CHAPTER 76

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
“Well, you better be prepared, Sasha because you are about to get frozen in time,” Miranda announced but before Sasha could say anything, Miranda had her eyes closed, the time coming to stand-still in an instant.

She then grabbed my hand, a feeling like that one of someone sucking the life out of me, struck through me, waving its way inside me so fast. It took me a minute and several seconds to geta grip of myself and not fall prey to the dizziness plunging deep inside me.

“Now,” she ordered, letting go of my palm.

It took me another minute before I could be stable enough to walk and after grabbing my car keys, I walked out of the door. It was strange to drive through a town where everything else had stopped at that exact moment including the noise except for me. Being out of the house in three days did lift my spirits in a way. I sped across town well over the speed limit and in a record of eight minutes, I was at the Townsends’ house. I jumped out of the car, walking past the five werewolves standing guard outside the house and into the living room. The safe was supposed to be in her parent’s bedroom but I just forgot to ask which one. I quickly made my way up the stairs, opening every room and so far, only one remained at the far end of the hallway.

“Nadia,” I froze where I stood, the familiar sound of Collins’ voice waving into way into my ears. How the hell was he not caught in a time-freeze like everyone else?

“Nadia,” he called yet again and this time I slowly turned, paring under my breath for all this to be just an illusion but of course I was wrong.

Collins stood in front of me, barely a couple inches of space between us, his tall frame making me acutely aware of all the six. point three muscly inches of him towering above me. Seeing him this close, made me all warm and fuzzy on the inside even though I tried not to show it. Its crazy how it had taken us to separate ways for me to know how deeply I actually cared about him. I fell for the wrong man and that too at the worst possible timing. No one ever falls for their killer’s child. Talk about a double tragedy.

“H-How are you still walking?” I questioned, refusing to let myself get distracted some more by him.

He pushed his hands inside his pockets, then began to inch closer to where I stood. Impulsively I took a step back, afraid if there wasn’t any space between us my urge to kiss him and tell him how much I wanted him, would win. Yet, he kept moving closer till my back hit the wall and there was no more than three inches of space between us. His dark brown eyes, swirling with warmth, met mine, compelling me to just stare back. Just like that first time I’d met him, I found myself hypnotized, trying to grip on the sane thoughts flying out of my mind. All I could think of was him so close to me and the feelings I felt for him seeping through me faster than a volcano could erupt.

“Beats me too,” he whispered, breaking the silence that had befallen us.

“Huh?” I asked, confused.

“I don’t understand how you and I seem to be the only people not caught in this time-freeze,” his voice remained calm.

He reached forward, trailing the back of his hand over the side of my face and I didn’t stop him; No, I didn’t want to stop him. His touch was a welcome sensation, every inhibition and tension carved in my bones seemingly melting away. I let my cheek lean more into his touch, a tear seemingly leaving my right eye.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, overwhelmed by the string of emotions crippling me with each second that crawled by.

“Why did you lie to me?” he questioned,” For days, I tried to understand why a woman who gave me so much to remember would be quick to cut me off for some hybrid promised mate. I tried to make sense of why I was always the only getting hurt every time I feel something for a woman, “he released a sigh,” But it was all a lie, wasn’t it? You feel something unfathomable deep for me too, don’t you?”

I pushed his hand away, quickly brushing off the tear as I cleared my throat noiselessly. Masking my emotions, I wore a blank expression,” Why are you so badly invested in trying to prove something non-existent?”

“Nonexistent? I wasn’t the one getting all emotional a second ago,” Damn! Even with a stubble, he remained exquisitely dashing.

“Maybe I’m just good at faking. So how about you explain to me what you are doing here right now? Shouldn’t you be mourning your fallen pack members?” his expression changed into one hurt, his jaws grinding,” What? You didn’t think I’d know about the massacre of your pack?”

He suddenly grabbed my waist, planting his lips against mine with my back pressed against the wall. I had no time to process what was going one when his lips began moving ravenously against mine. I tried to keep still and not reciprocate the kiss but he was quick to put all my defenses down but just in the nick of time before I fell prey to urge rising through me, he pulled back, his beathing very fast.

“What the fuck was that?” I snapped.

“Why are you trying to deny something that is already there, Nadia? Does me having an association with Carson make it so revolting to admit what you feel for me?” He snapped back.

“He is your father goddammit!” At this point we were both just shouting.

“And I’m your mate!” Wait, he knew? Time came to a standstill for a minute but then he continued, his voice much softer this time,” You are my fucking mate Nadia and I know this is all confusing because you have no idea-“

“How did you know?” I questioned, cutting me. This was supposed until I all this had blown over.

“You knew about it?” He asked back instead.

“How did you know about this Collins?” I demanded.

“I’m a werewolf. You think I wouldn’t sense my mate if I got one? If you knew then why the hell did you keep it a secret from me?” He demanded, seemingly growing angry.

“Because just like you said, your association with Carson makes you revolting. Now if you don’t mind, can you get the fuck away from me and let me get done with my business?”

He scoffed,” You know I saw you driving here and I thought I had imagined seeing you. Then I come in and you are right there in front of my eye. All I knew immediately was that I needed to stop this war from happening. I couldn’t let any harm come to you or any of my pack members,”

“Stop the war that has cost me my family, my friends, Mrs. Heathers and almost all the people I knew from my childhood?” It was my turn to scoff,” This was the exact same reason why I chose to bury my feelings. You father is the maniac who keeps slaughtering people and here you are, begging for his lenience like he isn’t the reason I have to hide and be unable to properly mourn Mrs. Heathers and her granddaughter. He fucked up my life before and now you want me to let him keep on fucking me up however way he wants. Is that it?” I questioned embittered.

“I’m not asking you to back out because of my father. I’m doing to this for my pack because they have their faith and hope on me. My father maybe the maniac you think he is ands yes, he is soulless but won’t that make you the same as him if you keep up with this?” he countered. *Smart comeback.
*
“I want you to look into my eyes and tell me if you see a woman that would regret killing Carson White? Do you see her? Because I can’t even feel her presence in me,” I paused, shaking my head slightly,” Tell your asshole of a father that he will draw his last breath, kneeling down before me. Oh, and make sure you tell him how lucky he is I’m not going after his family in New York to repay him for the same favor he did for me with mine. Now get away from me,” I said, pushing past him and walking into the room.

I quickly retrieved the portable safe, walking out and he was still standing there. I glanced at my wrist watch. Dammit! I only had two minutes to get out and reach home before the time standstill came to an end. Why had I let myself get distracted by Collins? I ran downstairs, jumping into my car and hoping that by some magic the spell took longer but instead it took less time by thirty-seven seconds. Suddenly everything came to life, my watch rewinding back to the seven twelve. Shit! How was I going to get back into my house without the wolves detecting me? For about three minutes straight, I drove straight with interference and then suddenly out of nowhere, the road was blocked by nine men who I immediately recognized as wolves. I honked at them but they wouldn’t budge.

Quickly, I pushed the portable safe under my driver’s seat, sending a quick message to Sasha. I felt my heart speeding up when suddenly they paved way for someone probably two, three years younger than me. No flint of recognition crossed my mind. I could run them over but I was not exactly a cold-blooded murderer and they already had their cars blocking the way behind them.

“Well, hello Nadia,” A smirk curved up his lips just as suddenly the someone hit the side of my car, glass breaking and the last thing I remembered feeling was someone hitting my head with something heavy before I lost consciousness.