Confined

Mia's POV

The heavy door slammed shut behind me, the echo reverberating through the small, cool prison I'd been locked in. My heart pounded as I sank onto the bare floor, trying to process what just happened.

That bastard's words haunted me, cutting deeper than I cared to admit. "Enjoy your stay." How could he think I want to betray him? After everything I'd endured—everything I'd sacrificed for him.

My hands trembled as I hugged my knees to my chest. Sabina, my wolf, stirred restlessly within me, her growls filling my mind.

"He's our mate," she hissed.

I gritted my teeth, shoving her aside. "Some mate," I muttered bitterly. "He doesn't even trust me." Sabina's anger simmered, but she fell silent.

The room was suffocatingly quiet. The only sound was my own ragged breathing. I couldn’t stop replaying the way Jasper had looked at me—cold, calculating, as though I were nothing more than a problem to be solved.

And Jayden.

I snapped my head, towards his holding cell, and watched as he sat quietly, wiping the blood off his lips.

Guit gnawed in me as I thought about him. He'd tried to defend me to stand up to Jasper, and now, he was paying the price. Jayden doesn't deserve this.

"Jayden," I whispered. "You shouldn't have interfered."

His voice was steady, but I could hear the faint pain. "I couldn't just stand there and let him hurt you."

I swallowed hard. "Now, you're here because of me."

There was a pause, before he replied. "I'd do it again if it meant protecting."

His words made my chest tighten. Did he love me so much, that he doesn't even mind going against Jayden?

I stood up abruptly, pacing the small room. I have to find a way to clear myself of his allegations. I can't just waste away here and watch him decide my fate. But how did my jewelry get to his penthouse? I had seen that jewelry yesterday morning, but how come? Someone out there is trying to set me up, and how come that stupid boy isn't seeing it? If there was any three things Jasper lacked—it'd be knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

But I'm equally not surprised that someone is out for his life. He's such an annoying prick who'd have a lot of enemies in his book. Had it been I have the opportunity, I could have strangled him.

"Gosh," I cursed out in anger.

"But he's still our mate," Sabina growled.

"Can you shut up!" I snapped at her. "And what the fuck is mate?

Sabina was quite again. I don't know, if it's just my emotions, but I think I could feel her sadness. She wasn't as jovial as she was earlier.

The night dragged on, tension wrapping around me like a suffocating blanket. My restlessness grew until Sabina began pacing in my mind.

"Mia, I can't hold back anymore," she warned.

I felt it too—the urge to shift. My muscle tensed, and my skin felt too tight. "No," I whispered to myself. "Not here. Not now."

But it was no use. Sabina was growing more agitated, and the need to shift was becoming unbearable.

"Jayden," I called softly, pressing my face against the cold bars separating us.

"I can't hold it anymore," I admitted. "I need to shift, but I can't do it here. They would find out."

Jayden was silent for a moment, before I hear the rustling of his movements. "I'll figure something out."

He called out to the guards, his tone authoritative. “I need to use the restroom.”

One of the guards scoffed. "Hold it."

Jayden's voice hardened. "Unless you want to clean up a mess, you'll let me out. You know Jasper won't want this place reeking.

The guards hesistated before one finally relented, unlocking the cell. "Fine. Make it quick."

The moment, Jayden stepped out, he lunged at the nearest guard, knocking him unconscious with a swift blow. The other guard tried to retaliate, but Jayden was faster, disarming and incapacitating him before unlocking my cell.

"Go," he urged. "I'll hold them off."

I hesistated, my gaze lingering on him. "Jayden—”

"Go, Mia," he insisted. "Now."

I nodded, slipping past him into the hallway. I moved quickly, my heart pounding with fear. Avoiding the other guards carefully, I made my way outside.

The moment, I stepped into the forest, the cool air hit me and I let go.

Sabina surged forward, taking control as I shifted, the transformation both painful and liberating. My paws hit the earth, and I ran, the freedom refreshing after the confinement of the cell.

When I finally stopped, I shifted back into my human form, my breaths heavy as I leaned against a tree.

It was at the time that I realised I have no spare clothes.

"What would I wear now," I muttered to myself. My eyes scanned the forest a miracle would happen and clothes will drop from the sky.

And then I remembered Jayden.

I had put him in a tight spot once more. What would he say to Jasper? When he finds out that I was gone. For a fleeting moment, Jasper's cold, calculating features crept into my mind. I shook my head, trying to erase the memories of his golden-eyed gaze that seems to pierce into my soul.

Just then, I felt a hand hit me on my ass. What? Fear gripped me as I turned backwards. Infront of me, were two men with a backpack and a lustful grin on their faces.

I stepped backwards, my body trembling with fear. What have I gotten myself into?

"Hey," one of them said, his voice disgustingly sweet. "You're beautiful. I'd like to have a taste."

"Please... leave me," I said, my voice breaking. I kept moving back and they kept closing the distance between us, their eyes trailing over my body. From the corners of my eyes I noticed the bulge on their trousers.

"I know you want this," the other chipped in. "If not, why would you be standing here naked at the middle of the night."

"I...I," my voice cut in my throat. I couldn't tell them that I'm not human, and I had come here to shift to my wolf form. It's stupid right? And they won't probably believe me.

"You see. Come here," they both lunged at me, grabbing me by my shoulders and throwing me out a tree.

"Please.... don't do this," I pleaded desperately, even though I know quite well that these men —these monsters in front of me would never listen. Tears streamed down my face as I imagined the nightmare that awaited me.

One of them forcefully laid on me, his lips closing around my nipple as he sucked it in hard tugs. His hard hands roamed my body, while the other man laughed as he watched.

"Help me," I screamed. "Please somebody...help me."

"Mia," a voice called from the distance.

I froze, my heart leaping in both hope and dread. Relief tried to creep in, but fear was faster—was it salvation, or someone worse?

The man pinning me down paused, his head snapping towards the direction of the voice as his grip loosen. My heart pounded as I waited, the silence almost suffocating.

Who was coming for me?