SAVED BY THE LYCAN KING (Elisa) novel Chapter 37

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.