HER MATE'S CRUEL VENGEANCE

Want to escape

"Shift back. Now," he snarled the instant my wolf lunged forward, fangs bared and ready to strike.

"You have five seconds," he growled, fury burning in his gaze. "Or the consequences will be far worse than you can imagine." He added coldly. There was no trace left of the mate bond that should have existed between us. His once-vibrant ocean-blue eyes had turned dark and demonic, stripped of any warmth or mercy.

I held my ground, refusing to submit or shift despite the terror clawing up my spine. Every passing second made my heart hammer harder, but I would not give him the satisfaction of obedience.

She needs to understand exactly who’s in control now," Darren muttered coldly. Before I could react, a sharp sting pierced my wolf’s flank. A pained howl ripped from my throat as my body seized. My bones cracked and reshaped against my will, fur receding as the forced shift dragged me back into human form.

The transformation was brutal. Every joint screamed in agony. My pulse thundered wildly while warm blood trickled from the injection site, staining my skin. Whatever Ronan had pumped into me was tearing my body apart from the inside, leaving me shaking and vulnerable.

Before I could scramble to my feet or attempt to run, he shrugged off his leather jacket and tossed it over my naked body with detached precision. Then he turned to Ronan without sparing me another glance.

"Drag her to her dead father’s dungeon cell and lock her inside."

The order hit me like a physical blow. A piercing scream tore from my lips as fury, agony, and utter defeat crashed over me. My fists clenched until my nails drew blood from my palms. They had won. There was no path left to freedom.

I offered no resistance when Ronan hauled my limp body off the cold stone floor. The drug was already pulling me under, clouding my vision. Darkness claimed me in mere heartbeats.

Blackness. Damp stone. The heavy reek of rust, mold, and dried blood.

I took in everything with my mouth open, the moment my eyes fluttered open.

I wanted to cry as my eyes adjusted more to the dim light. Darren had followed through on his cruel command. I was thrown into my father’s infamous detention cell, the same grim chamber he had used to hold captured rogues and traitors.

This was my first time seeing its interior. The air hung thick and clammy, chilled enough to raise goosebumps on my skin. The musty stench invaded my senses, forcing me to fight back a gag. Outside the thick walls, only oppressive silence reigned. Had Darren already finished slaughtering everyone? The lack of any sound from beyond the walls only amplified my growing panic.

After what felt like an eternity, the heavy door creaked open behind me. Slow footsteps echoed on the tiled floor and a stranger, one of Darren's warriors stepped into view and stopped directly in front of me, staring down with cold indifference.

A bundled piece of cloth hung from his grip. Panic surged through my chest. What was that for? A blindfold? A noose? Something worse?

I nearly laughed bitterly at the thought that popped up in my head. Of course Darren wouldn’t dirty his own hands. He’d probably sent someone else to end me quickly. He couldn’t even stand to look at me anymore. I must disgust him now.

"Did Darren send you to finish me off?" I croaked, my voice hoarse and cracked from disuse.

The warrior’s lips curled into a smirk. " Whether he did or not, you won’t be here long."

"Here in this cell… or here among the living?" I spat back, anger flaring hot despite my exhaustion. I refused to be toyed with on my own land.

"You’ll discover the answer soon enough," he replied, eyes sparkling with malicious enjoyment.

"I don’t know what lies he’s fed you, but Darren will betray you too," I warned, hoping to crack his loyalty. "He turned on me, his destined mate. He’ll do the same to anyone."

The warrior only grinned wider. "I don’t give a damn what happens to me later. All I care about right now is watching you suffer the way he wants."

"Then why am I still breathing?" I demanded, my inner wolf clawing desperately at the surface. "Where is that spineless traitor hiding?"

The warrior only grinned wider. "I don’t care what happens to me later. Right now, I want you gone just as much as he does."

"Why keep me alive then?" I demanded, my wolf instincts rising dangerously close to the surface. "Where is that coward hiding?"

He ignored my rising fury and unfolded the bundle in his hands. It was an oversized, threadbare shirt old, ragged, and stained with dry blood.

"Change into this," he ordered, still smirking. "Alpha Darren wants his jacket back"

I stared at the pitiful garment in stunned silence. Darren truly despised me so much that he wouldn’t even let me keep his jacket. This filthy rag was all I deserved in his eyes.

"It’ll make things simpler," the warrior added casually. "You can put it on yourself… or I can do it for you."

My throat tightened. The threat hung heavy in the air. I quickly weighed my limited options. To dress myself, they’d have to unchain me. If I could convince him to turn around for a moment of false decency, I might have a slim chance to bolt for the door, assuming no one waited on the other side.

The odds were stacked heavily against me, but surrender was not an option. I had to try.