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

the worst around us,”

the gravity of the situation, “I’ll believe

that you got Roman out of there safely,” I tell Gabriella. “And

make it out alive; the men

as many as possible to get back to Isabella in time to save her. I’ve never seen men as in love as these groups of men in front of me. They were terrified of losing their

as he nears me; he’s slow enough for me to stab him with the stake in my hands. He drops to the ground before

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

didn’t know you could fight,” Gabriella says in a surprised whisper. “I’m

I knew how to fight. When Atticus had given me the stake earlier, I didn’t think I’d know

but the water droplets have disappeared. What was that? I still wasn’t sure what had

that we wouldn’t be able to get Paige back to the other women in

many witches inside the castle,” Gabriella informs us. “There is no telling what kind of spells they’re using against them. We have to find a way to get back

not sure if I saw correctly, but he looks relieved

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 too much over him. It was time that you started to care for yourself

joy on his face. I followed his

for as long as the enemies would let him. She runs to Roman next and takes him from Gabriella.

Maya?” Kane demands. “Is she

held out breaths as we waited for her to

Lucy assured

Isabella?” Hunter shouts as he knocks a werewolf

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 get my

she’s said that, the other women show up. I’m happy to see everyone reunite with their loved ones. I think everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

piercing scream rocks the forest. I freeze; I think we

She was the one

sank at the heartbreaking sight in front

sees him on the ground; he’s her brother, and she’s also hurt to see him losing his life in front of her. She kills the vampire responsible for stabbing him and returns to Maya’s side as quickly as

They were good people; they didn’t deserve this. Despite my anger with Atticus, I still reach for his hand. He tightens his hold on it as we watch

him to Maya; I gasp when he begins to glow in a dazzling light. I can’t see anything; I don’t think we can. But something is definitely going on. When the glow dies down, it’s shocking to see Kane’s wound

was that

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

seriously injured; it was safe, at least for now. I had to hope that there were no more surprises. I don’t think we

notes as he looks around us.

feared throughout the supernatural world, and his achievements have even been discussed at the academy. Now that his family kept growing, his power was only intensifying. It also meant that his enemies

your wife have

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

of having both Maya and Roman back in our lives. You are invited, of course. We will be happy if you can attend.” Austin

and shook his hand

time.” He answers

him. I wasn’t ready to have a good conversation with him. We were still around others, and after

with her parents, the women separated from the men to get dressed for the

with Atticus?”

Gabriella points out. “Many of us noticed it, and we’re angry that they would act

how close they were that night? At least I knew I

that happiness didn’t last long. Things

“I was hoping it would be better now that you’re away from Anya. Maybe we can get the both of you to spend more time with us; that way, you don’t have to worry about her getting between your relationship with your

didn’t have to be here to drift Atticus and me apart. The voice note was

I whisper. They looked at each other, and I needed to explain myself

out and play the recording

was surprised. How could that be? Why weren’t they as surprised as me when

when this conversation took place,” Gabriella confessed. “We heard the entire

she was waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it on me. My heart hurts to know that I never knew Anya, even after all the time we’ve spent together.

you?” Maya

I nod.

recorded him. I’m sure he doesn’t even know she did that. I thought she was a nice person and just hurting because her mate was marrying you. But something

agrees. “She does seem sneaky. And she’s out to break the two

while you were in the room with them?” I ask. It always bothered me. Did they do anything else but speak to each other? The video I saw of them on

wedding. She told him how much she loved him and that she didn’t want him touching you or looking at you the

hoping for the impossible. Every minute since we got married has been

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

only trying to comfort me. She would say anything as

can see how much this is affecting me. It was always hard to

of fighting for him when he made it clear that he would never look at me the way he looks at her? I

up,” Gabriella says as she pulls me into Maya’s

options for you,” Maya tells me. “Since you aren’t pregnant, we’re

and Gabriella and I leave the room so that she can have her spicy time with Kane. We knew they wanted some time alone

says as we enter the guest room. “You’ll take his breath away when he sees you in this.

revealing. But it’s beautiful. I wasn’t sure if it would make any sense to do this anymore, however. Anya is the woman he wants and can’t take his