Chapter 1 Preface

If she knew before that this day was going to be her last, she would have appreciated her last moments with her mate a little more.

She could not remember the last words she said to him but she remembered what she felt just right. Embraced in his arms, huddling against the warmth of the burning wood-she remembered she was happy. Happier than she had ever been.

She didn't remember telling him how she felt, maybe she did not because she was too involved in enjoying the moment. She remembered the way his eyes glistened against the fire, holding hers-his scent, calming in a way and at the same time, disallowing her to be away. Also, smiling as his lips met hers. She remembered wanting to tell him she was in love with him.

But she did not remember telling him that and it hurt.

More than the combined pain of a concussion, a bleeding arm and a silver bullet in her shoulder. Any of her attempts to contact her mate failed. When she was first brought here, she was able to feel his anger. She could read this thoughts and hoped he would be here anytime soon but now as time slipped from her hand like fine sand, there was nothing left in her. Her powers had diminished. Her body had given up on her.

The wolfsbane had starting acting up.

Footsteps echoed in the dark room, squeaking against the wet floor. There was a silent pause and then she felt a sting in the bleeding arm and seconds later, the burning pain from the cut started numbing. She did not feel her arm anymore but the rest of her body continued to shiver. She tried to lift her dampened cheek so she could have a look at him. That hurt too but she bore the pain somehow and found him.

His figure was blurred because of the tears in her eyes but she blinked them away and saw him, towering over her helpless state, looking down at her with a cruel smirk on his face. There was an empty syringe in his hand. A drop leaked from the end of the needle and met the ground silently.

He sighed, smiling widely to himself. Finally, his thick voice hit her ears, "Ready to die, darling?"