Cgapter 19

Where am I?

Lori thought as her eyes opened, she felt groggy as she took in her surroundings, slowly, and then she gasped.

There was the all too familiar feeling of dread that was pooling deep in her stomach.

The dirty brown bed covers, the wall with the peeling paint and the dresser that was in her view, it was all too familiar and scary.

All scarily familiar.

No! No! This can't be, this can't be! She couldn't be back here, in this same room, where she had so desperately tried to leave. It wasn't possible. What happened? She asked herself as she found out that her hands were tied, so hard that she was already bruising. She wiggled her legs and found out they were tied too, there was no way out.

Her eyes darted around the room, she was alone, all alone, that was good, now she had to find a way to leave, because she knew what was coming.

She rolled out of the bed and fell hard on the hardwood floor, hitting her head on a pair of old hard brown boots. She ignored the pain, more focused on her escape.

She looked down and saw her legs were tied with ropes, fortunately, the ropes were a bit loose, so she wiggled and wiggled till she got free of them. It hurt like hell and she was pretty sure her ankles were chafed in the process, but that was the least of her worries. She stood up on shaky legs and walked towards the door, trying the lock a few times only to realize that it was locked.

Suddenly, the door clicked, as if someone was opening it from the outside and Lori took a step back. The door opened up and Asher stood in front of her, a cruel smirk on his face. He was wearing the same clothes he was wearing when they had met at the restaurant where she and Gabriel were having dinner and she was still in her flimsy little black dress.

Asher’s eyes raked over her with uncontrollable lust.

"Where are you going Lori?”

He taunted as he took a step closer to her.

“The fun just began.."

He said as he pushed her violently, causing her to lose her balance and fall on the floor.

Asher knelt in front of her, pulling her towards him with one strong arm. He touched her cheeks with his fingers, gently caressing them, Lori choked on her disgust, she couldn't bear to have him touching her.

Lori was trying to string together a simple sentence but words were failing her, she couldn't even get a whimper out.

"Come here Loretta. I've missed you so much."

Asher whispered into her ear as he stood up, grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked painfully, throwing her to his bed.

No. No. No.

This isn't happening again. Lori thought as she screamed.



Gabriel was awake, he was working on his laptop even though it was midnight. He couldn't get any sleep, he was deeply worried about Lori, he just couldn't stop thinking about how scared she had been and how much of a hold that man had on her. He couldn't imagine what she must have gone through in his hands.

He was still on his bed, looking at a finance report when he suddenly felt very distressed. He paused, concentrating on the emotion he was feeling that he was very sure wasn't his.

It was a distress signal.

But from who?

As an alpha his father had taught him that sometimes his connection with his beta or werewolves who took the blood oath could transcend the physical. He could on rare occasions feel things that they were feeling if the feeling was strong enough. Pain for example.

But this didn't only apply to his beta or werewolves, it also applied to his mate.

Lori.

Lori was sending him a distress signal.

He thought as he jumped out of bed, he was barely out of his room when he heard a bloodcurdling scream, one that was so loud he could hear it pounding in his eardrums.

He rushed to Lori's room, prying open the door from it’s hinges with effortless ease even though the door was locked.

There she was, practically writhing in her sheets while she kept on screaming.

He quickly held her in his arms.

"Lori! Lori!"

He called as he practically shook her out of her nightmare.

She finally opened her eyes, panting and scrambling away from his touch. He understood.

She looked around, still very much afraid, far-away, Gabriel's ears could detect movement, Lori's scream seemed to have woken up everybody, even the baby who had now launched into a cry.

"Lori, it was just a nightmare."

He said softly and she finally calmed down, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.."

She begged and he shrugged.

He looked towards the door that was now lying in the hallway, he had pried it off the hinges. It was the only way he could think of to get in, the door had been locked.

Jenny walked in at that moment, quietly stepping around the door, she was in her nightgown and by the look on her face, she was distraught, she had heard the scream too.

"Is everything okay?"

She asked and Gabriel nodded.

"Yes. Please check on the baby, Lori's not feeling well."

He said as he dismissed her.

Jenny nodded and went into the baby room, Lori hugged the sheets as she looked at him.

"I'm so sorry for waking you up, I didn't mean to.."

Gabriel shrugged.

"It's okay. You didn't mean to, you had a nightmare."

"I'll go get the baby.."

She started and Gabriel shook his head.

"No. You need some rest. Jenny will take care of her, come on, let's go."

He said as he stood up and held his hand out.

"Where are we going?"

She asked and he pointed to the door.

"You can't sleep here, you'll catch a chill."

He took in her small cold hand in his and they both walked out of the bedroom.

As they stood right in front of his bedroom Lori looked at him wide eyed and he shrugged.

"There is no way I'm letting you sleep alone tonight."

He said as he opened the door of his room.

"You're sleeping with me."

He said.

His tone was final, authoritative and it left little room for argument.

Lori nodded, gulping hard.

His room looked dark and toasty, just how she remembered it, only that it looked somewhat bigger. She felt embarrassed, she had a nightmare and she had woken up the whole household, she wished Gabriel had not bothered so much about her, no matter how much he thought he would help her she wouldn't be able to get much sleep after that.

She climbed into his bed and he pulled the covers over her exposed legs, tucking her in. She had forgotten that she slept in her little black dress, there was no way he wouldn't have seen the hot pink panties she was wearing, with how short her dress was.

Gabriel went to the other side of the bed, settling in next to her and turning off the head lamp without so much as a word to her.

Lori laid there in darkness, her eyes blinking and slowly adjusting to the dark room. She could feel Gabriel next to her, she could hear his breathing, slow, calm and steady.

"Goodnight Lori."

Gabriel said as he reached out beneath the sheets and held her hand. His large warm hand suddenly enveloped her cold hand and Lori shuddered at the touch. He entwined his fingers with hers.

"Goodnight Gabriel."

She whispered quietly.

After a while, Lori closed her eyes and attempted to sleep.

A few moments later, she was asleep.