LILIANAMy body was tremblingânot just from the cold but from the mix of anger and fear coursing through my veins. I was helpless, barely clothed, with my arms locked in a vice grip by two massive wolves. They held me like I was nothing more than a helpless fawn about to be sacrificed.The Alpha stepped forward. His steps were slow, deliberate, and his sharp eyes gleamed behind the mask that hid most of his face. I could swear there was something calculating behind that mask."You bastard!" I spat, kicking at him. But he barely moved, effortlessly dodging my attack like it was nothing more than a breeze.He picked up my torn, mud-covered clothes from the ground, examining them briefly before tossing them to one of his men. "Send her clothes as proof," he ordered coldly.My eyes widened. "Who are you? What do you want from me?" My voice was loud, but there was a slight tremor in it. Fear was creeping deeper into my bonesânot just from the biting cold but from the way this man exuded an
LILIANAI thought he knew about me when he mentioned the threat that I might never see my child again. Turns out, he knew nothing. I just gave a bitter smile. Three years ago, after being thrown out of Solaris Heights by my own husband, Ethan Darnell, and accused of being a fraud in that political marriage, I disappeared completely. No one knew if I was still alive or what I was up to.Ryder Black was Ethan Darnellâs childhood friendâat least, thatâs what I heard from the gossip floating around Celestiaâs elite circles. But I had only met him once, at my wedding to Ethan. So why the hell is he suddenly here, kidnapping me?I blinked, staring at Ryderâs face. He looked even more handsome up close. My first meeting with him had left no impression whatsoever. Back then, I hadnât even noticed him. My mind was too full of anger at being forced to marry Ethan Darnellâa man I never loved. Is this kidnapping also Ethanâs doing?From this close, Ryder Blackâs face was almost hypnotic. Every sh
ETHANI waited anxiously in my office. Iâd already downed a few bottles of vodka, but it didnât make me feel any better. I had no idea how many hours had passed since they tookâor more like kidnappedâLili.I clenched my fists tightly. Why the hell did I feel so weak right now? Iâd never wavered before, always confident, even when the wolf inside me disappeared after that accident. Even when my own legs betrayed meâleaving me paralyzedâI never let it break me. So why now? Why did I feel like such a loser?They tore my pride apart. Did they take her just to spite me, or was it just a coincidence? I wasnât even sure anymore. Why was I so damn anxious? I tried to untangle my chaotic thoughts.First, Liliana and I werenât together anymore. I kicked her out of my pack three years ago, and she vanished without a trace ever since. Second, the woman I loved was Sophia Lennoxâshe was by my side and would soon be my Luna. There was nothing to worry about, right? Third, I didnât even know who the
LILIANARyder suddenly grabbed my wristâfast, like a steel trap snapping shut. In an instant, he yanked my hand away from the gun at his waist."Don't even think about it," he whispered sharply.I groaned in pain, letting out a frustrated scream as I lost the upper hand. I was beyond pissed. Our eyes locked, and for a split second, I saw the warning in his gaze. He knew exactly what I was thinking.I clenched my teeth, trying to hide my shock. "You⌠might be misunderstanding. I just⌠I'm thirsty and need to use the bathroom."That was all I could come up with. No other excuse popped into my head.Ryder didnât answer. Instead, he just stared deeper into my eyes before finally loosening his grip.Carefully, I pulled my hand back and straightened my posture. "I said I need to use the bathroom⌠and Iâm thirsty."He let out a deep sigh, as if deciding whether to humor me or not. "Hold it. You're not a child. Weâll be there soon. Unless, of course, you wanna do your business right here in f
SOPHIAI hate being ignored!Ethan isnât just brushing off my questionsâheâs straight-up ignoring my entire existence. We were supposed to attend a family dinner tonight and finalize our engagement date. But ever since I arrived at his place, heâs been restless, like his mind is somewhere else. Itâs pissing me off!âWhy are you here, Sophi?â he asks, sounding reluctant.That stings. I glare at him, demanding an explanation for his cold attitude.âIs this about Lili?â I canât stop myself from asking.Ethan averts his gaze, looking exhausted and... conflicted. Suspicious.âHavenât you already kicked her out, Ethan? Why is she back here?ââI donât know!â he snaps, his jaw clenching, fists tightening on the armrests of his wheelchair.âHow can you not know?â My voice rises, barely holding back my frustration. âI heard everyone in the pack freaking out because something happened to Lili. What does she have to do with you?âI feel anxious, uneasy. Am I not justified in being angry and deman
LILIANAI looked around. These people had shifted from their wolf forms to human. One thing was clearâthey were all city folks. Not like I expected, thinking they were werewolves who lived in the wild, roaming with their packs. I thought they were just a bunch of rogue wolves with no leader.I had to admit, Ryderâs presence and voice were captivating. He stood out more than the others. His eyes were insanely blue and shining, but was he really that mesmerizing?Three years ago, I heard Ryder was an alpha. But it seemed like there was no hierarchy here. If that was true, were they just a bunch of exiled wolves banding together as outlaws?Whoa⌠that thought surprised even me. And that aggressive woman from earlierâwas she one of them too? What did Ryder give her to make her throw herself at him like that? Ugh, just thinking about it disgusted me.Then, there was the guy who kidnapped me in the alley. He was here too. I heard them call him Randal. I thought he was the only one who addre
LILIANAI blinked, trying to process what I had just heard. Ryder Black stood in front of me, arms crossed, his eyes filled with confidence. His words echoed in my mind."Forcing your husband to grant access to the Red Forest!"I was stunned. This was the last thing I expected. If they had kidnapped me for money or wealth, that wouldâve made sense. But this? They wanted access to a place I had never even heard of. And... Ethan Darnell? Wow, Ryder really thought I still had ties to Ethan and held some sort of value.I almost opened my mouth to tell them the truth so theyâd let me go. But then I shut it tightly and shook my head.If I wasnât valuable to them, wouldnât that put me in danger? I had no guarantee theyâd release me once they realized I was useless to their plan. Because now, I knew too much.If I was worthless, I was just dead weight. And dead weight usually gets... eliminated. These rogue wolves might kill me, and no one would ever know what happened. This place was isolate
LILIANA"Arenât you curious how much you really mean to Ethan Darnell?" Ryder whispered in my ear, his deep voice dripping with deceit.I clenched my jaw tightly, fighting the urge to react to his provocation. But the thought haunted me. How much did I matter to Ethan? Would he come looking for me? Or did he not care at all if I disappeared?I pushed those thoughts away, let out a cynical scoff, and glared at Ryder. "I already know the answer. I donât mean anything to him. Thatâs why he dumped me three years ago. So, you picked the wrong hostage this time. You shouldâve kidnapped Sophia Lennox instead of me!"Ryder smirked, his gaze sweeping across my face like he was searching for a lie in my words. My breath came in quick, angry bursts, and the coat wrapped around me loosened slightly, revealing the curve of my chest rising with emotion. Realizing his fleeting glance, I quickly pulled the coat tightly around me again.I regretted my words instantly. Fear tightened in my chest, and I
LILIANAI stepped out of the bathroom after doing my best to clean myself up. It wasnât 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 wasnât much I could do. I was a kidnapping victimâjust 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 Iâd 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 didnât care if they thought I was greedy. Hunger had completely destroyed any sense of dignity I had left."Eat slower," Sarah, Randalâs aunt, gently reminded me. "Thereâs plenty of meat for you."She gave me a warm smile, and sudd
LILIANAI glared at Ryder, who was casually sitting in the driverâs 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 werenât Darnellâs people. I know exactly who Darnellâs 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."Arenât you worried that Iâll figure out where weâre going?" I finally asked, hesitating.Ryder let out a low chuckle, filled with arrogance. "Why would I be? It would just be a hassle.
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
LILIANARyder smirked triumphantly. "Yep, those guys who showed up earlier definitely wanted you dead. But they werenât Ethanâs people!"My eyes widened in shock. Someone wanted me dead, but it wasnât Ethan?"Thinking of anyone who fits the bill?" Ryder whispered in my ear, his voice low and intimate.I⌠I couldnât 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 donât like it, and I never will! Youâre nothing but a disgusting, immoral kidnapper! A criminal, nothing more!"I tried to push agains
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 Ryderâs faceâway 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 bodyâmuch bigger and strongerâpinned me down, restricting every movement."One sound or the slightest move that attracts attention, and I wonât 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 didnât feel like it had much worth, I didnât wan
LILIANA"Arenât you curious how much you really mean to Ethan Darnell?" Ryder whispered in my ear, his deep voice dripping with deceit.I clenched my jaw tightly, fighting the urge to react to his provocation. But the thought haunted me. How much did I matter to Ethan? Would he come looking for me? Or did he not care at all if I disappeared?I pushed those thoughts away, let out a cynical scoff, and glared at Ryder. "I already know the answer. I donât mean anything to him. Thatâs why he dumped me three years ago. So, you picked the wrong hostage this time. You shouldâve kidnapped Sophia Lennox instead of me!"Ryder smirked, his gaze sweeping across my face like he was searching for a lie in my words. My breath came in quick, angry bursts, and the coat wrapped around me loosened slightly, revealing the curve of my chest rising with emotion. Realizing his fleeting glance, I quickly pulled the coat tightly around me again.I regretted my words instantly. Fear tightened in my chest, and I
LILIANAI blinked, trying to process what I had just heard. Ryder Black stood in front of me, arms crossed, his eyes filled with confidence. His words echoed in my mind."Forcing your husband to grant access to the Red Forest!"I was stunned. This was the last thing I expected. If they had kidnapped me for money or wealth, that wouldâve made sense. But this? They wanted access to a place I had never even heard of. And... Ethan Darnell? Wow, Ryder really thought I still had ties to Ethan and held some sort of value.I almost opened my mouth to tell them the truth so theyâd let me go. But then I shut it tightly and shook my head.If I wasnât valuable to them, wouldnât that put me in danger? I had no guarantee theyâd release me once they realized I was useless to their plan. Because now, I knew too much.If I was worthless, I was just dead weight. And dead weight usually gets... eliminated. These rogue wolves might kill me, and no one would ever know what happened. This place was isolate
LILIANAI looked around. These people had shifted from their wolf forms to human. One thing was clearâthey were all city folks. Not like I expected, thinking they were werewolves who lived in the wild, roaming with their packs. I thought they were just a bunch of rogue wolves with no leader.I had to admit, Ryderâs presence and voice were captivating. He stood out more than the others. His eyes were insanely blue and shining, but was he really that mesmerizing?Three years ago, I heard Ryder was an alpha. But it seemed like there was no hierarchy here. If that was true, were they just a bunch of exiled wolves banding together as outlaws?Whoa⌠that thought surprised even me. And that aggressive woman from earlierâwas she one of them too? What did Ryder give her to make her throw herself at him like that? Ugh, just thinking about it disgusted me.Then, there was the guy who kidnapped me in the alley. He was here too. I heard them call him Randal. I thought he was the only one who addre
SOPHIAI hate being ignored!Ethan isnât just brushing off my questionsâheâs straight-up ignoring my entire existence. We were supposed to attend a family dinner tonight and finalize our engagement date. But ever since I arrived at his place, heâs been restless, like his mind is somewhere else. Itâs pissing me off!âWhy are you here, Sophi?â he asks, sounding reluctant.That stings. I glare at him, demanding an explanation for his cold attitude.âIs this about Lili?â I canât stop myself from asking.Ethan averts his gaze, looking exhausted and... conflicted. Suspicious.âHavenât you already kicked her out, Ethan? Why is she back here?ââI donât know!â he snaps, his jaw clenching, fists tightening on the armrests of his wheelchair.âHow can you not know?â My voice rises, barely holding back my frustration. âI heard everyone in the pack freaking out because something happened to Lili. What does she have to do with you?âI feel anxious, uneasy. Am I not justified in being angry and deman