Chapter 6 I'd Rather Crawl Through Broken Glass

"What? You’re scared to turn around?" Alessio chuckled. I swallowed hard, trying to move, but my feet remained frozen in place. "FUCKING LOOK AT ME," he growled. I jumped, my body reacting before my mind did, forcing me to turn. My breath hitched. His eyes—weren’t they dark blue before? Now, they were pitch black. It had to be a trick of the night. Alessio grabbed my arm and pushed me against the gate. "Where the hell did you think you were going?" His voice was calm, too calm. "I already told you, you’re not leaving. This is your home now. You better get used to it." "I can’t—no, I won’t. You kidnapped me and forced me into a marriage I didn’t agree to. I’m not getting used to anything. Let me go." "I’m never going to do that." His smirk deepened. "You can try to escape, but no matter how many times you run, you’ll never get away. I promise you that." He let go of me and took a step back, slipping his hands into his pockets. "You know what? Go ahead. Try." I blinked. "What?" "The gate’s open. Run. I’ll give you a head start. But remember—when I catch you, there’s no running ever again." He tilted his head slightly. "Quick reminder, there’s nothing out there but thick trees and miles of empty land. You won’t find anyone to help you." He wasn’t joking. I wasn’t going to waste the opportunity. Without hesitation, I bent down and ripped my dress, shortening it for better movement. I straightened, took a deep breath, and then— I ran. Not just any run—I pushed off with full speed, shoving past him, catching him off guard. Alessio stumbled. I didn’t wait to see if he recovered. I was already gone. I ran through the trees, my lungs burning, my legs pumping. This was what I did best. Four years of track in high school, a scholarship, college marathons—I had stamina. If Alessio thought he could catch me, he was mistaken. For years, people had told me my speed was unnatural. I ran faster. The forest was dense, but I navigated it easily. Alessio had been right—his house was deep in the wilderness. But I had to keep going. Civilization had to be somewhere. Then—pain. A sharp, burning pain shot up my legs. My vision blurred. My breath came in ragged gasps. No. I kept running—had to—but nausea hit me hard. I tripped over a rock and crashed to the ground. My ankle twisted beneath me, sending searing pain up my leg. And then— "You did better than I expected." My blood ran cold. I looked up. Alessio stood above me, not a hair out of place. Not even out of breath. "H…how?" I gasped. He crouched, smirking. "How did I catch you?" His voice was almost amused. "I have my ways." I swallowed hard. He leaned in slightly. "We had a deal. If I caught you, you could never leave again. Let’s go." I clenched my fists. This wasn’t over. Not yet. I attempted to stand, but agony shot through my ankle. "Ow!" I gasped, falling back down. Alessio’s smirk faded. "What? Are you hurt?" I nodded, unwilling to admit how bad it was. "I just moved too fast." He crouched again. "Let me see." I swatted his hands away. "Don’t touch me." He lifted an eyebrow. "I’m trying to help you. Your ankle’s twisted. You won’t be able to walk." I crossed my arms. "Don’t you dare touch me. I’d rather crawl through broken glass than let you lay a hand on me." Alessio sighed and straightened. "Suit yourself. I’d love to see how you plan to get back to the house on your own." I glared at him before shifting my weight toward a nearby tree. I gripped the trunk and used it to hoist myself up, careful not to put pressure on my injured ankle. "See?" I spat. "I don’t need your help." Alessio smirked. "You’re standing. Now walk." "I’ll walk when I’m ready." Taking a deep breath, I moved my good leg forward. Then, the bad one. The pain was immediate, shooting straight up my spine. I bit my lip hard to keep from crying out. Before I could react, the ground vanished beneath me. I gasped. Strong arms scooped me up effortlessly. "What the hell are you doing?" I smacked his shoulder. Alessio didn’t even flinch. "I’m tired. I need a shower. And I have no patience for your stubbornness." His voice was sharp. "Shut up and deal with it." "I don’t need—" "Yes, yes, you don’t need my help," he cut me off. "I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for me. So shut up and stop whining." I wanted to fight him, but something in his tone told me he wasn’t in the mood for arguing. I glared at him, but— Then, he ran. Not human fast. Monster fast. The forest blurred. The wind howled past my ears, cold against my skin. His arms around me were firm, steady, and something about the warmth of his hold sent an unsettling sensation through me. Drowsiness crept in. The exhaustion, the pain, the night—it all became too much. I fought to stay awake but darkness won. — The next time I opened my eyes, the sun was up. I was lying in a bed. My ankle was bandaged, propped on pillows, a melting ice pack resting against it. I stirred, trying to process where I was. And then— A hand. A warm, solid hand pressed against my stomach. My breath caught. I turned my head slowly— Da rk hair. Bare chest. A slow, satisfied smirk. Alessio. I screamed.