The Alpha and His Two Mates

Ch.17 Elizabeth

Ch.17 Elizabeth

I hadn’t been able to stay in my room. A deep pain had taken over, an aching that reached deep into my soul. I had ran to the only place that I could get some space, the clearing by the water’s edge. I ran as fast I could and collapsed as I reached the clearing. I started sobbing not able to contain my pain any longer.

What was wrong with me? What did I expect to happen? They were mates. Mates. I kept repeating this over and over again. I had no place with him. I had to leave. I had to accept that he had someone else now. I don’t know how long I was out there, but the wind started picking up. I could see now that my arm was bleeding pretty badly.

It took all my strength to pick myself up and head back into the castle. The wind was howling by the time I reached the castle. I could feel my arm covered in sticky blood and body shaking due to the cold, but I couldn’t really feel anything besides the emotional pain. My chest felt tight and I just wanted to find a corner to disappear into it. The castle was quiet, and most of the lights were off.

“Elizabeth! We’ve been looking for you everywhere. Tristan almost killed Alliso…” Justin trailed off. “Elizabeth are you ok?” He said taking my arm to help steady me.

“I went for a walk and lost track of time.” I could hear how dead my voice sounded but I didn’t care.

“Your arm Elizabeth, lets get you to the clinic.”

“No! I just want to go to my room.” I said snapping out of the haze when he mentioned taking me to the clinic. He gave me a pleading look.

“Please Justin, it looks worse than it is.”

“You are really going to get me in trouble.” He said putting his arm around my waist to help me to my room. It felt like old times keeping things from the King and sneaking around. Only now the King was Tristan, and it wasn’t fun at all. I knew Justin saw me like a sister and would always have by back.

We made it to my room this time without being stopped.

“Elizabeth what is going on with you and Tristan?” He asked me. I took me a moment to reply. I thought about it, this was a mess.

“I’m in love with him…and he’s in love with Vivian.” I could hear how cold and distant my voice sounded.

“Oh Lizzybee, I’m so sorry.” He said sitting next to me and letting me rest my head on his shoulder as he put his arm around me. After a moment he stood up and took me with him to the bathroom. He helped me sit up on the counter and got the water running.

“We have to get this cleaned up.” He said. He started undoing the bandages that were soaked in blood. It should have been painful, but I felt numb. Then there was a growl that shook the walls, I looked up to see an angry looking Tristan at my bathroom door. Justin gave me an apologetic look and left us.

“Where the hell have you been?” He asked his eyes dark with anger.

“I went for a walk.” All my sadness was replaced by anger. He came in here demanding to know about my whereabouts, sending Justin away, when he should be with his mate. I took over where Justin had left off and finished unwrapping my arm. I saw now that the stitches had pulled apart right around the inside of my forearm. No wonder there had been so much blood I thought. A lot of the blood was dried now and realized why Justin had getting the warm water ready.

Tristan took the washcloth before I could, and he stood in front of me. He started to clean my arm.

“We were all worried sick about you.” He said the angry tone still in his voice.

“Tristan stop.” I said placing my hand on his, it sent a chill all over my body.

“You’ll let Justin help you, but you won’t let me even try.” He said, and was that hurt in his tone?

“You have a mate. This isn’t right. I’m leaving.” I said trying to move off the counter, but it was a little difficult with one arm. He moved in closer to me not letting me move.

“You can’t.” He said quietly.

“Yes, I can. I have to.” I managed to push him aside and get off the counter. It took all my strength not to just stay there with my hands on him. I went to my room where the lights were still off the only light coming in was through the window and the night sky.

“Lillybit please…Please stay.” He used my old nickname taking me aback. He took his opportunity and came over to me. “Please stay. I…I still…I don’t want you to get hurt out there. You have all the protection you can get here, and still that monster has hurt you. I can’t even imagine the danger you’ll be in if you leave.”

I didn’t know what to say, the logical part of me screamed for me to run and get as far away from Tristan as I could, but the other part of me begged me to stay right here. Even If I couldn’t have him it would be ok because at least I would be close to him. To steal a glance, a touch, a moment. I knew it was wrong and selfish, and I knew better but having him in front of me made it impossible to deny him anything.

“I don’t know.” I finally said. He swiftly took me in his arms, and a sense of calm took over. Like this is exactly where I was meant to be. My cold body finally felt warm in his arms. I could feel the way my skin sparked under his touch. He burrowed his face in my neck taking a deep breath, and he caressed me everywhere he could.

“Please think about staying.” He said when he finally pulled back. He looked as if he was in pain, I nodded in agreement not able to deny him anything in that moment.

He left promptly after that making that aching loneliness come back. Allison came in shortly after that, probably sent over by Justin. She started to work on my arm and my mind was still reeling.

“I’m sorry I got you in trouble. I went for a walk and lost track of time.” I apologize knowing that she had been on the receiving end of Tristan’s anger.

“Don’t worry about it. I know he was just worried about you. I’ve never seen him this upset about anything though. He practically wanted to tear the castle apart to find you.” She said casually as she worked. “There, all better, now try and stay out of trouble. As much as I like seeing you, I don’t want to keep causing you pain.” She said finishing up. I thanked her and she was off once more.

Aylee, Isabel, and Kenna came in shortly after she had left. I never seemed to get some alone time I sighed internally.

“Elizabeth, are you ok?” Aylee asked rushing to my side.

“I’m fine. I just went for a walk and lost track of time.” I said for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Well maybe let Tristan know next time he was ready to rip someone’s head off.” Isabell said matter of factly.

“Yes I’ve heard. I think it’s time we leave.” I told them. They all looked confused and Kenna looked concerned. I took her hand in mine. “You have been a great friend to me, but I don’t expect you to leave Thomas. You will stay here with him. Tristan already considers you part of the pack, he’ll let you stay.”

“But Elizabeth…”

“No buts you are staying here with Thomas to look after him and make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.” Kenna threw her arms around me in a tight hug.

“I just have one favor to ask.” I said pulling away from her. “You can’t tell anyone. They can’t know that we are leaving.” I told them all.

It would take a couple weeks to get everything in place to be able to leave. I had a safe house out in the country in an area that was unclaimed by any of the alphas. That meant that there was a risk of rouges, but it was deep enough in the country where there wasn’t much of anything. This meant that rouges weren’t really drawn to place they could get nothing from.

Now that Tristan wasn’t here it made it easier to think clearly. Alpha Jacob had offered his support and I would take it I needed to take control of like once more and get back what was rightfully mine. I couldn’t stand around and wait for any more attacks. I knew that it would risk the safety of some my people but they were all at risk under the rule of a tyrant.

Aylee, Isabell, and Kenna would help set everything into motion so that we could leave safely. I still had some of my men, and they would be going with us for some extra protections.

As soon as everything was in place I would be leaving.