Chapter 4
925 Words
Lena woke to the sickening scent of damp stone and burning wood. Her head throbbed, the dull ache spreading from the base of her skull to her temples. When she tried to move, rough rope bit into her wrists, binding her hands behind her back.
Where am I?
Memories rushed in—the cabin, the rogues, the fight—then nothing. She had blacked out. And now…
She was trapped.
Her vision adjusted to the dimly lit room. The walls were rough, carved stone, the air thick with the scent of wolves and iron. A dungeon.
Panic clawed at her chest.
They had taken her underground.
Heavy footsteps echoed from beyond the iron-barred door, growing louder. A shadow loomed, tall and broad, moving with deliberate ease. A moment later, he stepped into the dim light.
Lena’s blood turned to ice.
Alpha Lucian.
She had never met him before, but she knew his reputation. Cruel. Power-hungry. A monster in every way. His pack, the Shadowfangs, were known for their brutality. And now, she was at his mercy.
Lucian’s sharp, green eyes gleamed as he studied her. Like a predator sizing up its prey. He was handsome in a dangerous way—dark hair, sharp cheekbones, a mouth that curved into something between a smirk and a sneer. Everything about him radiated controlled violence.
“Well, well,” he murmured. “The runaway Luna.”
Lena swallowed hard, keeping her expression cold. Don’t show fear.
“I’m not anyone’s Luna,” she said flatly.
Lucian chuckled. “Not anymore, perhaps.” He leaned against the bars, tilting his head. “Tell me, why would Kade Blackwood’s mate abandon him? What would make a little Luna throw herself into the wild like a rogue?”
Lena forced herself to hold his gaze. “That’s none of your concern.”
Lucian’s smirk widened. “Oh, but it is.” He stepped closer, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows over his face. “You see, when I heard a Bloodfang she-wolf was running through my lands, I assumed it was just another lost mutt.” His eyes gleamed. “Then I smelled you.”
Lena’s stomach twisted.
He knows.
Lucian inhaled again, his gaze settling on her stomach. The slight curve was barely noticeable, but he could scent it.
“Ah,” he murmured, a note of satisfaction in his voice. “Now, this is… interesting.”
Lena clenched her jaw.
Lucian crouched in front of her, gripping the iron bars between them. “Tell me, does Kade know?”
Silence.
Lucian’s smile sharpened. “Ah. So he doesn’t.”
Lena’s pulse hammered. She had to tread carefully. If Lucian thought the baby was important to Kade, he’d use it against him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said smoothly.
Lucian clicked his tongue. “Lying doesn’t suit you.”
His fingers tapped against the bars, his expression thoughtful. “A child of Kade Blackwood… that’s valuable. You know that, don’t you?” His voice dipped lower, dangerous and knowing.
Lena’s skin crawled.
He leaned in. “Do you think Kade would trade his Luna and heir for the safety of his pack?”
Her blood ran cold.
Lucian wasn’t just planning to ransom her. He wanted leverage. Power.
Kade would never hand over Bloodfang territory to save her, but a child? A potential heir? That was a weakness Lucian could exploit.
Lena forced herself to stay calm. “If you think Kade will make a deal with you, you don’t know him at all.”
Lucian chuckled. “Oh, I know him quite well.” His fingers brushed over the bars, casual, as if they were simply having a conversation. “He plays the noble Alpha, but I’ve seen what he’s capable of. How much he’s willing to sacrifice for the pack. I wonder…”
His gaze darkened.
“What happens when his pack becomes the sacrifice?”
Lena’s breath caught. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t risk a war just for her.
Would he?
Lucian pushed away from the bars and turned to leave. “Rest up, Luna.” His voice dripped with mockery. “Your mate will come for you.” He glanced back, his smirk widening. “And when he does, I’ll be waiting.”
With that, he disappeared down the corridor, his footsteps echoing into silence.
Lena sat there, hands bound, her body shaking.
This wasn’t just about her anymore.
If Kade found out about the baby—if Lucian used the child as a weapon—
She had to escape.
Kade stood at the edge of the ravaged cabin, his golden eyes burning as he inhaled deeply.
Lena’s scent was here—fresh, layered with fear. His wolf snarled inside him, pacing with restless fury. She had been taken.
The scout beside him shifted nervously. “It was rogues, Alpha. They hit hard and fast. There was a struggle, but…”
Kade barely heard him.
His pulse was a drumbeat of pure, lethal rage.
Lena was out there. Someone had taken her.
And they would pay in blood.
Raiden stepped up beside him. “Orders?”
Kade’s eyes flashed gold.
“Hunt them down,” he growled. “I want every rogue in these woods dead.”
Raiden nodded. “And if they took her to Lucian?”
Kade’s fists clenched. His breath was slow, measured, but his rage was anything but.
“If Lucian has her…” His voice was low, deadly.
“I’ll rip his throat out myself.”
- Writer
