Chapter 6

Maya's POV:

“This can't be real.” I said, pinching the skin on my forearm, hard enough to leave a red mark, desperate for the sharp sting to pull me out of this dream.

Pain bloomed instantly, which told me that this wasn’t a nightmare. Declan had truly gone this far, crossing every line, and stooping to kidnapping just to bend me to his will.

Realizing this, my knees buckled and I grabbed the doorframe to keep from collapsing, fingers digging into the wood until my knuckles turned white. “Declan, please ” I begged, voice cracking as tears burned behind my eyes. “If anything happens to Ethan, it will destroy my mother. Her heart is already so weak. You know that. You’ve seen how fragile she is since the cancer came back.”

“Her weak heart is exactly why you should say yes, Maya. She’s probably already breaking down from the news that Ethan went missing. If something happens to him, she’ll die. And if your parents’ bond is as strong as you always claimed, then your father might follow right after her or lose his mind completely.”

Silence swallowed me and tears slipped down my cheeks, as I stood there with nothing to say. My mind spun in useless circles, searching for words that wouldn’t come. Finally, Declan spoke again. “Think of a solution before the end of the day and get back to me.” Then the line went dead while I stayed rooted in place for several minutes, phone limp in my hand, confusion and fear twisting together until I could barely breathe.

After everything my parents had learned about the last five years, they made me promise never to shoulder burdens alone again, and never to keep them in the dark but telling them about this was impossible.

They would rush to report Declan to the Elders, convinced justice would prevail but I knew those Elders too well from my time as Luna. They were selfish, so they would focus only on avoiding war and protecting their own power. They would insist I comply, pushing me straight into the very thing Declan demanded.

If the Elders failed them, my parents would turn to the people, gathering support from those who once cheered for me as their Luna. The pack might rally behind them at first, but when the Alpha and council had already decided, no one would dare challenge Declan openly. In the end, I would still be forced into the same corner. And Declan was clever enough, manipulative enough, to spin the story later, to win the people back with smooth words so matter which path I took, the result looked the same.

Without hesitation, I called him back with shaking fingers. He answered on the second ring, surprise coloring his voice. “I wasn’t expecting you to call back so soon.” I ignored the jab, swallowing the anger that rose like bile. “Send Ethan home, andI’ll do what you want.” I said, voice trembling but determined. “

Declan chuckled. “I’m not a fool, Maya. If I send him back now, you’ll find some way to slip yourself and your family out of my reach.”

“I’m smart enough to know that I can’t leave this pack without you getting alerted.” I replied, forcing steadiness into my words. “I’m willing to marry him. But you have to send Ethan back to school or home first, so my plan looks believable.”

“I'm listening.” He said, and I explained.

“If Ethan is returned safely, in two or three days I’ll tell my parents that I’m leaving the pack for a while to start fresh somewhere new. Instead, I’ll go to the Night Reaper’s territory. Hopefully I can stay safe enough to keep in touch with them until I’m ready to tell them the truth.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Fine. I’m in on the plan. But I’m sending Ethan back to boarding school. It’s easier for me to reach him again if you try anything.”

“Agreed.” I nodded. “I also want to talk to Ethan.” I added. “He needs to know not to tell our parents he was kidnapped because our mother just got out of the hospital and her heart can’t take the stress.”

“Done.” Declan ended the call, then sent a number which I dialed immediately and Ethan’s voice came through, small and scared. “Maya?”

“It’s May.” I began, holding back my tears. “I’ve handled the ransom so you will be sent back to school. But please, don’t tell Mom and Dad you were kidnapped. Mom’s heart is still weak after everything. Just say you went somewhere but everything’s fine now.”

He hesitated, then whispered in a shaky voice. “Do you trust that they will let me go? If they do then I won't say anything.”

“Nothing will happen to you.” I promised, throat tight. “I swear it.” I ended the call before my voice could break completely.

I returned to the living room, forcing a calm expression. “I think I’ll wait a little before heading to the school.” I told my parents, keeping my tone light. “Let’s see if the situation resolves itself first.”

Barely two hours later, the phone rang again and the principal’s relieved voice filled the line. “Ethan’s back. He admitted he sneaked out to meet some friends. The school has already scolded him, and he’ll face punishment, but he’s safe.”

My parents scolded him over the speaker, relief mixing with stern lectures about responsibility. To me, the punishment sounded like mercy compared to what Declan could have done. With that crisis behind us, I spent the next two days dropping subtle hints about wanting to move on, talking about new prospects, starting fresh, leaving behind everything that reminded me of my old life. My parents were incredibly supportive, nodding along and offering quiet encouragement.

On the third day, I sat them down and told them plainly. “I’ve decided to leave Bloodhound for a while. I need space to start over somewhere new then I’ll hire a caretaker to help with Mom while I’m gone. Just a few weeks away from all the memories of Declan.”

They were surprised by how sudden it seemed, but they didn’t fight me and although part of me ached to take them all with me, I had no idea what the Night Reaper was truly like. So as long as I married him, Declan wouldn’t touch my family.

On the third day, I packed my bags carefully, and drove to the Packhouse. Declan met me in the foyer, and the first words out of his mouth were cold and clear. “As long as you keep your end of the bargain, your family will be taken care of. But if you try to escape the Night Reaper and he declares war because of it, I will make sure your entire family dies alongside mine.”