Chapter 5 The wolf who wouldn't let go

My heart thundered so loudly I could feel it in my throat.

I tried to keep my breathing steady, tried not to show the fear burning in my chest, but my whole body was shaking. Leon stood in front of me, tall and calm, his eyes locked on mine with a darkness that made my stomach twist.

He didn't move at first.

He just stared - almost like he could read every thought in my head.

Then he finally rose to his feet.

For a moment, I thought he was going to drag me back to the bed or pin me against the wall. My hands balled into fists as I prepared myself for anything.

Instead, he walked away.

Straight to the wooden drawer pressed against the wall.

My breath caught.

My mind screamed.

Aaron had a drawer like that too...

That was where he kept his sharp tools.

His ropes.

His needles.

His belt.

My throat tightened painfully.

My knees trembled.

My vision blurred with old memories I wanted to forget.

Leon pulled out a small box - the same size as the one Aaron used to carry.

The same shape.

The same color.

My heart nearly stopped.

My fingers slid slowly toward the ceramic jug on the table.

I didn't want to die helpless.

I didn't want to be beaten again.

If Leon tried to hurt me...

If he tried anything at all...

I would crack his skull open first.

My grip on the jug tightened with every step he took closer.

My breath grew shallow.

Sweat gathered in my palms.

Just one moment.

One wrong move from him and I would swing.

He reached me.

Stopped in front of me.

Then he opened the box.

My arm froze in mid–air.

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Inside the box... there were no knives.

No needles.

No ropes.

Only bandages.

Ointments.

Clean cloths.

Medical herbs.

My chest rose sharply.

The jug slipped from my weak fingers and dropped loudly to the floor.

I just stared at him... frozen... trembling...

While he calmly took out the items and knelt beside me.

He didn't shout.

He didn't force me.

He didn't even look angry that I tried to hit him.

He simply reached for my knee, the one swollen and bruised from Aaron's kicks, and began gently cleaning the wound.

I stared at him in shock.

His touch was warm.

Soft.

Almost too gentle for a man who looked like he could break bones with his bare hands.

My heartbeat slowly steadied.

He knew I was going to attack him - he must have been watching my every move - and yet he didn't even react. He just focused on the wounds, rubbing ointment across my torn skin with slow, careful motions.

He didn't treat me like an object.

He treated me like I mattered.

His deep voice cut through the silence.

"I won't hurt you, Brenda."

He didn't even look up, but his voice shook me deeply.

It was thick.

Low.

Sincere.

My fingers loosened.

My shoulders dropped.

I slowly let go of the fear long enough to breathe again.

I placed the jug gently back on the ground.

He paused.

Then looked at me.

For the first time, I understood the look in his eyes - and it scared me even more than any threat could.

His eyes were soft.

Apologetic.

Like he hated himself for something he did or something he wished he could change.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner," he whispered.

My throat tightened.

I didn't want those words to touch me, but they did.

They hit the deepest part of me - the part that had always hoped someone... anyone... would come.

Just once.

But hope is dangerous.

Hope is deadly.

Hope is a lie.

I swallowed it quickly.

"Nobody does anything for free," I said harshly. "Why did you bring me here?"

Leon wrapped the bandage around my leg with slow, practiced movements, then smiled faintly.

"Because I can't stand to see you get hurt like that."

I scoffed loudly.

"You just want to get fucked. Wasn't that night enough for you?"

His smile fell instantly.

He rose to stand in front of me, jaw tight.

"Brenda," he said quietly, "sex or no sex... I would have saved anyone in your position. You were being mistreated. Badly."

I let out a cold, bitter laugh and pushed myself to my feet.

Pain shot through my ribs but I ignored it.

"If that's the case, you should've brought every girl at Alpha Aaron's mansion," I snapped. "Then maybe your story would make sense."

I walked past him, ready to leave the room, but before I could take two steps, his hand wrapped tightly around my arm.

His voice was firm.

"I don't care if you believe me or not. But you're safe here."

I turned slowly, staring at his hand gripping my arm.

His fingers were warm... steady... almost protective.

Not violent like Aaron's.

His grey eyes held mine.

"Let. Me. Go," I ordered.

Instead, his grip tightened slightly - not to hurt me, but to keep me still.

"I'm sorry, Brenda," he said softly, "but you're my responsibility now. And it's my duty to protect you. I can't let you leave."

Something snapped inside me.

I screamed, full of anger.

"So imprisoning me makes you a protector?! So you think-"

I didn't even finish my sentence.

Leon suddenly lifted me off the ground with one strong arm under my legs and one behind my back.

A sharp gasp escaped me.

I panicked and grabbed him tightly around his neck, squeezing with all my strength so I wouldn't fall. My eyes were squeezed tightly.

My heart hammered violently.

"Put me down!" I yelled, terrified.

He didn't.

Instead... he smiled.

A soft, teasing smile.

"You always pretend to be strong," he said quietly, brushing a thumb over my hair. "But you're just afraid of heights, aren't you?"

My face burned in shame.

I opened my eyes slowly - and froze when I saw how close we were.

His breath brushed my cheeks.

His chest rose and fell against mine.

His scent - warm, masculine, almost intoxicating - filled my lungs.

For a second, everything stopped.

He looked at me like he could see straight through me.

His grip on me slowly tightened, pulling me even closer.

A heat I didn't understand rushed through my stomach.

"No," I whispered internally. "Don't feel anything. Don't feel anything."

But my heart didn't listen.

My voice cracked.

"Let me go."

"Sure," he said lightly, loosening his arms as if he was really going to drop me hard against the floor.

I panicked and clung to him tighter, my arms locking around his neck.

His soft laugh vibrated through his chest.

"I thought so," he whispered, pulling me securely against him again.

He walked to the bed with slow, steady steps, then lowered me gently onto the soft mattress. One of his arms stayed behind my head so it wouldn't hit the bed too hard.

He tucked the blanket around me like I was fragile glass.

He touched my head softly.

"Stop acting strong around me," he whispered. "From now on... let me be your strength."

Then he walked away.

My heart thundered like drums as I watched him leave the room.

The moment I heard the door slam shut, I sat up sharply, ignoring the pain stabbing through my ribs and wrist.

I pulled the blanket off and stumbled toward the window.

Locked.

I didn't stop.

I pushed.

And pushed.

And pushed harder.

Pain exploded through my whole body - my wrist felt like it was breaking - but I didn't stop.

I pushed until the window finally cracked open.

Cold wind hit my face.

I held my breath.

Then I jumped.

My feet hit the ground painfully.

My leg bent awkwardly.

My ribs screamed.

But I didn't stop.

I couldn't let Leon cage me.

I ran.

Straight into the darkness of the night.

Outside was nothing like the warm room behind me.

The air was cold.

The woods looked alive, their shapes twisting into frightening shadows.

I walked deeper and deeper, forcing my shaking legs to keep moving.

The forest grew darker with every step.

No guards followed me.

Leon barely had any.

I slipped out easily.

But now I was alone.

Alone in a forest that felt like it wanted to swallow me whole.

The moon hid behind thick clouds.

The trees towered over me like giants.

The night sounds grew louder... sharper... more dangerous.

My breathing became uneven.

My body trembled from cold and fear.

I didn't know where I was going.

I didn't know where the road was.

I didn't know if I would survive.

Then I heard it.

A soft... low... dangerous growl.

Right behind me.

My blood turned to ice.

I turned slowly, shaking so hard my knees almost buckled.

My heart dropped.

A pack of black wolves stood behind me.

Their eyes glowed.

Their teeth shined.

Their bodies were tense with hunger.

One stepped forward.

Then another.

I stumbled back, breath shaking.

My lips parted in a trembling whisper.

"No... no... please..."

The wolves lowered their heads...

And prepared to attack.