Chapter 99: Chapter 99

"What do you mean we're not staying?" Doris asked the moment their cabin door closed, William crossed the room to put some distance between them. "Are you mad? Enzo helped us when we needed him the most and now you're just going to leave him when he needs us?"

William blew out a frustrated breath. "You don't understand self preservation, do you? If we stay, they will kill everyone in this camp just to get to me. They've had enough of Enzo's ruling and they're itching for the excuse to break free from him. It's not wise for us to get in the way of their issues. It's his pack, not mine."

"If they want to get rid of him then we should make sure to stay and help him, William." Doris crossed her arms over her chest. Her feet were planted firm on the ground, nothing would make her leave. Not even him at his grumpiest.

William looked as if he was about to blow. She didn't care, she wasn't afraid of him anymore. If he struck her down, she would come back with a wrath ready for him. Her days of living in fear were long gone.

"What are you not getting? If we stay, we are making it worse for them. They may be able to talk themselves out of this if we're long gone. I'm trying to avoid another fight for them and for us."

"We could at least hide nearby and make sure it doesn't turn deadly, don't we owe them that? Enzo saved my life several times and I don't want to repay him like this. He let you stay with him knowing the message it would send and now look where we are."

William slammed his hand down on a table across from her. The sound made her flinch. "We are not staying. If I have to tie you to the back of my horse, I will. Get your things, now. We don't have time for any of this! I should have headed straight for the palace rather than run all the way here to warn them."

Doris felt her insides bubble with a newfound rage. How dare he tell her what to do? She was trying to help her friend and he wanted to leave them to die! "No. How could you even say that?" Doris said through clenched teeth. William narrowed his eyes at her and took a step closer. "If you touch me, I will change into my wolf and rip you in half."

"You don't have that sort of power over me. I will always be stronger than you."

"You don't know what I'm capable of." Doris lifted her chin. William's face went from rage, to a mask of emotionless calm within seconds. It was terrifying to see someone change so quickly as if he was stepping out of one personality and into the next.

"You want to stay and defend him? Be my guest. I'm not going to risk my men's lives for a maid and her lover."

The words hit their mark more than she expected them to. She knew he only thought of her that way, she'd told herself it a million times. It did nothing to protect her from the hard truth. His confirmation felt like a direct blow to her chest. Doris swallowed her bleeding heart and looked him in the eye.

"I know there is a good part of you in there somewhere, William. I've seen glimpses of it and I know your actions can't be faked. I'm sorry for what happened to you when you grew up. I'm sorry it made you act like this, even to people close to you. You have my empathy, but I can't leave these people knowing they might be killed. They're kind people."

William stared at her for an agonizing minute. "You think I want your empathy? I don't need empathy from someone like you." He took a step closer and she had to hold herself still. "Why would I want someone who refuses the truth and does her best to avoid it? You're not worthy to be my mate."

Doris felt as if her wolf had woken inside her the moment he said mate. She could feel Cordelia alive and well even after days of silence from her. "William-"

"Every second in your presence has wasted my time. All you've done is delay me of my goals for this trip and make a mess out of every situation possible." He growled. She stepped back when he got a little too close. "You think you matter now since these people didn't step on you like the palace did? I hate to break it to you, but nobody here cares about you. Least of all me. I allowed my mind to entertain the thought of a mate but I knew it wasn't a good idea. How could it be when it's you?"

He spoke like he had a bad taste in his mouth, Doris blinked away her tears and stepped out of his way. "Please leave."

"I'll tell Beth you said hi." William said through his teeth before he walked out the door. Her heart felt as if it had cracked in half as she watched him leave. He didn't look back once as he gathered his men and set out towards the stables without any of his things. She didn't care if he froze to death, his cold heart would welcome it.

It was inevitable. She knew it was how he'd felt all along and she always knew they weren't meant to last. What she had with him was wrong and filled her with shame even when he made her feel like the only girl in the world while he kissed her. He was sick with his power. He gave it to so many girls and took it away the second he was through with them. At least she was well aware of that before she danced with his fire. They may have lasted a few more weeks if she went with him, it was easier to leave it now. It might have felt impossible if she let it continue like it was. She had started to get used to his intimate touches and craved the ones he gave her when they were alone. She allowed herself to be weak for a man that didn't deserve it.

She didn't want to be his mate, he didn't want to be hers. That was that.

"What is the matter with you?" Cordelia hissed in her mind. Doris wished she could shut her out and make her leave her thoughts. "You're letting him walk away? Go after him and follow him back to the palace!"

"Did you hear any of what he said? He doesn't want us, Cordelia. What don't you understand? He's always going to care more about himself and you already knew he had no interest in a mate. He wanted to own me and when he realized he couldn't, he gave up."

Cordelia stayed silent as Doris searched her room for the knife Enzo had given her and warmer clothes. Hers had been soaked from the snow. His words rang through her mind but none were louder than the line about Beth. What would he do to her? Would he sentence her to work til she died because of Doris? His spitefulness made her sick, she wished she had slapped him even if it meant he hit her back twice as hard. Beth didn't deserve to live out Doris's punishment. She did nothing but be a kind friend to Doris for years.

"I thought it was going good. I felt how happy you were in his arms and how happy he was with you." Cordelia said quietly, as if a part of her had given up.

"Unfortunately, men are good are pretending. I was fooled for a moment there myself." Doris pulled her hair up and tied it so it was out of her face. She didn't have time to cry over a broken heart, she had to help Enzo. "We will find our happiness one day, Cordelia. Even if it takes years."

Her wolf said nothing as she walked out into the snow but she could feel her presence remain as if she was ready to be there when Doris needed. William and his party were already long gone she supposed. She pushed his face far from her mind. Doris swore to herself that she would make things right with Beth when it was safe here. A taste of freedom was better than never having any and Beth deserved her own.

Enzo turned to her with a bit of surprise written on his face. "I thought you left already, I saw William leave with the rest."

"They left, I wanted to stay and help." Doris said. Enzo's face softened a little.

"I couldn't ask you to do something like that. You have no training as a wolf."

"After everything you did for me, I want to at least try and help. I couldn't leave you knowing you might be hurt."

Enzo gripped her shoulder softly. "Doris, I don't think any of us deserve you. Your intentions are more pure than any I have ever met."

"I just wanted-"

"They're coming!"