ZEUS
The last thing I wanted to hear after threatening my kidnapper was a casual, “Sounds good.” Those two words sent a chill through me, a clear hint that things were only going to get worse. I could feel the warmth of his chest retreating as he pulled me from the tree. My twisted arm was released, but before I could even lower it to my side, he was dragging me forward again. I was caught off guard.
“Where are you taking me?!” I demanded, struggling to keep up as the feeling slowly returned to my legs. “Stop dragging me! Let me go!” I twisted, using every ounce of strength I had to break free from his iron gasp, but it was like he was deaf, or just didn’t care. He’d already declared me his prisoner, his “slave,” and my protests seemed to mean nothing to him.“Let go!” I snarled through my teeth, looking around frantically.
The trees were dense and twisted, looming over us like silent giants. The air smelled foreign, damp and earthy, and the distant calls of strange birds echoed in the quiet. The ground beneath me was rough, a mix of dirt and mud. This wasn’t just some backyard. It was a forest, deep and desolate, a place people avoided for good reason. And here I was, being dragged right into it by this silent man who could not wait to have my life in his hands. The remaining slivers of hope that I clung to were quickly dissolving, swallowed by a gnawing dread.
I focused on the man’s back, tall and broad, a few inches taller than me. “Where are you taking me?” I asked again, trying to sound braver than I felt. But again, he didn’t answer or even look back. I clenched my fists, heart pounding as a horrible realization settled over me. He was going to kill me out here, bury me where no one would ever find me. I refused to accept that, though, and fought with everything I had, planting my feet and struggling to pull my arm free. “Let me go! I’m not going with you!” I yelled, my voice cracking as I thrashed, ready to dig my fingers into the ground if that’s what it took to stop him.
And then, to my surprise, he let go.
I stumbled forward, unprepared for the release, barely catching myself before I fell. Not wasting a second, I turned to run. But before I could even take a full step, he grabbed me by both arms and slammed me back against a tall, sturdy tree.
Pain shot through my shoulders as my back collided with the rough bark. “Shit! That hurts, are you crazy?!” I snapped, gasping as I found myself trapped, his powerful frame looming over me, both hands planted on either side of my head, caging me in. I could feel his breath, see every detail of his intense expression, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent my heart racing.
Without warning, his hand shot out and tightly gripped my jaw, forcing my head up so that our faces were mere inches apart. “Shout one more time,” he murmured, voice deadly calm, “and see what I gag that audacious little mouth of yours with.” The intensity in his eyes told me he wasn’t bluffing; he’d make sure I regretted it if I pushed him further. Feeling his strength so far, I didn’t want to test him further and wanted to keep all my teeth safe. There were too many rocks, wood, and even mud. Who knew what this crazy man could shove in my mouth. It was definitely not a good thing.
“And as for your little ‘let me go, I’m not coming with you’ mantra…” His hand shifted to my neck, his fingers spreading across my throat, and I was suddenly very aware of how large his hand was, how easily he could choke the life out of me. He leaned in close, his voice a low, venomous whisper. “Even if I have to break every bone of your body, pack you in plastic, or carry you in a bottle, you’re coming with me. The choice is yours. How do you want to be transported?”
A shiver ran down my spine as his threat hung in the air between us. I swallowed hard, my throat pressing against his fingers, my mind scrambling for any way out of this nightmare. For the first time, I realized that fighting wasn’t going to work. Not against someone like him who was beyond strange to my imagination. Almost inhuman.
Reluctantly, I let him drag me along, swallowing my protests and forcing myself into a silence I wasn’t sure I could maintain. Right now, I was in no shape to resist. My body was a mess, aching from bruises, every step sending a fresh throb through the wound on my forehead. My limbs felt as unsteady as my thoughts. Any attempt at fighting back would’ve been worse than foolish. it would’ve been suicide.
After what felt like hours, we came to a small clearing. I blinked in disbelief at what I saw. Dense greenery surrounded a dark, weathered hut in the center, an ominous shape that seemed to absorb the little light filtering through the trees. It was the kind of place that reeked of a dead end, the kind of place people entered and were never seen again. My stomach twisted at the sight.
“Why have you brought me here?” I blurted out, my words tinged with the panic I couldn’t suppress. But before I could step back, he shoved me closer to the decaying structure.
“From now on,” he announced, his tone devoid of emotion, “that’s your home.”
I froze, feeling the words slam into me like a wrecking ball. This place? He couldn’t be serious. I felt the ground shift under me as I sank, hoping somehow I’d misheard him. But the look in his eyes made it painfully clear. This was real.
“You must be joking!” I snapped, fury bubbling up from somewhere deep and desperate inside me.
“If it’s a joke to you…,” he replied coldly, stepping closer and gripping my jaw in one strong hand, “then consider this: from now on, your whole life is going to become one.”
Anger surged through me as I wrenched my jaw out of his grasp. “First, you kidnap me, then accuse me of murder, and now you’re forcing me to live in that shack? Look at it! I can barely stand up in there!”
“THEN CRAWL!” he yelled, his eyes red in anger. “Crawl in or slide yourself in! Find your own way. Make yourself at home quickly for your own good since you will be rotting here for the rest of your life!”
“That’s crazy,” I clenched my fists on my sides, “Don’t push this too far!”
The man’s expression darkened in a flash, “After pushing Lynn to her death, you dare to feel wronged when you go through the same?!” he roughly grabbed my arm and hatefully glared, “This is only the start. Wait and see what it feels like living hell!” growling, he pushed me away again. I stumbled while he ordered, “Go in!”
I took an angry breath, “NO! There is no way I am living there. I’m not some animal. I’m a human being!”
His face twisted in rage, his eyes sharp like blades, “A human?” he sounded low and grating. “Then why the hell didn’t you treat her like one?”
I clenched my teeth, “Who have I treated as less than human? Lynn? I don’t fucking know her!” I bit out, my voice was bitter. “You’re the one who has no awareness of your own insanity! You’re a psychopath!”
But his smirk only deepened, a shadow of a smile that made my heart slam against my ribs. He moved closer, bending down until he was at eye level. The cold satisfaction in his gaze sent a spike of dread through me, but I met it with defiance, refusing to look away.
“It’s good that you know,” he murmured, his voice low and almost amused. “Because every wrong move you make will awaken the beast inside me. A beast that wants nothing more than to give you a very painful death.”
ZEUSThe way he said "beast" made something twist inside me. There was an edge to his words, a dark promise that suggested something far worse than just violence. And…could it be? …his voice, it sounded like two voices merged into one, as if something else, someone else, was speaking along with him. An animal. Was my mind slipping, or had I really heard that? I couldn't afford to second-guess myself. Hours of captivity were already beginning to blur my senses, drawing me into a spiral of doubt. If I didn’t escape, I’d be lost to this man’s madness.“Look, I really don’t know why you’re doing this to me.” My voice was steady, but desperation clawed at the edges. “I haven’t killed anyone. And if you believe I have, let’s go to the police. They’ll decide whether I’m guilty. I’ll accept punishment if they prove it, okay? Let’s handle this like civilized adults…”“Police?” He chuckled, a low, dark sound that echoed through the trees, filling the silence with a sinister hum. I froze, feeling
ODINRegret clawed at me like a ghost that refused to be exorcized, lingering in every empty space where her laughter should have been. I had been close enough to catch her, close enough to reach her, if only I’d acted a moment sooner. She would still be smiling and calling me brother. But I was just a second too late. All I could do was watch as her body plummeted from the top floor of the apartment building, swallowed by a silence that tore at me as her life slipped away right in front of my eyes. I couldn’t protect her. Lynn. My baby sister. The one I remember cradling in my arms the day she was born, her tiny fingers curling around mine, so fragile yet so full of life.Now, eighteen years later, I cradle her again, but all that life was gone.Just three months ago, she’d been dragging me around town, excited about college, demanding I buy her everything she’d need, and begging me for an apartment close to campus. She’d wanted so badly to live on her own, experience life outside the
ZEUS A pair of brown, animal-like eyes, hairy hands that looked almost like claws…I rubbed my eyes and blinked away the images, muttering, “What kind of shitty dream was that?” My head was still foggy, my senses playing tricks. Admittedly, the guy who’d kidnapped me had an intimidating presence. Strong, silent, with a piercing look that unnerved me. But to think that he was something more than human? A monster or… worse? Ridiculous.“What the hell am I even thinking?” I scolded myself. It hadn’t been twenty-four hours since he’d dragged me into this nightmare, and already I was losing my grip on reality. But as the hazy memories settled, one came into focus, as clear as if it were happening again: “Call me Alpha.” His voice had been low, commanding, with an underlying edge that felt… powerful. Like he owned not just the moment, but everything within reach. Including me.“Alpha?” I muttered, the name feeling strange on my tongue. There was something unnervingly fitting about it. He wa
ZEUS “Who are you?” He didn’t flinch, didn’t even glance in my direction. His entire focus stayed fixed on the fire. The silence he directed towards me felt suffocating, a dismissal so deliberate it made my skin crawl, as though I wasn’t even worthy of a response because I was his captive. My jaw tightened, but I refused to back down. “What’s your name?” I pressed, my voice sharper now. Finally, he looked at me. His voice was cold, detached. “It’s Alpha to you.” “That doesn’t sound like a name,” I muttered under my breath, frustration lacing my words. It was clear he had no intention of revealing anything about himself. But I was desperate. Knowing even a shred of information about him might help me understand the kind of person or creature holding me hostage. Only then could I plan my escape. Suddenly, the sharp cry of a vulture echoed through the quiet, making me jump. My eyes darted upward, and there was a massive bird circling ominously above us. My breath caught. “What
ZEUS“AAAAAA!” Raw frustration tore from my throat, ricocheting off the cracked walls of the shack and spilling out into the crisp morning air. My chest heaved as I sat there, glaring at the wooden floor, my face flushed, eyes red from a sleepless night. Shame burned in me like an unrelenting fire, spreading from the tips of my ears to the pit of my stomach. I’d never, not in my entire life, felt so humiliated as I had yesterday.That moment. That damned moment. It replayed in my mind like a cursed loop, and no matter how much I tried to shove it aside, the memory surged back with unrelenting clarity. The Alpha’s voice was calm, sexy yet taunting when he had offered me a "shortcut," the nature of which was so degrading, so infuriating, that even now my fists clenched at the thought.The worst part wasn’t just the suggestion itself, it was the audacity of it. The ease with which he reduced me to nothing more than… a manwhore…. No. I wouldn’t even let the word form in my mind. But what
ZEUSWithout a word, he turned and started walking deeper into the woods, his broad shoulders cutting a path through the greenery.“Hey, where are you going?” I called after him, frowning. My voice sounded more uncertain than I liked.He didn’t answer. Instead, his stride remained steady, and for reasons I couldn’t quite explain, I found myself following him. My feet moved almost on their own, driven by a mix of curiosity, defiance, and a strange feeling that I could not explain. He glanced back at me once as I followed him.As we emerged from the dense woods, my jaw dropped at the sight before me. A sprawling river stretched out ahead, its waters shimmering under the sunlight. It was so clear that I could see the smooth pebbles beneath
ODINThe moment I pushed the door open, Cade’s scent hit me. A scent that was rarely sharpened by tension, layered with something close to unease. Giving me a hint as to why he suddenly asked for an audience though mind-link. He stood stiffly in the dim light, his eyes snapping in my direction the second I entered. Without a word, I moved around the desk and leaned back against it, folding my arms across my chest. “What’s the matter, Cade?” I asked, my tone low, measured, but edged with impatience. “Make it quick.”Cade’s jaw tightened as he straightened. “Alpha, on my way here, I found traces in the southeastern woods. Signs of a wolf.”I tilted my head slightly, amusement flickering at the corners of my lips. “A wolf?” I repeated, my voice laced with dark curiosity. “An intruder? In my territory?”It had to be like a joke. No one had dared to trespass here… not in decades. My land was protected by ironclad wards and fear. Even rogues gave it a wide berth. But Cade’s serious express
ZEUSThe river water was cool. It washed away the grime and sweat from my body, leaving me feeling lighter than I had since I first woke up in this gloomy forest. The bath was so good that it awakened my senses and lifted my spirits. After all, this was the best thing that happened to me after I had been kidnapped.After scrubbing myself clean, I washed my clothes. Once dressed in a loose T-shirt and a pair of soft, worn bottoms from the polythene bag, I began making my way back along the path I’d memorized earlier. The bag dangled from my hand, and my gaze fell on it with a mix of gratitude and suspicion. The Alpha.... my kidnapper, my tormentor, my... whatever he was—had supplied me with toiletries, clothes, and a towel. I hadn’t expected that. Hell, I’d half-expected him to leave me in an ongoing state of filth just to enjoy the sight of me suffering. But no. He’d gone out of his way to provide the necessities. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. Why? What could he po
ZEUS His lips found mine again, this time softer, lingering like he was trying to seal his promise with each breath. My heart felt like it might explode. I didn’t know whether to push him away or melt into him. His words, his touch…they overwhelmed me, filling the cracks of my shattered self with something dangerous. Something I couldn’t name. On top of that, he actually kissed a man, in front of so many men!Before I could respond, a low growl rumbled behind us. Mario’s voice interrupted the moment, his smugness gone, replaced by cold fury.“Romano,” Mario spat, his voice laced with venom, “you think you can walk out of here with him after that little show? You’re both dead. If you have any last wish, tell me now!”Odin turned slowly, almost lazily, to face him. His calmness was unnerving, like a predator playing with its prey. “Since you’re being so generous,” Odin drawled, taking a drag from his cigarette, “how could I not grant you the honor?”Reaching into his pocket, he pulled
Enemies to lovers?For a second, my mind went completely blank. He and I? But before I could process the thought, the wolves surrounding us sprang into action.One lunged at me, its jaws open wide, but Odin yanked me behind him at the last second. A powerful kick from him sent the wolf flying, its body slamming into a tree with such force that the sound of cracking wood echoed in the air. The wolf collapsed, lifeless, and the others froze, their growls faltering as they hesitated.I shivered in horror against him, my eyes glued to the unmoving body of the wolf. It was clear, they might never wake up.Odin leaned down, his warm breath brushing against my ear as he whispered, “Run straight ahead.”
ZEUSHis expression faltered, the rage dimming as something unreadable flickered in his eyes.“At that moment, I wasn’t a human being to you. I was Damon Darcy, the human that you wanted to break emotionally, a goal that succeeded at. I am broken now.” I continued, my voice breaking. “And yet, now you’ve come to save me, and all I can feel is fear. Fear of what comes next. Fear of how you’ll put me back in my place. Because I know whatever this is, it doesn’t end here.”He froze, as if the weight of my words struck something within him.“I’m scared,” I admitted, my voice barely audible now, trembling with raw emotion. “Scared that your kindness, your soft touch, your care…all of it comes with a price. And thi
ZEUS“Doesn’t me being here answer your question?”As those words left his lips, they pulled at something deep inside me. My heartbeat betrayed me, thundering in my chest as an unfamiliar warmth began to stir. He came when I had lost all hope of being saved. He came when I was on the brink of losing myself.For a fleeting moment, his presence felt like the most profound thing that could have ever happened to me…an unspoken promise of safety, of being wanted and cared for.But then vicious reality sank its claws into me. A bitter pain rose alongside that fleeting warmth, snuffing it out as quickly as it had appeared. It was stupid. How could I allow myself even a moment of such weakness?My hands, still wrapped around his n
ODINHis face drained of color. He opened his mouth but no sound came out. He was caught.I tossed the key aside, my suspicions confirmed. Lex had betrayed me. Only someone within my pack could have leaked information to Mario of my arrival. Damon sat there speechless.“Lex…” I grumbled his name under my breath, my expression darkening. “Don’t hurt him,” Damon murmured after a long silence, his voice almost inaudible.I turned to him, my gaze sharp. “Still trying to save people?”He shook his head, his eyes fixed on the ground. “How am I in any position to save someone? But Lex thinks I killed Lynn. Just like you do. You are strong and brave so you kidnapped me but all he could do was to use Mario to take revenge against me. It’s all revenge, beginning to end. So tell me, Odin…”He finally looked up, meeting my gaze with a quiet intensity that made my chest tighten. He used my name again…. “If I want Lex to suffer for what he did to me, then what should I feel for you?”His questio
ODINI never knew my name could sound so beautiful.The words left my lips in a whisper. It caught me off guard, that unexpected softness in my voice. My name… a name I had hated for years, that was tied irrevocably to the memory of my mother’s screams. I could still hear her, even now, calling my name through labored breaths, her voice raw with pain as she begged me to run and save myself.That day, my name became a trigger. A reminder of my failure to protect her. Of her blood on my hands. Since that day, I had buried it beneath the mask of Alpha Romano, a title that demanded fear and respect. Yet when he said my name… something shifted in my chest. It sounded different. It sounded… beautiful.
ZEUSI felt a chill run down my spine, but the Alpha didn’t falter. He moved through the dense forest, his strides sure and powerful.“Do you even know where we’re going?” I asked, still clinging to him.“No,” he replied, his tone maddeningly calm. “I haven’t been in Mario’s pack since Alpha John’s demise.”My jaw dropped. That meant he had last been here when he was ten! “Then what’s the plan?!”“To find somewhere safe,” he murmured, navigating the forest with skill.Some time later, he climbed a rocky incline, eventually ducking into a small cave nestled into the side of a mountain. He set me down gently o
ZEUSHe came into enemy territory just for me? My chest tightened, an unfamiliar warmth blooming beneath my ribs. I couldn’t name this feeling, but for a fleeting moment, I closed my eyes and let his warmth envelop me, anchoring me in the present.Then, I felt his hands slide down my back. He tugged lightly at the strings of the lingerie, and my body stiffened. He must’ve sensed it because his hands instantly froze.“We have to get out of here,” he murmured, his voice steady and laced with quiet urgency.I blinked and slowly nodded, still leaning against his chest. I definitely could not leave this room in such a state. Unable to move my body, I surrendered to his care. Gently, he began undoing the lingerie, starting with the strings around my chest. His movement
ZEUSHe dragged me to the bed and threw me onto it like a discarded doll. My chest hit the soft mattress, my face pressed against the sheets. I couldn’t move.Through the haze of paralysis, I felt him undo the ropes around my wrists. For a fleeting moment, hope surged…until I realized why.He began stripping me, pulling my shirt over my head, unbuttoning my jeans.“If you obey him, you’ll be able to walk out of this room on your own two feet,” the man sneered. “The drug I gave you will make sure you won’t feel any pain, even if you tear from the inside when he rides that ass of yours.”His words stabbed into me like daggers, and I wanted to scream, to lash out, to do anything. But all I could do was lie there like a lifeless shell. The drug coursing through my veins had stolen even my ability to cry out. My lips trembled, and a low, weak sound escaped.Stripping me bare of what little dignity I had left, he forced the lingerie onto my body, his hands rough and unrelenting. The humilia