INGRID.I blink against the harsh overhead light and prop myself on one elbow. My skull throbs so fiercely I can barely think.“My husband?” I breathe, my voice low and skeptical. “That can’t be right.” My heart hammers against my ribs. “Why don’t I remember anything? If you’re my husband, I should—”He steps forward, worry flickering across his face and he gently presses my head against his chest and pulls me into a tight hug.The scent of his cologne is unfamiliar but comforting in a weird way.“It’s okay, babe,” he sighs. “You were in a really bad accident. The doctors said there was a possibility that this could happen.” He tries to comfort me, but his words don’t give me the reassurance I need.I glance at the nurse standing by, clipboard in hand. She meets my gaze and nods, then scribbles something in my chart.Aiden releases me slowly and settles his hands on my shoulders. “You sure you don’t remember anything?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.The tears I have been holding ba
INGRIDI stare at the cracked ceiling, wide awake, because every time I close my eyes, I see Lucian’s face twisted in pain, and hear Logan’s cruel laughter echo around him as he tortures him.Kira’s gentle humming drifts through my mind, but it feels like static—more noise than comfort.I turn onto my side, the tiny cot squeaking beneath me, and trace the deep scratches the other prisoners have left in the walls.“Ingrid.” I hear someone call me from behind.I freeze and look toward the cell door. Dash stands there, a metal tray balanced in one hand, and a rifle sling across his chest. He pushes the tray inside and steps back.“Aiden asked me to bring you this,” he says curtly, eyes cold as steel.I stare at the stale bread, cold stew, and then at the rifle, and my heart thrums with defiance.“Something on your mind?” Dash asks, his tone mocking.I lift my chin and shake my head. “Lucian was your Alpha and your friend. How could you betray him like this?”Dash arches his brow, and his
LUCIAN“We need a plan to get out of here, Ezra,” I whisper, pressing my face against the cold metal railings.He stirs weakly, trying to lift his head, but it drops again like dead weight.“Ezra, come on. Open your damn eyes!” I hiss louder now, panic creeping into my voice.I hear heavy slow footsteps echoing from the end of the hallway and I quickly pull back from the bars and press myself against the wall keeping my breath shallow.The footsteps grow louder, closer, and finally stop in front of my cell.I try to ignore the presence, keeping my eyes fixed on the opposite wall, but the air shifts and becomes suffocating, so I turn my head slightly.And there he is. Logan. A face I hadn’t missed since I was able to escape.He is dressed in a sleek black suit, and a ridiculous cowboy hat is casting a shadow over his face.He stands there like he owns the place, a cane resting in one hand as his eyes sweep over me from head to toe.Then he shifts his gaze to Ezra and nudges him with hi
INGRID.The air between us crackles with tension, as Aiden and I stare each other down, the silence growing so thick that it starts drawing the attention of nearby pack members.I lower my gaze to the burner phone he’s handed to me and my heart begins to pound like a war drum.I look back at him, steady my breath, and slowly shake my head. “I don’t know who this belongs to, Aiden,” I lie softly, but with conviction, meeting his eyes head-on.His smile twitches and then breaks into manic laughter that makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise.“You don’t know who this belongs to?” he sneers, his voice dripping with disdain. “Really?”I nod again, my face schooled into a practiced calm, because I can’t afford to let him see the panic crawling under my skin.He snatches the phone from my hand, his laughter dying off sharply, and his eyes darken, his mood shifting like a stormfront rolling in.“Ingrid, I’ve known Lucian is alive this entire time,” he growls, stepping closer. “How I know
LUCIAN“Lucian, wake up! Open your eyes!” I hear a familiar muffled voice cut through the fog.I try to open my eyes, but everything is blurry, followed by the pain in my skull throbbing in rhythm with my heartbeat.“Open your eyes, now!” the voice insists again, sharper this time.I blink, forcing my vision to clear through the haze and slowly, the world around me comes into focus.I am surrounded by cold damp stone walls, a wet floor, and a figure on the ground opposite my cell, covered in blood, and limbs bound in thick chains.“Ezra?” I call, my voice is hoarse. “Is that you?”“Who else would it be, Lucian?” he croaks, a weak smirk on his lips despite his condition.I squint harder and I see he’s in bad shape—worse than I expected.His arms and legs are shackled in silver, there is dried blood caking his skin, and both of his eyes are swollen.I glance down at myself and it’s the same story. Heavy chains are wrapped around my wrists and ankles, biting into my skin, making even the
INGRID.It’s been three days since Lucian texted me to stay put—three painfully long, silent days.I’ve messaged him several times since—short, careful check-ins just to make sure he’s okay, but nothing. I haven’t gotten a single reply.Deep down, I start to feel like something must have gone terribly wrong because he wouldn’t go quiet just like that. Not now, when everything is hanging by a thread.As for Aiden, I’ve managed to keep my distance. I convinced him that I was too exhausted and too drained to socialize ever since escaping the hunters.He seemed to believe me—or maybe he’s just pretending to. Either way, I’ve been confined to my old room, using my fatigue as an excuse to observe the pack from behind the safety of a curtain.And what I see? Is disturbing.Everyone walks like they’re being watched. Like one wrong move could cost them something precious.Even the training sessions are different. There’s no spirit, no unity. Just forced drills and barked commands.Dash and the
INGRIDOnce I reach the gate, my heart starts to pound, but I steady my breath. I push against it, but it doesn't budge. It’s locked.I’m about to try again when a voice rings out from within. “There’s someone at the gate!”The shout echoes across the compound, and I freeze.Moments later, I hear a loud metallic click followed by the groaning creak of gears. The gate shudders and opens just enough for a person to slip through.I squeeze myself in carefully, and the sight that greets me makes my blood run cold.Dash stands ahead with another pack member flanking him, both holding rifles like they’re on high alert.Their eyes sweep over me, and Dash looks at me like I am a stranger he just met.“What is going on?” I demand, raising my chin.They don’t answer. Dash simply steps forward, grabs my arm, and starts dragging me across the compound without a word. The other man follows, his weapon never leaving his grip.I glance around as they pull me forward, and I see faces peek from behind
INGRID.As we drive down unfamiliar roads, I keep stealing glances at Lucian from the corner of my eye.I have to admit, he looks really good. Way better than he did with that long hair. This new look suits him."I can see how you're looking at him, Ingrid," Kira's voice teases in my head, full of amusement.I try to ignore her but she keeps giggling, and it becomes louder by the second. "Your feelings for him are getting stronger by the day.""Stop it!" I blurt out, louder than I intended.Lucian’s brow furrows as he glances at me. "Stop what?"My eyes widen and I shake my head. "Oh—uh—I was talking to my wolf," I say quickly.He narrows his gaze slightly, then shifts his attention back to the road."So... what's the plan?" I ask clearing my throat.Lucian glances out the window, then back at me. "I haven’t thought about it yet."I groan, smacking my palm against my forehead. "So..we're just walking in blind?" I ask, my hands starting to sweat from anxiety."Feel free to help me come
LUCIANAs I run barefoot through the woods, I can feel the cool night air burning against my skin.Suddenly, something sharp pierces my foot and I stumble, crashing to the ground with a scream. Pain shoots up my leg, and I curl into myself, clutching it tightly to my chest."You couldn’t finish a simple test?" a cold voice mocks before the figure crouches to my level."You're weak, son. A tiny nail has made you scream like a little girl?" My father’s face emerges from the dark, his eyes glowing red with disappointment."This is why you’ll never become Alpha. I wish your sister were still alive—we could’ve given her the pack," he sneers."I’m not weak," I whisper my teeth clenched. "It just hurts."He yanks me up by the arm swinging me left and right. "You dare talk back to me, Lucian?" he growls, before shoving me away. "Find your way home."Then he vanishes into the trees.He leaves me all alone, surrounded by unfamiliar woods. My foot throbs, but I push through the pain, limping tow