Chapter 17 Be My Woman Forever . Giving your trust to a new partner is an act of courage Unknown Elenas P.O.V. I was angry . I was furious . I was livid . I was apoplectic . I was every word under the goddamn sun that can describe pure , unadulterated rage . I cant believe my mother would try to pay Tanner off to keep him away from me so that I could stay married to Tristans dumbass instead . I always knew my mother was a nasty , manipulative and vindictive woman who loved to control every aspect of her husband and kids lives but I honestly never thought that shed stoop to such a low level to keep me with her golden boy son in law . Ive got an idea as to how my mother found out about Tanner and our weekend together as well as my decision to end my relationship with Tristan and it honestly wouldnt shock me if this was how she found out because the friend in question is the daughter of my mothers best friend Margot . You see what happened was Tristan and I had been married for two years and wed already hit a snag in our relationship which wasnt helped by his abusive and controlling behaviour . Anyway , I was determined to end our marriage as quickly and as cleanly as possible but Tristan didnt want that and he refused to let me go , so he insisted that we have a break instead which I agreed to because I was hoping it would help him see that we werent meant for each other . This break resulted in my weekend rendevous with Tanner which opened my eyes even further to what I wanted and didnt want in life and I didnt want Tristan anymore . I had decided that I no longer wanted to be with Tristan and I confided in my friend LuAnn about everything which her mom mustve overheard and told my mother about because I was quickly removed from Yale and forced back into the cage my ex husband was holding me 1/9 +10 Pointi Chapter 17 Be My Woman Fore … captive in and thats were I remained for the next five years . Besides , how else could she have found out ? nobody else knew about Tanner except for LuAnn , not to mention Margots husband worked for the college I was admitted into after Yale which is further proof that the old hag went tattletaling to my mother . After leaving Tanners office , I got in my truck and sped off determined to go to Black Dawn and beat my mothers ass fifty shades of black and blue for all of the pain and torture shes put me through . I was so angry with the whole situation that I didnt hear my family or Tanner shouting my name when I stormed out of the clubhouse and I had no clue the latter was following me until I received a phone call from my very distressed big brother . Hello Elena , oh thank god you answered , whats going on ? why did you leave the clubhouse like that ? Because I wanna kill our mother , thats why , Brandon You wanna what ? why do you wanna kill our mother , Ellie Brandon asks sounding shocked . BECAUSE IM FED UP , BRAND !! I shouted in frustration . Im fed up and Im pissed off with that b ***h I was cursed with as a mother Whats going on , baby ? talk to me Brandon says and I take a deep inhale before slowly releasing it . Im sick of this s ** t , Brandon , IM SICK OF OUR MOTHERS s ** t !! I shout whilst repeatedly slapping my hands against the steering wheel . What are you sick of , sweetheart ? Im sick of everything , Brand … Im sick of mother , Im sick of her meddling ways , Im sick of her always finding new and improved ways to f ** k up our lives and cause us pain and heartache, Im sick of my family who are supposed to love me going behind my back and betraying me , this includes you and dad , by the way What ? what have dad and I done to betray you , Elena ? 2/9 +10 Point Chapter 17 Be My Woman Fore … Brandon asks sounding angry and annoyed which pissed me off even further . You told Tanner to stay away from me … you told him … I cut myself off as I tried to control my emotions and stop the tears in my eyes which were dying to fall from falling . Do you know what the past four months have been like for me , Brand ? do you know how hurt and sad Ive felt ? do you know how it made me feel to see the guy I liked and who I thought liked me treat me like I didnt f ***** g exist ? do you know how lonely Ive felt , Brandon ? Ellie … I was incredibly lonely , Brand and I at least wanted a friendship with someone who wasnt gonna treat me like some victim or like a fragile little bird who they were afraid to let out of their sight in case I flew away and hurt myself and I thought I found that with Tanner but then he started to ignore me which confused me at first and I thought that maybe he was just another asshole man who god was preventing me from getting involved with to stop me from being with another jerk who would hurt me like Tristan did but then I find out that its because you and dad told him everything I had suffered through with that bastard and our mother and you told him to steer clear of me I said as a sob escaped my mout h destroying my tough facade . Im sorry , Ellie , we only did what we thought was best for you Best for me , how ? I ask with annoyance in my tone . Think about it , baby , you had just come out of a highly toxic and very traumatic situation where you had been severely mentally , emotionally and physically abused leaving you with many different scars , as well as trust issues , youve suffered from panic attacks and nightmares ever since and you flinch at the slightest bit of male contact , you werent stable enough or ready to get involved with another guy at that point at least not in a friendship way and especially not with someone like Vi per , sweetheart Brandon says before sighing and I just knew he was running his hand through his hair as he did . Dad and I didnt do this to hurt or betray you , Elena , we did it to protect you because we knew you werent ready for something new and we wanted you to heal yourself and get some help to recover from your past before letting Tanner anywhere near you 2/0 +10 Point Chapter 17 Be My Woman Fore … Hes right . I know hes right and I know that what hes saying makes sense and I love him and my father for protecting me like this but it still hurts to think that theyd tell Tanner about my past before I had a chance to . I think this is what Im most hurt about is that I wasnt in control of when , where and how Tanner found out about my past and that it was taken away from me by Brandon and my dad which I get why they did it because they were just looking out for me but still . I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard a very loud noise coming from behind me and its a noise which can only be made by a motorbike . What the hell ? I muttered to myself as I looked through my mirrors where I saw someone speeding up to me and it looked like Tanner from the looks of it . Dammit Brandon , why is Tanner following me ? Because you stormed out of here like a bat out of hell , kid and hes worried about you Urgh !! . f ** k my life . Just stop the car and talk to him , kiddo Why should I ? Because you need to calm down before you do something youll regret , Elena and right now , Tanners the only one who can calm you down Brandon said as Tanners bike zoomed past my truck and slid to a stop in front of me blocking off the road and forcing me to come to an abrupt stop . s ** t I groaned when my truck came to a stop . Are you ok , kid ? Im fine I said through gritted teeth . Good , now get your ass out of that car and talk to Tanner Brandon says before hanging up . 4/9 +10 Poin Chapter 17 Be My Woman Fore … GET OUT OF THE f ***** g TRUCK , ELENA !! Tanner angrily shouts as he approaches my truck and I groaned in annoyance as I finally understood how the Joker felt when Harley cut him off with her bike . God , youre a real pain in my ass , Tanner Young I say as I open up my door and get out of my truck . What the f ** k , Elena ? why did you take off like that ? Tanner angrily asks me and I narrow my eyes at him. Brandon said youre gonna calm me down but from the looks of it , youre the one who looks like he needs calming down , Tanner Dont get mouthy with me , angel Why not ? what are you gonna do ? I ask smugly and Tanner looks at me like really b *** h ?. Keep pushing me and youll find out exactly what Ill do to my woman, angel Your woman ? I ask with shock and disbelief in my tone . Whos your woman ? because it isnt me , Tanner Say that again , kitten Tanner growls as he closes the space between us and glares down at me . Holy s** t , hes hot . I thought to myself as I looked at Tanners face and his beautiful minty green eyes . Surely , it cant be legal to be this hot , it just cant . Angel I closed my eyes and sighed when I felt Tanners warm breath on my lips as well as his warm hand cupping my face offering me some comfort in this bitter cold . Why did you leave me like that , Elena ? Tanner asks me and my tough facade once again drops . Did she really do it ? Did she really try to pay you off ? 5/9 Chapter 17 Be My Woman Fore … I ask as I look up at Tanner who reluctantly nods his head . Unfortunately baby … yes , she did He says and my eyes close tightly again . ව 10 Point She forced a cheque into my hand and told me to leave you alone , she told me that she had plans for you and those plans didnt include someone like me , she also told me that she didnt want anything or anyone ruining it , so she gave me the money and ran She had plans for me ?. What kind of plans ?. For as long as I can remember I was the black sheep of my mothers kids , I was the forgotten child to her , so what are these plans she had for me ?. Are you ok , angel ? Tanner asks me as he gently caresses my cheeks with his thumbs and I just shake my head slightly. I dont know , Im just feeling so confused and angry right now Thats understandable , sweetheart Tanner says and I looked up at him as a niggling question ate away at me . Would you have accepted the cheque if she hadnt forced you ? I ask Tanner who looks at me with an offended expression . Of course I wouldnt , Elena , how can you even ask me that kind of question ? Tanner growls at me and I shrug my shoulders . Well , you wouldnt be the first to betray me , Tanner , my own mother betrayed me and so did my husband and my sister who Ive known my entire life … you cant really blame me for doubting you would do the same thing as well especially since we barely know each other You shouldnt doubt me , Elena because Id never do anything to hurt or betray you … shit , did you not hear a single word I told you back in my office ? He asks me and I close my eyes while sighing . Im sorry … I did tell you I had trust issues , Tanner Well , you need to get over that s ** t with me , angel because I dont betray the people I care about , first of all and secondly , I just told you I want you to be my woman , why would I say 6/9 Chapter 17 Be My Woman Fore … that if I was planning on betraying you ? ව +10 Points Tanner says as he closes the last little bit of space between us until our chests are touching and he presses his forehead against mine . You can trust me , angel , I promise you I hope so , Tanner . I thought to myself as I let out a breath , So , what did you do with the cheque ? I ask him and he smiles at me as he pulls out a worn out piece of paper from his ass pocket and I feel a slight stab in my heart when I see the evidence of my mothers betrayal in his hands . I didnt doubt Tanners accusation and I knew he was telling me the truth , its just seeing actual evidence of my mothers treachery in front of me is hurtful for some reason . I decided to keep hold of the cheque on the of chance that if I ever ran into you again and I had the opportunity to make you mine then Id have proof of my innocence if your mom ever tried to lie on my name and turn you against me for being in your mothers words a dirtbag biker who accepted a few dollars to stay away from you She called you that ? I ask angrily and Tanner nods his head . God , shes such a f ***** g b *** h I growled as I rested my forehead against Tanners chest which vibrated as he chuckled . Are you sure you and Brandon arent twins , angel ? youre both so alike , its kind of creepy Whys it creepy ? I ask as I look up at him confused . Because I dont want my woman to be a mirror image of my best friend Who says Im your woman , Tanner ? you havent asked me to be yours yet say with a smirk and he smiles back at me as he looks me deep in my eyes . Elena Jade Donovan , will you be my woman ? will you be mine forever ? Hmm , I dont know , forever seems like such a long time , Tan … OUCH !! 7/0 +10 Points Chapter 17 Be My Woman Fore … I yelped in pain when Tanner smacked my ass with one hand and gripped my chin with his free hand . What did I say about getting mouthy with me , kitten ? Im sorry , I cant help myself I say as my eyes briefly flitted to Tanners lips before looking back in his beautiful eyes . How is it possible for someone to be this hot ?. Actually , forget hot , hes beautiful like he was carved by god himself . So , what do you say ? will you be my Yes , I will woman ? I say and my heart races a little faster as Tanners face breaks out into a big , bright smile . He then kissed me with a passion Ive never felt before and I swear I could feel love in it as well even though it was way too soon for that s ** t . You dont realise how happy youve just made me , angel I think I do I say with a smile as I initiate my first kiss with Tanner but this kiss didnt last long however when I felt something light yet cold fall on my cheek which melts as soon as the cold meets with the warm . We pulled away from each other and looked up at the sky where snow was rapidly falling down around us . This is like something out of a movie I say with a smile and Tanner chuckles before kissing me again with the same passion and intensity as he did earlier on . Some may say Im moving too fast by getting with Tanner but I dont think I am because I had already mourned and moved on from my last relationship a long time ago and now its time for me to be happy with a man who knows how to treat a woman and who I know for a fact wants me and only me .