stion and anger, the world I had built for myself began to shatter. My

gle word filled with p

ding in front of me-this monster, this tyrant who had ripped my life apart-was claiming me. Mine. The w

? To mate me with the very man who had destroyed my world? My throat tightened with emotion, and a thousand t

to form the word. My voice cr

As if my pain was irrelevant. I wanted to scream, to fight, but my limbs felt numb. Everything I had endu

ing at me. His voice was cold and unfeeling, as i

way from the other prisoners. I stumbled, the exhaustion from days of running and hiding catching up with me all

erything. The faces of my family flashed before my eyes-people Alpha VuK had ruthlessly slaughtered. And then Emma's family. Her par

ed, my voice breaking the oppress

ve, searching for any possible way out of this nightmare. I could feel the power of the mate bond beginning to stir deep inside me, pulling me toward Alpha VuK, but I

ed again, my voice tremblin

at me, his face unreadable.

want from me? I clenched my jaw, refusing to let the tears that burned behi

e me. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but Logan's indifference only fuel

en corridor that seemed to lead away from the main

his path wasn't meant for just anyone. It was secluded, hidden away from the rest of the cam

re. A stark contrast to the harsh conditions I had been forced to endure in captivity. The building was pristine, its walls tow

screaming at me to run, to fight, to do anything but step into that room. But I didn't have a choice. I was too weak, too

st of the space. The windows were covered with heavy curtains, blocking out any light from

s if this were just another day at work fo

ening. I stood there, frozen, trying to process everything that had just happened. The walls seemed

n Goddess, in all her supposed wisdom, mate me to someone like him? I pressed my hands to my face, tr

ice I heard. It was a deep, primal part of me that recognized the bond, that w

en me at some point. My dreams were dark, plagued by memories of

pulled me from sleep, but then I heard it-footsteps, loud noises,

lief coursed through me. I didn't think twice. I threw the door open and step

e was worse than anythin

in the sight of bodies-wolves and humans alike-strewn across the ground. Werewolves, in their massive, snarl

ought savagely, tearing each other apart. I saw a head roll across the dirt, its lifeless eyes

ught too, desperate to protect their children, their mates. Pups cried out in terror as they huddled

know where I was going; I just knew I needed to get away from the carnage. But I ha

charging straight toward me. Its eyes glowed with murderous intent, its lips pu

he wolf was gaining on me. I could hear its paws pounding against the ground, feel its hot breath on the back of

round hard, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. Before I could even push myself up, the wolf was

ramble back, but there was nowhere to go. I was trapped. I braced myself, s

ise shattered the air, a

ked. I was back in the room. Safe, or as safe as I could be here. My mi

teady, not frantic, but firm enough to pull me fu

The dream had felt so real-the blood, the terror, the feeling of the wolf's claws about to ri

lt heavy, as if the fear from the dream had left a physical weight behind. I c