As I ran through the darkness, my heart was pounding with fear. Every few seconds, I stole a glance behind me, afraid that Kade was still pursuing me. But my anxiety got the better of me, and in my haste to escape, I forgot to watch where I was going. Before I knew it, I stumbled over an obstacle in front of me, sending me tumbling to the ground.My body lurched forward uncontrollably. Panic set in as I realized I was about to fall. My heart raced as I frantically grasped at the air, searching for something to hold onto. But it was too late. With a sudden jolt, I hit the ground hard. Pain shot through my body as I lay there, stunned, and disoriented. As I struggled to catch my breath, I couldn’t help but let out a sharp cry of surprise. “Ow!” I exclaimed, my voice echoing across the empty landscape. It was a moment of pure shock and disbelief - one that I won’t soon forget. The world seemed to spin around me as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. But even as I lay there,

Four long years had passed since I left Dane, uncertain if he would reappear or respect my need for space. Though I felt a longing to return to him and ask for his forgiveness, I feared it was too late. It was my fault for walking away initially, but I hadn’t even lived my life yet. Kara needed me then, but now, I was the one living alone in Portland, despite thinking that was the life I wanted so badly.He probably followed my advice and fell in love with Kendra. I didn’t blame either of them. After all, who could resist Dane?At the age of twenty-three, I settled in Portland and established a life here. The relocation was difficult for me, particularly because the farther away I was from Dane, the more intense my pains became. Some days, I would remain on the couch, curled up in a ball, weeping due to the agony. I contemplated whether Dane could sense my pain or if it was his own that I was sensing.After Kara graduated, she got married to a guy from college and they bought a home i

That night, the small, dark room was quiet and still. The only sound came from the faint hum of the air conditioning unit located on the floor above. The room was dimly lit by a sliver of light that peeked through the tiny slits between the blinds. The darkness seemed to engulf everything, making it difficult to see clearly.I was lying on the bed, still shackled and without any undergarments or pants. Dash had not even given me water or food, which made me feel extremely exhausted.He hadn’t returned to finish his assault, but I had a feeling that it wouldn’t be long before he did.I had visible bruises on my face and body from the beating Dash had given me. He used various objects to hit me, such as his belt, a wooden paddle, his hands, and even his boots, stomping them into my abdomen. It was evident that my face was black and blue, and my lips were split open and swollen. The whites of my eyes were bloodshot, causing my once ocean-colored eyes to appear crimson.As soon as the doo

I woke to the sound of birds chirping outside the window, with the warm sun peeking through the curtains. I stretched my arms above my head and felt the soft sheets against my skin. As I sat up, I realized that I was in Dane's bed and a smile spread across my face. It felt so right being there with him. Portland was a distant memory, and I couldn't care less about being there if Dane wasn't a part of it.It had been a few weeks since the night that Dash had attacked me, and Dane had been by my side every step of the way as I healed from the trauma. He had been my rock, my protector, and my confidant, and I had grown to love him more with each passing day. Today was a big day, the day that Dane would mark me as his mate in a ceremony that would bind us together for life. I couldn't wait to officially become a part of his pack and to spend the rest of my life by his side. All those thoughts that I didn’t deserve Dane because I was a measly human were just my anxiety playing with me. I