"Before you came into my life, I was in constant danger. I had to be ready to battle at all times! I am dangerous and following me means living in constant fear. Is it the kind of life you want?" His deep voice echoed in her ears.

Freya slowly turned around, gazing deeply into his eyes.

"Leonard, since I've chosen to follow you, I'm not afraid of danger. Don't say things like that again in the future. I don't like to hear them."

"All right. If you don't like it, I won't say it."

He held her tightly, his eyes full of tenderness.

Freya fiddled with the sash of his robe. "What about those little brats?"

"I just had Shadow teach them a lesson, and they've already passed out."

"Any news from Ian Logan yet?"

"I just got the news that the Duke's Palace hasn't taken action. I'm afraid ... Ian has no intention of rescuing his son."

He had guessed that Ian would never risk coming to the rescue at this time.

Since Kevin had been secretly planning against him, making a move now would be suicide.

But Ian was truly ruthless enough to sacrifice his son to save his own life!

"Such people are simply selfish and unworthy of being fathers."

"Ian is determined to get the throne and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal, even if it means sacrificing his sons."

Freya sat her down on the sofa.

"But I'm different. If you and our children run into danger in the future, the one who rushes first is me, and the one who has to die first is definitely ..."

"Shh. Don't even talk about death. We'll all be safe and sound."

Freya covered his mouth, preventing him from saying anything further.

Bradley gently pressed her down, his dark eyes filled with affection. "Baby, do you know what I fear the most?"

"What?"

Freya blinked.

"I fear ... that no one will care for you when I'm gone. I'm even more afraid you might seek comfort in another man's arms."

"Leonard Newman!"

Freya's temper flared. She rolled out from under him and sat directly on top of him.

"I told you not to say things like that! Why can't you listen?"

She pouted and grabbed his collar, leaning in to kiss him.

Bradley's eyes widened in surprise. He momentarily looked at her, stunned, and pulled her tightly into his arms.

The kiss felt eternal until they had to catch their breath and reluctantly pulled away.

"Next time you say something like that, I'll kiss you to death!"

She huffed, gently pushing him away.

As she tried to leave the bed, the man swiftly pulled her back into his arms.

The night grew deeper.

Wolf Mountain was so dark that you couldn't see anything.

Only one small villa still had lights on.

That was the Wolf Mountain's surveillance room, with giant LED surveillance screens all over the walls.

Ben Joyner was sitting on the sofa, staring intently at the silhouette on the screen. His eyes were painfully lonely.

The screen showed Quincy running over the mountains with chained hands and feet.

As she ran, the chains rattled sharply.

A ragged crimson dress adorned her unkempt figure, splattered with bruises.

Her hair stuck to her face as the rain poured, making her look even more disheveled.

Two wolves with glowing green eyes were chasing after her.

The reason he chained Quincy was to get the wolves' attention.

Ben had no intention of killing her himself. He wanted to gauge her resilience and how she would survive in Wolf Mountain.

Someone else might come to her rescue!

A cigarette dangled between his fingers as he leaned back on the couch. His dark eyes showed no trace of pity.

He knew he had gone too far.

He knew even more that keeping Quincy was a curse!

Ow ...

An ear-piercing wolf howl sounded.

He rose from the sofa and strode out of the control room.

Meanwhile, Quincy ran desperately.

Knowing these two wolves would tear her apart if she slowed down, she took no chances.

Her feet trod upon the thorny bushes, cutting through her delicate skin. The smell of grass and soil was almost lost in the metallic tang of blood.

Panic surged through her veins as the wolf closed in. She failed to see the wooden stake before her and stumbled forward.

The wolf pounced, its jaws sinking into her thigh.

Quincy screamed in pain, hearing the sound of flesh being torn apart.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

Ben emerged from the darkness, towering over her.

Quincy looked up at him, her face as pale as paper.

She struggled to speak but managed a few words, "Ben, you're a sadist."

"Yes, you're right." He burst into laughter. "You schemed to get close to me, so you should have expected this fate. Quincy, do you know what I hate most?"

She shook her head.

"Being deceived! I sensed something was off about you a long time ago. I've been giving you chances, but you couldn't rein yourself in, taking advantage of my sympathy for you!"

"After learning your true identity, I've thought of countless ways to torture you. I could scar your face or let you die in bed. But then I reconsidered. Letting you die like that would be too easy for you."

"I will bring great suffering upon you, subject you to a pack of wolves, and leave you without a proper burial."

After speaking, he saw Quincy's fearful expression and laughed so hard his body shook.

"Go on, keep running. Enjoy being torn apart by the wolf pack."

He snapped his fingers at the darkness. Then, a couple more wolves with blazing greenish eyes emerged from the bushes.

Quincy's expression grew even more distressed.

She looked at Ben in disbelief, trembling all over.

"No, you can't do this to me."

She crept back with her hands braced on the ground.

Ben paid her no mind, striding away.

A large pack of wolves darted towards her from behind.

Quincy quickly scrambled to her feet, continuing to flee for her life.

However, she got hurt, and those wolves were trained to be lightning-quick. So, they swiftly pounced on her.

"No! Ben, please spare me."

Nevertheless, the man continued forward, fading into the night.

Quincy closed her eyes in despair, realizing her inevitable fate.

When she first met him, she had already witnessed Ben's ruthless nature."

She had used him and betrayed him. Now, she had to pay the price.

The rain raged on.

The scent of the earth grew stronger.

The smell of blood permeated Wolf Mountain!

The howls of the wolves drowned out everything else.

Ben watched in the rain as the wolf pack tore Quincy apart and dragged her bloodied body away.

He raised his head to the dark sky, his fists clenched tightly.