Chapter 4: Captured: A Nightmare Begins

IOANA'S POV

My breath became lighter, almost blending into nature.

I had never walked out this late before. Everything… looked the same… even scarier.

Moonlight seeped in from the cluster of leaves above, acting as my guide forward, painting the scene with a silvery glow in the dark.

My lips cracked with a smile. ''Everyone has abandoned me.'' I looked up at the moon.

''But you won’t do the same, will you?'' I shook my head, a self-deprecating laugh escaping. ''What am I even saying?''

All these things must be getting to me.

I moved around another gigantic tree, its canopy stretching goryh into the sky, its roots gnarled and twisted, as big as my torso.

But I wasn't in for the night scene. The wind blew, its icy breeze brushing past me.

I shivered, my fingers clenched the thin, worn blouse around me, dragging it closer to my skin, but it did little to help.

Teeth clattering, muscles aching, bruises throbbing with each step, sending pangs of pain radiating through my body, I winced, tightening my hold on my strap, trudging through, stumbling over tree roots.

Just then—

I froze.

A flicker of movement caught my side view. ''What was that?'' My head snapped to the side, straining my ears.

A twig snapped, and then shadows emerged from the forest. Their movements were lithe and swift, like cheetahs.

One, two, three… I tried to count their numbers, but I quickly lost count. By my side, leaves crunched under the weight of people.

I was surrounded by men in black. The atmosphere turned grim, my heart speeding up in my chest.

''Were they here for me?''

No, that’s not right. I'm not popular or games.

What could they want from me? My brain rotated, trying to come up with a reason, but it failed.

Letting out a shaky breath, I said,

''You might have gotten the wrong person. I'm just an…''

I hesitated for a second, debating whether to say that embarrassing tag given to me, but if I said nothing, wouldn’t that make it worse?

Weighing the situation, I gritted my teeth, saying it regardless, my shoulders slumping in shame.

''I'm just an Omega. Maybe if there’s any way I've crossed into your path or offended you, I'll just leave.''

But their steps didn’t relent. The circle tightened further.

''What's happening? Why aren't they listening to me? This wasn't how I imagined it to go.''

''Are they perhaps wolf traffickers?'' I shivered violently, my eyes widening in horror.

The numerous whispers of their reputations flashed through my mind.

''No, Ioana, you can't allow yourself to be captured.''

I couldn't!

I zipped to the side where the circle was looser, without any prior warning, aiming to use the element of surprise to slip out of their encirclement.

But— I groaned when I ran into a towering, muscular man who appeared from nowhere.

How? I swore no one was there a second ago, but I didn’t have the time to think further. Now wasn’t the time.

Shooting backward, my body tensed, muscles knotted as they reached an excruciating level.

But gritting my teeth, I threw a punch, attacking first.

It was like an egg striking against a rock—my punch drained by my weakened body.

But theirs was the opposite.

Taking advantage, they advanced, their movements deadly and precise.

Each strike snatched away my hard-kept energy, and very soon, my breath became labored and ragged, my chest heaving violently.

Darkness crept in from the corner of my eyes. I tried to encourage myself.

''Ioana, fight! Fight!''

But my limbs wouldn’t agree. They grew slower, lagging.

Until hands grasped onto me like iron clamps, keeping me in place. Desperation burst out.

''I can't be taken.''

The reality of what was about to happen suddenly dawned on me.

I flailed my limbs wildly. ''Let me go!''

I screamed, but a hand clamped over my lips, sealing them, leaving only whimpers leaking out.

Tears brimmed under my eyes.

The day just wasn’t working out.

Everything had gone wrong from the start. The repeated blows wore my mind thin, crumbling under the pressure.

I kicked, punched, grappling at anything my hands could clench, gritting my teeth.

I had to be strong, I knew that. But I was losing my cool, panic flooding my mind when I realized I could no longer hold on.

There were too many. They overpowered me. More hands grabbed onto me like chains, pinning me to the spot. I couldn't move.

I was immobilized. My arms trembled from the overuse.

Struggling was useless. They didn’t budge. Strangely, the scene descended into an eerie, ghostly quietness.

The owls ceased their hooting, the crickets shut down, as if sensing what was about to happen next.

My heart sank.

Whoever or whatever could make these guys quit must be the boss… or a significant person.

My head hung in exhaustion, sweat dripping down my temples, stinging my eyes from the saltiness.

Each beat of my heart was in my mouth.

The thudding of footsteps appeared, slow and purposeful, striding toward me, closing in. A hand gripped my jaw, harshly tilting it toward him.

What entered my sight was a man—tall, muscular, his face obscured by a mask as black as obsidian, a blood red scratch by the side.

I looked into his eyes, which peered down at me, runes which looked ancient shommered under the moonlight.

''Why?'' I asked.

But all I received was silence.

Instead, my answer was a syringe, glinting ominously under the moonlight.

He loomed over me.

Despair enveloped me.

I gave one last, dying struggle, my eyes focused on it as it closed in.

''No, please!'' I shook my head frantically. ''Please!''

My tears ran down my cheeks, wetting the sand, mixing with my sweat.

His hand tightened, restraining me.

''Was this how it ends? After everything? All my sufferings?''

I didn't want to believe it.

But the prick on my neck, the sharp sting followed by the sensation of a foreign liquid pushing into my veins—

Told me this nightmare scene was actually happening.

My eyes caught the moon, ever aloof and indifferent in the sky.

''So even you turned your back on me in the end, huh?'' I scoffed inwardly.

Giving one last defiant glare to my captor before darkness dragged me deep into its inky depths.

“She's the one don't leave a trace.” A dark baritone voice commanded, his voice firm.

I was unaware of the true nightmare I was about to descend into.