His Mate’s Secret

Chapter 5

(Ivy’s POV)

I was jolted awake by shouting.

The rogue compound had never been quiet, but this was different. Heavy footsteps thundered through the hallways. Doors slammed. Men barked orders at one another.

Something was happening.

I scrambled to my feet and pressed myself against the cell door, peering through the small opening.

Rogues rushed back and forth carrying weapons.

My stomach twisted.

The last time I heard this much commotion was the night my pack was attacked.

Fear clawed its way up my throat.

Minutes later, the metal door to the cell block swung open.

The same rogue who had brought me here stormed inside.

“Get up.”

I didn’t move.

His eyes narrowed.

“I said get up.”

I backed away instead.

He growled and yanked the cell door open.

Before I could react, he grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hallway.

“Let me go!” I screamed.

Nobody cared.

The rogues simply laughed as I was pulled toward a large room I’d never seen before.

The moment we entered, my eyes widened.

The Rogue King stood near a table covered in maps.

Across from him stood a man I had never seen before.

He was tall.

Much taller than the Rogue King.

Dark hair.

Dark eyes.

Broad shoulders.

Power radiated from him.

Even at 12 years old, I could feel it.

The room seemed smaller because he was standing in it.

His eyes landed on me.

And didn’t move.

The Rogue King grinned.

“See? I told you she was exactly as promised.”

The stranger studied me silently.

Like he was inspecting livestock.

I hated him immediately.

“She’s younger than I expected,” he finally said.

The Rogue King laughed.

“That doesn’t change what she is.”

My heart pounded.

What was I?

Why did they keep talking about me like I wasn’t standing right here?

The stranger stepped closer.

Every instinct screamed at me to run.

“What is your name?” he asked.

I lifted my chin.

“Ivy Black.”

For a brief second, something flickered across his face.

Recognition.

Then it was gone.

“Interesting.”

The Rogue King rubbed his hands together.

“So. We have a deal?”

The stranger nodded.

One of his warriors set down a heavy black case.

The Rogue King’s eyes practically sparkled.

Money.

Lots of it.

My stomach dropped.

They were buying me.

Tears burned behind my eyes.

I wasn’t a person to them.

I was property.

The stranger opened the case.

Stacks upon stacks of cash filled the inside.

The Rogue King whistled.

“Pleasure doing business with you.”

Business.

They were talking about my life like it was a trade agreement.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I lunged.

I bit the Rogue King’s arm as hard as I could.

He roared in pain.

Before I could run, strong hands grabbed me from behind.

The stranger.

I kicked and screamed.

“LET ME GO!”

He held me effortlessly.

The Rogue King glared at me.

“Little brat.”

The stranger never loosened his grip.

Instead, he looked at one of his warriors.

“Bring it.”

A small black collar was placed into his hand.

My heart stopped.

“No.”

The stranger crouched in front of me.

“Stop fighting.”

“No!”

“You’ll only make this harder.”

“NO!”

I fought harder.

The collar clicked around my neck.

Pain exploded through my body.

Electricity ripped through every muscle.

A scream tore from my throat.

The world tilted.

I collapsed to the floor shaking.

The men laughed.

The stranger looked down at me coldly.

“Now listen carefully, pup.”

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

“If you run, you’ll be shocked.”

He pointed to the collar.

“If you disobey me, you’ll be shocked.”

I could barely breathe.

“If you become a problem, you’ll be shocked.”

Tears streamed down my face.

“What did I do to you?” I whispered.

For the first time, something almost human crossed his expression.

Then it vanished.

“Nothing.”

The single word somehow hurt worse.

He hauled me to my feet.

I stumbled after him as he led me outside.

A black SUV waited near the entrance.

The sky was beginning to darken.

I looked back at the compound one last time.

As horrible as it was, it was the only place I’d known since losing my family.

The stranger opened the vehicle door.

I tried one final time.

I ran.

Three steps.

That’s all I made it.

Agony shot through my body.

The collar activated.

I hit the dirt hard.

The stranger sighed.

Then he picked me up and placed me inside the SUV.

The door slammed shut.

The engine started.

As we pulled away, I stared out the window.

Everything familiar disappeared behind us.

Hours passed.

Eventually, exhaustion won.

My eyes drifted closed.

The last thing I heard before sleep claimed me was the stranger speaking.

“My name is Jace.”

I didn’t answer.

His voice turned colder.

“You belong to my pack now.”

I curled into the corner of the seat.

And silently prayed he was wrong.

When I woke again, it was dark.

The SUV had stopped.

I blinked sleep from my eyes and looked out the window.Massive gates towered above us.

Wolves lined the road beyond them.

Watching.

Waiting.

The gates slowly opened.

Jace stepped out first.

Then he looked back at me.

A smile spread across his face.

It wasn’t kind.

It wasn’t welcoming.

It was possessive.

“Welcome home, Ivy.”

The gates closed behind us.

And for the first time in my life, I truly understood what it felt like to be trapped.