Apprehended By My Mate novel Chapter 21

"Clare, I am not going to hurt you." She says taking a small step forward but I scramble back and slam into the wall behind me like a frightened rabbit.

"It's ok Clare, you are safe. Nothing will hurt you here." She takes another step towards me and I freeze up. My body becomes cold and my body starts shaking as Derek's face appears before my eyes.

"No, get away from me." I yell as he keep coming forward. He has the known smirk on his face and I know what is to come.

"Derek No-" I scream as he places his hand on my shoulder. The moment his skin touches mine I begin trashing around trying to get away from him.

"Stop Derek, no please don't, I promise-" I shout and I feel his hand disappear.

"Clare, it's Ivy. It's Ivy." The words that flow from his mouth are soft a feminine but that doesn't mean anything.

"Please don't, I promise, I promise I will be good." I whimper waiting for the blow that never comes instead I feel small arms wrap themselves around my legs. I open my eyes and I no longer see Derek but my beautiful yet scared little girl who has tears in her eyes.

"Mama?" She questions hugging my legs as tight as her little arms will let her.

"Grace?" At first I don't believe she is real. It's when she says my name that the whole situation becomes real. Derek was never here. That calms me down a little knowing that he hasn't found me. Yet.

"Clare?" I pull Grace into my side and look up to see Ivy, Felix and last of all Conner looking stressed and pale. I start to chock on sobs and I cover my mouth with my hand trying to stop myself from making another sound. Ivy takes a few steps towards me before I am wrapped around her warm embrace. Tears one by one escape my eyes creating a waterfall against her shirt. Oh God. I remember what I yelled and the shame and fear consume me like a fat kid consumes chocolate cake.

"No." I whisper. I have not said his name in over a year, I know Conner and Felix will look into it. They have been trying to find out any information about me but I have given them none until know.

"Please don't look for him." I say making all heads snap my way. "Please I am begging you." I look into Conner's eyes and let him see my desperation not to be found.

"Please tell me he didn't remove your mark." I shake my head remember all the pain I went through to do it.

"No I did it."

Conner

I did it. I did it. Runs through my head over and over again. Little things are starting to make sense but the words I did stop my brain from putting them together. I exhale loudly pacing back and forth in front of Felix's desk. The moment Clare said those words she passed out from exhaustion. I carried her to my room where Ivy was at the moment. Felix and I came back to his office where I have been pacing for the last half an hour.

"Why would she do that to herself?" I whisper sitting down on the lounge defeated. Felix has been patient just watching me with a sullen look on his face.

"Conner you remember the first day she came here. I can understand why she did what she did." I look up at my Alpha but I still don't get why go through that pain.