Chapter 4 Elijah

ADRIANA

I was thrown to the ground, the air knocked out of my lungs. Before I could scramble away, they were on me. Three of them. Guards I recognized.

"Stupid bitch." One of them grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. "Did you really think you could run? You left a blood trail a blind wolf could follow."

"Please-"

"Shut up."

They dragged me toward the cottage. One of them kicked the door open and they hauled me inside.

There was an old wooden chair in the middle of the room.

"Tie her up."

"No! No, please-"

One of them backhanded me across the face. Stars exploded in my vision.

"I said shut up."

They forced me into the chair. Rough rope bit into my wrists as they tied my hands behind the chair back. More rope around my ankles, binding them to the chair legs. I thrashed and fought, but it was useless. No wolf strength. No Yara. Just me, weak and helpless.

"That should hold her." One of them stepped back, admiring their work. "Alpha said to bring her back. He didn't say she had to be comfortable."

They laughed.

The door opened again and I knew who it was before she even spoke.

"Well, well, well." Lisa walked in, that cruel smile on her face. "Look at you now."

I didn't respond. Staring at her with a blank expression. I didn't want to believe I was actually related to her.

She walked closer, circling me like a predator. "Did you really think you could run? Leaving a literal blood trail behind you? You're even more stupid than I thought."

"Let me go, Lisa."

"Let you go?" She laughed. "Oh, Adriana. You still don't understand, do you? You're mine. You've always been mine to do with as I please."

She stopped in front of me, leaning down so her face was inches from mine.

"Do you know what Father's going to do when we bring you back? He's going to give you to the Lycan King just like we planned. And that monster is going to use you until there's nothing left."

"At least I'll be away from you."

The words were out before I could stop them.

Lisa's eyes flashed with rage. Her hand moved so fast I only felt it when the slap cracked across my face, snapping my head to the side. Pain exploded across my cheek.

"You ungrateful bitch!" She slapped me again, harder. "After everything I've done-"

"What have you done?" I spit blood from my mouth. "Besides torture me and take everything from me?"

Another slap. This one split my lip.

"Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!" She was hitting me with every word now, open-handed slaps that left my face burning. "You took everything from me! Mother loved you more! Everyone always loved you more! Poor little Adriana, so sweet, so perfect-"

"That's not true-"

"YES IT IS!" She grabbed my face, her nails digging into my cheeks. "And now you have a wolf, don't you? I can smell it on you. You finally got your precious wolf while I had to work for everything!"

How did she know? How could she tell?

"I... I don't know what you're talking about."

She slapped me again, this time with the back of her hand. I felt my tooth cut into my inner cheek.

"Don't lie to me!" She hit me again. And again. "I can smell the change! You finally shifted and you thought you could run away? Thought you were strong enough now?"

My vision was blurring from the pain. My face felt like it was on fire. But I refused to cry. Refused to give her that satisfaction.

"I'm going to enjoy watching the Lycan King break you," Lisa hissed in my ear. "I'm going to enjoy knowing you're suffering. Maybe I'll even visit, just to see what's left of you."

She raised her hand to hit me again.

A growl echoed through the cottage.

Lisa froze, her hand still raised.

The growl came again, closer this time. The windows rattled with the force of it.

"What the hell-" One of the guards started.

The door exploded inward.

It actually splintered off its hinges as a massive black wolf burst through it.

The guards didn't even hesitate. They shifted and ran, crashing through windows in their panic to escape.

Lisa stumbled backward, her face pale. "No, no, no-"

The black wolf's eyes locked onto her. She ran.

The wolf let her go, his attention turning to me.

I pressed myself back against the chair as much as the ropes would allow, my heart hammering. He was huge. Bigger than any wolf I had ever seen, including my father. His black fur shone even in the dim light, and his eyes were focused and lethal.

He circled me slowly, taking very slow steps, studying me.

"P-please don't k-kill me. Please." I didn't know when the stuttered words left my mouth.

I had never had to beg for my life before but I was sure I was doing a very lousy job. I froze and even stopped breathing when he moved closer to me and sniffed me.

Maybe if he knew I was a werewolf just like him, he would let me go.

"I'm a wolf too. I'm the Alpha's daughter."

He moved back a little, his head tilting as if considering this.

Then he shifted. And whatever I was going to say next got stuck in my throat because I could see everything.

His perfectly shaped body, his outlined abs, every muscle and every vein and then also him, down below.

I turned my head away quickly, my face burning despite everything. That was the biggest I had ever seen, not that I had seen my fair share.

He must have noticed my plight because he shrugged.

"I thought you said you were a wolf? No wolf minds being naked. You should be used to it by now."

I fought with my eyes to stop them from going down there as he moved behind me.

I felt his hands on the ropes binding my wrists. One sharp tug and they snapped.

"Who really are you?" I asked as he moved to untie my ankles.

"Someone who heard you scream." He finished with the ropes and stepped back. "Can you stand?"

I tried. My legs were shaking, and between the running, the beating, and the fear, I barely made it upright before my knees buckled.

He caught me before I hit the ground.

"Easy now." His voice was surprisingly gentle. "You're safe. They're gone."

"Who... who are you?"

He looked down at me, those green eyes intense.

"My name is Elijah."