Bride of the Cursed Alpha (Auren and Lucien)

Chapter 248

Chapter 248

Summer POV

Two nights ago

My beautiful dream shattered. The time had come to face the reality.

Laura’s cruel words, her threats, and her attempts just broke me. I was too scared, too beaten down. And in that moment, when she’d said I was nothing more than a pawn in her game, I knew my time here was limited.

The fear of what Morelli could do to me, what he might make me do, had taken over my mind. So I knew that I had to escape before he could force me into doing something sinister. It was my only chance to escape. She said that a car was waiting for me. But I was going to dodge it, and make way toward the woods. I would trek for a few days to reach my town. From there, I had plans to disappear.

With shaking hands, I packed my bag quietly, trying my best not to cry, but tears slipped anyway. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I couldn’t stay another second at the resort. I felt suffocated, like the walls were closing in around me.

I glanced around my room one last time, wishing I didn’t feel so hollow, wishing I didn’t have to leave, wishing I could hug Bradley one last time. But then, all I could think about was Morelli and Laura, the pressure mounting on me.

Strapping my backpack to my shoulder, I stepped out of my room quietly as my heart raced wildly. I was terrified, but what else could I do?

If only I could see Bradley one last time. My gaze went to the door of his room, and depression seeped in my bones. I felt like without him my world would end. But wasn’t this a dream that I had been nurturing ever since I saw him? Giving myself a mental shake, I walked toward the elevator, my head was full of only one thing: getting away, finding freedom, escaping the nightmare that had followed me for so long. Maybe this was a sign from God.

I wasn’t even sure where I would go.

But the moment the elevator doors opened, I froze. There, standing in front of me, was Bradley. His eyes went wide, and my breath hitched in my chest. I could see the concern written all over his face as his eyes went to my backpack.

“Summer?” he asked softly but in a tight voice. “Where are you going?”

I swallowed hard, my eyes darting away from his intense gaze. I couldn’t look at him, because all I could think about was how much I cared for him and

how much I was about to lose.

I had no idea how to explain this. How could I tell him the truth? How could I say what Laura had asked me to do? How could I admit that I was running away from him, from everything? What if Morelli attacked him and killed him if I revealed what Laura did to me?

When I didn’t say a word, Bradley stepped closer to me. His hand reached out and he took my hand in his. The moment he touched me, sparks tingled across my skin, and somehow, I felt calmer.

“What’s going on, Summer?” His voice was laced with worry. At that moment, I wanted to tell him everything.

Tears stung my eyes, and before I could stop myself, they started to fall. I wiped my face quickly, feeling the weight of everything crashing down on me. I couldn’t even look at him. I felt like I was betraying him.

“I-” My voice cracked as I tried to speak. “I’m sorry, Bradley. I can’t stay. I–I have to go. There’s a car waiting for me outside the resort,” I said, my voice

trembling.

“What?” he said, shock etched on his face. “Why Did I do something wrong?”

I shook my head. “It’s not about you, it’s just that I don’t-” My throat was so hoarse that I couldn’t speak.

“Tell me what is going on!” he urged, and grabbed my upper arm. “You’re not going anywhere!” He pulled me toward his room, opened the door and slammed it shut. He removed my backpack and tossed it on the floor like it was a feather. In a sudden move, he pulled me against his chest, and it was then that I couldn’t help myself. I clutched his shirt in my fists and cried hard. “Oh, baby!” he rasped as he held me against his chest tightly.

I continued to cry, letting the weight of my misery leave me. And Brad continued to hold me patiently, stroking my hair, kissing me, murmuring son words in my ear. Once I was quiet, he picked me up in his lap and took me to his bed. He cradled me in his lap, and asked, “What happened, baby, Please tell me. I’m sorry I couldn’t be here to protect you. I had some urgent work to do.”

He was so receptive, so sweet. 1 think this was my sign that I would never find someone like Brad. He really cared for me. I didn’t debate mentally whether to spill the beans or not. “Laura made me do this. She said I had to leave. She… she said I had to leave the trials. She said she’d go to her father and have him hurt me if I didn’t.” I went on to tell him the rest of the conversation I had with Laura.

Bradley’s expression darkened as he processed my words. His eyes narrowed slightly, and I could feel the anger simmering beneath his calm exterior.

“Morelli?” he whispered. “You’re scared of her father?”

I nodded, my hands shaking. “Yes. He’ll hurt me, Bradley. He’ll do anything to get what he wants. And Laura–she said that if I didn’t leave, he’d make me pay.”

Bradley’s face hardened. “No, Summer. This is not how it ends. You’re not leaving, today or ever. This is all wrong. I will never let you go.”

“But I have to,” I whispered. “I don’t have a choice. Morelli is too powerful. He can hurt you all!”

When he looked at me next, intensely, it sent shivers down my spine. Bradley cupped my face and pressed a soft kiss on my lips. “Morelli can never hurt me. I’ll make sure you’re safe, okay?” He spoke with such conviction that I believed him. “We’ll figure this out.”

“But-”

“No, no ‘buts,“” Bradley cut me off. “We’re going to fix this once and for all.” I could sense fury radiating from him in waves.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “Tammy, get mom and dad on the phone. There’s a situation.”

I nodded, wiping my eyes. “What are you going to do?”

Bradley called Tammy, speaking in hushed tones. As Bradley hung up the phone, he turned to me with a determined look on his face. “It’s done. You’re not leaving. Tammy’s going to help us. Mom and dad are at it already.”

Relief coursed through me. “Thank you,” I whispered.noveldrama

Bradley took my hand in his, squeezing it gently. “Goddess, I’m so glad that I came in time. If not, you would’ve been-” He didn’t complete his sentence and wrapped his arms around me. “Never leave me, okay?”

In his embrace, I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me.

The phone rang again. It was Tammy. Bradley quickly answered the phone, and as he listened, his expression shifted. A look of concern crossed his face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“The plan is active,” he said, his voice tight. “Matt is also on his way.”

“Who’s Matt?”