CHAPTER SIX

“Wake up,” a voice purrs. “I want you to see your new home. I want you to see everything I can offer you.”

I wake, but I keep my eyes closed. I don’t want to see any of this. I recognize that voice as the person I hate most.

Besides, a cage is not a home. I don’t want to think about living here forever. If this is my destiny, I hope it ends soon.

“Come on, Sasha,” he says. “If you open your eyes, maybe we can have a proper introduction.”

Proper introduction. I realize then that I don’t even know his name yet. It’d be nice to know the name of the man who will feel the wrath of my vengeance.

So, I open my eyes.

“That’s better,” the Alpha says. “My name is Tobias. Welcome to my home. Welcome to our home.”

His home is nicer than I imagined a rouge’s home to be. It’s a decent sized hut with ornate furniture, a den like area for his wolf form to sleep in, and a big bed for the human form. Bits of gold are gathered around like a bird, alongside rich bursts of color.

“What do you think?” he asks.

“I’m tied to a pole in the middle of a hut,” I say. “How do you think I feel about that?”

“You don’t have to be tied up,” he says. “Not forever. This is the state you’ve chosen for now by your actions and the things you’ve said to me.

“It doesn’t have to stay that way. Whether or not you remain tied up is completely up to you.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” I say, even though that’s not true.

I understand perfectly. He’s trying to bait me into some sort of reaction. He’s not letting me go that easily.

“If you don’t fight me, I’ll let you walk around freely,” he says. He stands from chair.

“There’s no use fighting me anyway,” he continues. “You’ll never escape from me regardless. I want you. I’ll have you. I’ll keep you captive forever, and you will be my mate. That is your destiny.”

Fury rises within me to meet his words. I will never let that happen. I will kill him. The first time I get the chance, I will kill him.

“Darling, you will be my queen,” he says.

That’s a step too far. I shouldn’t rise to his obvious prodding, but considering the circumstances, it’s difficult not to. My emotions are too high, I’m too wired to not play into his stupid games.

“I will never be your queen,” I assure him. “I won’t be your mate.

“I will kill you someday, I promise you that. I will kill you for killing my pack. I will have my revenge.”

He laughs. Not exactly the reaction I was expecting. At least he’s not lashing out at me in anger, but it’s almost worse. He doesn’t take me seriously.

He’ll learn soon enough though. I’m all too serious about this.

“I admire your spirit,” he says as he smiles at me. “It’s charming. The more I fight you, the more I want you.”

He shrugs. “That’s just how I am. If you’re tying to deter me, you’re doing a terrible job at it. Though I think I know how to change your mind.”

I scoff at him. There’s nothing he can say or do that will change my mind. I hate him with every part of me. And though I need vengeance for my pack, I also can’t betray them by marrying him. I know that’s not what they would want me to do.

“We’re going on a little outing,” he says, as he walks up to my chains. “I have something to show you.”

I don’t want to go with him, but I have no choice as he unhooks me and leads me behind him with the ropes in his hand.

It’s humiliating, the way everyone looks at us as we leave his hut. They’re all staring at me, judging me.

I’m used to being respected, so this is all new and I hate it. I hate the way he treats me. I hate the way this feels. I hate the way they look down on me.

I have no choice but to follow though, so I do. I follow him through the little camp they have here. It’s surprisingly developed for rouges. I focus on that to distract me, until he stops.

He stops right in front of Kara’s cell.

She stands, looking at us in surprise. Worry fills her eyes as she sees me in the ropes next to Tobias.

Her lower lip trembles. I want to tell her to be brave but she’s been here longer than I have. I don’t know what they’ve subjected her to, and I want to save her. I want to do anything I can to help her.

“I knew it,” Tobias laughs. “I can see it in your eyes. You weren’t even near Kara for long, but you already care about her.

“That’s one thing we will have to work on. You have a big heart, I can tell. You love passionately. You care too much about people. That’s a horrible trait to have in a leader.

“Right now, that’s going to work to my advantage though. Because if you don’t marry me, if you don’t become my mate, I will kill Kara.”

Kara’s face pales as she notices what’s happening. I want to kill him. I want nothing more than to kill him.

I look at Tobias. He’s serious, I know he is. If I don’t agree, he will kill her.

“Please,” Kara whimpers. “I hate to do this but… please, don’t let him hurt me.”

My eyes meet Kara’s and I can see how scared and vulnerable she is. She reminds me of Erin. She reminds me of my little sister.

“Okay,” I say, as I look up at Tobias. “Leave Kara alone. Don’t kill her. Don’t harm her. And if you’ll spare her…”

My heart drops.

I hate this.

I hate this.

“I’ll marry you.”

“Deal,” he says, with the worst smile I’ve ever seen.

My fate is sealed.