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,” Gabriella

“I’ll believe

got Roman out of there safely,” I tell Gabriella. “And I’m happy that

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

frustration as he tries to kill 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

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 in my hands.

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 I am okay as another vampire tries

didn’t know you could fight,” Gabriella says in a

me the stake earlier,

water droplets have disappeared. What was that? I still wasn’t sure what had forced the vampire to slow down, but I was happy that

be able to get Paige back to the other women in time. They were on their own. Their lives now depended

the castle,” Gabriella informs us. “There is no telling what kind of spells they’re using against them. We have

everyone 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

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 and protect

there’s no hiding the joy on his face. I followed his gaze, and

let him. She runs to Roman next and takes him from Gabriella. She showers him

Maya?” Kane demands.

the desperation 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

is,” Lucy

a werewolf to the

be here soon; they’re just finishing up with the other witches. The danger is over on that end. Now it’s time to

other women show up. I’m happy to see everyone reunite with their loved ones. I think everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Everything would be okay

I freeze; I think we all do. Did I speak

She was

pouring out his chest and mouth. My heart sank at the heartbreaking sight in front of me. This wasn’t happening. She

screams when she 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

could feel their pain. They were good people; they didn’t deserve this. Despite my anger with Atticus, I still reach

to their side, and something unusual happens next. Roman begins to fuss in his mother’s arms, and it looks like he understands exactly what is happening around 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 light. I can’t see anything; I don’t think we can. But something is definitely going on.

was

nothing had happened. How was he alive? I’ve never seen

amazed by what Roman just did. The enemies were either all dead or seriously injured; it was safe, at least for now. I had to hope that there were no more surprises. I don’t think we were up

he looks around us.

achievements have even been discussed at the academy. Now that his family kept growing, his power was only intensifying. It also

have shown your loyalty. If you need us for anything, I

was showered with kisses

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

agreed and shook his hand

time.” He answers

ready to have a good conversation with him. We were still around others, and after

had reunited with her parents, the women separated from the men to

are things with Atticus?” Maya

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

were that night? At

didn’t last long. Things are

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

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

and I needed to explain

and play the recording for them to understand what I

other a knowing look, and neither was surprised. How could that be? Why weren’t they as surprised as me when I’d first heard it? It’s almost like they

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

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 never knew Anya, even after all the time we’ve spent together. I

you?” Maya asks

I nod.

she recorded him. I’m sure he doesn’t even know she did that. I thought she was a nice person and

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

It always bothered me. Did they do anything else but speak to each other? The video I saw of them

him and that she didn’t want him touching you or looking at you the way he looked at

that Atticus was forced to say those things to her, that he didn’t mean it, but I knew I was hoping for the impossible. Every minute since we

It may not

wanted to believe Maya, but I knew she was only trying to comfort me. She would say anything as long as she thought it would make me

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

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

Gabriella says as she pulls

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

spicy time with Kane. We knew they wanted some time alone after everything

you should wear this white dress,” Gabriella says as we enter the guest room. “You’ll take his breath away when he sees you in this. I’m

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