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
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 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
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
LILIANA LENNOXI slowly opened my eyes, though the morning felt far from welcoming. My body was heavy, but my mind refused to stay in the haze of sleep. I was still in shock, utterly drained after a long and tormenting night—a night that shattered my illusions of how foolish I’d been all along. The faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air, mixing with the masculine, overpowering aroma of Ethan’s cologne, making me shudder.Fully awake, I slid out from under the blanket and grabbed my nightgown scattered on the floor. Careful not to make a sound, I walked to the ceiling-to-floor window, pulling back the curtains to reveal the glittering city lights below.“Celestia,” I whispered to myself. “The city that never sleeps. Soon, the sun will rise. Maybe it’ll finally erase me in its light…”Solaris Heights, the exclusive enclave of Celestia’s elite, had been my gilded cage for the past month. Hidden behind its towering iron gates, it held secrets the outside world could never penetrate.“
LILIANAOh, Goddess, what’s wrong with me? I should hate him! After a month of marriage, it was only last night that he decided to show his face and touch me. Maybe it was the alcohol—or something else entirely.Ethan buried his face into the curve of my sweat-slick neck. I was helpless, frozen with fear, unable to utter a single sound. My long hair clung to my damp skin, trailing between my breasts, carrying the faint scent of my soft, floral shampoo.He took me in the most primal way possible. His strength was overwhelming, unstoppable. All I could do was endure, obeying every command he barked at me. My fists clenched tightly, my freshly painted red nails digging into my palms so hard they left trails of blood.Ethan’s hands roamed relentlessly over me. Sure, he couldn’t walk—but his dominance, his sheer presence, was flawless.The pain was unrelenting, a destruction that seemed to have no end. When it finally reached its peak, I found myself letting out a long, broken sob. A red s
LILIANAEthan gave me a cold smile, but before he could turn and leave, the sound of heels clicking on the floor echoed from the doorway. We both turned to see a woman standing there. Her face was somber, a stark contrast to her elegant and poised appearance. Sophia Lennox, the woman who was at the center of all this, stood at the threshold accompanied by a beta.Sophia’s glassy eyes met mine. “Lili, I treated you like a sister. How could you steal the man who was meant to be mine while I was out fighting for our pack in the far territories?” she asked, her voice dripping with disappointment.“Sophia, you’re wrong. I never—” I tried to defend myself, but my trembling body betrayed me. Her sudden appearance completely threw me off, leaving me at a loss for words.My father, Alpha Duran Lennox, had cast my human mother aside when he found Alina, his fated mate. Their union gave birth to Sophia a year after I was born, followed by Raymond two years later.Growing up, I lived among humans
LILIANAOutside the bedroom, Sophia sat in the living room, sipping tea prepared by the servants. When I walked past her, she gave me a cold glare.“You should know when to give up, Lili,” she said flatly, not even bothering to turn toward me.I paused for a moment, then responded softly but firmly, “I’ve never tried to take anything from you, Sophia. But I won’t let myself be stepped on either. Oh, and I also remember how you used to mock the ‘old, crippled man’ during your tea parties with your friends.”Sophia gave a faint smile but said nothing more. I resumed walking, leaving the villa with a storm of emotions swirling inside me. For some reason, my stepmother’s words echoed in my head once again.“Our pack is in danger! There are children whose futures we must protect. If Alpha Darnell attacks, we’ll be destroyed, enslaved, left with nothing. Your father and I had no other choice, Lili. You have to marry Alpha Darnell.”“I don’t know him, Mom. I don’t love him. I’ve never even s
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.