Fated To Three, And I Broke Them All

Verity:

The driver noticed and adjusted his rearview mirror to look at me.

”Are you okay, ma’am?” he asked.

I nodded quickly.

”I’m fine,” I breathed, taking a sharp breath.

”Boyfriend?” he guessed.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

When I’d fled, I’d only managed to grab a small jacket, so I was still wearing almost nothing underneath.

That silk night didn’t count.

My long legs and most of my thighs were exposed, forcing me to place my purse across my lap to cover myself.

”Yeah,” I answered shakily.

I reached into my bag, looking for something else to drape over my legs.

I was getting cold, but more importantly, why the fuck did the driver keep adjusting his mirror?

”Well, that sucks. What kind of man upsets a woman like you?” he remarked.

My jaw tightened.

”Thank you,” I responded, trying not to be rude because, well, men and their egos.

If he would just shut up and keep driving, we’d soon be even farther from Roman’s reach.

Shockingly enough, I’d left Roman’s condo long before he’d called me.

He’d probably returned home, looked around, checked his bedroom and the hidden camera, and only then called.

That also meant it had taken him a while to get back.

It was already late, and there probably weren’t many shops still open where he could buy condoms.

So I had a decent head start.

For the first time since leaving, I felt a little hopeful.

But when had life ever been that easy?

The cab began slowing down before pulling toward the side of the road.

”Um, why are you slowing down here?” I asked anxiously, looking around the area.

Then my head snapped toward the back. I checked the time and realized we’d reached the area closest to Ragnar’s place.

So why the heck had he suddenly stopped?

”Actually, my cab broke down,” the driver explained softly.

There was something creepy about his voice, but I couldn’t quite place it. Maybe that was simply the way he talked.

”Okay, it’s fine. I’ll call another cab,” I replied, grabbing my phone.

He started chuckling as he got out of the car.

”Ma’am, it’s after midnight, and there’s an eclipse about to happen. You’re not gonna find another cab,” he remarked with another chuckle as he walked away.

My breathing grew ragged. I needed to get home quickly because if Roman caught up with me, I’d be in serious trouble.

I watched the driver return to the front of the car and open something beneath the dashboard.

A little while later, he suddenly appeared beside me and yanked my door open.

I jolted in fright. I hadn’t even realized he’d moved to my side of the car.

He must have crouched down and made his way around the back so I wouldn’t see him approaching.

”What the fuck?” I protested.

He didn’t give me a chance to react.

There was a tool in his hand, the same one he’d apparently been pretending to use to fix the car. He lunged at me with it, aiming for my head.

I caught his wrist and kicked him in the chin.

The tool flew from his hand and clattered loudly onto the road.

But he didn’t back away.

Instead, he lunged into the car and tried to climb on top of me.

”What the fuck? Get off me!” I screamed.

I shoved one hand against his throat and the other beneath his chin, wrenching his head back into a position where, if I had to, I could fucking snap his neck.

”Quit fighting,” he managed to grunt, forcing my hand away as he climbed on top of me. ”Do you really think I bought your boyfriend story? No decent woman wanders around after midnight looking like a whore.”

He tried to pin my hands above my head. I fought against him, but he became increasingly aggressive.

Then, suddenly, something shifted in the air.

A low growl came from somewhere beside the car.

It was faint, but I recognized it.

I’d heard it before.

My breath caught, and the driver abruptly stopped struggling with me.

”What was that?” he whispered.

He was still on top of me, his hands beginning to shake even as he kept my wrists pinned down.

My gaze shifted past him, toward the darkness outside the car.

The lycan slowly emerged into view.

I couldn’t make a sound.

But the man saw the fear in my eyes.

The moment he followed my gaze, the lycan seized him by the ankles.

”Ah!” the man screamed.

As he was dragged out of the car, he grabbed my ankle and tried to pull me out with him, but I kicked him in the face.

The lycan hauled him onto the road and slammed his body into the pavement.

The impact killed the driver instantly.

But the lycan wasn’t finished.

He repeatedly smashed the man’s body against the road before straddling him and beginning to devour him.

His claws tore into the driver’s chest and ripped through his flesh.

Slowly, I turned toward the opposite door and carefully pushed it open.

I slid out of the car and began crawling away while the lycan was distracted.

As soon as I managed to get to my feet and take my first step, a twig snapped beneath my shoe.

I froze.

The lycan’s head snapped up.

Then he snarled at me.

My gaze dropped to his claws.

And, well—

Now I knew why Roman’s nails were so sharp.

That was all it took.

I started running like a maniac, with him chasing after me.

I tried changing my route and cutting through areas where the trees were denser, but it was pretty useless.

He was gaining on me, leaping from one tree to another like he was a fucking monkey.

Finally, I came to an abrupt stop when he landed directly in front of me.

As he stood beneath the moon, the eclipse beginning to swallow its light, I realized that maybe this was it for me.

Then he lunged at me.