Chapter Two – Will He Kill Me?

Hermione’s POV 

My eyelids flickered open, and I blinked to focus on the blurred green, black, and white of the night forest. A sort of drugged fear overcame my senses. Where was I? How was I moving? No. I was being carried like a rag doll by none other than the enemy. 

I remembered his name. Felixe Andreadis! 

Who didn’t know the creature? He was the most feral wolf of the Whiteridge Pack, who had to give up his position as Alpha to go to a rehabilitation center. Later, his uncle, Alpha Atticus, appointed him his Gamma to prove himself! Was he cured? I had no idea! 

I could feel a pounding ache in my skull. My limbs were numb. Maybe it was the effect of the drug he injected into my body! I lay helplessly over his shoulder as he marched through the heavily forested area. I could hear a faint gushing of water nearby. It seemed as if we were near a water body! Was it a river, a waterfall, or a lake?

I tried to move my head to check my surroundings, but the ache made it an impossible task. All I could feel were his muscles rippling beneath me as he strode in silence. I inhaled deeply to clear my head, but all I could get was his addictive masculine scent. It was the natural scent of a pine forest and it made my stomach twist. 

“Stop!” I blinked at his low growl. Who was he talking to? I glanced around, but there was no one. 

“What?” I whispered, trying to focus my groggy senses on him. 

“Stop moving so much.” He stomped angrily, crushing the foliage on the forest floor with every stride. I wanted to roll my eyes at the impossibility of his command. Didn’t he know how strong his drug was? I couldn’t move a strand of my hair even! 

“As if I can!” I mumbled while he scoffed. 

There wasn’t a soul around the place. Everything was eerily quiet! It didn’t look like we were in the Northern Territories of Canada. How would Zephyrus ever find me here?

He started climbing a steep, narrow flight of steps, and I tried to look upwards. It seemed like a tiny tree house! Was this his home? The stairs creaked under his weight as he climbed to the top. He angled me efficiently to unlock the door. Walking into the tiny home, he strode straight into a cozy bedroom. My stomach knotted up, realizing there was only one in the entire house. 

I panicked now, more than ever before. What would he do with me? Why did he bring me here instead of killing me? 

He dumped me roughly on the bed and stood watching me with a strange look in his eyes. I tried to sit up, but there was no strength left in me. He frowned at my state, rubbing his stubble as if considering something. Whirling around, he walked out. Seeing the opportunity, I mustered all my strength to escape my captor before he returned. 

He returned in the blink of an eye and I hadn’t been able to raise my head even! My eyes widened at seeing a thick rope hanging from his grip. 

“What are you doing?” I wasn’t a meek, fragile, young wolf, but his aura was terrifying. I was an experienced warrior, having fought many battles alongside my twin, but this was different. The power and aggression radiating out of the enemy was so intense, I instinctively knew I was no match for him. For the first time in my life, my instincts urged me to cower. I just wanted to go back to Lucania, to my childhood home where Zephyrus had gone. 

“Don’t even think of escaping me.” I gaped at the angry swirl in his eyes as he grabbed my wrists and bound them. He tied the opposite end of the rope to the bedpost, giving me leeway to just move around a little but never escape. 

Throughout the time, he avoided eye contact with me, but I could feel his wolf’s low growl rumble from deep down his throat. 

“Why are you doing this to me? What have I ever done to you?” I couldn’t help the tears this time. The rope cut through my skin and I already felt like a dog on a leash, under his mercy. It was the worst feeling for a warrior who had fought for freedom all her life. No, I couldn’t give up so easily. I had to beat this monster at his own game and escape. Mate or not, I wouldn’t surrender without a fight. 

He towered over me, staring me down with a threatening gaze as if accusing me of something. My heart thumped wildly in my chest as I waited for his reply. It was so loud that there was no way he couldn’t hear it or see the fear in my eyes. All the rumors I had heard about him popped into my mind, echoing inside my brain. 

With me all tied up, what would he do to me now? 

He leaned a little, baring his teeth in fury. “Ask your brother what he’s done to me. You’ll pay for his crime. It’s time for revenge!” I frowned at his admission. As far as I knew Zephyrus, he wouldn’t harm anyone without a reason. 

“He overpowered you only to get back his pack and village. You can’t hold that against him! He gave you a fair chance to fight and win against him. He stayed away from his home for twenty years!” Before I could utter another word, he grabbed hold of my jaws to shut me up. 

“Not a word more! I’ll gag you next!” he snarled at me, a thunderous growl erupting from his throat. It quietened me. I knew there was no point in arguing with him. He was a ruthless, aggressive, and feral wolf who would definitely do as he pleased. 

He released me and walked out of my room, closing the door and locking it from outside. I glanced around the tiny room for an avenue of escape. There was none! It looked like a dungeon, and I, his prisoner, all tied up like a criminal. I closed my eyes to mind-link with my brother. Since the day we were born, we have always shared a very close connection. Zephyrus could always feel my pain! Tonight, however, I couldn’t establish any link with him. How could it be possible? 

Maybe it was the drug he injected into my body! 

I could feel the enemy moving outside the room, his footsteps pacing back and forth in the tiny hallway. There were canine sounds, sometimes low growling, accompanied by scratching on the walls. What the hell was he up to? 

Before I could comprehend, he flung open the door and stood there with a steaming bowl in his hand. I rolled my eyes, realizing he brought me food. Why did he care when he wanted me to die?

“Eat up!” He placed the bowl of soup on the nightstand and grabbed my hands again. This time, he untied the rope, staring at the red swelling on my wrists. I watched him warily, my instincts prodding me to escape before he tied me up again. His eyes were dark this time, and I knew what that meant. Maybe he was restraining his primal instincts around me! 

He walked away without a word, closing the door after him. In a split second, I got off the bed, my mind reeling from the effort it took me. I staggered a little, but I knew I had to escape this place now. There was only one window in the room. Could I jump out to the forest floor? I had to try! After trying a lot, the window gave way.

I peered out and gulped at the height. ‘Hye! Let’s do it!’ I urged my wolf! She immediately whimpered in response, but shifted, nevertheless. My body still felt numb from the drug, but it was now or never. Gathering all my strength, I jumped out of the window just when the bedroom door swung open. 

“What the fuck!” I heard Felixe swear as he realized I had escaped.

Landing on the forest floor with a soft thud, I looked around. I had to outrun him! There was no time to think! I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, not knowing where I was heading! I sprinted deeper into the forest, the sound of water getting louder with every step. Was it a river? A newfound hope flickered in my heart. Maybe I could cross over and escape! 

Hye picked up speed. The will to survive made me push myself to the limit. The deafening sound of the leaves crunching under my feet was the only thing I could hear as I ran. 

But it wasn’t my nimble feet that caused it! It was the giant wolf chasing me at breakneck speed! 

It was none other than my captor, Felixe Andreadis! How did I even think I could escape him? My heart constricted with fear while Hye howled with fear. I knew my doom was near! He would catch up with me in no time. 

A monstrous snarl shook the ground beneath me! Before I could react, a heavy creature barreled into my body, making me crumple to the ground from the impact. Breathless, I gasped for air while he dug his claws into my shoulders, pinning me to the cold ground. 

“You thought you could escape me?” he gritted out, and I swallowed hard. 

The intense hatred in his eyes made me feel there was more to this than what he admitted. This couldn’t be a game of revenge just because we had overpowered his pack! Maybe it would take longer than expected. I couldn’t get rid of Felixe Andreadis that easily! I had no idea if I would be alive at the end of this ordeal!