Chapter 18

The van was moving.

My body began to roll across the cold floor like a discarded sack of potatoes, every jolt and lurch hammering into me with bruising rigor. Whether someone was driving it, however, was another matter entirely. There was no hum of an engine, no rhythmic crunch of gravel beneath the tires. Only the tortured groan of metal straining against its own weight, punctuated by a sharp string of curses flung into the air like venom.

Darius.

Hope bloomed inside my chest—though it quickly snuffed out when a deafening bang ripped through the van, followed by the unmistakable sensation of it slamming back into the earth. The impact reverberated through me, metal biting into my ribs and bruising my jaw as I hit the floor.

A moan of agony swelled in my throat, raw and desperate, but it remained trapped, choked back by the wolfsbane burning through my veins like acid.

The van had scarcely settled before its rear doors were flung open with a screech of protesting hinges. A heavy groan accompanied the sound of someone clambering into the cramped space, their movements as graceful as a rock-giant doing jumping jacks on a metal roof.

The van dipped under impact, sending me sliding a few agonizing inches backward. Each shift was a fresh assault, pain roaring through my battered body.

I wanted to scream, to curse, to rail against whoever was responsible for this torment. But the wolfsbane rendered me silent.

Large, strong arms folded around my body, and I got lifted against a wall of muscle. A hum reverberated from said body, dulling the ache that rushed through me. It was soothing—a instant relief from the agony of the wolfsbane.

My head lolled forward, resting on what I think was a shoulder. My eyes tore open, my eyelids heavy. I got a peek of Hunter staring up at me from the foot of the van, as Darius carried me out. He hits the gravel with his boots with impact, and moan of protest escaped me.

As if he knew exactly what I was trying to say, Darius retorted with a snort, “No need to cuss at me, princess. I just saved your life.”

It took every ounce of willpower, strength, and pure, stubborn will to push out, “F-futh fth-you.”

I meant fuck you, but the point was still hit on its mark.

Darius’ body rumbled deliciously as he barked a laugh—and to my utter dismay—sending a thrill shooting through my limbs that I tried hard not to acknowledge.

“The side of the house is clear,” Hunter said, lifting his gun and pointing down a path obscured by lush trees and a garden shed that looks more like an upper-class, fancy cottage. “It’s safer to take her through there.”

“Safe?” Darius snorted, already stalking straight for the front door where Jace and one of the opposing pack members are in mid-fight, rolling across the entrance with punches flying.

A spray of bullets whistled past us, and my body tensed. “Arf youf inf-sane!”

Darius responded by throwing me over his shoulder, slapping a hand firmly down on my ass. A cuss hissed from my tongue, as Darius blatantly carried me through the center of the battlefield.

“All right, we’re doing it the fun way then,” murmured Hunter behind us. I could hear the smirk in his tone, and I wanted nothing more than to beat the shit out of these two ape-heads.

Darius, with his one hand still gripped on my ass, used his other hand to withdraw something from his side. Not a heartbeat later, earsplitting bangs echoed—followed by bodies hitting the ground in audible groans and thuds.

I attempted to suck in a breath, to spit out another curse, but my jaw went slack. My vision swam viciously, and all I could do was close my eyes and bury my face in a mound of muscle.

I could hear an exchange of words between Darius, Jace, and Hunter—and something about locking her in the safe until it’s over.

Her?

Were they talking about me?

I struggled to process the words, but the panic settling inside my gut told me I wasn’t going to like it.

Lock her up. Safe.

Like, an enclosed space? I tried to move my mouth, wanting to protest that I was claustrophobic, but the wolfsbane was winning the fight over me.

“Keep them busy,” Darius barked as his body swung around. The movement pushed a heavy sensation of nausea up inside my chest. “I’ll take care of her.”

All I could do was listen to the chaos unfold around us. At least, from what I could hear because my pulse roared loud inside my ears.

I tried to speak again, but this time the words came out as a weak croak. Darius didn’t even glance down.

“Save your energy,” he sighed. “You’re gonna need it.”

Need it for what? Panic coiled tighter in my chest. My head lolled against his shoulder, the scent of leather and smoke assaulting my senses. Every inch of me burned—not just from the wolfsbane, but from the heat radiating off him. My traitorous body noticed the way his arms cradled me, strong and obstinate, and it made me sick.

Hunter trailed behind us, that obnoxious smirk glued to his annoyingly Adonis-like mug. “You’re taking too long,” he whined. “Just dump her in already. We’ve got more company on the way.”

Darius didn’t respond, his stride consistent. I managed to lift my eyes enough to see the safe looming ahead, a hulking steel monstrosity tucked into the corner of the dark basement.

My stomach flipped when I realized what it was—and what they intended to do.

“No…” I managed to rasp. “No. Don’t…”

“Relax, princess,” Darius countered, his grip on me shifting as he adjusted my weight. His hand slid lower, too low, fingers brushing against my hip and then squeezing my ass. My body jolted in shock, a weak sound of protest bubbling up in my throat.

Hunter rolled his gun between his fingers as he mused, “Claiming territory, are we? While she’s rendered… defenseless? You think she’ll appreciate that?”

“She’s fine,” Darius muttered, but his fingers lingered for a moment longer before moving to grip my thigh instead. My skin burned where he touched me, and I hated it. Hated him. Hated myself for the way heat spiraled low in my belly, unbidden and unwelcome.

I tried to spit out an isnult, but it came out more like a garbled groan. Darius chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into me.

“You’ll thank me later,” he chuckled.

I wanted to claw his eyes out, but all I could do was lie there, limp and useless, as he reached the safe.

But it wasn’t just a safe. It resembled a coffin. Tall and narrow, just big enough for a person to fit inside. The heavy door swung open with a creak, revealing the dark, claustrophobic interior. My heart slammed against my ribs, and a fresh wave of panic surged through me.

“No,” I croaked again, my voice rising in desperation. This time, the words came out clear, “No! Don’t you dare—”

“It’s for your own good,” Darius responded in a maddeningly calm tone.

He shifted me in his arms, one hand brushing against my chest. I gasped as his palm pressed against my breast, lingering for just a moment too long.

“Oops,” he quipped, though there was nothing apologetic about his smirk. “Didn’t mean to cop a feel.”

The words, “Fuck you,” was written in my gaze as I glower at him, my face burning with humiliation and fury.

“You’ve got quite the mouth on you, princess,” he retorted as if he could read my thoughts, lowering me into the safe. His hands skimmed over my body, steadying me as he laid me down. One final squeeze to my ass, and he stepped back.

I wanted to scream, to fight, to do anything other than lie there and take it. But the wolfsbane had me in its grip, and my body refused to obey. The walls of the safe closed in around me, and my breath hitched. It was too small. Too tight. The air felt thin—suffocating.

“Darius,” I rasped, my voice trembling. “Don’t do this. Please.”

No hesitation on his part as he stared down at me with a cold, uncaring gaze. “You’ll be fine in here.”

Fine. The word echoed mockingly in my mind as the door swung shut. Darkness swallowed me whole, and the metallic clang of the lock sliding into place was the final nail in my coffin.

My chest heaved as I struggled to breathe, the walls pressing in on me from all sides. My fingers twitched, curling into fists. The panic rose blindingly, drowning me.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think.

All I could do was accept the crushing weight of the safe around me, the air growing thinner with each passing second.

My breaths came in short, shallow gasps, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.

This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t real. I wasn’t trapped in a steel coffin, helpless and at the mercy of a man who thought he could grope me like some kind of caveman. Damn you, Darius. I swear— But the cold metal biting into my skin muffled my train of thought.

My chest burned, my vision swam, and the darkness pressed in tighter. I tried to scream, but no sound came out. All I could do was lie there, trapped in my own body, suffocating.

I was going to die in here.