Chapter 2

EVIE

THE WOLVES were right behind me. Their snarls echoing in the dark, and I could hear their claws scraping against the ground, chasing me down. Their eyes were all I could see, glowing like flames in the night. My lungs burned with each breath, but it wasn’t enough to outrun them. No matter how fast I ran, they were closing in.

I could feel them getting closer, could feel their hunger in the air. The ground beneath me seemed to shift, like it was swallowing me whole. I couldn’t see the end of the forest. My legs were giving out, but I didn’t stop.

Then, I felt it.

Hands so cold and rough closed around my neck, tightening. I tried to scream, but it wasn’t a scream. It was a breath, ragged and useless. The bite came next. Deep and burning like teeth sinking into my flesh, tearing me apart.

Pain. Burning pain.

I fought, but it was useless. Everything went black.

I WOKE up with a gasp, my body jerking upright, eyes wide and frantic as I looked around. My heart slammed against my ribs, my skin covered in a cold sweat. I blinked, disoriented, trying to catch my breath. For a second, it felt like the wolves were still there, like they were still chasing me.

But then reality hit.

This wasn’t my room. I wasn’t in that cramped, shitty apartment with the cracked walls and faded posters. The walls here were polished, smooth. The sheets were softer than anything I’d ever felt and pressed against my skin. The air was too clean. Too perfect. Too different.

Too wrong.

My heart skipped, fear slamming through me. I wasn’t where I was supposed to be. I couldn’t be.

I shot out of the bed, my pulse racing as I scrambled to figure out where the hell I was. I tried to move fast, but everything was spinning. The room was huge, beautiful but still… not mine. My heart slammed in my chest as I rushed for the door and with one push, it slammed open and I was met with a silent hallway. The hallway stretched out ahead of me, but no matter which way I turned, every corner I took, it felt like I was walking in circles.

It left like I couldn’t escape.

I moved faster, heart pounding hard in my chest until it hurt, legs trembling. This place—this house, whatever the hell it was—felt like it was closing in on me. The walls were too high, the doors too far away.

And then I saw him.

A man. Tall, dark, eyes cold as ice. He didn’t move when I froze. Didn’t blink. Just stood there, staring at me like I was the most interesting thing he’d seen all day.

“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was low, like he wasn’t worried, like I didn’t matter.

I couldn’t breathe. My hands shook, and I barely managed to speak.

“I... I need to get out of here. Please. I don’t belong here. You have to help me, please.”

My voice cracked, desperate for something—anything. I grabbed his shirt, hoping, praying, for something to happen, but nothing did. His eyes just stared down at me, coldly.

He didn’t move at first, but then his hand landed on my shoulder. Not comforting. Not reassuring. Just heavy, like he was trying to weighing me down.

“What’s your name?” His voice was a little softer now, but not enough to make me feel safe.

I opened my mouth to answer, but the words got stuck. Should I tell him? Should I even speak to him?

“Evie,” I managed to whisper, my throat tight.

Before he could say anything, his eyes snapped over my head but I felt it. That feeling. That other presence.

I didn’t have to turn to know who it was. I could feel it. His eyes on me, that pull in the air. A growl slipped from behind me, a low, guttural sound that made my skin prickle with fear.

The man’s grip on my shoulder tightened, and I tensed, ready to bolt.

But I couldn’t move.

The guy—that man—was here. I didn’t need to see him to know who it was. I could feel him.

“Ronan, I see you found her,” his voice was smooth, different than the rough I expected and he spoke like he was talking about something as casual as the weather, but the chill in his tone made my blood run cold.

I tried to pull away from this man… this Ronan, but his grip was like iron on me. My fingers clawed at his arm, uselessly. The fear was rising again, clawing at my chest.

“You’re like him,” I breathed, barely able to get the words out. The idea—it hit me then. Hard.

They didn’t flinch. Didn’t even move. His gaze locked onto me, like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

Ronan’s grip tightened even more, his fingers digging into my skin.

“Let go of her,” he said, his voice dropping to a growl.

And then, without warning, the golden eye man moved. Fast. Before I could even blink, he yanked my arm, pulling me toward him like I was nothing but a ragdoll.

I gasped, my feet stumbling, but his grip was tight. That heat from before was like a fire licking my skin and it came back full force, and it made my stomach churn.

I wanted to fight, to scream, but my voice was trapped in my chest.

He dragged me down the hall, pulling me into a room. It felt like I was moving through a fog, each step heavier than the last and no matter how much I fought, he didn’t stop

The room was massive. More like a throne room than a bedroom. The golden eye man stood in the doorway, speaking to Ronan, but I couldn’t hear everything. Not clearly. The words were there, but they didn’t make sense.

“That’s her?” Ronan’s voice was a whisper, his eyes glancing over to me.

“You brought her here?” He asked again, his voice were full of something. Anger? Worry but a growl from the golden eye man had him pressing his lips tightly and his head down.

“If your father finds out...”

“He won’t.” The man’s tone was came out as a growl and I flinched.

“She’s... mate,” He said the word then glanced at me and my stomach twisted.

Mate? What the hell did that mean?

That was the same word I heard before I blacked out, before he took me and brought me here.

I felt their eyes on me again. It was suffocating.

“She doesn’t know... she is.” His voice dropped lower, like it was something he wasn’t supposed to say.

I couldn’t understand. None of this made sense.

I glanced toward the window, but it was too high up. I couldn’t even reach it. But my mind was already calculating—looking for a way out.

I glanced back at the men and saw Ronan bowing and I knew this was it. This was my chance to escape

Then I heard his voice behind me as I grabbed onto the window handles.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. We’re pretty high up.”

I froze, my hand tightening on the window handle. My mind was spinning, but my body wasn’t listening. I couldn’t escape.

Slowly, I turned to face him. The fear in my chest felt like a vise.

“Who—what are you?” I asked, my voice breaking. I didn’t care if it sounded like a stupid question. I needed to know—needed to make sure none of that was real.

He stepped forward, and I took a step back without thinking. The movement was automatic, instinct taking over. He stopped just a few feet away, watching me. His eyes burned into mine, unblinking.

“You know what I am.”

I shook my head. No. That wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. But as I stared into his golden eyes, my chest tightened. Those eyes weren’t normal. They weren’t human.

“Who are you?” I asked again, my voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze stayed locked on mine. He didn’t flinch, didn’t hesitate as his lips parted. “Lucian Calder,” he said, slowly like he wasn’t sure to tell me.

I gripped my hands into fists, forcing myself to breathe, but my chest felt too tight.

“Why am I here?” My voice cracked. “Why have you kidnap me? I—I have nothing to give—”

In a flash, he was in front of me. I barely had time to react before his palm was over my lips, silencing me completely. His skin was warm, his grip tight, pressing down on me. My pulse jumped, my body tensing.

His eyes didn’t leave mine but they left like they burned my soul as they flicked back and forth.

“Because… you are mine.”