He Knows My Name

KAMARI

I hate the sound of my own thoughts.

Every time I close my eyes, I see Viktor and Reyah standing at the altar hand in hand, so I keep my eyes peeled, memorizing every inch of block on the walls.

Still, his voice pierces through;

“…from this night forward, my pack is your shield, and my chest is your home…”

No. Stop.

My stomach growls, but I ignore it.

My mouth feels cotton dry, and I lie face up on the cold floor, ignoring the ants biting my arm. Even my wolf is silent now, retreating deep inside me to save her energy.

How long have I been here for? Two days? Three?

I don’t know, so it’s no surprise that my eyes feel dry when the cell door finally rattles.

I scramble to my feet, desperate to not let them see my weakness.

The full moon must have passed. They must be here to take me.

I don’t expect to see Reyah walking through that door, wearing Viktor’s button down shirt held at the waist by his leather belt.

His scent reaches me before she even does, and it makes my stomach heave.

It’s all over her, clouding her every step as she struts towards me. The collar of the shirt stays unbuttoned to reveal Viktor’s mark.

My wolf stirs. I back away deeper into the cell, claws bared.

“You don’t look too bad, Kamari. Have you had any water?” The corner of her lips lift in a smile.

I want to tear at her long blonde hair and bash her bloody scalp against a rock, but the silver bars between us begs to differ.

“Reyah,” I return a smile of my own, “how does my crown feel on your head? A bit oversized, isn’t it?”

Light flashes in her eyes.

“Oh, trust me, I can take it all. Just ask Viktor, MY alpha.”

“You disgust me.” I spit, digging my claws into my own palm.

A figure fills the doorway, smelling all too familiar with this snake in front of me.

“Viktor,” my gaze cuts to him, “if I didn’t know any better, I’ll say you brought your Luna to gloat.”

“Quite the contrary, Kamari,” Reyah cuts in, holding up the keys, “it’s time to go back to where you belong.”

My heart sinks, but I bite my tongue and keep my face blank.

“I guess it is time. Let me out.”

“I will, but first…” Reyah snaps her fingers and Viktor steps in like a puppet on command, followed closely by five pack warriors bearing silver chains.

I want to curse Viktor and his wretched Luna, but my jaw stays shut as my cell is unlocked and three warriors cram the small space.

“Stay still.” One growls, like I even have a choice.

The silver chains sizzle against my skin, but I bite my lower lip and hold my breath as they secure the locks.

Then one drops to his knees, chains in hand.

I frown, looking down at my feet.

“You’re binding my feet too?”

“Orders.” He barks, glaring up at me.

“And…how exactly am I supposed to walk?”

He hesitates, glancing back at Viktor.

“Does any of you plan to carry me? Because—“

“Just the hand is fine.” Viktor’s voice carries through the cell, “just…get her out of here.”

“And out of our hair,” Reyah murmurs, folding her hands and glaring at me.

For how long has she harbored this hatred for me?

“Move,” a guard nudges me forward, and I stumble out of the cell, casting a glance at Viktor as I’m led towards the entrance.

The tunnel before us seems to stretch on forever, and soon my feet feel raw from walking over rocks.

Somehow, Viktor appears beside me, stealing all the oxygen.

“What do YOU want?” I sigh, leaning away from him.

“It’s not too late, you know.”

I glance sideways at him.

“Too late for what?”

“To stay.” His voice drops.

“As your mistress?” A bitter laugh escapes me.

“You know what I’m offering you.” His voice hardens, and I feel his fingers wrap around my left arm.

Heat crawls up my spine. I guess he didn’t learn much from when I spit in his face.

This time, I turn sharply to face Reyah, almost colliding with her.

“What the—“

“Do you know what your alpha was just asking me, Reyah?”

“Kamari—“ Viktor touches my arm, but I pull away from him, staring her dead in her icy blue eyes.

“Your alpha wants to bring another woman into your house. A mistress. How does that make you feel?”

Her jaw ticks, but then her eyes go blank and she just says,

“I’m royal blood. I’ll always be first.”

Disgusting, my wolf spits as I’m forcefully turned around and half dragged down to the tunnel’s entrance.

The first rays of sunlight hit me square in the eyes, but not for long.

“On your knees.” A voice orders, but I don’t move.

I don’t have to kneel. I’m already a prisoner.

That’s when I feel a pair of hands grab me by the shoulder and shove me down hard. My knees crash to the ground, and I let out a sharp grunt.

“My apologies,” I hear Viktor say, “this one is quite stubborn.”

I keep my head down, pulse racing.

“This is the rogue who crashed the mating ceremony?”

“And almost killed our Alpha.” Reyah says, but my mind is stuck on that voice.

It rings in my head like a bell, and when he speaks again, I feel my heart lurch.

Is that—

No. It can’t be.

My wolf warns me not to look up, but I already do, catching a glimpse of a serrated scar trailing down the side of his neck and into his gear.

Oh no…

I duck my head instantly, shutting my eyes to fight the memories, but I can’t shove away the memory of this man’s name cutting through my mind.

A name I thought I could outrun.

“Come on, wolf,” he says to me, voice calm, “we have a long distance to cover.”

My wolf shrinks deeper into my chest. It really is him.

Elias.

*******

Keep your head down. Don’t let him smell you.

That’s what I tell my wolf as I trudge ahead of their horses on the muddy path.

At least we agree on that one.

The sun is beating down on my back, and every step forward takes me back to the place I’ve spent all these years running from.

I can’t allow it. Not with Elias’s scent violating my lungs and his eyes fixed on the back of my head.

I hope my hair is dirty enough to hide its color.

I hope the mud sticking to my skin masks my scent. I hope I can drop dead and end this nightmare.

Then I hear his voice again, and my world grinds to a halt.

“What’s your name?”

I bite my lips and keep my pace steady, chains clinking around my ankles and wrists.

“I asked your name, rogue.”

Keep walking.

“You don’t talk much, do you?”

He’s onto us. Do something.

The sound of horse hooves squelching in mud makes my gut twist.

“There’s something oddly familiar about your scent.”

Oh, dear. My heart throbs hard in my chest, so hard that I feel my hands shake.

I hear him sigh.

“You won’t talk? Be my guest. There’ll be plenty of time to talk soon.”

My head feels lighter now.

I can’t run, not with these chains eating at my flesh.

But that’s what they expect you to do, my wolf whispers.

I shake my head to dispel the thoughts forming.

No. Absolutely not.

But you want to be free, don’t you?

Yes, but…

Do it, Kamari. Get us out of this, or I will.

Okay, okay…

I glance over my shoulder, but I don’t need to. His eyes never leave my back.

The heat of the sun burns through my scalp, and I hope to hell that I sell this act.

On three, Kamari.

One—

I drop to my knees instantly, shoulders heaving as I fall sideways.

“What’s happening?” A gruff voice rings out.

Good.

My body jerks as I suck in a loud, ragged breath. The chains rattle violently, and I taste mud on my tongue, but I don’t stop.

“She’s choking!” Someone cries out, and all hell breaks loose behind me.

Horses neigh, footsteps vibrate the earth, and I feel my eyes roll backwards as Elias’s voice rises above the din.

“Get the keys! Take off the restraints!”

Then he’s on me in an instant, gripping my shoulders and propping me up as the chains fall free.

My heart flips.

Now, Kamari. Now!

His hand snags in my hair, brushing it from my face and holding it up to the light.

“What now?” A voice asks, but Elias is quiet. Too quiet.

“Dear goddess above…” his voice shakes just like his hands.

My hands dig into the mud, feeling his breath grow warmer as he leans in.

“You are…”

Please don’t say it.

My wolf recoils inside me.

Ready or not.

My eyes snap open to forest green eyes staring down at me, wide and glazed over.

He stifles a gasp, lips parting in shock.

Please don’t say my name.

“Kamari?”

Now.

I pull back with all my strength—

And slam my forehead into his face.