Chapter 03: Upcoming Bride

“ What's up?" I question, seeing that Lisa is low spirited as she sits on the kitchen table her eyes focused on the paper in front of her. She sighs and places away the news paper she was holding acknowledging my presence. 

“It won't be long before Harold finds us, “ she responds with worry in her face. I sigh sitting down besides her, as that statement drained all the energy out of my body. 

"I thought we had more time. What do we do now? There are only so many countries in the world. We can't keep this up forever, “ I tiredly rest my hands and face on top of the table. I know Harold will find us eventually. And if he doesn't, Neacal, will. And I'm really getting tired of running. I've been running my whole life. 

 “ Seems like we should find another place to stay . I already made us new passports and changed our names," she replies. But I didn't want to hear that anymore. Can't we come up with something else different? Like faking our death or something. 

“C'mon Lisa. Until how long will we continue running? Until they catch us? Which they will, “ I say burring my face between my arms as my hands covered my head . 

She lets out a heavy breath. “Maybe.“ I hear her picking up the papers again. 

“What do you mean maybe? Isn't that our only option ?" I whine with a muffled voice. She doesn't answer immediately, but continue flipping through the newspaper.

“ Ethan Santos, is looking for a bride, I heard, “ she then says. I tilt my head to look at her confused and honestly annoyed. We are dealing with life threatening crisis. We don't have time to be poking our noses in the Santos business. We have to be plotting our next plan. 

" How's that have to do with anything? Good for him. Unlike us, he doesn't have two dangerous man on his ass, “ I tell her. She chuckles, still paying deep attention to her reading. 

" That's because he has every dangerous man on his ass. He doesn't really get along with people, and has made ten times the enemies we've made, “ she responds. Of course I know that. The man has a nasty temper or maybe he's just cold hearted. Either of the two explain the nasty stories about him. 

" Well he's got the right to. He's one of the most powerful wolves, isn't he? Unlike us, he would destroy his enemies if he willed, “ I remind her. 

" And will definitely protect his pack members against all costs, “ she adds. I don't even know why we are gossiping about him at this point. We should be thinking of our next plan. I can't even stress that enough. 

“So? It's his duty as the Alpha. Unlike my step brother, who wants me high and low.... And you know what? Maybe he just wants me to come back home , and we are just overthinking things. He's my brother after all,” I reply.  

“Step brother,” she corrects. “Don't be stupid Natasha. This is not about a reunion for a long lost sister. Those people don't care about you, they just want to use you. And they want me dead," she reminds of the reason why I'm still hiding. " Wow, this wedding venue is beautiful, “ she then says. I roll my eyes, as I lift my head up to rest on the chair. She really isn't going to drop this topic. What's her problem? 

" Really? What's up with you and Ethan? Do you two have a past or something? Do you want to marry him?“ annoyed I challenge her. 

" What? I barely even know the man, “ she remarks. 

" Then why are you so obsessed with him? Did you like everyone else got tripped by the charm? “ I search for answers, because I wasn't really interested in this wedding topic. We have our survival to think about. Not the next bride. 

" No... What? I'm just saying," she laughs. 

I fold my arms above my chest as I take a hard look at her. " What's going on Lisa? “ I demand never letting my eyes off her. She heaves a hard breath and closes the newspaper again placing it in front of her.  

" I was just thinking of something, “ she breathly responds, leaning back on the chair. 

" What were you thinking? “ I implore her voice of knowledge. 

" Nothing really. It's just that..." She stops mid sentence living me even more curious. 

“Lisa!?" I frown as Impatiently wait for her to explain. I couldn't tell what was on her mind. But something about it worried me. 

“I know you probably won't agree to it. Any you shouldn't have to," she says. 

“Just tell me!" I order, recklessly throwing my hands. 

“... It was just a thought, nothing you have to agree on ," she continues, giving vague answers. Causing me to laugh hard in disbelief. To be honest I don't know whether to be angry or just disappointed. But then I look at her face, to see the seriousness in her eyes. Then something finally clicks in my mind.  

“Ohh... Hell No, Lisa! That is not happening. " I refuse the moment I knew what she really meant. 

“C'mon Natasha..."  

“No. I'm not doing it. Even if he came and begged me himself, I wouldn't do it. He's a terrible person, “ I remind her. Now I understand why she was stressing the bride thing. 

" You don't even know him? “ 

" You've heard about him, I've heard about him. The person has a terrible reputation. All the people have things to say about him, and… it's all ugly things. The man is a psycho,” I make it known to her. There's no way in a million years this is happening. I've been around, and I've heard the gossip. Not even once have I heard something positive around him. 

" But this maybe our only chance of escaping Harold and Neacal, “ she argues. Though it still wasn't enough to convince me. I would rather also be protected from the man. 

" How Lisa? Because Ethan will just kill us if he finds out about this. We both know he has anger issues, and is the last man I want to see myself being on his bad side, “ I remind her. " Let's just find another place to stay, “ I suggest. 

" Okay fine then. Hopefully you have a plan how will move past Harold's man across the borders, “ she says. 

“C'mon, I'm sure there must be a way." 

“There is. We can either take our chances with Ethan, or we can take our chances with Harold. It's your choice to make," she tells me. " But we have to do things faster because we don't have much time in our hands,” adds. I don't want to make any of these choices. Because both of them are very, very terrible choices. To be honest death almost sound better. “ Ethan will probably let you. He won't just kill his wife because of Harold. I'm the one who “kidnapped" you, and I'm the one who is behind all, so it's my ass on the line if any of them find out, " she tries to convince me. 

“And how does that differ with being caught by Harold if you're still in danger either way?" I ask, not one bit happy with this. 

“ Maybe it's because I have a better chance of survival. Harold as you know, will feed me to the rogues without a second thought, and you already know Neacal and I are not in good term," she tells me. But to be honest, I couldn't make out a better choice. And I didn't want Lisa to die. Neither did I want her to be Ethan's victim.  

Lisa was one of the rogues that attacked my pack the day my mother died. And she betrayed her rogue Alpha to save me as she found me almost lifeless in the forest. Now both Neacal and Harold are after us, and they want her dead. And I really don't want to lose her. 

She's been everything to me. A mother, a sister, a friend. She has kept me under her wing, trying to protect me at all costs. 

She has done everything to help me beyond what I could have done alone. 

“I don't know about this Lisa. It just doesn't feel right," I respond. 

" You don't have to, if you don't want to. It was just a thought.... Maybe we'll make another plan. Hopefully sooner, “ she says. 

" Great... “ I sigh tiredly sitting back on the chair.