You Broke Me First Phoenix Mountain Series Book 3

Monday morning, I walk through the Alpha building.

I never called Darcy. His questions disturbed me.

He’s getting too close. I need to step back.

I can’t have him prying. It’s too much for him to handle. He wouldn’t understand. He wouldn’t accept my past. I’d be forced to give him up if he knew.

He’s not strong enough to cope with what I ran from. I can’t see him hurt so I’ll keep him at a small distance until I’m sure he’s going to leave it alone.

As I turn to Bears office, I see Azriel walking with Craig.

“Samantha.” Azriel greets.

“Azriel.” I nod.

Craig sticks his chin out.

“Craig.” I look at him sheepishly.

“Allie.” He says in a monotone voice.

I swallow my guilt.

Azriel steps beside me. “I came looking for you. I need to lift your binding.”

I nod and hold out my wrist.

He waves his hand and a thin gold line of energy rope appears around my wrist then crackles and disappears.

I rub my wrist because it itched a little. I feel my power return.

“I hope we won’t have another incident.” Azriel arches a brow as he leans to me. His hands are behind his back.

“No, sir.” I mumble.

“Good.” He leans back. “How are you?”

“I'm OK.” I shrug.

“Everything good with the young Alpha?” He gives a small smile.

“Yes.” I breathe. “It seems to be.”

My eyes flick to Craig’s and he just stares with cold eyes.

Azriel nods. “Right. Well, I’ll take my leave.” He nods.

Craig steps beside me and stops. “For everything we have done for you, you better not do that again.” He glares at me.

“I won’t. I promise.” I look at him with sorrow on my face.

“We saved you, Allie. I saved you. The last thing I want to see is you end up like them and end up in front of the tribunal. You’re not them. Remember that.”

I press my lips together and nod.

He slowly rests his hand on my shoulder and then walks away. Catching up to Azriel.

I wrap my arms around myself and watch them turn the corner.

I turn back and slowly continue down the hall.

I can’t be them. I won’t be them. It scared me that for a brief moment I became them. Acting my revenge with darkness and evil. It terrified me.

Azriel and the Circle saved me from myself. Stopped me from what was once my destiny.

I can’t blow this now.

I went through my day with Darcy on my mind. My heart hurts. My head aches. Leaving him the other morning, left a bad taste in my mouth, but it’s what I do when faced with the questions he’s asking. I run.

Bear was staying over due to recruit trials, so I went to my apartment.

After changing into shorts and a tank top, I settled into my couch to do some work. I’m trying not to think of Darcy at all.

I know I should call him, but I cant. He’ll just start again. I refuse to go through it all.

I open a spell book, to study and there was a knock on my door.

I get up and answer it.

Darcy is standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. “Where have you been?”

I turned leaving my door open. “Busy.” I mumble.

“Sam, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I texted you I don’t know how many times. Are you avoiding me?” He comes in and shuts my door.

“I just…needed space.” I say as I sit back down.

“Sam. I’m sorry I upset you, ok.” He sat beside me. “I just couldn’t let you go through what you’re going through alone.”

I turn my head to him and flop my arm on my legs. “I’m not going through anything, Darcy!” I’m getting irritated.

He grabs my hand. “You are, Sam and I want to help.”

I take my hand away. “I don’t know what gives you that idea, but…”

“I know, Sam.” He says as his eyes meet mine.

“Know? Know what?” My mouth goes small.

“Everything. I know.” He said in a soft tone.

I stare at him. “What did you do?” I say low as terror fills me.

He swallows. “I went to Coral Landing.”

I lean back and shake my head. “No.”

“I met your parents. They’re looking for you, Sam.” He grabs at my hand again.

I start to tremble as a lump develops in my throat. “Darcy. What have you done?”

He looks at me with confusion. “Sam?”

“Did you tell them?” I ask my voice is shaky.

“What?” He asks.

I stand. “Did you tell them where I was?!” I yell.

He stands. “Wha…Sam. They’re worried sick. You’ve been missing for ten years!”

My face twists to anger. “What have you done?!” I shove past him to the hall to my room.

“Sam! What’s wrong?”

I run to my room and grab a bag. My body is shaking with fear as I rip my dresser apart. I fight tears as I stuff clothes in my bag.

Darcy rushes in behind me. “Sam. Talk to me. Please.”

“Go home, Darcy. Now!” I say as I shove past him to grab more clothes.

He grabs my arm. “No. You’re going to talk to me.”

I rip my arm off. “I don’t need to say anything to you.” I grit. My eyes flare with anger and betrayal.

“What’s happening? Sam, I don’t understand?” He follows me as I zip my bag and throw the strap over my shoulder.

“You just ended us. That’s what’s happening.” I swallow as a tear falls.

I push past him out of my room

“Samantha, please…” He follows me out.

“Darcy leave before you get hurt, ok?” I choke.

I throw my bag on the floor and grab my runners. I sit to put them on.

“No. I’m not leaving. Tell me what’s going on! Where are you going? What the fuck are you running from?” He grabs my arm and pulls me to face him.

“You wouldn’t understand!” I cry.

“Try me, Sam. Make me fucking understand because I’m not letting us end like this.” He slightly shakes me as he glares into my eyes.

I rip my arms away. “Just go!” I yell as I wipe my cheeks.

“That’s not fucking happening! Now, goddamn it! Talk to me!” He yells.

I suck in my upper lip as I fight the pain in my chest. I look everywhere but him. I can’t. I can’t face him knowing what’s coming.

“Please…go…” I hitch.

He steps close. “No, baby. Please…” He cups my cheek.

I look into his eyes. “You’re not safe.”

“Safe from what?” He asks.

“I…I can’t…” I start.

I was about to tell him again to leave when five explosions of black smoke filled my living room.

Darcy covered me and ducked himself as it happened.

The black smoke swirled around the bodies of five men all dressed in black with black hair.

Darcy jumped the coffee table with a growl and swung at the man in front.

He puffed in a cloud of smoke. Darcy fell to the floor.

Darcy jumped to his feet and rushed him again.

The man grabbed him by the throat and picked him off the floor. “This is a private conversation.” He clenches his teeth in Darcy’s face and throws him against the wall. Darcy lands on the floor with a thud. Books and pictures land on him as he covers his head.

He rolls to his knees and gets up.

The man nods and two men puff out in black smoke and reappear behind Darcy, grabbing his arms.

“Let go!” He grits as he fights, but they seem not to be phased by his strength and stand like statues.

The man that threw him is large, with a young, but terrifying face that has remained unchanged since the last time I laid eyes on him.

I stood with anger and fear in my eyes. My eyes flick between Darcy’s and the dark eyes of the intruder in my living room

“Samantha.” He smirks. He runs his thick fingers through his hair and licks his lips as he eyes me.

I push my chin out. “Sterling.” A shiver ran through me as his name left my lips.

He reaches down and tosses my coffee table aside. The only thing separating us. “I’ve been looking for you for a long time. I’d probably still be looking if your darling parents didn’t tell me where you were.”

My eyes flick to Darcy’s and he cringes. Knowing now what he did.

I look back at Sterling. “So, you found me. It changes nothing.”

He walks up close and I try not to show my fear. He reaches up and runs his the backs of his fingers down my cheek. “Your scar. It’s gone.” He says softly.

“Don’t fucking touch her!” Darcy growls. One of the men punches him in the stomach and he keels over, coughing.

My eyes close at the sight, but I remain still.

“I’m glad.” Sterling continues. “It pained me to have to give it to you, but your parents needed to be taught a lesson. There are repercussions when you try to leave the Ravens.”

I suck in a breath. “I’m not leaving with you.” I grit.

“Oh, but you are. Your parents have their freedom and I want my payment.” He runs his fingertip down my neck to the neck line of my tank top. This makes me internally cringe. My eyes look at Darcy who’s face is crazed with anger.

“Who the fuck are you?! Leave her alone!” Darcy yells and fights the grip the men have on him.

Sterling sighs and turns toward Darcy. He puts his hands in his pockets and walks over to him

Sterling’s chin juts out as his eyes meet Darcys. “Allow me to introduce myself. Sterling Black. Alpha of the Ravens.”

He reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out a raven feather about eight inches long.

He shows it to Darcy. He tips it to the quill. Ever so slowly he touches the tip of the quill to his finger. Skin sizzles.

Darcy’s eyes glow blue as his wolf surfaces.

“That’s right.” Sterling growls quietly. “Silver tipped.” He spins around. “Samantha knows it well, don’t you my darling?”

My body shakes at the sight of the feather and a tear runs down my cheek.

Images of my seven year old self, on my knees, screaming while he cut my face with that feather, flooded my brain.

I sucked in a quick breath. “Not again.” I grind and raise my arms out to the side quick. I slap my hands together in front of me and a Shockwave came from my body in all directions.

My couch and everything behind me flip and fly through the air. Everything crashes to the floor.

All the men in the room fly backward as they’re hit by the wave.

I run to Darcy and grab his arm. “Come on!”

“What’s going on, Sam?” He asks as he scrambles to his feet.

“No time!” I yell.

We run for the door, but Sterling explodes in smoke in front of us. “Nice trick.” He ticks his head.

I push Darcy behind me and call an energy ball. I throw it at him and he puffs out. My front door is turned to splinters as my ball hits it.

“Run now!” I grab Darcy and make a run for it down the hallway.

Once again, Sterling bursts out of his smoke. “You’re not going anywhere, sweetness. You’re mine.” He lowers his head and stares at me through his lashes. An evil smirk tugs at his lip.

His men appear and grab us. He walks up and palms the crystal around my neck. He rips it off. “I can feel the power.”

Sterling squeezes his hand. It shakes as I hear crunching. His hand glows red. He twists his fingers in his fist as dust falls from it. He crushed the crystal.

I was now defenseless.