Lucia's heart pounded in her ears, memories of past trauma clawing at the edges of her mind. She yanked against the restraints binding her wrists, desperate to break free, but Ryder's superior strength kept her pinned.
His face inched closer, his breath hot against her neck. "I'm going to mark you again," he whispered, his canines glinting in the pale moonlight. "You'll be mine, whether you like it or not."
The raging wolf within her howled in protest, but Lucia found herself frozen, panic paralysing her as Ryder's teeth grazed her tender flesh. In a last-ditch effort, she summoned every ounce of her remaining strength and slammed her head upwards, feeling a satisfying crunch as his nose gave way under the impact.
Ryder roared in pain, his grip loosening just enough for Lucia to twist a
