Chapter 8 Nancy's POV

My heart wrenched at the prospect of leaving the pack I spent my childhood with, but for the time being, I had to concentrate on a more important task: escaping. I screamed back in a panic, desperate to hear his voice, "Morgan."

What are you expecting me to do? He raced out, saying, "Nancy, we can leave if you want." I bit my lip. Can we simply leave now? Would Anderson just stand there and let us leave without a fight? No chance.

How is your family doing? I wasn't able to ask you to leave them. Even the concept makes my heart hurt. I called "Morgan" back, but he didn't pick up. Sighing, I started pacing the room in search of something I might use as a weapon or to help me escape.

*****

Morgan's POV

The devil himself entered my room before I had a chance to even respond to Nancy. He gave me a disdainful look, as if I were some useless Omega rather than his Beta and his best friend, and a smug smirk spread across his face. We were hanging out a few hours ago and discussing the fun we would have at toxic, but now everything has changed.

"You ought to just give up now that you're ahead. You'll undoubtedly suffer harm." In order to support his weight, Anderson leaned against my door frame and gave me advice as if he were a buddy watching out for me. I wanted to scream and punch him in the face, but I knew I wouldn't succeed. I was familiar with Anderson well enough to know how not to handle him.

"You're mistaken. You think that simply because you are Alpha and can give commands to everyone, you can win her love, but you can't," I screamed angrily. Your arrogance will be ineffective this time. Who could possibly do such a thing? Although it was all personal and we never allowed it to influence the pack, I am aware that the two of us were not always on the best of terms. Even though Anderson could be a real jerk, he was still my Alpha, and I would give my life to protect him even if it was obvious that he did not feel the same way about me.

He laughed amusingly as if I had uttered a joke, which caused my eyes to immediately close. At least we can agree that he said, "No, I can't make her love me, but she will fall for me." His assurance made me shudder at the notion of them together. As I viewed Anderson, I felt helpless. He easily outranked me since he was bigger, stronger, and faster than I was. As I continued to look at him, my skin began to heat up; I felt as though I were being scorched from the inside out.

"Why couldn't you just leave her out of this?" I yelled because I was no longer able to restrain myself. When I spoke, his eyebrows raised in apparent amusement at how he was getting under my skin.

As he decimated others around him, he smirked with upward-turned lips and a vague sense of joy. "What better way to get you back then with your mate?" Anderson posed a rhetorical question as he shook his head casually, making me wish my captain was someone else so I could deck him in the face once more. I might even aim for far more than just a punch if given the chance.

"What about the pack?" He gave me a bewildered look as I blurted, so I went on. "You didn't believe this would have an impact on everyone? The issue, Anderson, is that you never think; instead, you simply react as Erica-"

"Shut up!" He yelled at me and immediately took control of the conversation by dictating what was spoken in the space. He growled at me while showing me his teeth. "I told you never to bring her up again." Did he really believe that none of the conversational attempts he made would bring up his true mate?

"I don't care, Anderson, you marked my mate!" My wolf growled in response, and I growled back. My attempts to persuade Anderson or make things right fell on deaf ears; the wolf's only desire was to tear Anderson to pieces. "You literally stole Nancy from me, but it wasn't my choice that you chose to deny Erica." I continued, hoping he would understand that he was to blame for everything. His arms started to tremble, which infuriated him even more.

"How could I have been with Erica after what you did?"

"It wasn't like that, and you know it!" He moved closer to me, challenging me, and I swiftly defended my actions as his shoulders tensed, signaling to me that his wolf was ready to play. There are now two of us. He stood over me, displaying his disproportionate stature, in an attempt to intimidate me, but it wasn't going to work this time. When comparing the two of us, I was conscious of my shortcomings, but Anderson lacked something I did: a heart.

He turned his head to make sure he was looking directly at me. As he watched me, desperately waiting for the other to start the fight, his jaw began to twitch. He muttered, his voice hard and harsh, "Well, marking Nancy was like that, and when she comes around, you are going to have to watch us together every day." His blue pools glistened with satisfaction as they blazed into mine. I wanted to punch him repeatedly and jump on him, but I refrained from doing so despite knowing what would happen. Attacking him would just result in my ban, which would prevent me from being on the same property as Nancy and giving up any chance of defending her. He smiled, enjoying the power he had, and interpreted my quiet as a way out rather than a calculated strategy.

*****

Nancy's POV

Since I was having no luck in the room, I began to worry about Morgan. Why did he stop speaking? Why were wrath and shame whirling through his body? I persisted in asking Morgan for an answer while he ignored me. I paced about Anderson's room, trying to figure out how to leave as my heart raced. Unable to sit still, I rubbed my hands together. I had to reach Morgan.

Could Anderson have hurted him? Anderson, would he do that? He didn't have many restrictions, so it made sense. His name, invaded my head and made me flinch a little.

"Are you alright?" I questioned him excitedly, but he didn't seem eager based on the emotions of his wolf. As he struggled to decide what to do, I could picture his eyebrows smushed together and his nose wrinkled.

From behind me, Anderson's voice boomed, "I told you not to talk to him," and I gasped and jumped to my feet so that I was facing him. How did he know Morgan and I were speaking? He responded to my internal inquiry, "I could tell by the glossy look in your eyes," a nasty look settling over his features.

You can't stop me from talking to my mate, I said emphatically as he sighed and sat down on his bed. He gave the wall a brief period of attention before placing his head in his broad palms.

"Not tonight, Nancy, please." Is he for real? He knelt down and untied his sneakers as I gazed in awe. Why does he seem unfazed by what he did? "I've had a long night, as have you, so can we please go to sleep and tomorrow we can argue?" He raised his head in a suspicious manner to gauge my response. The gunmetal blue color of his iris gave off an unsettling combination of beauty and deceit.

"Are you kidding?" "You made this mess!" I yelled, carelessly waving my hands around. He unbuttoned his jeans as I yelled, which immediately caused my breathing to halt. "What are you doing?" I squealed and hurriedly turned around to face away from the jerk in his underwear.

He said, "I'm getting ready for bed," with ease, appearing unconcerned by my outburst. "Am I making you nervous, Nancy?" he asked, letting out a brief giggle. As he drew nearer to me, Anderson purred sweetly, his voice growing louder. His massive presence was standing exactly behind me, not far enough away for our flesh to touch.

My mouth became too dry as I struggled to control my shaky knees. No, I was lying. Yes, I was apprehensive since he was removing his pants in my presence.

Only God knows what he would do after that.