“Please…” I cough, before asking, “Where is she?” I’m lost here, my brother just lost his shit on me and I still don’t have my old lady with me.
“She went fucking home,” he growls and slams the door behind him.
I lie there staring up at the gray sky, I did this, I hurt her, and I can feel it in my heart. Now I know how my great grandfather felt when he was injured, but I think this feels worse.
I slowly stand up and head towards my truck. I'm not steady enough to ride, but I am going to get my woman.
“Please, Viktoria, open the door.” I am leaning against the door heavily and knocking as often as my arms will allow me. “Open the damned door, Bijou.”
“She is not there child; she and Rhys are at my place. They have fallen asleep in my guest bedroom,” the old lady across the hall states.
“Can I please come in? I just need to be close to her and I need to make things up to Viktoria,” I beg.
“She told me what happened, and boy, I need to box your ears. I believe in love.” She steps to the side and allows me to limp into the apartment. She directs me to the second room and tells me to be quiet.
I enter the room and see Rhys curled into his mom, her face is tear streaked and puffy and her breathing is erratic. She was crying before she fell asleep. I take my boots off and crawl in behind Viktoria and wrap her in my arms.
“I promise I will make this all up to you, Bijou, I will prove to the world that you are my world. That you and Rhys are my family and I will spend the rest of my life proving it to you.” I place a kiss in her hair, and I can finally feel my animal easing.
I fall asleep and rest so peacefully that I don’t feel her leave the bed until a bucket of ice-cold water is dumped on my head.
“Get up, get out and leave me alone. I will leave this piece of shit town in a few days and you will never have to see my face again,” she screams at me.
“Please, please, Viktoria, don’t leave me.” I lose my composure and let it all out. I cry and beg her to stay, I want this woman like I want to breath.
“Why the fuck do you care? It wasn’t me that was fucking touching you it was some other bitch. Now look you made me curse; I don’t like to curse,” she growls.
I slowly stand up wincing in pain as my back has tightened up overnight and I groan.
“What the hell happened to you?” she huffs.
“You have a huge backer in the club, and when he got back from going after you, he kicked the crap out of me. Can you and I go somewhere today?” I ask. Okay so I begged.
“Why?” she growls.
“Child, you need to go with that boy and listen with your ears and your heart. The woman last night knows she found her soul mate, so now you need to tell your head to rest and listen.” the old woman says, then states, “I will keep Rhys for a few days, we have plans, now get out of here.”
I watch Viktoria nod and then walk toward the door. I limp after her but stop and smile at the old lady.
“This is your chance to tell the world that she is yours,” she whispers and pushes me forward.
I smile and head toward Viktoria, grabbing her hand and guiding her to my truck. I will take her into the woods and connect with her, I will mark my mate, and we will become one.
255
Etienne
I pull into the parking lot at the bottom of the hiking trail and find a spot the furthest away from all the other vehicles.
“I have a special spot I would like to take you,” I whisper and watch as she shrugs her shoulders and jumps out of the truck before heading for the trail.
I get out and catch up to her, even though I have pain, my healing is happening rapidly and the bruises are going away.
I guide her through an unknown part of the trail that will take us up to the top of the mountain.
The hike is silent as she is stewing on what she is going to say to me, and how she thinks she is going to get away from me, when I hear her gasp as the picturesque scene comes into view.
I guide her to the overlook and stand behind her as we look at the gorgeous view of the town and a few around it.
“Someone told me to shout to the world how much I love you,” I speak out loud before I lean into her head and whisper, “J’adore mon amour, I love you, Bijou.”
She starts to sob and turns into my chest.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am for yesterday. I was so focused on what Axl was saying that I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings. I should have done so many things, but I should never have spoken to you like I did. Viktoria, you are my world, I am happiest when I am in your presence. I don’t want you to be away from me for too long, but I know I need to make you feel protected enough to be independent.”
“I didn’t like her touching you, Etienne.” She looks up at me and I raise my hand and place it on her cheek.
“Only you, Bijou, I only want you,” I whisper and watch her eyes.
“I-I-I overreacted yesterday, I was upset that she thought that she had the right to put her hands on someone without asking, and the alcohol fueled my anger. I know I
