Chapter Twenty-Five

-Forks, Washington-

Heels clicked down the hall, which was weird. Vampires moved with such grace they could move about undetected, even in heels. Obviously whoever was coming wanted us aware of it.

I sat on the floor, my back against the backside of the couch that Carlisle and Esme occupied. Kate, Garrett, and Tanya were on the couch opposite. What they were talking about, I had no clue. I would rather have been in my room but Carlisle thought it'd be good to socialize. So I had attempted to pretend. Then I gave up and decided to just chill back here alone. I was completely exhausted. After that nightmare, although starring him, I realized it wasn't actually about Aro, not completely, I had refused to go back to sleep. My night had been spent out running, trying to read, watch TV, anything to stay awake. I was at the point now where I was dozing off for short periods of time when I blinked.

"Carlisle," Alice's voice sounded worried and serious. Carlisle must have turned to her, "What is it, Alice?"

"The Volturi are on their way."

That son of a bitch.

I leapt to my feet, panic crushing my lungs, "The who are doing what, now?"

Everyone ignored me, though. Isabella spoke now, "But, why? What do they think we did now?"

I gave a near-hysterical laugh, "You're harboring a werewolf, that's what. So, to avoid you guys getting into trouble, I'd best be on my way."

Carlisle's hand appeared on my shoulder, "Calm down, Lorna. Maybe this is another misunderstanding. You're not dangerous."

"If they are coming about her," Edward spoke up, "they won't take it too kindly if she isn't with us. I'm sorry, Lorna."

"Fuck you!" I spat, trying to twist away from Carlisle. But now the muscular one, Emmett was wrapping me in his tight grip. The doctor sighed, "Edward is right, Lorna. If this is about you, their punishment will be much more harsh if we no longer have you."

Damn it. I stopped struggling, "Fuck. Fine, you're right."

Emmett didn't loosen his hold. I snarled, "I said I'm not going anywhere!"

Carlisle nodded and the buff jerk released me. He then looked back to Alice, "When?"

"Tomorrow."

For fuck's sake.

The doctor offered me a slight smile, "Aro is a good friend of mine. I'm sure we can figure this out. Don't worry."

I snorted, that was far from reassuring. Now that I knew Carlisle was buddy-buddy with Aro, there was no hope of him standing up for me. He'd throw me right to him. Fuck, fuck, fuck. At some point I had begun to pace.

"It's only Aro, Caius, and Marcus coming. If they intended to punish anyone, there would be others, wouldn't there?" Alice asked in her soft pixie voice and I laughed again. Of course they didn't need any others. No one was getting punished except for me. Aro was going to drag me back to Volterra with him and, with that weird hold he had on me, I wouldn't be able to fight him. Killing me would be a mercy I wouldn't get.

"I need to go for a run. Muscles, you can come with if it makes you feel better," I turned toward the deck before anyone could say anything. I vaulted the rail, landing on the balls of my feet on the forest floor. I didn't bother undressing. My clothing shredded as I slipped into my wolf skin. I sprinted as fast as I could.

The Cullens must think I'm going crazy, the way I'm acting. I felt like I was. I didn't want to go back to Aro. Well, mostly. Admittedly, I was terrified of him. But not for the reasons the Cullens would assume. Him acting as he did in my dreams was not a worry of mine. What I was afraid of was his behavior before I had left. Staying in my bed the entire night, caressing my cheek and lightly kissing along my shoulder and neck. How tender his touch was when he groped my breast, dipped his fingers between my thighs. That weird-ass connection we had when we locked eyes while he fucked me. The kiss in the rain. I wasn't stupid.

The asshole loved me.

And I didn't want him to.

He had a wife, for fuck's sake! That he hadn't bothered to tell me about. Which was just as damaging as if he'd lied outright. I didn't understand anything that was happening right now. If he had a wife, why bother with me in the first place? Why come crawl into my pants when he already had a bed to lie in? I've been a bitch since day one, what could possibly have attracted him to me? What the hell was wrong with me for wanting him, too? He treated me like an animal!

My footfalls began to slow as my mind hurtled. That strange pull… Why did I feel it? What the hell was it, even? Because as awful as the idea of being reunited with the man was, part of my heart felt relieved. It wanted to be back with Aro, in his arms. In the rain, our tongues dancing and our arms tight around one another. In his bed, his breath panting in my ear as we indulged in each other. Curled beside him, sleeping peacefully.

I shook my head. This entire situation was a mess. I had been avoiding trying to figure it out. And I still planned to do just that. At least, while still with the Cullens. As knowledgeable as Carlisle was, as easy as he was to talk to, I didn't want to discuss my relationship with Aro with him. Hell, I was doing my best to pretend there was no relationship. Seemed kind of pointless now. There was obviously something between us if he was beating feet to get to me so soon after Eleazar rat me out. I knew there was a reason I didn't like him.

Slowly, I made my way back to the Cullen residence. Surprisingly, none of them had followed me. The trust must have been forced on them by Carlisle, who smiled when I re-entered, and not just because I was naked. On my way by, I mumbled, "I'll be in my room."

I stood in the warm shower for who knows how long. Attempting to relax. To hopefully coax my exhaustion forth, so that I might actually sleep without any nightmares. But that hope evaded me. The same dream began again. But this time, it quickly dissolved into the true scene. Glenn pushing himself on me, making me his Beta, while the rest of the pack watched. To humiliate me, to prove a point. Stuart looked on with glassy eyes. I silently begged for his help, but he turned away. No one dared go against their Alpha. It had been cruel. We didn't speak for weeks after that. I struggled to understand why he wouldn't move. To stop Glenn.

Alpha's orders, that's why.

But, conveniently, the second dream deciphered the first one. I was afraid Aro would turn out to be just like Glenn, and no one would help me. That part was definitely true. When he arrived tomorrow, he was going to demand I return to Volterra with him and the Cullens weren't going to try to stop him. Who knew what awaited me once he had me back. Would he lock me in the dungeon again? Find some way to humiliate me? Would he hit me? He didn't seem the kind of man that would strike me. Or force himself on me, as my dreams kept showing me. He could have done it at any time, but he'd waited for my consent. His bluff to take me by force had been just that, a bluff. No, I didn't think he had it in him to treat me like Glenn had. Despite acting like he would.

I groaned. I was not looking forward to facing him.