Chapter 122: My Confidence

Astrid’s POV

We reached the hospital and I was treated. I didn’t feel much relief, but I was glad my husband was by my side. At least there was that. I was crying and I couldn’t stop.

"Why are you crying, Astrid? You’re safe now," Ethan said to me.

"I’m crying because of what I did to you. What I put you through. I’m so sorry." The words came out between sobs and I meant every single one of them.

It was insane ... the same person I had hurt, the same person I had wronged, was the one who came running to save me.

"I’m willing to do anything to make it right," I said.

"Get better. You were beaten badly." He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "When we get home, I’ll make your favorite dishes."

My heart lifted the moment he said that. I couldn’t help it. I smiled through my tears.

"Why did you come save me, Ethan?" I asked. I genuinely needed to know ... it had blindsided me completely.

"On our wedding day, we made a vow to each other. I said I was going to love you and protect you." He held my gaze. "That’s what I’m doing. That’s what I’ll keep doing."

I cried even harder.

If it hadn’t been for Ethan, I would have died. He knew I was a killer. He knew me at my lowest, at my absolute worst ... and he was still here. He had been the one who saved me from execution and exile when I killed Zane, the library cleaner. Now he had pulled me out of Jace’s hands too.

"I owe you everything, Ethan. I’m so sorry." He pulled me into a hug and told me it was okay.

I was better within a few hours and the doctors cleared me to go home.

I didn’t want my parents hearing a single word about what had happened. I made sure Ethan didn’t call them or say anything, and since my phone had been unreachable the whole time, I decided I would reach out to them myself ... later, when I was ready. It was better that way. My mother would worry herself sick if she found out.

We got back to the house and Ethan took care of everything. I could walk and talk properly, the only issue being the weakness that still hung over me from the beating. He cooked, sat with me, and made sure I ate before I touched a single drug.

He was my idea of a perfect wolf.

When I was finally about to rest, I noticed Ethan picking up his phone.

"Who are you calling?" I asked.

"The cops. To arrest Thalia."

"No ... leave her, Ethan, please. We just got through something. Let’s breathe first." I tried, but he wasn’t listening.

"If Thalia hadn’t been stalking you, none of this would have happened," he said, and kept dialing.

I wanted to handle Thalia myself. She was a female wolf ... older than me, but still like me in all the ways that mattered. And I knew how to deal with women like her.

Fuck it.

"I’m calling to order the arrest of Thalia for the constant and ongoing threat she has posed to my wife," Ethan said into the phone. Then he went quiet.

"What?" he said sharply. He cut the call.

"What happened?" I asked.

"She already reported you. They said she came in for the same thing ... and they’re on their way here now." He was already moving, grabbing his car keys, reaching for a bag. "Let’s go. Now."

"I’m not running, Ethan," I said.

He stopped and looked at me. "What do you mean you’re not running? They’re coming right now."

"Whatever they bring, they’ll meet me here." I sat still.

We went back and forth on it for a few minutes. I didn’t budge. Not once.

Then came the knock on the door.

Ethan opened it. The authorities stepped in ... three of them, badges and all.

"We’re here to arrest Mrs. Astrid Allen for the attempted murder of Ms. Thalia," the first officer said.

"This is a misunderstanding," Ethan cut in, stepping forward. "Thalia was the one threatening Astrid ... she’s been doing it for months..."

"Save it for the station," the second officer said flatly.

I stood up before anyone had to ask. I walked forward and held out my hands.

They cuffed me and walked me to their vehicle.

"I’ll be right behind you, Astrid," Ethan called out as they led me away.

I didn’t say a word. I didn’t need to. Ethan was my only hope and I believed him ... fully, completely. He had said he would come and I knew he would.

We arrived at the station. I spotted him the moment I stepped out of the vehicle ... trailing behind, just like he promised. I smiled on the inside.

They walked me all the way through to the inspector’s office, cuffs still on.

Ethan peeled off into a side office to speak with someone. He worked with the authorities too, which gave me something to hold onto.

Then I saw her.

Thalia walked in like she owned the place. Back straight, head high, steps deliberate. Like she had already won.

She had promised to make my life ... my marriage with Ethan ... a living hell. And damn it, she was actually pulling it off.

I wanted to get up, cross that room, wrap my hands around her throat and squeeze. But we were in a station and that was the most painful part.

Our eyes met. She almost smiled. Almost. She caught herself just in time and looked away.

This was only going to be for a while. I kept telling myself that.

I was ready to be judged. I had been in this kind of situation too many times to still be afraid of it.

But I understood exactly what she was doing. Jace was dead ... she would have found that out ... and she was scrambling to protect herself. Get ahead of the story before it reached her. Smart move.

But no matter how fast a cheetah runs, a wolf will always catch it. She was bitching and I had handled worse in my life.

"Astrid Allen, evidence has been brought against you stating that you threatened the life of Ms. Thalia," the officer said, and pressed play.

It was a voice recording ... from the phone call I had made to Thalia after she leaked the sex tape. I had been furious. I had said things. She had told me on that same call that she was recording it and would use it against me one day.

She had kept her word. Congratulations to her.

"Is that your voice?" he asked.

"Yes. That’s my voice," I said.

Ethan looked at me like he couldn’t believe what I was doing. Like he thought I didn’t know exactly what I was saying.

I did.

"She threatened my life and my marriage first," I added. "I just don’t have the recording to prove it."

"We deal in concrete evidence here. Action will be taken against you for threatening someone’s life," the officer said.

I sat back and waited to see how all of it would unfold.

They restrained me in the meantime ... said I was a potential threat. I let them. Arguing wasn’t going to change anything in that room.

I glanced over at Ethan. He was mouthing something ... slow, deliberate, so I could read it clearly.

I’m getting you out.

That was my confidence. That was all I needed.