Everything about him was intimidating as hell, down to the way he looks at me, the exact kind of look a lion would give to a puppy. It made me feel very uncomfortable.

Slowly, I placed my sweaty palms on my gown and tried to act like nothing was wrong.

Orion stopped a few distances away from me and crossed his arms over his chest.

"If you think the fact that we're mated is going to make me treat you differently, then you're setting yourself up for a shocking discovery."

I froze, losing my breath for a second.

Why is he even getting married to Ravenna or whoever the fuck owns this body I'm trapped in if he doesn't care one bit about her.

The thoughts of what he might have in store for me terrified me, but my expression remained neutral.

I wouldn't let him see how much his words terrified me. I am used to the rejections anyway, so if he rejects me here and now, I wouldn't care less, I don't even know him enough to love him.

But then Orion's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer. "What do you have to do with Kevin?" he asked. "I heard you two talking when I left."

My heart felt like a sinking ship. Did he see Jacob kissing me? I panicked, perhaps he heard us.

For fuck sake, why do I keep going from trouble to trouble.

I didn't even know how to answer him, so I just kept my mouth shut.

He groaned, the kind of sound that means only one thing: anger. Especially with the way his jaw tightened.

He stepped even closer, towering over me, and pointed a finger right at my chest. "How do you know Kevin?" he demanded, "And if you lie, I don't mind killing you tonight."

The air left my lungs. Killing me? He'd really do that? My hands shook so bad, I had to roll them into fists to stop the shaking.

His eyes were like lasers, piercing through me for answers.

At that moment, I knew, one wrong word, and I might not walk out of this gym alive.

I opened my mouth again, but there were no words.

I was trapped, caught between Jacob's stupid game and Orion's deadly Attitude.

I had to say something, anything, but what? The truth? A lie?

My mind danced in different directions, searching for the right words, but it was all blank. All I could feel was the pounding of my pulse and the sweat on my skin.

I wanted to run, to bolt out the door and never look back, but my feet were glued to the spot.

Jacob's kiss kept replaying in my head. It had happened so fast, one second he was talking about some wicked plan, the next his lips were on mine.

My heart ached with the memory of how he'd betrayed my love for him.

I could still see his face from that day he sent. me that text message, like it was no big deal.

But Orion, he was the real problem now. My mate. The Alpha. The guy who could snap my neck without breaking a sweat. I had just met him, and he's already talking about killing me.

Orion's groan snapped me back to the moment. He was losing it, I could tell.

He stepped closer, so close I could perceive his strong masculine perfume.

"You're just thinking of the lies to come up with, aren't you?" he accused.

My jaw dropped. Lies? I hadn't even said anything yet!

"You're a whore," he spat. " You're already trying to seduce Kevin."

His words hit me hard, like a hot slap across the face.

Fear had been bubbling inside me, but now it boiled over into disgust.

A whore? Seduce Jacob? The idea made my skin crawl. Jacob or whatever the fuck his name is now, had kissed me, not the other way around, but Orion didn't care about the truth.

He'd already decided who I was. I wanted to snap back, to tell him he was wrong, but I bit my tongue.

I'd heard the rumors about him, how he crushed anyone who crossed him, how bodies disappeared after his anger flared.

If I slipped up now, who knew whose body I'd end up in next? Or maybe this time, my death would be permanent.

Orion's eyes narrowed, his voice rose with fury.

"Since you're nothing but a whore, I'll treat you like one!"

My heart slammed hard like a wave on the seashore.

I took a shaky step back, but there was no running away from him.

He turned toward the gym door and shouted, "Keto!"

The door creaked open, and Keto stepped inside.

His eyes darted between me and Orion, a quick glance that revealed nothing at all.

"Take her to the drilling pit," Orion ordered, his tone cold. "My men are waiting."

The drilling pit? My eyes widened in terror. What was that? The name alone sent a chill down my spine, conjuring images of dark, twisted places, holes in the ground, blood, and screams.

I didn't know what it was or what awaited me there, but it sounded like a nightmare.

My breath caught in my throat, and my legs felt weak.

Before I could move, Keto crossed the room in four quick steps.

His hand clamped around my wrist. "No-wait!" I gasped, pulling against him, but it was like tugging on a steel door.

He didn't even look at me, just yanked me toward the door.

Chapter 4 004

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