Aurora dropped to her knees.
Her palms pressed against the cold wooden deck, her entire body trembling. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she bit them back, knowing damn well crying wouldn’t save her.
"Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the waves crashing against the ship. "Alpha Orion… please, have mercy."
Orion chuckled.
Not a warm, amused chuckle. No.
It was the laugh of a predator, a man who enjoyed watching his prey beg for their life—knowing damn well he wouldn’t grant them mercy.
"Mercy?" he repeated, crouching down so their faces were almost at the same level. His red eyes gleamed with something dark, something twisted. "Why would I do that?"
Aurora swallowed hard, feeling bile rise in her throat. She had never felt fear like this before.
Not
