Chapter 4 I Will Not Break

When I woke up I was confused at where I was until the memories came rushing back into my head.

I met my mate, the Alpha King who hated me more than anything. The way he had looked at me, chained me up.

I yanked at the silver chains, biting my lip as the metal seared into my skin. The pain was excruciating, but I refused to stop. Xander thought he could chain me like some helpless pet? He thought I would break?

He had no idea who he was dealing with.

I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

I froze, my breathing shallow as heavy footsteps echoed through the cell. The air shifted, thickening with his presence before I even saw him. My stomach twisted, every muscle in my body tensing.

Xander.

He didn't speak right away. Instead, he took his time, his slow, measured steps making my skin prickle. I refused to look at him, keeping my gaze on the chains digging into my wrists.

The silence stretched.

Then-

A cold hand brushed against my cheek.

I flinched.

A dark chuckle rumbled from him. "Still pretending to be strong?" His voice was smooth, laced with amusement. "You're trembling, little omega."

I clenched my jaw, "You disgust me."

Xander grabbed my chin, forcing me to face him. His grip was unrelenting, his silver eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

"You don't get to hate me, Raven." His tone was deceptively soft, a stark contrast to the raw menace beneath it. "Not when you belong to me."

I bared my teeth. "I don't belong to anyone."

His fingers tightened painfully before he suddenly released me, stepping back as if I'd bored him. "We'll see how long that fire lasts."

My stomach twisted.

Xander turned, walking to the corner of the cell where a small wooden table stood. My breath caught as he lifted a thin, sharp dagger from its surface, Moonlight gleamed off the blade as he ran his fingers along the edge, testing its sharpness.

A slow smirk curled his lips as he turned back to me.

Panic coiled in my chest.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, my voice steady despite the way my heart pounded.

Xander stalked toward me, his movements unhurried, deliberate. "I've been thinking." His voice was calm, too calm. "You rejected me, Raven. And yet, here we are."

I swallowed hard.

"The bond is still there," he continued, stopping just beside me. "You feel it, don't you? The pull?"

I refused to answer.

His smirk widened. "It's driving you mad."

I hated that he was right.

The mate bond was a cruel thing. Even after everything he'd done, his presence made my wolf whimper, made my body react in ways I despised. The connection was like a venomous thread tying me to him, no matter how much I wanted to sever it.

Xander lifted the dagger, pressing the cool blade against my collarbone.

I stilled, my breath catching.

He leaned down, his lips just inches from my ear. "You want to be free, don't you?" he murmured. "You want to escape me?"

I forced myself to nod, my pulse hammering.

"Then let's make things interesting." he whispered,

Before I could process his words, a sharp pain sliced through my shoulder.

I gasped, a cry ripping from my throat as the dagger pierced my skin, not deep, but enough to make me burn. Blood trickled down my arm, staining the white fabric of my dress.

Xander's eyes darkened as he watched, his breathing slow and steady. "Pain weakens the bond," he said casually, dragging the blade lower, just enough to make me shudder. "Did you know that?"

I bit my lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of another sound.

Xander tilted his head. "No?" His smirk deepened. "Let's test it."

With a swift motion, he sliced through the ties of my dress, the fabric slipping from my shoulder. I sucked in a sharp breath, my body tensing as the cold air kissed my exposed skin.

He didn't touch me.

He didn't need to.

The fear in my eyes must have pleased him because his smirk never faded, "I wonder how much pain it would take to sever our bond completely," he mused, twirling the dagger between his fingers. "Or perhaps..." He leaned in again, his breath hot against my neck.

"Perhaps I should mark you instead."

Dread crashed into me like a tidal wave.

"No," I choked out, my voice hoarse. "You wouldn't."

Xander chuckled, his free hand brushing my hair back. "Wouldn't I?"

My body trembled. A mark from him, an Alpha King, would seal my fate. It would bind me to him forever, making any chance of escape impossible.

I clenched my fists. I couldn't let that happen. No, I couldn't.

I wouldn't let that happen.

Summoning every ounce of strength I had left, I did the only thing I could.

I spat in his face.

The moment the saliva hit his cheek, time seemed to stop. And so did my heart.

The room grew deathly silent.

Xander didn't move.

His expression didn't change.

For one terrifying moment, I thought I'd made a mistake.

Then-

His hand shot out, wrapping around my throat.

I gasped as he lifted me effortlessly, the silver chains biting into my wrists as he pinned me against the wall. His grip wasn't crushing, but it was firm enough to remind me of exactly how much stronger he was.

A dark chuckle rumbled from his chest. "You just made this so much more fun, little omega."

I clawed at his wrist, my vision blurring at the edges.

He leaned in close, his silver eyes burning into mine.

"I was going to take my time with you," he murmured. "Break you slowly."

His grip tightened, his lips brushing against my ear, as a shiver went down my spine, as my heartbeat increased.

"But now?" His voice was laced with a deadly promise.

"Now, I'll make you beg for mercy."