Chapter Seven

I run through the woods back to my own pack, finally free.

Free.

I didn't realize how beautiful freedom was until I lost it.

Joy returns as my old den comes into sight and...

Then, I see them. All the dead bodies.

My pack has been slaughtered.

Brandon killed them all.

I feel my heart freeze up. My soul freezes up. It's my fault.

I run to my parents' den. They can't be dead, I don't want to find them…

No.

My mother's hands are tied with silver rope. My father's body is wrapped in silver chains.

All my brothers and sisters are dead.

Brandon has taken everyone from me. I'll never be happy again.

I won’t rest until I've taken his life.

I run outside and that’s when I see Lily on the ground. Foam is coming from her mouth. She gasps and shudders. I run to save her.

By the time I get there, her eyes are glazed, wide open. She’s not breathing and I know this is all my fault.

I sob and scream and...

Wake up in a jail cell.

I'm back in the cave. I never left it. It was all a nightmare but my reality is just as terrible, worse even. Because here I don’t even have my freedom.

I'm alone, cold, scared, and I have no idea if anyone is going to come back for me. I'm sure Brandon will come back to me eventually, but I have no idea what he'll do when he does. I'm not sure if I’m hoping he’ll come or not.

There has to be a way out of here. I'll find a way out if it kills me. I'll leave this den and I'll find a way to kill him.

I feel a sharp pain in my hand. I look down and see that the silver chains have cut into my skin. My blood is dripping onto the ground.

My body is stiff. I want to move but I can’t. I don't have to wait for much longer though. I'm torn from my thoughts as Brandon enters the cave.

"I'm back," he says.

My vision is too blurry for me to take in the world clearly, but my hate is sharp and clear.

“That was quite a death you arranged for Lily,” he taunts as he shakes his head. “Brutal. You’d think you’d want to treat your friends nicer. But I guess that’s just not the kind of person you are.”

I close my eyes. I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to hear him. But behind my eyes I find Lily in that horrible, destroyed state. So, I open them again.

I stand.

I'm not going to let him see me broken.

I'm not going to let him think he got to me.

I’ll be strong for all those I lost.

Brandon walks over to me, then grabs my hand. He pulls me out of my cell.

"Follow me," he says.

"No," I say. I don’t want to stay here, but I don’t want to face whatever he has waiting for me either. I have no reason to live anymore. I want answers before I move forward.

He stops and turns to face me.

His eyes are cold. His expression is unforgiving.

I don't care.

"I've had enough of you," he says. "You're going to follow me, or you're going to be killed right here and now."

"You're going to kill me regardless," I say.

"Nah," he shakes his head. "I will make your life so miserable that you will die a slow, painful death before I have you killed."

He pulls me closer to him.

"I don't even know why I haven't killed you after that stunt though," he says. "I wanted to kill you so badly, but you're my mate. So, I’m giving you a second chance.

“Don't think I won't kill you though. I'll do it if I have to. I'll kill you just like I killed your pack, just like I killed your family. Just like you killed Lily.."

I stare into Brandon's eyes, unblinking.

"What do you want?" I ask.

"You," he smirks. "Still, I want you. We will be married, Katia. We'll be married and we will mate.

And I will break you. You will learn your place in this pack, in this life."

I will never break.

I will never give in.

I will die before I bend to his will.

"I will take my own life before I let you destroy me," I tell him. I’m reckless now that Lily is gone. He has nothing more to hold over me.. “I will escape. You have no way of keeping me here forever.”

Brandon snarls and rakes his claws against my cheek.

I fall to the ground hard against the stone, and warm, wet blood trickles down my face.

I sob.

I don't want to break in front of him, but I can't seem to stop it any longer. I sob for my pack, my family, and the horrible future that awaits me.

"You will learn," he says. "You will learn and you will obey. You won't get away from me. If you even try, you will regret it even more than your stupid attempt at poisoning me.”

Brandon laughs and he looks like a madman. The look on his face sends shivers down my spine.

"I'm going to enjoy watching you suffer," he says. "I'm going to enjoy making you miserable. I'm going to enjoy having you and finally, I'm going to enjoy watching you die. I'm going to make your life a living hell and you'll love it."

He grabs me and pulls me to my feet.

"Come," he says. "It’s time to show you the mating chamber where you’ll finally be mine forever. Maybe you can figure out a way to make up for this.”

I can feel my strength returning.

I can feel the hatred bubbling inside me.

I don't care how much power Brandon has. He won't get away with this. I will make him pay for killing my pack. And I’m willing to risk it all thanks to my guilt over killing Lily.

Brandon and I walk in silence. I don't say a word but my eyes are wide open. Plotting. I will find a way to escape. Even if that means death.

I refuse to go down like this.