LILIANAI looked around. These people had shifted from their wolf forms to human. One thing was clear—they were all city folks. Not like I expected, thinking they were werewolves who lived in the wild, roaming with their packs. I thought they were just a bunch of rogue wolves with no leader.I had to admit, Ryder’s presence and voice were captivating. He stood out more than the others. His eyes were insanely blue and shining, but was he really that mesmerizing?Three years ago, I heard Ryder was an alpha. But it seemed like there was no hierarchy here. If that was true, were they just a bunch of exiled wolves banding together as outlaws?Whoa… that thought surprised even me. And that aggressive woman from earlier—was she one of them too? What did Ryder give her to make her throw herself at him like that? Ugh, just thinking about it disgusted me.Then, there was the guy who kidnapped me in the alley. He was here too. I heard them call him Randal. I thought he was the only one who addre
LILIANAI blinked, trying to process what I had just heard. Ryder Black stood in front of me, arms crossed, his eyes filled with confidence. His words echoed in my mind."Forcing your husband to grant access to the Red Forest!"I was stunned. This was the last thing I expected. If they had kidnapped me for money or wealth, that would’ve made sense. But this? They wanted access to a place I had never even heard of. And... Ethan Darnell? Wow, Ryder really thought I still had ties to Ethan and held some sort of value.I almost opened my mouth to tell them the truth so they’d let me go. But then I shut it tightly and shook my head.If I wasn’t valuable to them, wouldn’t that put me in danger? I had no guarantee they’d release me once they realized I was useless to their plan. Because now, I knew too much.If I was worthless, I was just dead weight. And dead weight usually gets... eliminated. These rogue wolves might kill me, and no one would ever know what happened. This place was isolate
LILIANA"Aren’t you curious how much you really mean to Ethan Darnell?" Ryder whispered in my ear, his deep voice dripping with deceit.I clenched my jaw tightly, fighting the urge to react to his provocation. But the thought haunted me. How much did I matter to Ethan? Would he come looking for me? Or did he not care at all if I disappeared?I pushed those thoughts away, let out a cynical scoff, and glared at Ryder. "I already know the answer. I don’t mean anything to him. That’s why he dumped me three years ago. So, you picked the wrong hostage this time. You should’ve kidnapped Sophia Lennox instead of me!"Ryder smirked, his gaze sweeping across my face like he was searching for a lie in my words. My breath came in quick, angry bursts, and the coat wrapped around me loosened slightly, revealing the curve of my chest rising with emotion. Realizing his fleeting glance, I quickly pulled the coat tightly around me again.I regretted my words instantly. Fear tightened in my chest, and I
LILIANAI woke up gasping for air. The night was eerily silent, with only the sound of leaves rustling in the wind. But something was wrong. I felt a weight pressing down on me, and the moment I opened my eyes, I saw Ryder’s face—way too close to mine.His rough hand covered my mouth tightly, making it almost impossible to breathe. My heart pounded, panic taking over. The dim moonlight seeping through the tent fabric let me see the sharp look in his eyes. Even worse, in his other hand, he had razor-sharp claws aimed straight at my throat.What the hell? Was he really going to kill me? Just like that?I tried to struggle, but his body—much bigger and stronger—pinned me down, restricting every movement."One sound or the slightest move that attracts attention, and I won’t hesitate to kill you right here," he whispered into my ear.The threat made my body freeze. I could feel the anger and hostility radiating from his eyes. Even if my life didn’t feel like it had much worth, I didn’t wan
LILIANARyder smirked triumphantly. "Yep, those guys who showed up earlier definitely wanted you dead. But they weren’t Ethan’s people!"My eyes widened in shock. Someone wanted me dead, but it wasn’t Ethan?"Thinking of anyone who fits the bill?" Ryder whispered in my ear, his voice low and intimate.I… I couldn’t think. Ryder had let go of his grip on me, but now he had both his knees pinning me in place, trapping me between his muscular thighs. I was starting to panic. What was he trying to do?"Can you get off me?" I asked, my voice shaky."Not a chance! Did you forget you almost got us all killed just now?" he hissed. His body loomed over me, solid and unmovable. I was completely at his mercy."Let me go!" I yelled instinctively, thrashing against him.Ryder just narrowed his eyes, not budging an inch. "I thought you'd enjoy this!""You bastard! I don’t like it, and I never will! You’re nothing but a disgusting, immoral kidnapper! A criminal, nothing more!"I tried to push agains
SOPHIASmack!I slapped one of my wolves right in front of everyone. The sound echoed in the silent room, followed by the shocked stares of his fellow pack members, all standing before me with their heads bowed. It just happened. My anger exploded the moment I heard their report."How the hell can you come to me with this kind of report? Liliana might be dead?" I repeated their words, my voice dripping with fury. "Might? I need certainty! Bring me proof that she's dead!"My shout filled the room, making some of the wolves lower their heads even further. No one dared to meet my blazing eyes. My heart pounded, my hands clenched into fists, holding back the urge to unleash even more rage upon them.If Liliana was really dead, then why the hell was Ethan going crazy looking for her? I knew exactly how that man tried to hide his emotions, but I also knew what he was doing behind the scenes. Secretly, Ethan still kept the clothes the kidnappers had sent as proof that my little sister was al
LILIANAI glared at Ryder, who was casually sitting in the driver’s seat of the van. He looked way too relaxed for someone who had just kidnapped me and was now a fugitive from the entire pack."Tell me who those people were last night at the camp," I asked, my voice almost desperate.Ryder barely glanced at me before focusing back on the winding road. "No idea," he replied nonchalantly. "But they definitely weren’t Darnell’s people. I know exactly who Darnell’s guys are."I sighed, realizing there was no point in expecting a straight answer from him. Leaning back against the seat, I turned to look out the window. The cold wind brushed against my face and hair. The road was rough and steep, surrounded by towering trees that formed natural walls. The place was beautiful but completely unfamiliar to me."Aren’t you worried that I’ll figure out where we’re going?" I finally asked, hesitating.Ryder let out a low chuckle, filled with arrogance. "Why would I be? It would just be a hassle.
LILIANAI stepped out of the bathroom after doing my best to clean myself up. It wasn’t perfect, but at least I felt a little fresher. My clothes were still dirty, my hair was a mess, and my face carried the weight of exhaustion. But there wasn’t much I could do. I was a kidnapping victim—just being able to use a bathroom and wash up was already a miracle.Summoning whatever courage I had left, I walked out and joined the family at the dining table. Randal, his aunt, and Ryder were already seated, casually enjoying their bread and turkey, which looked insanely good. My stomach growled, reminding me how long it had been since I’d had a proper meal.Without thinking twice, I grabbed a piece of bread and turkey and started eating like my life depended on it. I didn’t care if they thought I was greedy. Hunger had completely destroyed any sense of dignity I had left."Eat slower," Sarah, Randal’s aunt, gently reminded me. "There’s plenty of meat for you."She gave me a warm smile, and sudde
LILIANAIt was late at night. The wind slipped in through the cracks of the old cabin door, brushing against my skin, carrying the scent of wet earth and mist. Inside this cabin built from solid wood, lit only by a flickering oil lamp, I stood frozen. My breath hitched. Ryder stood tall in front of me—rigid and unyielding. His eyes locked on me like a hawk eyeing its prey."Fine," he finally said, voice deep and sharp. "I'll let you go..."I could barely believe what I just heard. My throat clenched. My chest felt like it might explode. Did this mean he finally realized how foolish it was to trust Ethan? Or... did my words actually get through to him? Did they make him feel something?But before I could even process that thought, his cold voice cut through again."On one condition," he added.I blinked. Of course. There was always a condition. It was never that easy. I clenched my fists, trying to calm the chaos in my chest."Condition?" I muttered, barely audible.Ryder stared at me
LILIANAI don’t even know how long I sat curled up on that hard bed, my body stiff and aching. The rough ropes tying my wrists and ankles just got more painful every time I tried to move. The cold air inside this wooden cabin cut right to the bone, making the hopelessness gnawing at my heart even worse.I was beyond bored—but mostly, I was furious.Earlier this afternoon, some big guy had brought me food. He also offered to help me go to the bathroom, all stiff and formal like a damn robot. I refused both. I wasn’t about to depend on anyone here, especially not to show weakness.He ignored all my begging and threats. His face didn’t even change when I tried. After I tried to escape last night—stealing one of their horses, no less—they were definitely being way more careful.I let out a slow breath, trying to keep the frustration inside.When night fell and it got darker outside, I heard heavy footsteps coming toward the cabin. I immediately sat up straighter, alert. Maybe this was ano
LILIANAHe threw me down on the sturdy, pretty decent-sized bed in this cabin. Honestly, this bed was way better than the one they stuck me with last night. But it wasn’t the bed I cared about. I wanted answers.Ryder couldn’t just walk away after what he said. I should’ve known from the start that something felt off. I struggled to sit up and was ready to sprint after him to stop him from leaving.I glared at Ryder’s back, my whole body burning with rage. But he didn’t even flinch. Like my anger didn’t mean a damn thing to him. Without even glancing back, he walked toward the rickety wooden door. This cabin didn’t even have windows—obviously built to keep people locked in. People like me.“Wait!” I screamed, my voice echoing through the stuffy room. “Don’t you dare leave me without answering, Ryder! Don’t you freaking ignore me!”I could feel my pulse pounding under my skin. My anger boiled over, burning away every last bit of logic I had. I seriously felt like I could do anything ri
LILIANAI didn’t have much of a choice but to ride with him. Ryder yanked me up onto his horse without warning, making our bodies press together. I could feel his heavy breathing right by my ear, one hand on the reins and the other wrapped tightly around my waist.I felt sick. Not having a wolf made me feel like dead weight. Ryder didn’t even bother carrying me on his back—he’d rather use a horse to drag us both around."Sit still and stop moving," he hissed. "If you try to jump off, I’m not responsible if you get hurt."I bit my lip, holding back the rage boiling inside me. I knew Ryder wasn’t someone you could reason with—especially not in moments like this. His horse galloped down a rocky road, far from the nearest village. I felt trapped, like a bird with no wings."So... whose baby is it?" His cold voice cut through my thoughts.I tensed. My heart started pounding faster. He knew. But how?"Does Ethan Darnell know you have a kid? Or is it someone else’s?"I closed my eyes, trying
LILIANAI've made up my mind. All day and night, I kept thinking about my plan to escape. I spent time walking around the village, studying my escape routes and figuring out what vehicle I could use.There were a few camper vans and trucks parked in the village square, usually used for campfires at night. But there were too many people around. No way I could steal one without getting caught.So, what else? A horse? Suddenly, I remembered the one Ryder used when he brought me here. But no—that horse was left behind in the previous village, and we came here by truck.Not giving up, I snuck out again after bathing in the river. I kept searching, and sure enough, I found a few horses in the stables—three or four of them. Looks like they use them for hunting.I've thought everything through. Tonight, just before dawn, when everyone is deep asleep after dinner, I'll take one of the horses and get out of here. Where to? I have no idea. But escaping comes first. I'll figure things out later.
LILIANAWith a lot of effort, I finally managed to break free from him and move away. I grabbed the blanket I was sitting on, wrapped myself up, and rolled under a tree. If he wouldn’t let me go back to the cabin, then fine—I’d sleep out here. I didn’t care.The night breeze blew softly, making my skin feel even colder. I pulled the blanket tighter around me, trying to calm myself down. But that peace didn’t last long.Out of nowhere, Ryder grabbed me, lifting me up along with the blanket wrapped around me. I was trapped! I struggled with all my might, but it was useless."What are you doing?!" I yelled."Taking you away," he said flatly.I kept squirming, trying to get loose, but Ryder walked confidently as if I weighed nothing. Desperate, I bit his arm, hoping he’d let me go."Aww!" He cursed under his breath but didn’t stop walking. "Damn, you’re really wild."I didn’t care. I kept fighting, but he only tightened his grip. I could feel his warmth seeping through the blanket."Stay
LILIANAI bit my lower lip, realizing I'd just stepped into dangerous territory. “I was just asking,” I finally said, trying to defend myself.Ryder let out a quiet sigh, then stood up. He pulled me behind the big rock where he had been leaning earlier. We were hidden from everyone. Strangely, I didn’t resist. Instead, I stayed still, even though every part of me wanted to step back.“Serina means nothing to me,” he said, standing right in front of me. His arms were pressed against the rock, trapping me between them. “And I don’t let anyone decide my life for me.”I swallowed hard. Something about the way he spoke made me feel like he was trying to make a point.“Then,” I whispered, refusing to be intimidated, “why is she so mad at me?”Ryder narrowed his eyes. “You ask too many questions.”I scoffed, trying to hide my nervousness. “I’m a hostage here. What else am I supposed to do besides ask questions?”He didn’t respond right away. Then, out of nowhere, he leaned in closer. His bre
LILIANABefore I could respond, one of the guards moved fast, his big hand grabbing my arm and yanking me roughly. I struggled, screamed, and fought back with all my strength. "No!" I cried out, my voice breaking. I tried to pull away from the guard's tight grip, but it was useless. His strong hand was unyielding, dragging me mercilessly.I felt my body being lifted off the ground, completely powerless to fight back. Without hesitation, they hauled me out of the meeting hall, dragging me back to the cabin. I knew what was coming next. I'd be locked up there, alone. They wouldn’t let me out until they were sure I wouldn’t try to escape or do anything that could be a threat to them.With each step they took, I felt myself being pulled further away from whatever was left of my freedom. It felt like a giant wall was blocking my way, and I had no idea how to get past it. I felt trapped, like a mouse caught in its own snare.Inside the cabin, I just sat in the corner. That day, I felt even
LILIANA“And what if I refuse?” I still tried to resist, even though I knew I was on the edge.Ryder stepped closer, leaning down so our faces were level. “You know the answer, Liliana. Don’t make a mistake,” he warned, his voice rough and full of threat. “You have less than a minute to talk to your husband!”I stared at the chair, not knowing what to do. Follow Ryder’s orders or fight back? But when I saw the knife and remembered the video of the kids at the orphanage, I knew the answer. I had to do it. I had to act the way they wanted, or I’d never get out of here alive.With trembling hands, I sat in the chair Ryder had pointed to. I could feel the cold air in the room, like everything had stopped just to focus on me. The tension grew heavier, and every second felt like an eternity.As I sat, I realized why the room was so dark. There was nothing here that could give away my location. Just me, them, and the camera in front of me. I knew this wasn’t just about me and Ethan Darnell.