Page 24

24

KELLY

M y breath came in shallow gasps, each one harder than the last as the man with golden eyes crushed me against the backseat. My chest and hip ached from his massive weight. The smell of leather and sweat mixed with a wild forest scent making my stomach churn. Werewolves. He didn’t need to speak for me to feel the threat looming above.

“W-what do you want?” I shoved at his chest, but it was like pushing on a brick wall. “Please… Let me go. Please?—”

Golden Eyes curled his lips, looking feral with those sharp canines on display. A deep, rumbling growl reverberated through his chest. I could feel the vibrations against my sternum. Was he capable of words, or was he all beast?

“Not so fast, lady,” the driver said, glancing over his shoulder. “You’re an unknown. We can’t have unknowns wandering through our territory. A pretty young thing like you might not mean us harm. But you could bring about our destruction. Why didn’t you ask permission to be within the Pack’s land?”

My jaw dropped, and I stared at the driver. Permission? What the hell did he mean? Jacob hadn’t warned me about these rules. I wasn’t fully part of his world. How was I supposed to know this? I didn’t know what to say.

I chewed on my lower lip, desperate to stay silent. If I told them about Jacob, what would they do? Would they hurt him? If they thought I was his, he might be their next target. My heart pounded in my chest, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to keep the fear from overtaking me. But it bubbled up like a foreboding pressure that couldn’t be stopped.

The driver sighed. “Don’t go quiet on us now, young one. Make her talk, Garrick.”

I opened my mouth to respond. Did I want to see what this beast of a man would do? Hell no. However, the words refused to come out.

Garrick grabbed me by the chin, forcing me to meet his cold, golden gaze. “Answer the question.” His gravelly voice rumbled, as if unused to human speech. Or was that just my imagination running wild in the face of this situation? “You will go before our Alpha and face judgement.”

“The more you cooperate, the more mercy you’ll receive,” the driver said, his tone chilling. Somehow, I didn’t believe him. “Do you understand?”

“Please, I… I don’t know what crime you think I’ve committed.” A shiver chased through me and unshed tears tightened my throat. Maybe the truth would set me free. “I’m new to all of this. Please. I don’t know what’s going?—”

Garrick’s grip slid down, squeezing my throat and choking off my words. “Goddamn it.” He snarled, his breath surprisingly minty. It clashed with the menace he exuded. “Jared has a copycat, Ron. This one will be terminated.”

Terminated?! No! Not when I have so much to live for.

“Shit.” Ron glanced back at us. “Something needs to be done about his followers. They’ll put us at risk. This can’t stand, not after everything we’ve been through.”

My eyes widened, and I fought against Garrick’s grip. What the hell was going on? The suffering I’d been through at the research facility with Jacob wasn’t punishment enough, apparently.

Breathing became impossible now. My vision darkened at the edges, and my beast surged to the surface of my skin. A wave of panic washed over me. Pain lanced through my hands as sharp claws erupted from my fingertips. My heart hammered in my chest, drowning out everything else, and for a moment, it felt like my body was no longer my own. A memory flashed through me of losing control in Jacob’s bathroom, of hurting him. No, this wasn’t the same. I had too much to fight for… Jacob. Emma.

My life couldn’t be at its end.

My claws sliced deep into Garrick’s wrist and chest, hot blood coating my fingers. His sharp gasp was the only sound I registered. I didn’t care if I was outmatched. My beast and I weren’t going down without a fight. If we worked together, we might have a distant chance at survival.

Garrick’s lip curled again, a low snarl rising from his chest. The deadly sound froze me in place. He stared at me like I was a puzzle he didn’t quite understand, then cocked back his free arm. Before I could react, his fist slammed into my face with a sickening crack.

The world tilted violently, and everything went black.

* * *

M y head throbbed as I woke up in a dimly lit room, shadows pooling in every corner. My tongue swiped over my split lip, and I regretted messing with it. The stench of mildew, blood, and stale sweat mingled with the acrid scent of urine and something worse. The smell clung to the air, thick and suffocating, twisting my stomach into knots. This place was meant for suffering. I stifled my soft whimper with the back of my hand pressed to my mouth.

The room’s only light shone over what looked like a horror-movie dentist chair, complete with thick metal shackles to hold its victim. Soft, rhythmic drips drew my gaze to a small pool of blood spreading out from the chair.

A gasp caught in my throat, and I could’ve kicked myself for making the sound. My back pressed against the cold iron bars of the cage. The space was just big enough for me to stand or sit, but nothing more. A bird cage—small, restrictive, awful. My pulse kicked up a notch, and the ache in my chest grew. The weight of helplessness crashed down on me.

A deep, throaty chuckle reverberated through the stillness. “You’re awake? Good girl.” Garrick walked out of the shadows. He had been scary in the car, but now, at his full height? God, he was downright monstrous. Those golden eyes glowed with curiosity as he stepped closer to the bars surrounding me.

I shivered, feeling my throat tighten. I’d never wanted to be in this position again, and now the werewolves were my captors. Weren’t we the same? Didn’t wolves look after one another? All of this confused me. Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t show this asshole any weakness. Not now, not ever. He would not see how much he rattled me, even if my fear choked me.

Not that it mattered when he could easily smell it. The stinging energy radiating from him told me he was powerful. If Jacob could scent my emotions, I’d bet anything that Garrick could too.

But I wouldn’t break. Not for him.

“Afraid to talk? Any pleas for help?” He crouched a foot away from the cage, holding my gaze. His golden eyes shone in the darkness, and he tilted his head to the side in a wolfish manner. “Just as well. You’ll face the Pack Council soon. Then you’ll die by my hand.” He clicked his tongue and glanced down at his bandaged wrist. “A pity with your fiery spirit. New female blood around here would’ve been nice.” He shrugged those massive shoulders. “Some want to grow our numbers. We can’t have that.” He reached a hand through the bars toward me. “You’re nothing but a victim of circumstance.”

I shrank back from his touch. My vision blurred before it sharpened, turning red as my beast shot to the surface. The sudden ache in my fingers and gums told me I was changing. My claws and fangs fought to break through. Pain ignited within me like fire, and before I could stop it, a vicious growl rumbled deep in my chest. Don’t touch. Stay the hell away from us. We weren’t supposed to be here. We needed to be at Jacob’s, where we were safe and loved. The bond to my beast felt raw, powerful, and too real in this moment. My body was no longer just mine. It belonged to both of us.

Garrick stopped inches away from my face, his posture towering over me. He studied me with a mix of intrigue and something darker, almost calculating. “You’re new? Is that true?” He withdrew his hand, as if he couldn’t be certain he’d keep all of his fingers. Once out of the cage, he rested his bandaged arm on his knee, a slight wince crossing his face. His brows furrowed, but something resembling approval flickered in his eyes. “Huh. You’re a fighter. Good girl.”

“I shouldn’t be here.” The words came out slurred with the sharp points of my fangs biting into my lips. I straightened, determined to show him strength if that’s what made him back off. Maybe if I showed him how capable I was, he’d go away—or at least, he might not hurt me again like those scientists had. But deep down, I was still the scarred girl trying to outrun her past. Before long, my confidence sank like a boulder to the depths of the ocean.

I wondered if Jacob had noticed my absence yet. Would he think I’d just taken off? Maybe he’d believe the mercenaries had stolen me away again… dragging me into another nightmare. The thought—and the stench surrounding us—made me queasy. I couldn’t shake the image of him frantically wondering where I’d gone. Would he even think to look for me here?

Wherever here was…

My purse, phone, and everything else were gone. I don’t remember hearing them hit the sidewalk, but they could’ve fallen when I was shoved into the car. Who knew what happened after I was punched? I licked my lower lip, wincing when I brushed the wound.

The beast within roared. Its overwhelming presence matched my growing anger. We shouldn’t be treated like this, especially when we’d been finally free to roam, free from fear. We belonged out there, not locked in a cage like some animal. The wolf wanted to rip through the bars, tear into this Garrick monster, and make him regret ever crossing our path. But I held back… for now.

“You shouldn’t be here? Why’s that?” He leaned forward again, his golden eyes narrowing as he inhaled. “You’re no different from any other human who has been bitten or scratched by a werewolf.” He raked his gaze over me. “So, what makes you special?” The muttered question was more to himself than me. “That scent…” Garrick’s nostrils flared, his expression sharpening. “It’s familiar. Hmm… Where have I?—”

I gulped, unsure what to do. He knew my smell…? Or was he talking about Jacob’s? I opened my mouth to say I was mated. But would it help my current circumstances? Jacob never mentioned telling the Pack about me. They might not even care.

My chin lifted as I met his gaze, doing my best to appear strong. All I wanted was to curl into a ball and cry until my tear ducts ran dry. I had almost beaten my enemies and was close to a better life. Maybe I wasn’t meant to be happy. My life had always been a one-way street to sorrow before I came to Winter Forest University. Meeting Emma and Jacob changed that.

The path before me now promised death and suffering instead of freedom and love. With my fangs bared, I crossed my arms under my breasts. They’d said I would be terminated, but that didn’t mean I should make it easy for them. I wouldn’t give them more ammo to use against me. No matter how much I wanted to break down, I wouldn’t fold.

My only regret was lying to Jacob. If I’d told him the truth about using Emma as an excuse to visit the university, I could’ve died with a clean conscience. I wished we’d had more happy times together. If I’d done what we’d agreed on, none of this would’ve happened. School didn’t really matter when I faced death and losing a life with the man I loved.

Because yes, I loved Jacob.

I only wished I could’ve told him. Now, he might never know.