Chapter 3 Finally Free

(Penelope)

Dominic stepped closer, his presence suffocating, “Take. It. Back.”

Blood roared in my ears, making them ring. I saw black specks at the edges of my vision. Still, I forced the word out: “No.”

The wolf blazed in his eyes, turning them molten gold. “You dare defy me? After everything I’ve given you?”

Dominic’s chest heaved against mine, rage pouring off him in waves.

“Let me go.” I met his furious gaze. “You’ll never see past my father’s sins.”

“Your father murdered—”

“It was an accident!” I yelled back despite his anger. Despite myself. “He proved it before they drove him to suicide!”

His fingers dug deeper. “More lies.”

“Like the lies you tell yourself?” I clawed at his grip. “That you’re keeping me out of duty? That this isn’t about punishing me for her death?”

“You know nothing about Isabella—”

“I know everything!” I could feel my eyes welling with tears now. “I know you loved her. I know losing her destroyed you. And I know you’ll never forgive me for a crime I didn’t commit.”

“Shut up.” He slammed me against the wall. “You don’t speak her name.”

“Why? Because it hurts?” I laughed bitterly. “Good. Let it hurt. Let it burn like you’ve burned me these past five years.”

He panted harsh and fast. “You’re mine. The bond—”

“Can be broken. I reject you, Dominic. I reject this bond.”

Dominic’s eyes darkened, his chest heaving as he stepped closer, his voice a low growl. “You reject me? You think you have the right? You’re nothing without me. Weak. Pathetic. If anyone’s doing the rejecting here, it’s me rejecting you.”

“If you’re so eager to reject me, then do it. I’ve been waiting for this day for years. Waiting for you to finally let me go.”

“You think you’re so clever, don’t you? Rejecting me, walking away like you’ve won some kind of victory. But you’re forgetting one thing—Isabella’s death. You think rejecting me wipes that debt clean.”

"Isabella’s death wasn’t my fault, and you know it. You’ve been using her memory as a weapon against me for years. But I’m done carrying that weight for you. I reject your claim,” I spat out the words. “I reject your mark. I reject everything you are to me.”

Magic exploded between us. The mate bond screamed in protest as it tore through its foundations. My every nerve ending felt like it was on fire, but I didn’t care. I had to endure it for freedom’s sake.

Dominic, on the other hand, staggered back, clutching his chest. “What have you done?”

My entire body felt as if it had been set on fire. Each heartbeat brought more pangs of pain as the bond shredded apart. My legs finally buckled, sending me crashing to my knees.

“Stop this.” He grabbed my shoulders, shaking me violently. “Take it back!”

“Too late.” I could feel my vision blacking out. “It’s done.”

The bond snapped like a steel cable under too much pressure. Empty coldness flooded the space where warmth once lived. My wolf howled in anguish, mourning what we’d lost.

Dominic staggered back, clutching his chest. “What have you done?”

“I rejected you,” I whispered, swaying on my feet. “Forever.”

He roared, a sound of pure animal pain. The windows rattled. Picture frames crashed to the floor.

The door burst open. Kelsey stood there, eyes wide.

“What’s happening?” She rushed to Dominic’s side. “I heard—”

“She broke it,” he gasped, blood trickling from his nose. “The bond. She broke it.”

“That’s impossible.” Kelsey rushed to his side. “No one can break a mate bond. It’s—”

“Well she did!” He shoved her away, stumbling to his feet. “I felt it snap.”

Kelsey grabbed his arm. “How? She’s nobody—just an orphan!”

“I don’t know.” His eyes tracked me. “But I’ll find out.”

He lurched forward. Kelsey jumped in front of him, hands on his chest.

“Let her go,” she said. “This is what we wanted, isn’t it? Her out of your life?”

“Move.”

“Dominic, look at me.” She clutched his shirt. “She just stabbed you in the back. Rejected you in front of everyone. Your reputation—”

“I don’t care about my reputation!” He grabbed her wrists, yanking them away. “Something’s wrong. No ordinary wolf could break that bond.”

“So what?” Kelsey’s eyes narrowed. “Let her run. You’re free now. We can finally—”

“How did she do it? HOW DID SHE DO IT?”

“BECAUSE SHE WAS RIGHT!” Kelsey bellowed. “She was right all along.”

“Right about what?” Dominic snarled.

“That you never loved her.” Kelsey crossed her arms. “That your hatred was stronger than the mate bond. Looks like she found a way out.”

Dominic lunged for me. “What did you do? HOW?”

He looked hysterical. Mad. I turned to leave, but before I could escape this place forever, I was surrounded.

“Guards!” Dominic’s voice cracked. Sweat beaded on his forehead. “Take her to her room. No one enters or leaves without my permission.”

Rough hands hauled me upright. I didn’t resist as they marched me through torch-lit halls. Fighting now would only waste energy I desperately needed.

The bedroom door locked behind me and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I pressed my ear against the wood, counting footsteps. Two guards posted outside. I could see their shadows stretching beneath the door.

I stumbled to the bed, making sure they heard the mattress springs creak. Then I waited, every muscle coiled tight. I could not relax.

One minute passed. Two. Three.

A pained groan tore from my throat. I thrashed against the sheets, letting sweat bead on my forehead.

“What’s all this noise?” The guard’s voice was harsh through the door. “Shut up there!”

I moaned louder, clutching my stomach. “Please…I need help…”

“Probably faking,” one guard muttered to the other. “Alpha said she’d try anything.”

“If she dies on our watch, it’s our heads,” the second guard argued. Keys rattled in the lock. The door groaned open.

The larger guard smirked, stepping closer, his hand resting lazily on the hilt of his weapon. "What’s your game, huh? Alpha said you’d try something like this. Always the schemer, aren’t you? Too bad you’re not the Luna anymore. Just another pretty face now."

The second guard chuckled, leaning against the wall, his eyes raking over me. "Yeah, not so high and mighty now, are you? What’s the matter? The attention? Bet you’re real lonely these days."

I clenched my fists, my voice low. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."

The larger guard stepped even closer, his breath hot on my face. "Oh, we know plenty. Alpha’s got no use for you now. But don’t worry, sweetheart. We could always keep you company. Make you feel... appreciated."

The second guard pushed off the wall, circling me like a predator. "Yeah, we’d treat you real nice. Maybe even better than Alpha ever did. What do you say, beautiful? You look like you could use some... comfort."

My fingers closed around the silver dagger hidden beneath my pillow. Dominic’s mother had given it to me months ago—just in case, she’d said.

"You’re right. I am alone. But that doesn’t mean I’m helpless."

The larger guard laughed, his breath reeking of arrogance. "Oh, really? What are you gonna do, my baby? Cry? Beg? Go ahead, we like it when you—"

The dagger plunged into his side, cutting off his words. His eyes widened, his mouth opening in a silent gasp as he staggered back. "You—"

I yanked the blade free as he collapsed to his knees. “I’m not your baby.”

The second guard froze, his smirk vanishing. "You little—!"

He lunged at me, but I ducked, slashing the dagger across his thigh. He cried out, stumbling, and I spun around, driving the blade into his chest. He choked, his hands clawing at the wound as he sank to the floor.

I stood over them, my chest heaving, the dagger dripping crimson. "You should’ve remembered one thing," I hissed, my voice cold. "I was never just a pretty face."

There was pin-drop silence in the hallway. I held my breath, counting heartbeats. No alarms raised. No running footsteps.

The pack house slept around me as I crept through the corridors. Five years of marriage taught me every squeaky floorboard, every creaky door.

The cool wind hit my face as I slipped outside, making my red hair blow. The forest was barely fifty yards away, and in its depths I would find freedom.

My feet flew across damp grass. Almost there. Almost—

A dark shape hurtled from the trees. Massive paws slammed into my chest, driving me down. Yellowed fangs snapped inches from my throat.

A Rogue wolf.