*JORDYN’S POV*The room blurred around me. My chest tightened, and the only sound I could hear was the sudden pounding of my heart. For a split second, everything else—the council, the lies, the meeting—fell away.“Where?” I demanded, my voice low and dangerous, gripping his arm tightly.Josh leaned in close, his whisper barely audible but carrying the weight of the situation. “She’s been taken to a cottage deep in the woods, just outside our borders. I’ve already sent trackers, but we need to move fast.”I didn’t let him finish. The chair screeched behind me as I shot up, a cold fury boiling inside me. Brianne was in danger, and I wouldn’t waste another second here. The council members muttered amongst themselves, confused by the sudden interruption, but I couldn’t care less. Without thinking, I spun toward the door, my legs already moving to get me to Brianne. But my mother, seated at the far end of the room, stood abruptly, blocking my way with a mix of fear and defiance in her eye
*BRIANNE’S POV*My head was pounding as a sharp, stabbing pain shot through my skull. For a moment, I couldn’t think straight. I groaned softly, my eyes fluttering open, but the world around me was dim. The coldness of the air hit me first—a damp, musty chill that clung to my skin like an unwanted blanket. The scent of mildew and dust filled my nostrils, a contrast to the sterile, chemical smell of the handkerchief Marcus had used on me.I tried to move, but my wrists were bound tightly in front of me, a rope digging into my skin. Panic flared up again, and I tugged at the restraints, testing them, but they didn’t budge. My arms were sore, my muscles aching from the effort. I blinked, trying to piece together where I was, and how I got here.The room was small and windowless. The faint light that filtered through came from a single, naked bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting long shadows across the space. There were no sounds…no footsteps, no cars, nothing. It was eerily quiet.My m
*BRIANNE’S POV*The chair creaked under my weight as I struggled, pressing my feet against the floor to gain some leverage. My gaze fell to the narrow windows, high up on the wall, casting thin rays of moonlight that barely illuminated the room. If I could just loosen these ropes, maybe I’d have a chance. The thought of Jordyn walking into whatever trap they’d set fueled me, and I grit my teeth, tugging harder.Slowly, I felt a small tear in the rope where it had rubbed against my wrist. It was tiny, but it was a start. I focused on that spot, twisting my wrists again and again, ignoring the sting as the fibers began to tear. Every inch gained was an inch closer to freedom.With each movement, I whispered to myself, urging myself on. “Come on, Brianne. You can do this. For Jordyn.”My wrists throbbed, raw and bleeding, but I didn’t stop. I pushed past the pain, each thread that loosened brought a tiny rush of hope, a reminder that I wasn’t powerless here. I could fight. I would fight.
*JORDYN’S POV*I eyed the man in front of me with a simmering anger barely held in check. The moment I arrived and saw his face, I knew what this was—a ploy, a calculated move to lure me here. This man was the assistant to the Alpha of our rival pack, and from the smug look on his face, he was fully aware of the leverage he held with Brianne’s life in his hands.“Your arrogance won’t get you anywhere, Alpha,” he sneered, a thin smile twisting his lips. “You’re on foreign ground now. Maybe it’s time you remembered that. But maybe…” he paused, his voice dipping lower, “you’re willing to strike a deal?”I let a smirk tug at the corner of my mouth, masking the rage boiling under my skin. I knew the kidnapping of Brianne was only a means to bring me here, but I wasn’t about to let them hold that over me. Still, I needed to know she was safe.“You have no idea what you’re dealing with,” I said coldly, my voice echoing through the small clearing. “I’ll give you one last chance. Take me to he
*JORDYN’S POV*I leaned in close, my voice a low, dangerous whisper. “I don’t make threats. I make promises.”He blinked, taken aback, and I used the moment to scan my surroundings, calculating my next move. The conversation was going nowhere, and I knew that any more time wasted was a risk to Brianne. But just as I was about to push past him, he blocked my path, his expression darkening with renewed resolve.“Fine,” he spat, “have it your way. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’re risking everything for one wolf.”I held his gaze, unflinching. “One wolf? She’s more valuable than any land, and you’re out of your depth if you think otherwise.”As I spoke, the door to the far side of the room opened, creaking loudly. My chest tightened as two of their guards appeared, dragging a figure between them. Brianne. They shoved her forward, and she stumbled, collapsing to her knees on the rough floor.“Jordyn!” she gasped, lifting her head as her gaze found mine, her voice trembling with reli
*JORDYN’S POV*I quickly positioned myself in front of Brianne again, my heart racing. I couldn’t bear the thought of her in harm’s way. She peered over my shoulder, gripping the edge of the tree, her gaze filled with a fierce, determined fire, though her hands trembled slightly.I growled softly, assuring her as best I could in my wolf form.A final rogue, larger and meaner-looking than the others, lumbered into view, its eyes glinting with fury and desperation. Josh and I exchanged a glance, a shared understanding passing between us. We would end this together.Josh took the lead, circling the rogue slowly, his low growl vibrating through the air. The rogue lunged toward him, snapping wildly, but Josh darted out of the way, agile and quick. As the rogue twisted to follow him, I struck, lunging forward and sinking my teeth into its hind leg. The rogue let out a feral scream, twisting to shake me off, but Josh was there in an instant, lunging for its throat. Together, we brought it do
*BRIANNE’S POV*But then, a familiar form shot forward, knocking the rogue off course.Josh! Relief flooded me as I saw him, his wolf form a blur of fur and teeth as he clashed with the rogue. He’d found us, and he wasn’t about to let anything happen to me or Jordyn.From the ground, I watched as Jordyn, too, shifted into his wolf form, the sight both awe-inspiring and terrifying. His fur was sleek, dark, and powerful, and his eyes glowed with a fierce determination. He and Josh moved in sync, their bodies flowing together as they fought off the attackers.Jordyn took down one of the rogues in a swift, savage bite, his teeth flashing as he overpowered it. Josh pinned another rogue beneath his massive paws, snarling as he tore into it. Their movements were relentless, their loyalty to each other and to me evident in every strike.But even with Jordyn and Josh fighting as fiercely as they were, the rogues kept coming. I felt trapped, my back against the cold, hard ground, helpless as I
*BRIANNE’S POV*“Stop it! Just stop it, please!” I screamed, my voice breaking as the rogue wolves continued their relentless assault. “You’ve hurt him enough! Please!”But the wolves showed no sign of stopping. My screams, my pleas…all of it was useless against their savage determination. They were here to kill, and nothing I said would change that. The helplessness felt like a weight crushing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I was trapped in this nightmare, watching the person I cared about most being torn apart in front of me.Another wolf latched onto Jordyn’s leg, dragging him back, and he let out a strangled cry of pain. The sound tore through me, twisting my insides with a pain that felt physical. I clawed at the ground, trying to get closer to him, but my own strength was fading, my limbs weak and trembling.Jordyn turned his head toward me, his gaze filled with an agonizing mixture of pain and determination. “Brianne… run,” he choked out, even as he struggled to p