Chapter Seven- The Truth

Abbie POV

“Please, you cannot tell anyone what really happened.” Luke says to me, desperation clear in his voice.

My brother has only just left the room and already he is trying to get me to cover everything up. I just… I just don’t know what to say.

“I have to, it is the right thing to do. Don’t you think that you and Mindy have put me through enough? I think it is time this comes to an end.” I say, finally getting it off of my chest.

“You can’t, and even if you wanted to you cannot as you are bound by the contract.” Luke hisses at me.

I sit there fuming, I know he is right but that does not mean that it sits well with me. All I want, all I have ever wanted, is to be free and yet again he and his girlfriend are stopping me.

“It is not fair.” I mumble, sounding like a child.

Luke lets out a deep sigh and takes the seat that Joe vacated.

“I know, I know that this is all wrong and for that I am deeply and truly sorry.” Luke says. I look at him in shock, never would I have ever thought that I would hear those words come from his mouth.

“What I did to you was wrong, getting you to enter into the contract and treating you like a slave. At first it was fun and a joke and I enjoyed it. Having someone who I could completely control, but then I did what I did to you in that cell and I was horrified. To think that I could behave in such a disgusting way was beyond me. I always thought that I was someone to be proud of, someone others could look up to and respect but in that moment I was a monster. And for that I cannot and will never be able to forgive myself.” Luke carries on.

I just sit there looking at him in shock.

“I never meant those words that I said to you, I was never going to take your innocence from you. I was angry and I took it out on you. I cannot explain it but when you said you wanted to leave, to die and leave this place. To leave me… it hurt me and my wolf so much. That does not excuse my actions at all, and for that I am happy to take any punishment you or anyone deems fit. But please, not right now. Let me make everything right first, and then I will take my punishment.”

I look at Luke, words will not form in my mouth. While I till hate him, I still hate everything he stands for and represents at the same time I can feel the sincerity in his words. I think he really and truly does regret what he did.

“I understand, but that does not make up for what you have done and neither does it make it right. I will tell others the truth, but as you have requested and I am bound by the contract, I will not mention you. But that does not mean I forgive you, I want you to stay away from me. Please.” I finally say.

Luke nods his head; he goes to say more but I speak before he can.

“Your five minutes are up, sir.” I whisper.

Luke looks like he wants to say something but instead he turns on his heel and leaves.

“Abbie, are you ok?” Joe asks me, taking my hand in his as he sits back down on his chair.

“Not really.” I reply.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I nod. “I want to tell you everything.” I say.

“I will listen but I cannot promise that I will not get angry.” Joe replies.

I nod my head.

“It all started a few years ago, for some reason Mindy started to hate me. At first we were friends, not close but civil. Then one day, just after her father died, she came to me and hit me. She called me many names and said that she will make me regret ever being born.”

I sigh. “At first I thought nothing of it but slowly over time I noticed that she turned everyone against me. She was manipulating those around her to become her voice and weapons against me. Not matter how hard I tried to fight against her I could never win. And then came the contract.” I say.

Joes grip on my hand tightens.

“The contract is between me, Mindy and another person. I cannot tell you any specifics because of the contract, I am bound to not mention anything that happens under it. But I can tell you this, I never would run away from you brother.” I say.

I look deep into Joe’s eyes, I hope he gets what I mean. After a few seconds Joe takes a sharp intake of breath.

“All of those times you were punished for running away, you were actually under the control of the contract?” Joe asks shocked.

“I cannot say yes to that but to deny that question would be wrong.” I reply.

“I cannot believe it.” Joe says.

“I was attacked by Max, he has always wanted me. I have always denied him, after all I want to wait for my mate. While that is a stupid belief and a mere pipe dream, it is still something that I want so bad. But he… I do not know how far he went after the branding as I passed out.”

“You fought so hard, I am so proud of you. But Abbie… nothing happened. Luke got to you in time.” Joe says.

I let out a sigh of relief, I am so pleased that Max was not able to have his way with me. I am scared though that he will come back and try again.

“Max has been arrested Abbie, he is in the cells, and he is awaiting trial for what he has done to you. We have been waiting for you to wake up before the trial could start.”

“Why?”

“Because you are the key witness. You are going to have to face him again Abbie, are you able to do that?”

I sit there in silence for a few moments as I think over the question. A part of me doesn’t want to, I jut want to go home and pretend that none of this has happened, but I know that I cannot and I know that if I do not speak out and something similar happens to someone else then I would not be able to live with myself.

I look up at Joe.

“I want to face him at the trial.”