83

Ella’s POV
I choked for breath and fought for my life. I clenched my nails on the fingers around my neck, trying to pull them off and my eyes swarm with tears as I realized that I was slowly getting unconscious as his hands tightened on my neck.
I was losing and he was winning. The bastard leaning above me was grinning and I let go of his hands around my neck that I was holding on to and reached up with my hand, groping to claw at his face.
He was killing me but I wasn’t going to go down with that sick grin on his face as I went down to my demise. I wanted to yank it off.
He laughed at my attempt to pull at his face. “You can’t get closer to me.”
“Why not get your face closer to mine and see if I will die alone?” I choked out my words.
He responded my wrapping his hands tighter around my neck and growled, his eyes flashing with hatred. “Die, bitch.”
“I won’t.” I rasped.
He tightened his hands, crushing my head into the ground. “Let’s see how far you can hold stubbornly to your life.”
“Why?” I cried, feeling my life ebbing out. I could no longer hold onto my consciousness. I was dying and it was at the hands of the bastard that I hated most.
“So your mate can be miserable when you are gone.” He smiled, flashing his teeth at me.
“I hate you.”
He was unruffled. “It’s a pleasure to know the feeling is mutual.” He clamped his hands, pressing hard on my veins with his fingers and broke my neck.
I gasped as I jumped up in bed, sweating profusely and breathing hard as I looked around and saw that I was in the bedroom I shared with Kevin and not being strangled.
I winced, sighing as I dropped my head into my hand and sobbed. I had had the same nightmare again and it was getting me afraid to sleep.
I jumped and stiffened as I felt a hand around my shoulder, thinking that my fears had crept up on me in reality.
“It’s me, Ella. Don’t be afraid.” He said behind me, pulling me into his arms.
“Kevin?” I whispered.
“Yes.” He answered, pulling me tighter against him.
I sighed and closed my eyes in relief as I melted against him.
Kevin’s POV
“Kevin?” She whispered.
I closed my eyes briefly and winced in pain at the fear in her voice. Her voice was tiny and I could hear the tremor in it even though she had only whispered my name.
I hated how she shook in my arms and that made me want to protect her more, knowing how strong she was. It must have been a terrifying nightmare for her to be as shaken as she was.
She had started having nightmares consecutively for the past three days and that was why we hadn’t left this place. I didn’t want her to have another nightmare when the men were there and have everyone know what was wrong with her.
The embarrassment would kill her faster than the fear of her nightmare would.
“Another nightmare?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No, the same one.”
I frowned. “Don’t you think that it’s time for you to tell me what the nightmare is all about?”
She refused to tell me what the problem was and wanted to deal with her on her own. It was time for her to tell me. I couldn’t let her deal with it on her own again. My heart couldn’t stand watching her in agony.
She bit her lips, showing signs of hesitation. I pulled her back by the arms and looked at her, straight in the eyes.
“You have to tell me what this is all about.” I told her, showing her how serious I was. “I can’t keep watching you scream and sweat all night without knowing what the problem is. It bothers me that it is the same nightmare that keeps waking you up at night.”
I could tell that she knew I was serious with the way her throat bobbed up and down as she swallowed.
“Ella, share your fears with me.” I encouraged her. “Are you still afraid of opening up to me and being claimed as mine?”
“You already claimed me.” She said.
“It’s not as deep if you don’t want to be claimed.”
“I want to. I’m yours, Kevin. I introduced as my mate in front of all these people not because I didn’t have a choice but because I wanted to.”
I was touched by her sweet words but I wouldn’t let her distract me with it. She was deflecting and I knew when she was doing that.
“Ella, let’s stop playing games.” I sighed. “Tell me what the problem is.”
She sighed. “I’m not playing games. I don’t want to hurt you with the truth.”
I snorted. “You hurt me more with your silence and hesitation.”
“It’s Kenneth.” She confessed after taking huge breaths.
Kenneth? I frowned but didn’t say anything, waiting for her to continue.
“I keep seeing him in my dreams and he is always strangling me in them.” She sighed, looking down and twisting her fingers. “It’s always the same scene and same conversation. I feel like it’s a warning of what would happen later in the future and I’m scared. I hope that I can avoid that.”
“Same conversation?” My brows furrowed as I thought of that. I wondered what she meant by that. If she kept having the same conversation with Kenneth, I didn’t think it was going to be anything nice.
“Yes. He wanted to kill me so you would be miserable. He hates you and wants to use me to get back at you.”
“The hatred is mutual.” I growled. “I would rip his limbs off before he gets to lay a finger on you.”
She sighed. “This was why I didn’t want to tell you. It would get you angry.”
“I’m always angry anytime you have a nightmare. I’m glad I have someone to direct my anger at.”
“Don’t do anything rash.” She whispered, pleading with me.
I chuckled. “You talk as if I’m going to see Kenneth soon.”
“I know we will.” She said, not buying my lie. “I know you will go in search of him when we leave here and get home. I know the fight with him is inevitable so that is why I’m imploring you to not act on your emotions when you see him.”
“You are my weakness, Ella. I know he knows that but I’m going to work on my control when I fight with him so I can get back to you.”
“Promise?” She asked. “Promise you won’t let him get the best of you when you fight him.”
“I promise you I will stay in control.”
She heaved a sigh of relief and embraced me. I held her tighter, holding on to her as I felt her body relax. I suspected that her nightmares had to do with fear of her experience win Kenneth and worry of the future fight that would happen when I see Kenneth again.
I wasn’t going to rest until I killed him and got rid of all the other rogues. She knew that and was getting anxious.
I realized that she had dozed off and laid her back on the bed, kissing her softly on the head and hoped that she slept peacefully this time.
I stepped out to not disturb her and was shocked when I saw the leader of the group outside. He called out as soon as he saw me and it seemed like he had been waiting me to get out.
“Alpha Kevin.” He called out, walking to catch up with me.
“Grimley,” I acknowledged him and waited for him.
“How is your girl?” He said the moment he got close to me. “Has she started having nightmares?”