WOLF LOYALTY

I Love Him

**

Amelia

Raymond is waiting impatiently in the line. He’s almost at the front. He looks around to be sure there aren’t any other officers nearby before lowering his voice to speak to me.

“Well?

“I told him everything is fine.”

Raymond’s eyes narrow in suspicion. “How do I know you’re telling me the truth?”

I gesture around at the calm airport. “If I didn’t brush them off, don’t you think you’d have officers running to arrest you by now?”

Raymond can obviously see my point. He nods but doesn’t speak again, as we finally reach the front of the line. He gets us the first tickets back home, which leave in an hour.

What are we going to do when Rogers finds us?

“We’ll be long gone before he finds us.”

I know, but unless you want to live the rest of your life on the run, he’s going to find us eventually. Have you thought of that?”

I have. When it happens, you’re to tell Rogers that you’re in love with me, and you want to be with me. He will respect your wishes.”

“If he believes it, which he won’t.”

You’d better make him believe it, or his secret will be on the morning news the next day.”

“Raymond… please, reconsider. If you let me go now, I can get back to the island before Rogers wakes up. He never needs to know. He’ll kill you when he finds out.”

He can try. Ever since I found out about werewolves, I’ve been preparing. Trust me, we’ll be safe. Don’t worry, Amelia. We’ll be happy again, you and I.”

Answering his madness is pointless, so I simply follow along to the flight waiting area.

My mood sinks to my toes as I realize that this is my life now. If I want Rogers to be safe,

I have to stay with Raymond.

It feels like a great iron door slamming shut against any possibility for happiness I have left.

**

Amelia

Raymond answers the doorbell. He never lets me answer it, which is probably a wise decision from his point of view.

I’m supposed to stay in the bedroom, but the moment I hear Rogers’s voice, I’m running.

I haven’t seen Rogers in two weeks, ever since Raymond and I snuck off the island. I dash to the door, pushing Raymond aside.

Raymond…”Raymond’s tone is laced with a warning, and I check myself.

I still need to protect Rogers. I long to throw my arms around him and tell him how much I’ve missed him, but I doubt Raymond would approve of that.

Ever since we got back, he’s been threatening to reveal Rogers’s secret if I don’t do as he wants.

I comply – like I have a choice – but the more I do, the more I hate him for it.

Raymond seems to think that being more controlling will somehow make me love him.

How did I ever love someone like this?

I suppose he wasn’t always like this, but I clearly judged his character horribly wrong, considering that even after he cheated on me, I never would have thought him capable of what he’s doing now.

“Amelia.”

Rogers’s voice jolts me back to the present.

“Rogers.”

His eyes flick over my body, and his brow furrows in confusion. He can see I’m not injured or restrained. “Can we talk?”

Actually, Amelia and I were about to watch a movie. Make this quick, will you, darling?” Raymond kisses my forehead.

He so far hasn’t insisted on sex – I suppose even Raymond draws the line at rape – but I’m not sure how long that’ll last.

I draw in a deep breath. This somehow feels worse than leaving Rogers on the island. I snuck away like a coward, then. Now, I have to lie to his face.

Maybe that’s it.

Perhaps lying is going to be my salvation.

I’m sorry you had to come all the way here just to hear me say this, Luke. I’m in love with Raymond. I’m going to marry him after I divorce you. When I told you at our wedding that I love you, it was a lie. It’s always been, Raymond. I love him.”

Raymond is smirking, but Rogers’s eyes are wide. I didn’t tell him I loved him at our wedding and he knows it.

I try to communicate with him silently, begging him to play along.

He needs to make Raymond think he believes me.. and he needs to realize that the rest of what I’m saying to him isn’t a lie.

Thankfully, Rogers is quick on the uptake. I see. You should have told me, Amelia.

Eloping as you did is unacceptable. When I told you I love you at our wedding, I thought that meant something. I guess I was wrong.”

I keep a blank face, but inside I’m screaming yes, yes, yes!

He understands.

I don’t know what he’s going to do about it, but things no longer seem nearly as hopeless as they were a few minutes ago.

I’m sorry.” I back away, my eyes on the ground

Now, I just need to keep Raymond happy until Rogers figures some way out of this.

Well done.” Raymond puts a possessive hand on my back and leads me to the dining room. “How about we order pizzas to celebrate? He’s finally out of our lives.”

makes the order -I’m not allowed to use a phone.

Barely five minutes after he orders, my phone starts ringing. Raymond takes it out of his pocket and glances at the screen.

It’s Amanda. Can I trust you to speak to her?”

Like you need trust. You’re not going to let me have privacy anyway.

.

Be careful, Amelia, or I won’t let you speak to her at all.”

Tm sorry,” I say quickly. I miss Amanda and don’t want to turn down a chance to talk to her, even if I won’t be able, to be honest with Raymond watching.

Raymond hands me the phone, turning it onto a loudspeaker so that he can hear it too.

“Amanda, hi.”

Amelia! I just heard the news, and I must tell you, I’m so pleased.”

The news?

That you and Raymond are back together, of course! You two must come over for dinner sometime. I can’t tell you what a relief it is that you’ve chosen to be with someone as sensible and kind as Raymond is.”

Ah. Rogers has called her and filled her in.

Rogers has no chance to get close to me, but Hannah does, if she plays into Raymond’s scheme.

“Yes, it’s all wonderful.” I don’t know how many positive comments about Raymond puts my stomach can suffer to make, but I have to try.

I really have never been happier. I’m so glad I managed to reverse the huge mistake made by leaving him in the first place.”

Do you two want to come over to dinner tomorrow? I’d love to have you.”

I glance at Raymond, who nods.

Absolutely. We’d love that, Amanda.” Raymond is making impatient gestures for me to end the call. “Look, I’d better go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I hang up and hand the phone to Raymond, too happy to even be angry that I’m not allowed to keep my own phone.

I’ll be seeing Amanda tomorrow. I miss her so much.

I spend the rest of the day ignoring Raymond, as I usually do. Pretty much the only things I’m allowed to do are read, watch TV, cook, and clean.

I spend the day in the bedroom reading, and Raymond lets me.

We go to bed later that night as usual, with me squashed on the end of the bed, trying to keep as much distance between us as possible.

I spend the rest of the day ignoring Raymond, as I usually do. Pretty much the only things I’m allowed to do are read, watch TV, cook, and clean.

I spend the day in the bedroom reading, and Raymond lets me.

We go to bed later that night as usual, with me squashed on the end of the bed, trying to keep as much distance between us as possible.

Raymond is snoring when I hear a tap on the window.

At first, I think it must be a tree branch or something, but there is only a light breeze, not nearly enough to move the branches of the tree outside the window.

There is another tap. I get up quietly and go to the window.

I nearly cry out in shock Amanda is perched in the branches of the tree, tossing pebbles at the window.

I make frantic motions for her to go away, glancing back at Raymond, who is thankful. still asleep.

Amanda shakes her head and tosses another pebble. I wince as Raymond’s snoring falters.

I’m sure she thinks she’s helping, but she’s just putting Rogers in even more danger. I jerk my head to the side, toward the front door. Amanda nods and starts climbing down the tree.

I hurry through the lounge and to the front door.

The moment I open it, a wailing alarm goes off.

I have a brief glimpse of Amanda’s face before I slam the door shut again, desperately trying to turn the alarm off.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

It does turn off, but the damage is done.

I turn to face Raymond as he comes out of the bedroom, practically vibrating with rage.