You're never leaving again

My entire body had gone numb the second the massive silver wolf looked my way. 

Its glowing amber eyes locked onto me like prey.

No.

Not prey.

Possession.

I scrambled backward on trembling hands, mud sticking to my palms as panic clawed up my throat. Tears blurred my vision while the wolf stalked toward me slowly—too slowly. Like it knew I couldn’t escape.

Like it enjoyed watching me panic.

“P-please…” I whispered weakly.

The wolf stopped and its ears twitched.Then bones cracked.

A choked scream tore out of my throat as the massive creature began shifting right in front of me. The sound of snapping bones and tearing flesh echoed through the forest. Silver fur disappeared beneath the skin. Huge paws turned into hands.

Hunter emerged from the monster.

Steam rose from his bare skin in the cold air. His chest rose and fell once before his sharp eyes settled on me again.

Deadly calm.

Evan came running from behind, slightly breathless as he held out a pile of clothes. “Alpha—”

Hunter snatched the clothes from him without taking his eyes off me.

My body shook harder. I had heard stories about Alphas like Hunter. He's cruel, violent and unstable. 

But stories didn’t prepare me for this.

Not for the suffocating pressure of his presence.

Not for the way his eyes looked at me like he was already imagining chains around my throat.

Hunter pulled on his pants carelessly before stepping toward me.

I immediately tried crawling back.

Which turned out to be a mistake because his expression darkened instantly.

Evan noticed it too. “Alpha…she’s frightened. Maybe give her—”

Hunter turned his head slightly. But the glare he gave Evan was enough to silence him immediately.

Even the forest seemed to freeze. Hunter crouched down in front of me like a predator lowering itself before attacking.

My breath caught when his rough fingers brushed against my cheek. The touch should have been gentle. Instead, it terrified me more.

“Why are you shaking?” he murmured.

His voice was deep and calm. That calmness scared me more than shouting would have.

I couldn’t breathe properly. My omega was whimpering weakly inside me. Too weak to fight. Too weak to protect me.

Hunter suddenly inhaled near my face. His eyes darkened.

“Fear,” he muttered with a scoff. “You smell terrified.”

I squeezed my eyes shut as tears slipped down my cheeks.

“Look at me.”

I couldn’t.

His hand instantly tightened around my jaw. A cry escaped my lips.

“I said,” Hunter growled softly, jerking my face upward, “look at me.”

My eyes fluttered open immediately and froze. His expression was horrifyingly blank. There was no sympathy.

Hunter stared at my trembling lips before speaking again. “You didn’t want to come to my pack?”

My heartbeat stuttered.

“You wanted to run away from me?”

It wasn’t a question. My lips parted, but no sound came out. Hunter watched me silently for a few seconds.

Then he smirked. It wasn’t warm.

It was cruel.

“A little Omega determined to stay away from me?” he murmured mockingly. “First time I’ve seen that.”

My chest tightened painfully. Hunter leaned closer.

“So tell me,” he said softly, dangerously, “what exactly were you planning to do after running?”

I swallowed hard. “I… I…”

“Lie carefully.”

The quiet threat made my whole body stiffen. “I-I was scared…”

Hunter laughed.

“Scared?” His thumb pressed harshly against my lower lip. “You should be.”

I flinched.

Hunter noticed. His eyes narrowed with something dark. “You keep flinching from me like I’m some monster.”

You are.

The thought flashed through my mind before I could stop it. Hunter’s smirk slowly disappeared.

For one horrible second, I thought he had somehow heard my thoughts. His grip tightened painfully.

Evan stepped forward carefully. “Alpha… she’s injured.”

Hunter ignored him completely. His gaze stayed fixed on me.

“You know what annoys me?” he asked quietly.

I shook uncontrollably.

“It’s when people forget their place.” His fingers dug deeper into my jaw. “You are my mate.”

My eyes widened instantly.

“No,” I whispered weakly. You tried to reject me. I wanted to tell him but couldn't find my voice. 

Hunter went still. The air around him changed. Even Evan looked nervous now.

Hunter tilted his head slightly. “What did you say?”

I regretted it immediately. But tears kept falling from my eyes anyway. “I-I don’t want—”

Hunter suddenly grabbed my throat. Not enough to choke.

Enough to warn.

I gasped.

Evan stiffened. “Alpha!”

Hunter’s eyes never left mine.

“You don’t get a choice,” he said quietly. The softness in his tone made it even more terrifying.

I clawed weakly at his wrist. Hunter watched me struggle with complete indifference before finally releasing my throat.

I coughed violently.

“Too weak,” he muttered with disgust.

Then suddenly—

He stood. And lifted me like I weighed nothing.

I screamed as I was thrown over his shoulder. “H-Hunter! Put me down! Please!”

He ignored my cries and started walking toward the road.

My fists hit his back weakly. “Stop! Stop!”

Hunter slapped the back of my thigh hard enough to make me yelp. “Quiet.”

I froze instantly. His voice had turned deadly.

Evan hurried ahead nervously. “I’ll open the car.”

Hunter walked through the forest without slowing once. Branches snapped beneath his boots. I could feel the terrifying strength in every movement he made.

Like nothing in this world could stop him.

I twisted desperately. “Please let me go! I won’t run anymore!”

Hunter laughed darkly. “That’s exactly why I know you’ll run again.”

The car came into view. Evan quickly opened the back door and Hunter didn’t gently place me inside.

Or more like he threw me. I cried out as I landed harshly against the seat. Before I could scramble away, Hunter climbed in after me.

The door slammed shut and I immediately tried to reach for the handle. But Hunter grabbed my wrist instantly and yanked me backward.

I crashed against his chest with a startled cry.

“Please!” I sobbed. “Please let me go!”

Hunter stared down at my face. 

Then his hand slowly slid up my arm until it gripped my chin again. “You cry too much.”

I tried pulling away. His grip tightened.

“I said I don’t want to go with you!”

Hunter’s eyes darkened dangerously.

“And I said,” he replied calmly, “you don’t get a choice.”

My breathing became frantic again. Hunter suddenly leaned close enough for his lips to brush against my ear.

“If you try escaping again,” he whispered, “I’ll chain you inside my room myself.”

I went completely still.

“I’ll break every door you hide behind.”

His fingers slid painfully into my hair.

“And if another male touches you while you’re running from me…”

He smiled.

That smile terrified me more than his anger.

“I’ll rip his throat out in front of you. And then I'll rip yours.” 

My entire body trembled violently. Hunter inhaled deeply near my neck again.

“You smell terrified every second,” he muttered. “It’s making my wolf restless.”

“T-then stay away from me…”

Hunter looked at me for a long moment. Then he suddenly grabbed my face tighter.

“You still don’t understand your situation.”

Tears streamed endlessly down my cheeks. Hunter’s expression hardened further.

“You belong to me now.”

The words slammed into me like chains locking shut. Hunter leaned back against the seat casually while still gripping my wrist. Like I might disappear if he loosened his hold for even a second.

“Drive,” he ordered coldly.

Evan hesitated before starting the car. The vehicle began moving. I looked helplessly toward the window as the forest disappeared behind us.

Freedom disappearing with it.

Hunter watched me silently for a few moments before speaking again.

“You can cry all you want, Omega.” His thumb stroked the inside of my wrist slowly. “But you’re going to my pack.”

His eyes gleamed dangerously in the darkness.

“And you’re never leaving again.”