes Angel away, and while I don't think his hand had been broken before, it’s definitely hurt now.

"Come here now," General says, extending his hand to me. I slowly raise mine, and he grabs it with force, pulling me into a tight hug that hurts. "Was that so hard beautiful?" I shake my head, wanting badly to survive the situation. "Start showing me around."

General releases me, but he clasps onto my wrist that he gives a warning squeeze to. I tour him around, trying hard not to cry, but my tears are free flowing. 

I hope Angel is okay, he had been holding his wrist when we left and if it's his throwing hand that was injured, he will lose everything the way Mike almost did.

"Miss Talons," I hear, and I almost sprint to Coach Jim, who is approaching slowly. Mike is with him, and he takes one look at my tear streaked and red face and lets out a slew of curses.

"I guess I'm not the only man in love with you," General says as he pinches my cheeks. He leans forward to whisper into my ear, and when he finishes his threat, I suddenly find Colton’s words mild. General has promised to make sure that I can't walk when he is done with me. He has promised to make me beg for his forgiveness and I believe every word. “I guess she forgot to tell everyone that she will be getting married as soon as she turns eighteen.” 

Mike’s expression morphs into one that hurts me, and coach Jim manages to get him away from General and I by reminding him that he has a girlfriend. Those words seem to shock Mike, who punches a wall before storming off, making the man holding me laugh mockingly. 

"High Alpha, this is not a place for our kind. Please come to my office." General agrees, but when we are in front of the doors, he orders the coach away.

As soon as we step inside of the room, he pushes me against a wall, making me cry bitterly. I feel his hands travel to the button of my jeans and I beg him to stop.

"Please General, not like this. If you are my mate, please don't make me hate you. I don't want my first time to be like this." The man pulls away and looks at my face, clearly baffled by my words. 

I’m repulsed by him, so I can't even make eye contact. I have never wanted a mate, but since it appears I have one, I might as well try to salvage whatever relationship we may have because I know I won't get my rejection.

"You're lying," General says before commanding me to tell the truth. I submit to his command and his eyes go wide. "Then why have people told me otherwise?" 

"I don't know. I've been disliked since I was young and I'm not sure why."

"Were you saving yourself for me?" I shake my head making General growl before grabbing my neck and choking me. I force out my words, hoping he will let go before I’m compelled to react.

"I was saving myself for the right person.” My wolf and I have been sizing the man up the entire time he has been holding us and we are pretty sure we can hold our own against him. The problem would be the retaliation against my family 

"And will you continue to save it?" He asks as he presses a kiss on my ear. "I don't want to hurt you, but I will and if I find out that you slept with someone while I wait for you to come of age; mate or not, I will kill you."

After threatening my family and I with all manner of punishment if I 'disgrace' him, General leaves the office, and I slide down the wall, hugging my knees as I come to terms with how close I came to being violated; yet again. I hate everything about my life and the fact that such a cruel individual may be my mate has only made me feel worse.

I’ve done my research on General Newt, and he is a strong arm of the council. He is the one they send to wipe out packs and from what I understand he enjoys it. He has even killed children as young as Ducky, and while the council has sanctioned his actions, anyone with a brain should know it's wrong.

"B," I hear, and I look up to see Jamie. "How come you didn't tell me that you found your mate?" She questions.

"I'm seventeen," I remind her. "I feel nothing but repulsion toward that man. He is the one saying that I'm his mate, but my mother thinks he is confused." Jamie sits next to me, and I lean against her.

"What are you going to do?" Jamie knows who General is, and I hate that her family has been pulled into my mess.

Mike's POV

I pound on Gavin's door and when he opens it, I grab him by the collar pushing him back inside. He looks confused, so I remind him of his words.

"You told me that B would want me back if she saw me with someone else. You said that she still had feelings for me and that she just needed to see me moving on. You said that Jamie was the one who gave you that advice. Now tell me, if that were true, why is she with someone who isn't me?" Gavin scratches his head and it's clear he has no idea what I am talking about.

"Are you sure it was me? B isn’t that kind of girl. She wouldn’t get jealous; she would just move on.” My eyes widen as once again, Gavin has amnesia.