Chapter 5 - Megan's POV
684 Words
The world tilted sideways. This couldn't be happening. After everything I'd been through, everything I'd lost, the universe couldn't be cruel enough to give me a mate now—especially not one who'd somehow found me in this nightmare.
He was beautiful in a devastating way. Dark hair, piercing green eyes that seemed to see straight through me, and a presence that made every cell in my body want to step closer even as my rational mind screamed at me to run. He wore expensive clothes that somehow remained pristine despite having just broken into an underground prison, and he carried himself with the kind of confidence that came from never having to doubt his own power.
Alpha. He had to be an Alpha.
"Samuel isn't my mate," I said, surprised by how steady my voice sounded. "I don't care what he told you, but he's lying."
Damien's eyes flashed with something dangerous. "I know. I was at the meeting when he described you." His gaze swept over me, and I felt heat rise in my cheeks. "He got a lot of details right, but he missed the most important one."
"Which is?"
"You're not his. You're mine."
The possessive certainty in his voice sent shivers down my spine. Max stepped closer, probably thinking he needed to protect me, but I held up a hand to stop him.
"I don't belong to anyone," I said firmly, meeting Damien's intense stare. "And I don't even know you. You can't just show up and claim me because of some... some mystical bond I can't even feel."
Pain flashed across his features so quickly I almost missed it. "You can't feel the mate bond?"
There was something in his voice—a vulnerability that didn't match his commanding presence. It made my chest ache in ways I didn't understand.
"I can't feel anything," I admitted. "I don't have a wolf. I'm basically human."
"That's impossible." He took a step closer, and I caught his scent—pine and rain and something darker that made my stomach flutter. "Every werewolf has—"
"Well, I don't." The words came out sharper than I intended, years of pain and inadequacy bleeding through. "Trust me, I've had plenty of time to figure that out."
Max cleared his throat. "Not to interrupt this touching reunion, but we really need to move. Samuel's men will be back soon, and this place will be crawling with wolves looking for her."
Damien nodded curtly. "He's right. We're leaving." He looked at me with those piercing green eyes. "All of us."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I said, crossing my arms. "I don't know you, and for all I know, you're working with Samuel too."
"If I was working with Samuel, would I have threatened to kill his tracker?" He gestured to Max, who was still rubbing his throat.
"Maybe it's all an act."
Damien's jaw tightened. "Megan—"
"How do you know my name?"
"Max said it."
I looked at Max, who shrugged apologetically. "Sorry. Heat of the moment."
"Look," Damien said, his patience clearly wearing thin. "You can trust me or not, but you're coming with me either way. Samuel will never stop hunting you, and whatever you are—whatever power you have that he wants—you're not safe alone."
"What power?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.
His expression softened slightly. "You really don't know, do you?" When I shook my head, he sighed. "We'll figure it out together. But right now, we need to go."
As if summoned by his words, the sound of vehicles pulling up outside echoed through the building above us. Max cursed under his breath.
"Backup exit?" Damien asked.
"Through there," Max pointed to a narrow tunnel I hadn't noticed before. "It leads to the woods about half a mile out."
"Go," Damien ordered.
"What about you?" I found myself asking, hating that I cared.
"I'll be right behind you."
Something in his tone made me believe him. Against every rational thought in my head, I trusted him.
We ran.
- Writer
