No way out

The scent of blood clung to the air. Thick. Unforgiving.

Raven sat against the cold stone wall, her wrists raw from the silver shackles that had only been removed minutes ago. Her breathing was slow, steady—controlled. But her heart still pounded from the chaos that had unfolded.

The chamber was eerily quiet now, except for the occasional crackle of the torches. The bodies had already been dragged away, leaving only the dark stains of their demise behind. Yet, the tension hadn’t lifted.

Luca stood a few feet away, his presence as suffocating as ever. He was speaking in low tones with one of his wolves, his golden eyes flicking toward her every so often.

She could tell he was angry.

Not the playful, teasing irritation he usually threw her way, but something colder. Sharper.

And it wasn’t just because of the attack.

She had fought back.

She had nearly gotten herself killed.

And she wasn’t sorry for it.

Her fingers curled into the tattered fabric of her shirt, feeling the dull throb of her body beneath it. The silver had weakened her, but the real exhaustion came from something deeper.

The realization that she wasn’t getting out of here.

Not now. Maybe not ever.

Luca finally dismissed his wolf and turned to her. His jaw was tight, his golden eyes unreadable. “You’re coming with me.”

Raven frowned. “Where?”

“Upstairs.”

She tensed. “Why?”

Luca stepped closer, his presence suffocating. “Because I need you where I can see you.”

It wasn’t kindness. It was control.

Her stomach twisted.

One of his wolves stepped forward, unlocking the chamber door. “Let’s go.”

Raven hesitated, her body tensed as if waiting for another trick. But when Luca’s patience thinned, he stepped forward, fingers curling around her wrist.

“Now, Raven.”

She exhaled sharply and stood.

The hallway beyond the chamber was silent, save for the distant sounds of movement. Luca’s wolves were cleaning up the mess left behind. The scent of blood clung to the air, thick and heavy, a stark reminder of how close she had come to death.

As she followed Luca up the stone steps, every step felt heavier than the last. The realization settled deep in her bones.

Escape wasn’t just difficult.

It was impossible.

⸻

Luca’s territory was bigger than she had realized.

The underground chambers led into a vast stone hall, its walls lined with torches and aged tapestries. Wolves moved through the space with sharp focus, their gazes flicking toward her briefly before shifting away. She wasn’t sure if they were ignoring her or simply waiting for orders.

Luca didn’t speak as he led her forward, his grip loose but firm. He wasn’t dragging her, but she knew there was no point in resisting.

They ascended another staircase, emerging into what looked like the main floor of the stronghold. Unlike the cold stone of the underground chambers, this part of the fortress felt more like a residence—dark wood, flickering candlelight, and the lingering scent of rain drifting in from the open windows.

Luca finally stopped at a heavy wooden door and pushed it open.

“Inside.”

Raven hesitated for half a second before stepping in.

The room was large but not extravagant. A fireplace crackled along the far wall, casting shadows against the deep mahogany furniture. A massive bed dominated the space, its black sheets crisp and untouched.

Her stomach twisted.

He brought her to his room.

Luca stepped in behind her, closing the door with a soft click.

“No more dungeons?” she muttered.

He crossed his arms. “Not unless you give me a reason to put you back there.”

Raven’s gaze flicked toward the closed door. “And what is this, then? A nicer prison?”

Luca didn’t answer immediately. He studied her instead, his golden eyes unreadable. Then, finally—

“Yes.”

Raven sucked in a breath, but before she could snap back, Luca took a step closer, invading her space.

“I told you before,” he murmured. “You belong to me now.”

Her fingers curled into fists. “I belong to no one.”

Luca smiled—a slow, amused curve of his lips. But his eyes were still sharp, still watching her too closely.

“We’ll see.”

⸻

Raven didn’t sleep that night.

Even after Luca left the room, even after the candles burned low and the shadows stretched long, she remained awake.

Trapped.

Her body ached, but exhaustion wouldn’t claim her. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the rogue leader’s lifeless body. She saw the look in Luca’s eyes as he ended him.

He had done it so easily. So effortlessly.

She knew Luca was dangerous, but watching him fight was something else entirely. It was calculated destruction, lethal precision. He hadn’t just killed them—he had made sure they never stood a chance.

She swallowed hard and forced herself to her feet.

The door was locked. Of course.

She tried the windows next, but they were reinforced with heavy iron bars, barely visible behind the curtains.

No way out.

The walls felt smaller now.

She turned away and exhaled sharply, pressing her hands against her temples.

Think.

There had to be something—some kind of opening, some weakness in the way he ran his territory.

She needed to watch. To listen.

To wait.

Because no matter what Luca thought—

She was not his.

And she would find a way to prove it.

⸻

Luca wasn’t in the room when morning came.

The sun bled through the windows in soft, golden streaks, but it did little to warm the cold reality of her situation.

She was still here.

Still his captive.

A sharp knock echoed through the door before it swung open.

One of Luca’s wolves stepped inside—a tall woman with sharp features and piercing gray eyes. She carried a tray of food, setting it down on the nearby table before fixing Raven with a pointed look.

“You should eat.”

Raven crossed her arms. “I’m not hungry.”

The woman didn’t look surprised. “Suit yourself.” She turned to leave but hesitated at the door. “Luca wants you downstairs in ten minutes.”

Raven tensed. “For what?”

The wolf’s lips curled slightly. “You’ll see.”

The door shut behind her, and Raven exhaled slowly.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.

⸻

Ten minutes later, Raven was back in the main hall, standing in the center of a room filled with wolves.

Luca stood at the front, his posture relaxed, but there was something in his expression—something sharper than usual.

“We need to talk about last night,” he said.

Silence filled the room.

Then, Luca’s golden gaze flicked toward her.

“This attack wasn’t random,” he continued. “They came for her.”

The weight of a dozen stares settled on her.

Raven lifted her chin, refusing to shrink under the attention.

Luca’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. “That means security changes. No one enters or leaves without my approval.”

Murmurs spread through the wolves, but no one objected.

Raven clenched her fists.

He was tightening his grip.

Luca’s eyes found hers once more. “And you.”

Her pulse quickened.

“You don’t go anywhere without me.”

She gritted her teeth. “I don’t need a damn babysitter.”

Luca took a slow step forward. “Then stop acting like a reckless child.”

Heat flared in her chest, but before she could snap back, Luca’s expression darkened.

“This is bigger than you, Raven.”

Something in his voice sent a chill down her spine.

She wanted to argue. To fight.

But deep down—

She knew he was right.

The attack had changed everything.

And for now, like it or not—

She was stuck here.