“Follow me,” the guard looks bored and guides me towards a desolate area. The deeper we go, the more tense I feel.

Finally, we reach a large tree. I can see a large tree house on it. It seems rather simple for somebody like Nolan.

“Well? What’re you waiting for? Climb!”

I jump at the guard’s harsh tone and start the trek up the tree.

He snickers at me, but I hold in my emotions.

Once I get to the top, however, it’s empty.

I look around warily, only to see a staircase going down. It’s narrow and a tight fit since it has been built inside the tree, but as I climb down, I begin to see bright lights. It’s an underground den, I realize.

The end of the staircase leads into a large hall with rooms.

I stand there frozen.

Nolan may be a horrible being, but he’s no fool.

This is the Alpha’s den. No wonder it’s built like this. I shouldn’t be here. This staircase is my only venue of escape.

With my heart in my throat, I turn around, desperate to get out, when I see movement to the side.

“Thea.”

Nolan’s voice is smug.

“I didn’t expect you to show up inside my home.”

My hands are damp with sweat.

“I was told to-”

“Come in,” he gestures towards another room. However, my feet are frozen in place. My instincts are screaming at me to get out.

Nolan is a predator; I have no hopes of escaping. I should never have entered his home like this.

I wet my lips, feeling my anxiety rear its head, “Chris – My brother said you wanted to see me. I mean, he wanted me to thank you, I guess.”

Nolan approaches me, gripping my jaw in one swoop. He studies my face, “You always were a pretty one. If you want to thank me, get on your knees.”

My mind goes blank for a moment.

“W-What?”

A part of me had expected something of this nature the way Chris had spoken to me, but expecting something and having it happen were two different things. I’m terrified right now.

“I – I have to get going-”

I try to pull away, but Nolan’s eyes narrow, “You’re not going anywhere. Your brother and I had an agreement.”

I stare at him, feeling my last bit of self-respect being torn from me. Years. I have let them rip me apart for years. My dignity, my pride, my confidence, what have my brothers not stripped me of? But this? To take my body from me, to turn me into some whore?

As Nolan reaches for my shirt, his claws out, I feel a spark of anger light up within me. It’s this cold fury borne out of helplessness.

Am I really going to let him do this to me?

This is the only thing I have left that I have autonomy on. I have let them take everything from me!

I feel Nolan’s hand curl around my shirt, his claws digging into my skin. I’m frozen in place, and then I hear a tearing sound.

It’s as if a switch goes off inside of me. I move back in burning anger, and when he follows me, I lift my knee, bringing it crashing into his groin before my own claws slash his already disfigured face.

CHAPTER 3

Thea

His howl of pain jerks me out of whatever trance I’m in, and I scramble back in shock.

I have to go! I have to get out of here!

My brain feels like it’s scrambled right now.

I just attacked Nolan!

If I stay, he’ll kill me. If I go back, my brothers will beat me within an inch of my life.

No. I have to get away from here.

I’m already scrambling, my heart pounding with sickening fear.

I can hear him shouting, but I can’t think over the piercing pain on my wrist, where the seal is. It’s burning!

I burst out into the treehouse, and where I would normally need to climb down, I jumped.

I land on the floor, rolling over, my clothes tearing from the bushes, but I get up and start running. I can still feel his claws against my skin, his intention thick in the air.

What I’ve done it’s going to get me killed.

I have to run.

But where?

My feet are moving faster than they ever have before.

My body is moving on adrenaline alone now.

Where do I go?

Desperation tightens like a noose around my neck. I can already hear the sounds in the distance.

They’re following me!

I push myself faster, but I know that I can’t run a fully outgrown Panther.

The fate that awaits me now is grim.

I made my choice, and now there’s no turning back.

My heart is pounding as I push myself to the very edge of my abilities. My seal is throbbing, a vicious pain that is unbearable. The forest around me is a blur as I keep running, with no destination in mind, just a desperate desire to escape.

Can’t go to Vee’s house. Nolan and my brothers will slaughter her family, their pride outweighing the consequences. Can’t go to the clinic either. That is the first place my brothers will look.

Can’t go home.

So where do I go?

Under my crippling anxiety and fear is a growing numbness.

I have an out.

I have a way to prevent everything.

But am I ready for such a drastic step?

I can feel the Panthers gaining on me, and I close my eyes, my body slowing down. Panic is welling up within me.

No!

Just then, as I break into a clearing, I run smack dab into a firm male chest.

I let out a breathless scream, falling on my ass and scrambling back, only to see a somewhat familiar face.

“Y-You’re Lexi. Sel-Seline’s friend.”

My heart is beating so fast that I can’t even draw in air.

He frowns at me, and I see the flicker of recognition in his eyes. However, he doesn’t seem very happy to see me. My seal throbs, and I let out a pain-filled cry before I hear the sounds of rushing feet.

“Y-You have to help me!” I beg desperately. “They’re going to kill me!”

“What?” He watches me in bemusement. “And you’re trespassing on our territory? Are you asking to die?”

I can hear them getting closer, “Better at your hands than them!”

His brows knit together, and I sob out, “I can’t run anymore. Just – If you want to kill me, do it. It’ll be – It’ll be better than whatever they have planned for me!”

“What are you-”

Five Panthers burst into the clearing, and I immediately hide behind the muscled Wolf, whispering hoarsely, “Please.”

The Panthers snarl, and their leader shifts. The sight of Nolan has me clenching my fingers in the back of Lexi’s shirt, my blood turning cold.

“What? You think you’ll hide behind a Wolf, and I’ll let you?”

Lexi snarls, “You’re trespassing!”

Nolan sneers, “We’ll leave. Just hand over the girl. She belongs to me.”

I whimper, clutching onto Lexi’s shirt.

My chest is aching from the sudden burst of exercise, and I can feel my panther’s agitation inside of me.