A Cruel Demand (Damon's POV)

I watched her there, trembling like a pathetic wounded animal. Elara Rivers. The woman who had once been my promised mate. The woman who had humiliated me five years ago.

My wolf surged within me, its hatred burning like acid through my veins. The memory of that night flashed before my eyes—finding her in bed with another wolf, her scent mingled with his in the most primal betrayal possible.

"You can't even look me in the eyes, can you?" I growled, grabbing her chin and forcing her face up.

Those emerald eyes—once proud and defiant—now held only fear. Good. She should be afraid.

"Please, Damon," she whispered. "I've told you a thousand times—I was drugged. I would never have betrayed our mate bond."

I laughed, the sound harsh even to my own ears. "Save your lies, Elara. The evidence was clear."

My wolf snarled, demanding I remind her of the shame she'd brought upon me. Upon the Thorne name.

"Do you know what they called me after your little stunt?" I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. "The wolf who couldn't even keep his own mate faithful. The future Alpha who was made a fool by a Rivers bitch."

She flinched at my words. I relished her pain.

"And then," I continued, circling her like prey, "your bastard was born while you rotted in prison. The living proof of your betrayal."

Tears welled in her eyes. "Ethan is innocent in all this."

Richard and Vivian Stone watched our exchange silently. Their hatred for Elara almost matched my own.

"You stole twenty-one years from our daughter," Richard said, his voice cold. "Twenty-one years she can never get back."

My wolf preened at their support. Yes, Elara deserved every ounce of suffering we could inflict upon her.

"And now," I said, my voice silky with threat, "you'll pay for what you've done. One kidney at a time."

(Elara's POV)

Vivian Stone moved toward me with predatory grace, her wolf's dominance crushing down on mine. Before I could react, her hand lashed out, striking me across the face again.

Pain exploded across my cheek as her claws left fresh marks. The wounds healed slower than they should have—another reminder of how weakened I was after years of wolfsbane exposure.

"You disgusting little thief," Vivian snarled, her voice dripping with venom. "My daughter—my real daughter—was forced to live as an omega while you stole her life!"

Another blow landed, this time catching my temple. I staggered backward, tasting blood.

"I didn't know," I repeated, the words hollow after five years. "I thought I was your daughter."

Vivian laughed, the sound brittle and cruel. "A Rivers could never be a Stone."

Emily, my wolf, whimpered inside me. Once, she would have risen to the challenge, meeting Vivian's dominance with her own strength. Now, she could barely muster a growl.

"Isabella nearly died because of you," Vivian continued, circling me like a predator. "That car accident damaged both her kidneys while you sat safe in your cell."

I frowned at the contradiction. "If I was safe in my cell, how could I have caused her accident?"

The question earned me another slap, harder this time. I tasted blood.

"Don't you dare question me," Vivian hissed. "You'll give my daughter what she needs, or I'll make sure your bastard son pays the price."

Emily stirred at the threat to our pup, a faint growl rumbling through my chest. It was the strongest reaction she'd managed in years.

Damon noticed, his eyes narrowing. "Still have some fight in you? We'll see how long that lasts."

I could feel my strength draining away. The wounds on my face throbbed, my heart condition making each beat painful against my ribs.

"Fine," I whispered, sounding defeated. "I'll donate my kidney."

Richard stepped forward, his expression cold but calculating. "Then it's settled. After the operation and your five years in containment, your debt will be considered paid."

A flicker of hope sparked within me. Maybe I could survive this. Maybe I could return to Ethan and somehow build a life for us away from their cruelty.

But Damon's wolf wouldn't be satisfied so easily. With a snarl, he lunged forward, his hand closing around my throat. His claws dug into my skin, drawing blood that trickled down my neck.

"One kidney for twenty-one years of stolen privilege?" he growled, his face inches from mine. "That's not nearly enough, Richard."

I couldn't breathe. Black spots danced across my vision as his grip tightened.

"Damon," Mike warned, stepping forward. "We need her alive for the transplant."

Reluctantly, Damon loosened his grip, but kept his hand at my throat.

"When this is over," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear, "I'm going to make sure you never see your bastard again."

Emily whined, desperate and terrified. I gathered what strength I had left for one final defiance.

"If you hate me so much," I whispered, my voice raspy from his assault, "you can scatter my ashes after my death."

His eyes widened slightly at my acceptance of death.

"But please," I continued, a tear sliding down my cheek, "spare Ethan from your vengeance. He's innocent. He's just a child."

Something flickered in Damon's eyes—not compassion, but confusion. As if he couldn't understand why I would plead for my son's life rather than my own.

"Your son is an abomination," he spat. "The result of your betrayal."

"He's not," I insisted, summoning what little strength I had left. "Ethan is good and pure. He doesn't deserve to suffer for what you think I did."

The room began to spin around me. Emily's presence faded to almost nothing, her energy completely depleted from the stress and the lingering effects of the silver restraints.

My legs buckled beneath me. As I collapsed to the floor, I heard voices shouting, but they seemed distant, as if coming from underwater.

"Elara!"

Someone called my name.

Through the haze of unconsciousness, I felt hands on my shoulders, shaking me.

"Get her up," Mike's voice, tense with concern. "Her wolf is fading. She can't donate like this."

"Let her suffer," Damon snarled.

"You idiot," Mike shot back. "Did you forget why we brought her here? Isabella needs that kidney. If Elara dies before the surgery, it's all for nothing."

Cold water suddenly hit my face, shocking me back to partial consciousness. I gasped, my eyes flying open to see Mike standing over me, an empty water glass in his hand.

Damon moved toward me, his face thunderous with rage, but Mike stepped between us.

"Back off, Thorne," he warned. "Remember your place here. You're only involved because you're Isabella's intended mate."

Damon's wolf bristled at the challenge, but Mike wasn't done.

"And let's not forget," Mike continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "Isabella wouldn't be in this condition if you hadn't been driving like a maniac that night."

I watched, half-conscious, as Damon's face paled. The reminder of his responsibility for Isabella's accident forced his wolf to back down.

"Fine," Damon muttered, stepping away. "Get her conscious for the tests."

Mike turned back to me, his expression unreadable as he doused me with another splash of cold water.

The cold water dripped down my face, mingling with my tears and the blood from Vivian's claw marks. I completely lost consciousness.