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D arkness is all I know most of the time, but in my brief moments of clarity, it's a struggle. I control nothing, only a passenger along for the ride, unable to get off, unable to stop.

Serena.

As if she didn't fill my mind enough already, she's all I can seem to think of now that I've seen her.

I chose this; took the hit to save Garrett, but it wasn't really about him at all. Everything is about Serena. I knew she couldn't lose a mate; I needed to save her. At the very least, if I was lost, I would be remembered for it. I could be her hero, even if only for a moment.

I'm not sure I would have been able to make the same decision knowing I would be forced to see her, smell her, watch her cry for me, and only be able to run away. It's for her safety, but it was like fighting my nature to turn my back on her.

My beast has been wandering the forest. I can see through his eyes, but it's exhausting and not worth the hassle.

In the beginning, I fought with everything I had, trying to get control to go back to her, to my pack, but it was useless, hopeless.

All that did was make me lose more time.

I'm not sure how to explain it; it's as if I'm trapped in my own mind.

It's a bit like when I used to shift but without the ability to communicate with my beast or change back. Where we used to share feelings and have somewhat of an understanding, now there’s nothing; it's as if our connection has been severed.

I pace the darkness, trying to think of a way out of this, but I don't know enough. Not only of this realm, but about Draven and whatever it was he did to us.

Fuck!

Serena swears she won't give up on me, and I don't really want her to despite what I might have said. I don't want to be like this forever. I don't want to kill and—

A high-pitched buzzing rings in my ears, making me lose my train of thought as I fight to stay conscious.

It doesn't last long, only a few seconds, but it leaves my head throbbing, and I'm almost positive I'm only here in my mind now because if I were more than that, I would be throwing up.

I have a job for you.

The voice echoes around my mind, the only thing I've heard other than my own thoughts since I saw Serena, who knows how long ago.

I'm lonely and desperate, but not that lonely and desperate. I'd take an eternity of silence if it meant not having to hear him .

Don't be like that, little bear. I could have just killed you.

I wish you would have. It would have been better than this.

That would have been a waste. Besides, my little shadow princess seems quite fond of you.

I can't stop the growl that rumbles in my chest, even without control of my beast. I don't need to ask to know who he's talking about. It's fucking gross. He's old enough to be her father, but it's impossible to miss the way his tone changes when he talks about her.

Age is different in this realm. I might be a few hundred years older than her, but that's like ten mortal years. Once we come to the age of maturity, nobody really counts, not when we live so long.

He says the words, but I don't buy them. I don't think he gives a fuck either way. He doesn't seem like the type who cares what anyone wants but himself. Thankfully, I know Serena well enough to know she'd never be his.

You see, that's where you’re mistaken because she won't have a choice... Not if she wants to save the people she claims to love.

His laughter echoes around my mind before I feel his presence leave, and I know I'm alone again. My beast taking us to him like the good little bitch we are.

For now.

I have to find a way out of this, even if only to end it.

I won't let him use me to get his hands on her; I'd rather die.