LILIANAI woke up gasping for air. The night was eerily silent, with only the sound of leaves rustling in the wind. But something was wrong. I felt a weight pressing down on me, and the moment I opened my eyes, I saw Ryder’s face—way too close to mine.His rough hand covered my mouth tightly, making it almost impossible to breathe. My heart pounded, panic taking over. The dim moonlight seeping through the tent fabric let me see the sharp look in his eyes. Even worse, in his other hand, he had razor-sharp claws aimed straight at my throat.What the hell? Was he really going to kill me? Just like that?I tried to struggle, but his body—much bigger and stronger—pinned me down, restricting every movement."One sound or the slightest move that attracts attention, and I won’t hesitate to kill you right here," he whispered into my ear.The threat made my body freeze. I could feel the anger and hostility radiating from his eyes. Even if my life didn’t feel like it had much worth, I didn’t wan
LILIANARyder smirked triumphantly. "Yep, those guys who showed up earlier definitely wanted you dead. But they weren’t Ethan’s people!"My eyes widened in shock. Someone wanted me dead, but it wasn’t Ethan?"Thinking of anyone who fits the bill?" Ryder whispered in my ear, his voice low and intimate.I… I couldn’t think. Ryder had let go of his grip on me, but now he had both his knees pinning me in place, trapping me between his muscular thighs. I was starting to panic. What was he trying to do?"Can you get off me?" I asked, my voice shaky."Not a chance! Did you forget you almost got us all killed just now?" he hissed. His body loomed over me, solid and unmovable. I was completely at his mercy."Let me go!" I yelled instinctively, thrashing against him.Ryder just narrowed his eyes, not budging an inch. "I thought you'd enjoy this!""You bastard! I don’t like it, and I never will! You’re nothing but a disgusting, immoral kidnapper! A criminal, nothing more!"I tried to push agains
SOPHIASmack!I slapped one of my wolves right in front of everyone. The sound echoed in the silent room, followed by the shocked stares of his fellow pack members, all standing before me with their heads bowed. It just happened. My anger exploded the moment I heard their report."How the hell can you come to me with this kind of report? Liliana might be dead?" I repeated their words, my voice dripping with fury. "Might? I need certainty! Bring me proof that she's dead!"My shout filled the room, making some of the wolves lower their heads even further. No one dared to meet my blazing eyes. My heart pounded, my hands clenched into fists, holding back the urge to unleash even more rage upon them.If Liliana was really dead, then why the hell was Ethan going crazy looking for her? I knew exactly how that man tried to hide his emotions, but I also knew what he was doing behind the scenes. Secretly, Ethan still kept the clothes the kidnappers had sent as proof that my little sister was al
LILIANAI glared at Ryder, who was casually sitting in the driver’s seat of the van. He looked way too relaxed for someone who had just kidnapped me and was now a fugitive from the entire pack."Tell me who those people were last night at the camp," I asked, my voice almost desperate.Ryder barely glanced at me before focusing back on the winding road. "No idea," he replied nonchalantly. "But they definitely weren’t Darnell’s people. I know exactly who Darnell’s guys are."I sighed, realizing there was no point in expecting a straight answer from him. Leaning back against the seat, I turned to look out the window. The cold wind brushed against my face and hair. The road was rough and steep, surrounded by towering trees that formed natural walls. The place was beautiful but completely unfamiliar to me."Aren’t you worried that I’ll figure out where we’re going?" I finally asked, hesitating.Ryder let out a low chuckle, filled with arrogance. "Why would I be? It would just be a hassle.
LILIANAI stepped out of the bathroom after doing my best to clean myself up. It wasn’t perfect, but at least I felt a little fresher. My clothes were still dirty, my hair was a mess, and my face carried the weight of exhaustion. But there wasn’t much I could do. I was a kidnapping victim—just being able to use a bathroom and wash up was already a miracle.Summoning whatever courage I had left, I walked out and joined the family at the dining table. Randal, his aunt, and Ryder were already seated, casually enjoying their bread and turkey, which looked insanely good. My stomach growled, reminding me how long it had been since I’d had a proper meal.Without thinking twice, I grabbed a piece of bread and turkey and started eating like my life depended on it. I didn’t care if they thought I was greedy. Hunger had completely destroyed any sense of dignity I had left."Eat slower," Sarah, Randal’s aunt, gently reminded me. "There’s plenty of meat for you."She gave me a warm smile, and sudde
LILIANAI was still sitting at the dining table, staring at the leftover corn soup that had gone cold in my bowl. Ryder’s harsh words kept ringing in my ears, but I didn’t care. He was always angry, and I was too exhausted to deal with his outbursts anymore. He had stormed off, leaving the table after throwing those words at me.Across from me, Aunt Sarah and Randal sat silently, watching me with concerned expressions. They knew. I could feel it—they knew all of this was wrong. The tension in the air was thick with discomfort.This was my chance.I lifted my head and looked directly at Aunt Sarah. "Help me," I said, my voice shaking from fear and desperation. "I don’t want to be here. You know what Ryder’s doing is wrong. There’s still time to stop this."Aunt Sarah blinked but said nothing. Her expression remained unreadable, making my heart sink further. I turned to Randal, trying a different approach."I thought you were his best friend," I pressed. "You don’t want him getting into
RYDERI slammed on the brakes, bringing my truck to a sudden stop in front of the entrance gate to the protected area. Scattered within the dense forest were several old wooden cabins. Liliana sat in the passenger seat, looking tense, her hands clenched into fists on her lap. I turned to her sharply."Get out!" My voice was sharp, almost a growl. I didn’t want to be alone with her any longer. I didn’t want to lose control.Liliana lifted her face, looking at me with an unreadable expression. Her dark brown eyes seemed to hold something, but I didn’t care."Hurry up!" I urged again, feeling my own breath grow heavier. I yanked open the door beside her, forcing her out.Reluctantly, Liliana finally stepped down from the truck. The cold night air wrapped around us, making her pull the flannel shirt I had lent her tighter around her body. I noticed her tugging at the hem of her shorts, clearly uncomfortable with what she was wearing. The shirt was loose, but it still couldn’t completely h
RYDERMorning came way too fast, but I still couldn’t sleep. I had been up all night, staying on high alert. Even though I had guards stationed all over, something still felt off. I gripped the tree trunk in front of my cabin, scanning the distance. Making sure everything was normal.I replayed the entire process in my head. The kidnapping had gone smoothly—too smoothly. Everything went according to plan. And yet… I didn’t feel satisfied at all. The goal was right there. The hostage was secured. We were just one step away from making the trade. So why the hell was I feeling so uneasy?My thoughts kept drifting back to Liliana. What was wrong with me? We didn’t even know each other before this. There should be no personal attachment to a hostage.A soft breeze rustled the towering pine trees. I clenched my jaw, trying to shake off the weird feeling in my chest. Then, I sensed someone behind me. Instinctively, my claws and fangs came out, ready to attack."Relax, Ryder." The voice was f
LILIANAI've made up my mind. All day and night, I kept thinking about my plan to escape. I spent time walking around the village, studying my escape routes and figuring out what vehicle I could use.There were a few camper vans and trucks parked in the village square, usually used for campfires at night. But there were too many people around. No way I could steal one without getting caught.So, what else? A horse? Suddenly, I remembered the one Ryder used when he brought me here. But no—that horse was left behind in the previous village, and we came here by truck.Not giving up, I snuck out again after bathing in the river. I kept searching, and sure enough, I found a few horses in the stables—three or four of them. Looks like they use them for hunting.I've thought everything through. Tonight, just before dawn, when everyone is deep asleep after dinner, I'll take one of the horses and get out of here. Where to? I have no idea. But escaping comes first. I'll figure things out later.
LILIANAWith a lot of effort, I finally managed to break free from him and move away. I grabbed the blanket I was sitting on, wrapped myself up, and rolled under a tree. If he wouldn’t let me go back to the cabin, then fine—I’d sleep out here. I didn’t care.The night breeze blew softly, making my skin feel even colder. I pulled the blanket tighter around me, trying to calm myself down. But that peace didn’t last long.Out of nowhere, Ryder grabbed me, lifting me up along with the blanket wrapped around me. I was trapped! I struggled with all my might, but it was useless."What are you doing?!" I yelled."Taking you away," he said flatly.I kept squirming, trying to get loose, but Ryder walked confidently as if I weighed nothing. Desperate, I bit his arm, hoping he’d let me go."Aww!" He cursed under his breath but didn’t stop walking. "Damn, you’re really wild."I didn’t care. I kept fighting, but he only tightened his grip. I could feel his warmth seeping through the blanket."Stay
LILIANAI bit my lower lip, realizing I'd just stepped into dangerous territory. “I was just asking,” I finally said, trying to defend myself.Ryder let out a quiet sigh, then stood up. He pulled me behind the big rock where he had been leaning earlier. We were hidden from everyone. Strangely, I didn’t resist. Instead, I stayed still, even though every part of me wanted to step back.“Serina means nothing to me,” he said, standing right in front of me. His arms were pressed against the rock, trapping me between them. “And I don’t let anyone decide my life for me.”I swallowed hard. Something about the way he spoke made me feel like he was trying to make a point.“Then,” I whispered, refusing to be intimidated, “why is she so mad at me?”Ryder narrowed his eyes. “You ask too many questions.”I scoffed, trying to hide my nervousness. “I’m a hostage here. What else am I supposed to do besides ask questions?”He didn’t respond right away. Then, out of nowhere, he leaned in closer. His bre
LILIANABefore I could respond, one of the guards moved fast, his big hand grabbing my arm and yanking me roughly. I struggled, screamed, and fought back with all my strength. "No!" I cried out, my voice breaking. I tried to pull away from the guard's tight grip, but it was useless. His strong hand was unyielding, dragging me mercilessly.I felt my body being lifted off the ground, completely powerless to fight back. Without hesitation, they hauled me out of the meeting hall, dragging me back to the cabin. I knew what was coming next. I'd be locked up there, alone. They wouldn’t let me out until they were sure I wouldn’t try to escape or do anything that could be a threat to them.With each step they took, I felt myself being pulled further away from whatever was left of my freedom. It felt like a giant wall was blocking my way, and I had no idea how to get past it. I felt trapped, like a mouse caught in its own snare.Inside the cabin, I just sat in the corner. That day, I felt even
LILIANA“And what if I refuse?” I still tried to resist, even though I knew I was on the edge.Ryder stepped closer, leaning down so our faces were level. “You know the answer, Liliana. Don’t make a mistake,” he warned, his voice rough and full of threat. “You have less than a minute to talk to your husband!”I stared at the chair, not knowing what to do. Follow Ryder’s orders or fight back? But when I saw the knife and remembered the video of the kids at the orphanage, I knew the answer. I had to do it. I had to act the way they wanted, or I’d never get out of here alive.With trembling hands, I sat in the chair Ryder had pointed to. I could feel the cold air in the room, like everything had stopped just to focus on me. The tension grew heavier, and every second felt like an eternity.As I sat, I realized why the room was so dark. There was nothing here that could give away my location. Just me, them, and the camera in front of me. I knew this wasn’t just about me and Ethan Darnell.
LILIANAWithout thinking twice, I stepped into the big cabin. It was the largest one I’d seen so far. Maybe they served breakfast here. I was starving after a long night of tension. My stomach growled as I walked in, hoping to find something to eat.But the moment I stepped inside, I froze.The room was silent—so still it felt like time had stopped. The dim lighting made the space look even bigger, even more intimidating. The strong, masculine scent in the air sent a shiver down my spine. My eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness, and when I finally saw what was in front of me, my heart nearly stopped.A large table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by men. They sat calmly, as if waiting for something, but their sharp eyes were locked onto me, watching my every move. No doubt about it—these were the wolves who kidnapped me!Rage bubbled inside me. What were they planning?All of them were staring, their eyes filled with calculated suspicion. I felt like a lamb surrounded by
RYDERI was just trying to plan something simple. Just a little punishment for Liliana. If I could make her uncomfortable, maybe she’d break down a little—or at the very least, stop fighting me on every damn thing I said.This time, I picked out the ugliest outfit I could find. Old clothes made of rough fabric, faded in color. There was no way she’d look good in it. It would make her uncomfortable and embarrassed. It had to!But I was wrong.Even in those awful clothes, she still looked stunning. Liliana, with her hair still damp from the river, wore the outfit in a way that was just… breathtaking.I could only stand there and stare. Her half-wet hair dripped onto the ground, and she had no way to dry it properly. No hairdryer, no fancy tools—just a worn-out towel that barely did anything.Some strands were still wet, but she stood there, not complaining, even though she was shivering slightly. And despite being cold and wearing those ugly clothes, she still had that irresistible pres
RYDERAfter leaving Randal, I headed to the highest cabin—the place where I left Liliana last night. Zero, the young guy I assigned to stand guard, was still sitting there calmly. No doubt about it, he took his job seriously.By the time I arrived, the sun had just started creeping up, breaking through the thick mist that constantly covered the valley. Zero was still lounging at the door, his face neutral, though his eyes lit up slightly when he saw me. He didn’t look tired at all—just bored from sitting there alone all night."You can go now," I ordered firmly.Zero stretched lazily before flashing me a small smirk. "She didn’t cause any trouble. Pretty quiet all night," he reported before turning to leave. "I’m grabbing breakfast. If you need me again—""I’ll call you, kid," I replied with a satisfied grin.Zero chuckled before disappearing into the trees. I took a deep breath and stepped inside the cabin.Liliana was still asleep, curled up on the rough mattress, wrapped in a thin
RYDERMorning came way too fast, but I still couldn’t sleep. I had been up all night, staying on high alert. Even though I had guards stationed all over, something still felt off. I gripped the tree trunk in front of my cabin, scanning the distance. Making sure everything was normal.I replayed the entire process in my head. The kidnapping had gone smoothly—too smoothly. Everything went according to plan. And yet… I didn’t feel satisfied at all. The goal was right there. The hostage was secured. We were just one step away from making the trade. So why the hell was I feeling so uneasy?My thoughts kept drifting back to Liliana. What was wrong with me? We didn’t even know each other before this. There should be no personal attachment to a hostage.A soft breeze rustled the towering pine trees. I clenched my jaw, trying to shake off the weird feeling in my chest. Then, I sensed someone behind me. Instinctively, my claws and fangs came out, ready to attack."Relax, Ryder." The voice was f