Chapter 30

**Elise**


When I step out of the fitting room with one of the many outfits I was given, I feel several eyes on me.

"Well shit. You look stunning sweetheart." Sawyer says with a bright smile on his face.

My face flushes and I glance over to the other guys to see them looking at me in silent admiration. Their eyes take me in and I feel the urge to turn and run back behind the curtain. It's silly I know. They have all seen me in far less clothing, but in the heat of the moment, I didn't care. Now I feel oddly exposed and vulnerable under their scrutiny.

"You look amazing!" Liddy says excitedly.

She joins me on the little platform and turns me around so that I'm facing one of the mirrors.

"How do you feel?" She asks me softly.

I take myself in and consider her words. Over the last two years, it was rare that I could get a look at myself. Vanity wasn't something I could indulge in, but looking at myself now it's hard to imagine I would have wanted to see myself like that. It feels like the person looking back at me is a stranger. When I was taken I was still young and more vibrant, but now I looked...tired. Like life has been hard on me both mentally and physically.

That healthy color I had and the innocence in my eyes are gone. I know she isn't asking about any of this, but it's hard not to notice.

"I don't know," I admit and her smile falls.

She steps in front of me and takes my hand in hers.

"Hey, what's going on?" She speaks softly enough for only us to hear.

My heart is racing now and I want to hide but she is the only thing keeping me grounded right now.

"I don't know...I don't feel like I belong here...this isn't me anymore..." I know I'm not making any sense, but I can't begin to explain everything I'm feeling right now.

"You do belong here. You deserve to be loved and taken care of. I don't know everything that you had to endure but I can see the pain in you, and someone who has survived such an ordeal deserves to be treasured. My brothers want you to be a part of their life, and so do I. It may take time but you'll start to heal and then you will let yourself be happy, but there is no rush. Just remember you're not alone anymore." Her words are so sincere that I nod.

"Thanks." It's all I can get out with all the emotions warring inside me.

"Now let my brothers look at you." She winks and turns me back around.

What I didn't expect is to turn to see a wall of large men.

"You look, beautiful love," Ezra says reaching out and tilts my face up to look at him with a finger under my chin.

"Very pretty," Archer adds giving me a shy smile.

Weston nods in agreement and I laugh. He's my quiet giant and I love it.

"Thank you." My voice is barely above a whisper but they are so close that I know they've heard me.

I turn around and look at myself once again in the mirror and this time I try to see myself in a new light. Ezra steps up and wraps his arms around my waist and I instinctively lean back into him.

"What do you think? Do you want to get this?" He asks.

"I'm not sure," I admit honestly.

The outfit is cute but it feels a little too bright and soft for me. Truthfully I liked the black outfit the guys had gotten for me, and for some reason that is what keeps popping up in my head.

"What are you thinking?" Sawyer asks tilting his head to examine me in the mirror.

"Maybe something darker?" A deep chuckle has me looking over at Weston.

"I think our girl isn't interested in pretty summer dresses and frilly blouses." He says taking the words right out of my mouth.

It's not that I wouldn't wear anything like that but my tastes are leaning in another way.

"Let's take a look around and see if we find something you will like," Ezra suggests and I nod happily.

I appreciate Liddy and Beth trying to help, but their style isn't really for me. Ezra lets me go and I head back into the dressing room to undress. Once I'm done I walk through a few racks of clothes until I find something that jumps out at me. In fact, it looks a lot like one of the outfits displayed in the window. It's a black dress with small white flowers all over it. The material is very soft and when I hold the dress up to me it looks a little large but not in a bad way.

Next to it is a soft-looking sweater that is in brown. I grab both and head back to the changing room and quickly change. The clothes feel so loose and comfortable that I can't help but run my hands over them a few times. When I step out again and look at myself in the mirror I smile.

"Wow, I like that!" Liddy says. "Oh! You know what you need..."

She moves over to a wall full of random pieces of jewelry and other things. I'm not sure what she's grabbing but I wait patiently for her. She also grabs a pair of shoes and rushes back over to me.

"Here, try these on too." She hands me a few things and I take them with me into the changing room.

I see a simple black strap that looks like a necklace and some tights. The shoes are short boots with laces and they match my clothes perfectly. I slip everything on and step out once more. I turn to show everyone and I receive several smiles.

"Perfect!" Liddy says excitedly. "I have to say the darker grunge look suits you very well."

"She's right." Sawyer nods in approval. "I am going to have to cancel that order we placed online and start all over."

"No, that isn't necessary. I still wear the things you bought me." I insist but he just shakes his head.

"No. This is what you like then we need to stop by a few more stores here and get things that you want." He heads over to the counter and starts talking to Beth and I let out a defeated sigh.

Sawyer doesn't seem to listen to my objections, so I let him do his thing.

A good half hour goes by before we exit the store with several bags of new clothes. Liddy leads the way with two of her Alphas carrying a bag each for her. I smile to myself when I glance on either side of me to see my own Alphas. This feels like a dream.

As we make our way to the escalator I stop short when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I reach up and rub my hand over my neck and glance around me.

"What's wrong?" Archer asks stopping right behind me.

I shake my head but take another glance around us. There are hundreds of people in here but something feels off. A chill runs through me and fear starts to work its way through me so fast that the world around me falls silent. I can hear the thudding beat of my heart as I search for the thing that's sent me into a spiral of fear. The waves of people moving past me don't show a single thing that would cause this reaction until my eyes fall on a familiar face. It's there and then gone just as fast. Did I imagine it?

Someone is shaking me and it takes me a second to see Ezra standing in front of me.

"Elise! Can you hear me?" He asks and suddenly the loud noises of the mall hit me. "Talk to me love, what's happening?"

His voice sounds desperate but I can't bring myself to answer him just yet.

"What's wrong?" Liddy asks pushing her way through the circle of Alphas and pulling me away from Ezra.

He gives her a warning growl but she ignores him.

"Elise. Everything is okay, you're safe." She says resting her hands on my shoulder.

My hands reach up and grab her wrists and I look her straight in the eyes. Once again she is my anchor, and when she starts telling me to breathe I do.

"What happened?" She asks softly and I let out a shaky breath.

"I thought I saw..." I can't seem to say his name.

"Who? Who did you see?" She asks.

I look over her shoulder and when my eyes meet Ezra's I know he understands. His eyes narrow and he starts to look around as well.

"What? Can someone fill me in?" Liddy demands.

"We need to leave. Now." Ezra says without answering her.

He steps around her and wraps an arm protectively around me. He doesn't wait for the others but a second later the others are circled around us. I'm not sure if I really saw Kane, but the guys aren't taking any chances.