Chapter 002

*FREYA*

Three others circle around me, growling at me.

I try to scream but no sound comes out.

Then the air changes.

He steps out of the shadows.

And everything else fades.

To my utter bewilderment, he is —naked.

His long dark curls touch the sharp angle of his jawline. His lashes sweep across his high cheekbones as he blinks. A tattoo of a wolf baring it's fangs at the moon sits proudly on his shoulder blade.

The moonlight catches the sweat on his ripped torso and I hold my wandering eyes from going lower.

Heat floods my face, but I can’t look away.

He’s carved like something unreal—every line of his body sharp and dangerous under the moonlight.

But it’s not his body that terrifies me.

It’s his eyes. They are glowing.

I still when his eyes settle on me lazily, like a predator sizing his prey.

“What are you doing in my territory?” he asks, voice low and lethal.

I can’t speak.My throat won’t work.

He inhales slowly.

Then his entire body goes still.

His eyes darken.

A growl rips from his chest that makes me tremble.

“Mate.”

Without thinking, I fumble under my dress and pull out my silver blade.

“Stay back!” I warn, my hands shaking.

The wolves hesitate.

“D-Don't come any closer,” I stammer,waving the knife at them with trembling hands.

The girls at the courtesan house used to whisper that wolves feared silver, which is why I strapped one on my thigh for protection.

I guess it’s true — the wolves hesitate, their glowing eyes narrowing on me.

They bare their fangs, low growls vibrating in their throats.

But not him.

He stares at me, almost bored and entirely too calm. His domineering presence suffocates me.

“Want to know which is faster....me or your blade?” he drawls,voice a low rasp that slides over my skin like a threat.

Before I can process his words, he's in front me.

How did he move so fast—

He pries the knife from my hand and without breaking eye contact, snaps it into two.

My eyes widen in horror as the silver burns his hand, the air thick with the stench of sizzling flesh.

Yet, he doesn't flinch.

What sort of man—wolf— whatever is he?

His jaw ticks and his fingers circle around my throat, slamming me against the tree.

I gasp harshly, feeling my eyes burn.

The scent of ash and pine clings to him — sharp, intoxicating.

Heat crawls beneath my skin where his fingers touch.

The air crackles between us, his eyes flickering between violent red and molten gold.

“This pathetic human is my...mate?”

He says it like a curse and chuckles darkly. “The moon goddess must be mocking me.”

“P-Please,” I whisper, my voice trembling.

I reach for his hand around my neck and our eyes lock.

Something flickers in his eyes before disappearing.

Then his grip tightens slightly enough to inflict pain as he glares at me with loathe.

A low growl rumbles from his chest, disgust curling his lip. “Why do you feel... different?”

Before I can answer, his hand burns hot, unnaturally hot where I touched him and a violent jolt shoots through me.

He jerks back, eyes wide for the first time, staring at his own hand as if it’s betrayed him.

“What the hell are you?”

I crash to the ground, gasping, trembling.

“I-I am—”

He doesn't let me speak.

“Are you a witch sent to spy on my territory?”

My breath catches.

“No—”

“Liar.”

“I'm not lying!”

His gaze sharpens, sending chills crawling down my spine.

“Bind her,” he orders coldly.

Fear slams into me.

“No! please—”

Something hits my neck.

Darkness swallows me whole.

******

Pain drags me back to consciousness.

My wrists burn.

I wince, pushing myself up.

Where am I ?

My gaze darts around the space, if it can even be called a room. It’s small, cold, and suffocatingly damp.

Moisture drips from cracked stone walls, pooling around my bare feet.

The light that filters through the room comes from a jagged hole above.

The air is thick with dust, dried blood and....rotting flesh.

“Awake already?”

I flinch at the familiar voice, the movement causing the chains to bite into my wrists.

A sharp hiss escapes from my lips.

He drags a chair from across the room and settles on it like the predator he is.

His gaze lock on me as he watches me quietly.

“Who are you?” he asks after a beat.

“F-Freya.”

“Freya,” he echoes back, rising from the chair slowly.

My blood runs cold when he picks up a heated iron from the cackling fire.

“Who sent you?”

“Please...” I whisper shakily, backing away slowly although it's useless.

“Wrong answer,” he murmurs, before crouching to my level. A grin spreads across his lips but the coldness in his eyes is unmistakable.

“Let's try this again, shall we?”

The grin drops from his face. “Who sent you?”

I swallow as he brings the heated iron closer to my face. “N-No one.”

He tilts his head like he doesn't believe me and I scramble to my knees.

“Please, believe me. I'm telling the truth.”

“Why should I believe you?” he hisses, loathe dripping from his voice. “You humans are vicious.”

My heart races as I try to come up with something. Anything at all.

“If you don't believe me, you can keep me here as your slave.”

The moment the words slip from me, I clap a hand over my mouth.

What am I thinking?

He is silent for a while, watching me thoughtfully then he grins and it slowly occur to me that I just made a big mistake.

“Very well, then.”

He straightens.

“Take her to the servant quarters.”

Relief crashes into me. Thank heavens, it worked. The moment I get out of this cell, I need to plan my next move.

But his next words freeze my blood.

“If she tries to run…”

He pauses.

“Break her legs.”

.