CHAPTER 22: PLAN

I ran through the dark forest again, the same dreaded forest where I shifted for the first time, where I realised that Darek was my mate. And now I’m dashing through it again to escape him and the mating ceremony.

The cool air beat and whipped against my skin as my paws pushed forward, faster than I’d ever been. It had been so long since I had been able to do this, moving out with the earth underneath my feet, sprinting without a care in the world. My mind was healing, my soul stitching itself back after everything that happened.

That was just wishful thinking. My world was, in fact, shattering all around me, and I was just in denial. Maybe I should stay like that a little while longer.

I hadn’t realised that I’d run all the way to the towering entry gates of Parthenn in my wolf form. I skidded to a stop. There was no way I could get past the guards here, who were probably scanning the dark with their night vision. There were so many of them positioned in multiple places, with large enough weapons for me to know that it would be foolish for me to just take the shot. I’d be dead before I could even shift back.

There was only one thing to do now.

I hid under the shadows as I moved towards the northern sector.

Because there was only one person who could help me right now. Who might still fight for me?

Valden.

I walked into the large building in my wolf form. The front metal door was already unlocked. Inside, it was completely dark but I could still see with my night vision. I didn’t know where Valden lived, but if I could hide out in his office until the next day I’d definitely be able to meet him and figure out what to do. After all, the last time we met he was hell bent on protecting me.

I was about to shift back and climb up the stairs when I felt it.

The scent.

The unmistakable overpowering scent that was suffocating me with heat and want but also danger. Because that’s all he was right now. My wolf whimpered as my stomach dropped.

"Fuck," I whispered to myself and turned around swiftly, ready to bolt out the door I just came in.

Except all the lights in the hallway switched on with a steady low hum, flooding the place in sterile brightness. And standing right near the door, which was my only form of escape, was Darek.

He was leaning against the now closed door, arms crossed, his stance unwavering in all his cruel, possessive nature. His glowing red eyes were pinned on my wolf. But the worst was his smile.

It was deadly, promising absolute ruin.

He was going to eat me alive.

"You really thought you could run away from me, Maeve? As if I was going to make it that easy for you. You really thought you could mask your scent with some room cleaner and expect me not to know, didn’t you?"

So he’d known. All this time when I had been trying to get out of his residence undetected, he was probably watching me from somewhere with his infuriating smirk. Keeping track of my movements the whole time I thought I was just lucky.

Now what kind of a sociopath does that?

"Do you know why I let you believe that you actually escaped like that?" He chuckled. "Because I so desperately wanted to see your face when you got caught. I wanted to feel the thrill of the chase. Watching you cling to hope like that..." his grin grew wider. "The best thing I had seen in a while."

My teeth clenched.

I shifted back into my human form so that the rage coursing through my veins wouldn’t consume me and make me do something I regretted. I stood before him, naked and defiant. Not letting myself cower in front of his powerful presence no matter how much I was tempted to.

"I’ll never accept you during the mating ceremony. It’s never going to happen, Darek. Over my dead body."

"Now, sweetheart, don’t go having those kinds of thoughts. And anyway, the mating ceremony is the least of your worries right now."

"What do you mean? What else do you want with me?"

"You’ll know soon enough. Just remember," he murmured as he closed the distance between us in two strides. "Every time you resist this bond, every time you try to run, you’ll only be making me want you even more."

"You can’t force me to do anything." I took the challenge and moved closer to him. "Just like you can’t keep me locked in your house like I’m some sort of experiment. I never agreed to this. In fact, I don’t think you have any use for me. My powers don’t seem to exist anymore."

"Your tests say otherwise. You have so much potential. You just choose to ignore it."

"Take me back there and I’ll just try to escape again. I’ll try again and again until you get tired of me. It’s better if you let me go right now. You never have to see me again. You can finally be with Alpha Rhea and get mated to her during the ceremony. She’s already waiting for you. If the rumors are true I’m sure you would rather be happier with her than someone who wants to scratch your face and peel your skin until I see blood."

"Rhea?" He frowned. "She’s not the one I’m mated to. You are. In all your face scratching glory."

"I don’t care. I’m leaving. If you want to or not," I said, repeating the same last sentence that he used on me.

"My sweet Maeve," he whispered darkly, shaking his head. "You made such a huge mistake. And now I’ll have to fast-forward my entire plan before you lose it again."