SAVED BY THE LYCAN KING (Elisa)

I ran as fast as I could out of the arena. I ran until I reached the woods. My breath came in ragged gasps as I ran.

I ran through the trees, thinking of everything that had happened. The pain of seeing my once loving parents now so cold and distant tore at my heart. The words my father said to me echoed in my head.

"You're such an animal!" he said.

The tears fell freely from my eyes now. There was an ache in my chest from all the pain I felt inside. I felt bad for hurting Gina, but she had started it. She was the one who challenged me. She was the one who made me angry. Even at that, it was somehow my fault. It was always my fault. I didn't matter to anyone. Nobody cared about me.

No one wanted me anymore. Not my parents, not Jackson, not even the pack members. The people who were supposed to love me, to support me, had turned their backs on me. Maybe I'd be better off dead.

I found a secluded spot in the forest, hidden from view. I collapsed onto the ground and started sobbing. The ache in my chest grew more painful with each passing second. I pulled out the hairpin from my hair and stared at the sharp point. My hands shook as I pressed it against my wrist, feeling the cold metal press against my skin. The pain was a strange kind of relief. It served as a distraction for me.

Just as I was about to press down harder, a strong hand grabbed my wrist, stopping me. I looked up, startled, and found myself staring into Ferris's eyes.

"Elise, what are you doing?" he asked, pulling me up to face him.

"Let me go," I sobbed, trying to pull away. "I just want it to end. Please, Ferris, just let me go."

He didn't say anything. He just tightened his grip on my wrist, gently but firmly. His presence calmed me. I realized how much I had missed him.

I struggled against him, desperate to end the pain, but he didn't let go.

"Why do you care?" I choked out. "No one cares. My parents hate me. They think I'm a monster."

Ferris's eyes softened. He pulled the hairpin from my hand, tossing it away. "Elise, I care. I'm not going to let you hurt yourself."

Something in his voice, the sincerity, the concern, broke through the wall of sadness I had built around myself. I collapsed against him, sobbing loudly. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close as I cried.

"It's okay, Elise," he murmured "You're not alone. You're not a monster."

I cried harder. All the pain, fear and guilt I felt poured out of me through my tears. Ferris held me. He didn't let go, even as my sobs turned into hiccups. He just stood there with me, comforting me and patting my back softly. Nobody had ever been there for me like this before. No one has ever held me when I cried.

After what felt like an eternity, my sobs began to subside. The sadness I felt before now turned to tiredness. My eyes grew heavy and my body ached as if the crying had drained my strength.

I took a deep breath and pulled away from Ferris, wiping the tears from my face

with the back of my hand. My eyes felt puffy and sore and my throat was raw from crying.noveldrama

"Thank you," I murmured "Thank you for stopping me. I... I wasn't thinking straight."

Ferris removed some strands of hair from my face. The action sent warmth through my body. I leaned into his touch even more.

"You don't say?" he teased" And here I was, thinking it was just one of your PMS mood swings. I know ladies get like that sometimes."

I stared at him for a moment, stunned by his audacity, and then, to my surprise, I laughed. I couldn't remember the last time I laughed. In the midst of all this pain, it was exactly what I needed. Ferris laughed too.

As our laughter subsided, Ferris looked at me with an intensity that made my breath get caught in my throat

He cupped my cheeks in his hand "Elise, I promise you, I'm going to find a way to get you out of

Jackson's house. You don't deserve this, and I won't let you stay in that helthole any longer than necessary."

His words warmed my heart. In that moment, I stared into his eyes, feeling emotions I couldn't describe. The air around us cackled with intensity and warmth and... Something else.

I"Thank yo. You have no idea how much that means to me."

For a moment, we both stood there, staring into each other's eyes. The world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in our own bubble. I could see the concern in his eyes. His gaze dropped to my lips, and I felt a magnetic pull, a strong force drawing us closer.

Time seemed to slow down as we leaned in. The space between us shrunk until I could feel his breath on my skin. My heart pounded in my chest each beat echoing in my ears. Just as our lips were about to meet, I felt a jolt, a sudden feeling of clarity. I pulled back and cleared my throat.

"I... I should go," I said, avoiding his gaze. "I still have a lot of chores to do."

Ferris blinked. The spell between us was broken. He nodded slowly, releasing my face. “I understand. Give me some time and I'll get you out of here."

I gave him a small smile before hurrying away. As I walked back to the palace, my mind was filled with different emotions. The connection I felt with Ferris was undeniable, but I couldn't afford to get lost in it.

Not now, not while I was still trapped in Jackson's house.