Don't Touch Me!

••• Arabella’s POV ••• After some time, Shawn came back carrying a hacksaw, and I breathed in relief. “This should be enough to cut through those chains…” he muttered as he squatted in front of me to free my feet first. “Do these chains not have magic on them?” I asked him curiously. “No,” he said as he worked the hacksaw through the chains. “They are just very strong chains for powerful prisoners. I asked one of the guards about it.” “Oh.” For powerful prisoners? It seemed Lina was afraid of my power. It took a while for Shawn to be able to cut through all the chains, but he didn’t cut through the metal cuffs around my wrists and ankles for fear of hurting me. “Done,” he let me know that I was free now. “What’s with the floating drink?” he asked, and I shrugged in answer. He took the glass and placed it on the table while I tried to stand up but fell right back to my seat because I was still weak due to the sedatives, and the metal cuffs felt heavy. He looked at me for a while before bending down. “Let me,” he said as he picked me up in his arms. He froze when he straightened and gazed intensely at me. I could see his eyes changing to his wolf’s, and he let out a satisfied whimper at being close to me. I felt annoyed and unhappy. The only one I cared about now was Max, and Shawn and his wolf had become part of my past. I felt uncomfortable being in Shawn’s arms, but there was nothing I could do if we wanted to leave this place. I turned my head and pretended to look around again. “Where are we?” I asked so he wouldn't focus his attention on me. “We are at the Battleclaw Banes Pack’s main house,” he answered and thankfully began walking out of the cell. His pack? “Are you pack members in cahoots with Lina and Abigail?” I asked with suspicion. “No. Abi called me here to mend my relationship with you,” he replied, then frowned. “No one seemed to know they were here.” “Black magic,” I gave him the most possible explanation. He nodded and kept walking. “I’ll talk to everyone later.” As he walked with me in his arms, I saw Lina sprawling motionless on a table, seeming to have passed out. “Did you do it?” I asked Shawn, receiving a shrug as a response. Surprised, I looked at him and pointed out, “She’s your mother-in-law.” “She tried to kill me,” he said with a bitter smile. “And she wants to hurt you. I won't allow it to happen.” I kept quiet, not wanting to reply. If he hadn't betrayed me with Abigail, I would feel moved. But… Now, he didn't deserve any special treatment. “Thank you for trying to save me,” I still thanked him since he did save me. He stopped and tilted his head down. “Bella…” his voice was hoarse as if he was trying to hold back his emotions. “I’m so-” Just as he was about to apologize, we heard hurried footsteps coming from the stairs. Shawn became vigilant and tightened his arms around me, and I became slightly scared. If more enemies came, we might not be able to fend them off, especially with my weakened self. I wouldn't be able to help. I might even be a burden to Shawn. “Max…” Iris suddenly mumbled in my head; her heartbreak was still evident in her voice. Max? I looked toward the steps, and just as Iris had said, Max appeared with Rosa. “Ari!” Rosa called my name the moment she looked at me, but she looked… shocked. Max’s expression instantly darkened, his aura became murderous, and he was growling dangerously. These two… Why were they… A realization hit me when I saw them looking strange. They must be shocked and furious as I was held in Shawn’s arms. “Shawn, you can put me down,” I told him helplessly. He looked reluctant to let me go. “But you are still weak.” “I’m okay,” I assured him, even though I wasn’t sure about it myself. But even if I still couldn't stand up, it was better not to nestle in my ex’s arms. Finally, he put me down. The moment I stood on my own two feet, and he withdrew his hands, my legs trembled, and I started to fall. “Bella!” Shawn reached out his hands toward me, but another pair of arms encircled me, preventing me from hitting the ground. I didn't need to see who those pairs of arms belonged to. His hold and scent were too familiar to me. Those arms and scent always enveloped me at night. “Arra, are you okay?” Max’s deep voice asked me. “Just a bit weak,” I told him. “Ari!” Rosa approached us and held me up while Max patted my body to check for any injuries. He looked worried, but I didn't feel as happy as usual. The images of him and Abigail fucking like animals still lingered in my mind. I took a step back away from him, and his hand froze mid-air for a split second before he reached out again. Yet, I stepped away again to avoid his touch. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he growled at me. This was the first time I had ever avoided his touch, and he had ever pointed his anger toward me. I didn't want him to touch me after he just had sex with Abigail. It was disgusting. He tried to touch me again, and I dodged his hand. “Don't touch me!” I yelled at him. “Arra!” he roared out my name, and I saw Rosa and Shawn shrink back in their places. I lifted my chin, not allowing him to see my vulnerability. “Some mate you are, Max,” I spat out those words. “I nearly believed all your bullshit of wanting me.” “What the fuck are you talking about, Arra?” he was angry, but he looked genuinely confused. “I might have believed your confusion if I didn't see it with my own eyes,” I snorted while looking at his superb acting. “Did you enjoy yourself fucking that pretentious slut, Max? I was imprisoned and stupidly waited for you to save me, yet you were fucking your brain out in another room.” I felt my heart aching again as I said those words, and tears started to pool in my eyes, but I bit my bottom lip to stop them from falling. He would be happy to see me crying. That was what he wanted, wasn't it? To see me broken after being played by him. “When the fuck did I fuck someone else? Don't slander me, Arra!” he nearly roared out in frustration. “I saw you!” I snapped at him. “Lina let me watch you and…” I took a deep breath and looked down, not believing myself to look into his dark eyes for fear of crying. “I watched you betraying me, Max… You betrayed me…” No matter how I tried to calm myself down, my trembling voice sold me out. “When do I have the time to betray you with a pretentious slut?” Max sounded really confused. He didn't seem to know what I was talking about. He didn't even say Abigail’s name. “You can't keep pretending not to know what I’m talking about, Max,” I told him and lifted my head up. The moment I saw his handsome face, I couldn't control my tears anymore. “Arra, please…” he reached out again and seemed to panic when he saw my tears. “Wait, Ari,” Rosa, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. “There must be a misunderstanding. Max never slept with Abigail.” “Abigail? That pretentious slut? I would never. Arra, you have to believe me,” Max was now desperate to make me believe him. “Ari,” Rosa spoke again. “Max has been together with me to find you since you went missing. There's no way he could have slept with Abigail.” I scrutinized the calm Rosa and panicked Max to see if they were lying. “I saw Abigail on the way here. She actually slept with a rogue, but Lina cast a spell to make him look like Max,” Rosa explained. “You saw Abigail with me?” Max sounded surprised. “I did,” Rosa nodded. “You were too focused on coming down here, and I knew it was one of Lina’s tricks. I didn't know she would be cruel enough to show it to Ari.” “So it really wasn’t Max?” I asked her. “No,” she said with a smile. I looked at Max and felt guilty for accusing him. “Max… I’m sorry. I thought…” I swallowed before continuing in a small voice, “I thought that person was you.” His arms encircled my body instantly, and he hugged me tightly. This time, I let him hold me and relished in his warmth. “Arra, I will never betray you. Never in any circumstances. Even if I'm being threatened... Even if my life is hanging by a thread, it will never happen,” he promised me.