SNEAK PEEK

“You’re mine, Genevieve,” he growled. “Human or not!”

His deep voice echoed through the dark forest, curling around the trees like a living thing that refused to let me go.

Hearing my name come from his mouth sent my heart into overdrive. Panic flooded my senses as I pushed my burning legs harder, forcing them to move despite the sharp pain shooting through my calves. My ponytail whipped from side to side, catching on branches as I ran blindly through the darkness. Cold air rushed past my face, biting my skin and blurring my vision with tears. This wasn’t possible. This couldn’t be real. I was human—weak, ordinary, breakable—not some supernatural being tied to monsters and moonlight.

“Genevieve,” he called again. “You can’t hide from me.”

His voice was closer now, dangerously close, vibrating through my bones.

Don’t look back, I begged myself. Don’t slow down.

My lungs burned as moonlight suddenly reflected against a nearby river, its surface shimmering like liquid silver. I hesitated for only a second. I knew I would regret this. The water would be freezing, and I could get hypothermia. But fear pushed me forward. With trembling limbs and a silent prayer, I jumped.

The cold water stabbed my skin like thousands of tiny needles. My breath left me in a sharp gasp as I sank beneath the surface, shock seizing every muscle. I forced myself to stay still, clamping my mouth shut, praying I could hold my breath long enough for him to lose me. Darkness surrounded me. My thoughts spiraled as panic clawed at my chest.

But my lungs betrayed me far too soon.

I broke the surface, gasping and coughing as water streamed down my face. I spun in every direction, heart racing. It was too dark to see anything beyond shadowy trees and rippling water. No footsteps. No voices. Just an eerie, unnatural silence.

Why wasn’t anyone coming to save me?

Did he command them not to?

Could he really do that?

Before the thought could finish, my body was suddenly yanked upward. I screamed as I left the water, my feet kicking helplessly in the air. My eyes widened, terror freezing me in place. A hybrid. He’s a hybrid. My heart slammed so hard it felt like it might shatter my ribs. This had to be a nightmare. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the pain of hitting the forest floor.

Instead, I fell into warmth.

Strong arms wrapped around me, steady and impossibly gentle, holding me against a solid chest. I shivered violently, clinging to his broad shoulders as if letting go would send me crashing back into fear and darkness.

“Open your eyes,” he said quietly.

His voice had changed. It was still deep and rough, but now it carried something softer—something dangerously intimate.

My heart pounded as I slowly obeyed. I didn’t dare look anywhere except his stormy grey eyes, glowing faintly beneath the moonlight. They held power, hunger, and something that felt unsettling like longing.

“You’re beautiful,” he groaned, leaning closer, his breath warm against my trembling lips.

When his eyes flared brighter, realization struck me like lightning. He wasn’t lying. Fate wasn’t lying.

I was his.

Before I could process the truth or summon the strength to resist, his warm lips crashed against mine, sealing my fate beneath the cold stars and the watching trees of the dark forest.