The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn Chapter 31

~AUTUMN~

Atticus turns to me at the sound of the phone hitting the ground; he kneels to pick it up. I’m trying to keep my emotions hidden from him under the circumstances we are currently facing.

“You dropped this.” He says as he hands it to me. I take the phone from his hand, but I refuse to look him in the face.

He’s not the man I thought he was. He was a completely different person.

I want to play the recording for him; I want him to know that I’ve heard everything he said to Anya. I want him to realize that he can stop pretending to be nice to me now. I know he doesn’t care. But I know I can’t let my pain get in the way of finding Roman. A baby would always be more important. No matter how hard it was, I had to ignore my feelings this one time. I would have plenty of time after to confront Atticus about everything that was said in this recording. I didn’t think there was a single excuse he could use to justify what he said.

These weren’t harmless words; they were words meant to destroy our marriage. Promises that he made to Anya without once thinking about me and how I would feel if I ever found out, which I did. And out of everyone, Anya was the one that sent it to me; she was the one to throw it all in my face to remind me of who Atticus has always loved since the beginning.

Atticus gets distracted by something Arthur said to him, and I use that opportunity to breathe again. I don’t know if I should laugh or cry. All I’ve ever done was wish the best for both of them. Now it felt like they both wanted to hurt me.

My hand tightened around the phone; I wanted him to feel the same pain that I was feeling; I wanted him to hurt the same way I did after listening to this recording. It’s the first time I’ve ever wished for something this awful, but I’m angry, so angry with what he’d done.

Atticus didn’t try to talk to me again as we entered one of the vehicles waiting for us. It’s possible he is also putting his feelings aside for the mission. We both understand that this is bigger than any of the problems in our marriage.

Lucy and Austin were in a mess, their baby was in danger, and no one knew whether he was still alive or not. I’d never seen a child as loved as him; many of the most powerful of our kind were present ready to bring him safely home. No one cared about their well-being; he was all they cared about.

When the vehicles stop, the women that Morgan, the witch, asked for in exchange for Roman all separate from the rest of us.

The men were in emotional distress after their mates left. They were trying to comfort each other, but it was a depressing sight to see. Everyone here loved their mates, they couldn’t hide it, and they weren’t trying to.

“I can’t believe we have no choice but to f*****g wait here while our mates are locked in an abandoned castle with f*****g witches,” Hunter growls. “I’ve never felt this useless in my entire life.”

“They can handle themselves,” Lucas says with a fierceness in his eyes. “They’re strong; I believe that they can do this. I know they can.”

Paige Snow, another witch they’d invited to help, approached me. I was surprised that she had even noticed me under the circumstances. I didn’t think anyone was paying attention to me.

“What is your name?” She asks.

“Autumn,” I answer her. Her eyes are almost white as she scans my face. What was she looking for?

“You seem familiar.” She said as she held my chin and turned my face slightly to the left as if to get a better look at me, “fascinating. Very fascinating.”

Her words didn’t make any sense to me. What was so fascinating about me? It seemed like she knew something that I didn’t.

“Do you like water, dear?” She asks in a strange tone.

It was a weird conversation to ask someone if they liked water. But for me, it was even stranger that she’d asked that when I have always been terrified of water.

“I’m terrified of it,” I confess.

She nodded as if she’d already known my response before I said anything. She was a powerful witch, according to everything I’d heard about her; maybe she was able to look into my past or my future and saw something there that caught her by surprise. I knew that she was able to receive visions. Was that why her eyes had turned white when looking at me?

Everyone I knew was always terrified of witches or at least disgusted by them. In our academy, it was no different; the witches in our school were often mistreated. No one trusted them. I’ve never felt uncomfortable around them, however. Instead, I’ve always felt sorry for how they were sometimes treated. Some of them didn’t deserve it, while others did.

A howl rocks the woods, and it distracts Paige from asking me more questions. The tension has just doubled.

“They’re in trouble!” Hunter roars. “I can feel Isabella’s pain.”

We all held our breaths when we saw Gabriella racing toward us with Roman in her hands. There is a remarkable silence as we watch her move with incredible speed. Austin took him from her and kissed his forehead before reluctantly giving him back to her. Sadly, their reunion couldn’t last long. He was worried about Lucy and the others. I barely knew those women, but something about them had drawn me closer to each of them, and I wanted to keep them safe. I wanted to protect them even though fighting was never something I’d been good at.

Multiple howls follow, different from the last; these are no doubt cries for help. I winced, feeling their pain from the sound of their cry alone.

“Let’s get moving!” Austin shouts. “Paige, our wives need you. We need to get you to them, and we need to do it now. That’s the most important task at this point.”

“It isn’t going to be that easy,” Paige says. “They’re coming.”

Her eyes are white once more, and it’s a little scary to look directly into them.

Who was coming? We didn’t know who she was speaking about, but the concern on her face told us all we needed to know.

Within seconds, we’re surrounded by vampires and werewolves hungry for every single one of us.

Everyone takes their position as they attack one, sometimes three, of the enemies simultaneously. I’m amazed by the way they fought. It’s my first time seeing a battle as big as this one up close. I was usually protected by my parents and had never had to experience anything like this until now.

Atticus has more experience than I expected; his attacks are smooth and controlled as he brings his opponent to the ground.

He grabs my hand as more approach and pulls me closer to Gabriella, who’s still holding Roman in her arms. I’m surprised he’s concerned about my safety, but I’m reminded that he’s only doing this because of his duty as a husband; he isn’t doing it because he wants to keep me out of danger.

worse than I expected it

worst around us,”

situation, “I’ll believe her when she says that. It’s

there safely,” I tell Gabriella. “And I’m happy that he’s

the other women, I knew we would all make it out alive; the men on our side were powerful and knew what they

save her. I’ve never

when I spot a vampire advancing on me. I don’t know what happens next, but he somehow slows down just as he nears me; he’s slow enough for me to stab him with the stake

as I stare at the water droplets frozen in the sky; it feels like they’re almost speaking to me, like they are alive and waiting for my command. Atticus looks back at me in shock, but he doesn’t have an opportunity to ask me if

you could fight,” Gabriella says in a surprised whisper. “I’m

I didn’t know that I knew how to fight. When Atticus had given me the stake earlier, I didn’t think I’d know how to use it, but I was full

still wasn’t sure what had

wouldn’t be able to get Paige back to the other women in time. They were on their own. Their lives now depended on their

kind of spells they’re using against them. We have to find a way to get back there. If I didn’t have to protect Roman, I would be rushing to get back

realized how much more dangerous this entire mission had turned into. Atticus glances at me, and I’m not sure if I saw correctly, but he looks relieved to know that I am here with him and not in as much danger as the other

Autumn. He doesn’t care for you. That voice note was the proof you needed. Don’t get fooled, don’t let your heart bleed anymore because of him. You’ve let yourself hurt

no hiding the joy on his face. I

her into his arms and kisses her for as long as the enemies would let him. She runs to Roman next and takes him from Gabriella. She showers him

Maya?” Kane demands.

in his voice as he waits for confirmation from Lucy. I think we all held out breaths as we waited for her to answer. It doesn’t look good that she was the only one to return. Her body was covered in bruises and

is,” Lucy

as he knocks a werewolf

their mates. “They will be here soon; they’re just finishing up with the other witches. The danger is over on that end. Now it’s time to finish here and

I’m happy to see everyone reunite with their loved ones. I think everyone breathes

I think we all do. Did I

was the one to

look up and are shocked to see Kane falling to the ground with blood pouring out his chest and mouth. My heart sank at the heartbreaking sight in front of me. This wasn’t happening. She couldn’t lose him.

see him losing his life in front of her. She kills the vampire responsible for stabbing him and returns

their pain. They were good people; they didn’t deserve this. Despite my anger with Atticus, I still reach for his hand. He tightens his

him. He reaches forward and touches the wound on his chest after Lucy gives him to Maya; I gasp when he begins to glow in a dazzling

earth was that even

Kane waking up right after like nothing had happened. How was he alive? I’ve never seen

either all dead or seriously injured; it was safe, at least for now. I

wildfire,” Atticus notes as he looks around us. “Your family lives up to their

discussed at the academy. Now that his family kept growing, his power was only intensifying. It also meant that his enemies were also

“we are thankful for your help today. You and your wife have shown your loyalty. If you need us for

other how grateful they were to have them in their lives. It was so good to see. Roman was showered with kisses from everyone present. He was being passed around and given a few seconds with each couple; they expressed their joy at having him back

of having both Maya and Roman back in our lives. You are invited, of course.

shook

time.”

to speak to me, but I’ve been avoiding him. I wasn’t ready to have a good conversation with

at the palace, owned by Austin’s parents and Maya had reunited with her parents, the women separated from the

are things with

the wedding; then she was all over him in the yacht.” Gabriella points out. “Many of us noticed it, and we’re angry that they

close they were that night? At least I knew I wasn’t

a little,” I confess. “But that happiness didn’t last long. Things are worse now than they were

the both of you to spend more time with

have to be here to drift Atticus and me

for that,” I whisper. They looked at each other, and I needed to

and play the recording for them

each other a knowing look, and neither was surprised. How could that be? Why weren’t they as surprised as me when I’d

room when this conversation took place,” Gabriella confessed. “We

the recording was taken. On my wedding day, while they were in the spa room together. If Anya has had the recording since then, why did she choose today to send it to me? It’s almost like she was waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it on me. My heart hurts to know that I

sent this to you?” Maya asks to

I nod.

thought she was a nice person

And she’s out to

room with them?” I ask. It always bothered me. Did they do anything else but speak to each other? The video I

begging him to stop the wedding. She told him how much she loved him and that she didn’t want him touching you or looking at you the way he looked at her. I think that’s when the recording started, him responding to her. Other than that, nothing else

was hoping for the impossible. Every minute since we got married has been a roller coaster ride for me, and it doesn’t seem like it is about to ease up

her win,” Maya tells me. “He’s your husband. He married you. It may not look like it now, but he chose you even if he

to comfort me. She would say anything as long as she

is affecting me. It was always hard to hide my feelings

want to fight for Atticus if he wasn’t fighting for me. What was the point of fighting for him when he made it clear that he would never look at me the way he looks at her? I could read between the

says as she pulls

have plenty of options for you,” Maya tells me. “Since you aren’t pregnant, we’re pulling out

Gabriella and I leave the room so that she can have her spicy time with Kane. We knew they wanted some time alone after everything they’d been through. It showed in her

dress,” Gabriella says as we enter the guest room. “You’ll take his breath away when he sees

if it would make any sense to do this anymore, however. Anya is the woman he wants and can’t take his eyes off. If I