0004

Remi POV

“Run… get out of here.”

Not only was my heart pounding so loud—it felt like it might explode any second.

I locked eyes with her, panic rising to my chest, but before I could utter a word, one of the guards grabbed her by the shoulder and yanked her up despite how fragile and shaky she looked.

“You can leave now. The maid will handle it,” he snapped, dragging her toward the door.

“Wait—” I rushed after her, but the other guard stepped in my way, blocking my path.

“That’s enough,” he said coldly. “A new meal will be sent to you.”

And just like that, they were gone. The moment the door clicked shut, my knees gave out and I collapsed to the floor.

I didn’t care about the food anymore. I didn’t care about the size of the bed or the velvet sheets or how pretty this place looked.

I needed to get out of here.

After a few minutes had passed, I slowly stood up and walked toward the door. I held the doorknob and twisted it gently. Locked.

“Oh God,” I muttered, biting down on my lip to keep from screaming.

This couldn’t be happening.

This really couldn’t be happening.

I slowly backed away from the door, letting out a shaky breath, then I turned to the window.

I was on the second floor. It was not too high but still a risky fall.

Outside looked quiet. There were no guards or maids in sight. Just trees, a stone path, and beyond the dense fence… freedom.

Don’t panic, I told myself.

If I could climb down, I could still make it out of here.

I rushed to the bed and grabbed the thick velvet sheets. I tied them together the best I could, even as my fingers trembled.

I had seen this in a movie once. If it worked for them, it had to work for me.

I tied one end to the wooden bedpost and tossed the other out the window. It didn’t reach the ground completely, but I wasn’t in any position to complain.

My heart pounded as I climbed onto the windowsill. I didn’t let myself think.

One leg over.

Then the other.

The cold wind was the first to hit me. The night was darker than I expected. Every creak of the sheet made my breath hitch.

Don’t look down, Remi. Just go.

My arm burned but I was almost there… maybe five feet off the ground when I heard a voice from behind the door.

“Check on the girl.”

No no no.

In a panic I let go.

My feet hit the ground hard and I think I twisted my ankle.

I didn’t even have time to process the pain as I took off running toward the fence.

I forced my way through a narrow gap in the fence, the metal tore a piece of my shirt, and I dashed straight into the forest knowing I would be harder to spot.

But just like before, I hadn’t even made it far enough when I heard the same low growl.

I didn’t dare look back, but when I risked a glance I saw a massive black wolf with glowing red eyes chasing after me.

I screamed and began running faster, but who was I kidding? My legs couldn’t outrun a beast.

It leapt and tackled me to the ground. I hit the forest floor hard, dirt filling my mouth and pain bursting through my side.

I continued screaming as loud as I could, thrashing helplessly as my mind pressed for the worst.

I was going to die.

But then…

“Leaving without saying goodbye?” I heard the deep voice of a man.

I froze.

My eyes snapped open and I gasped.

Standing above me, shirtless and barefoot, was my supposed rescuer.

“How… where…?” I stammered, glancing around for the wolf.

“Answer me,” he growled. My head whipped back to him and a shiver went down my spine as I stared back at his now glowing red eyes.

“You… it was you. That wolf—” My voice broke, my mind refusing to connect the pieces.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he crouched down and grabbed my face roughly. With his face just inches from mine, I could see everything.

The way his jaw clenched, the veins in his neck, and the wild look in his eyes. He wasn’t calm and composed like the man who had saved me hours ago.

He was panting heavily like a wild animal.

“It’s not very nice of you,” he whispered close to my ear, “to try leaving me… without permission.”

“I’m sorry,” I found myself trembling. “Please… I just want to go home. Let me go… please… I don’t want…”

My words were cut off as his palm cracked across my face before I could blink.

“I told you to wait until morning!” he yelled. Pain exploded through my cheek and I tasted blood. I choked on it, spitting it out as my vision blurred.

“You disobeyed me,” he snarled, grabbing me by the neck. His fingers, which resembled claws, dug into my skin as he forced my face toward his.

My arms flailed weakly. “Please…”

“Do you know,” he whispered, “what I do to those who disobey me?”

I shook my head, but before I could speak he grabbed my top and ripped the fabric like paper.

His gaze swept over me, his finger hooked the strap of my bra and he yanked it off in one snap, leaving me completely exposed.

I gasped in horror, trying to cover myself as the cold air hit, but he caught my wrist, forcing it above my head.

“Please…” I whimpered, tears streaming down my face, but he chuckled darkly, enjoying my terror.

His thumb brushed my nipple roughly and he pinched it hard, causing me to cry out in pain.

“I was going to make it easy for you,” he growled, “I drugged your food. But you… you had to piss me off.”

“I’m sorry! Please!” I sobbed, covering myself with my other shaking arm, but he caught that too.

“It’s too late.”

With a snarl, he yanked me up, dragging me like a rag doll. My body scraped against the rough forest floor, every stone and root tearing at my skin.

“No more running,” he said coldly. “You’re mine now.”

I screamed, kicked, begged but nothing stopped him from pulling me back toward the mansion.