CARISSA'S POV
My heart slams against my ribcage as I rush into my room, slamming the door shut behind me. My legs feel like jelly, and I barely make it to the floor before they give out completely.
For a moment, I sit there, clutching my chest. My breaths come in short, shallow gasps. The ride—no, that nightmare—flashes through my mind. Each image I remember is more terrifying than the last. The roar of the engine, the screech of tires, the sharp turns that felt like they'd throw me straight into the darkness
My stomach twists violently.
I barely make it to the bucket in the corner before everything comes up. The retching is violent, leaving me trembling and weak. Tears sting my eyes, but I squeeze them shut, forcing them back.
No, Carissa. Don't cry. You don't cry. Not over this.
I sit back on my heels, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. My body feels like it's been wrung out, but I don't allow myself to collapse. I grab the edge of the bed to steady myself and pull myself upright. My legs still shake, threatening to betray me, but I refuse to let them.
I stumble to the mirror, catching sight of my reflection. My cheeks are pale, my lips a shade too close to white. My hair's a tangled mess, and my eyes are wild, still filled with the terror I've been trying to hide.
And then I remember his smirk.
Jaime's infuriating, cocky smirk as he pushed the car faster. His hands were steady on the wheel like he held my life in his hands—and he enjoyed it.
I grip the edge of the dresser so hard my knuckles turn white.
"Bastard," I hiss under my breath.
I don't know what his problem is, why he feels the need to torment me like this. Him and Kaine, both of them treating me like I'm some toy to be played with and discarded when they're done.
My stomach lurches again, but this time it's not from fear. It's from anger.
I slap the sides of the dresser, hard enough to make the wood creak.
"You don't get to win," I whisper to my reflection. "Not Jaime, not Kaine. I won't give them the satisfaction."
The words light something inside me. A spark.
I square my shoulders and meet my own gaze in the mirror.
"You're stronger than this," I tell myself. "You're not some weak, scared little girl. You're Carissa. You survived worse than this."
The memory of Jaime's eyes piercing into mine flashes in my mind. He saw me trying to act composed. I could tell he was waiting for me to crack. But I didn't. And I won't.
I grab a fresh dress and change, brushing my hair back into a neat braid. The physical act of tidying myself up helps clear my mind.
When I sit down on the edge of the bed, I close my eyes and breathe deeply. In and out. In and out. I focus on the rhythm until the trembling in my limbs subsides.
The twins think they can break me. They think they can bully me into rejecting them. I've been through worse.
There's a knock at the door, startling me. My heart skips a beat, but I quickly compose myself.
"Who is it?" I call.
"It's me," comes Jaime's voice.
The sound of it makes my heart pound louder, but I straighten my back and stand.
I open the door, and there he is, leaning against the frame like he owns the world. His smirk is back.
I bow my head "Hello again, Alpha"
He raises an eyebrow. "Just checking in. You ran off so quickly, I thought maybe you were... rattled."
My lips curl into a smile that doesn't reach my eyes. "Takes more than a fast car to scare me, Alpha."
His smirk falters for half a second, but he recovers quickly. "Good to know. But you should be careful, Issa. This world isn't kind to those who don't know their place."
"And you think you know my place?" I ask politely, feigning innocence.
His eyes darken slightly, but he doesn't move. "I'm beginning to figure it out."
The tension between us is suffocating. It feels like a rope is pulling us closer with every word. I can feel the heat radiating off him, the intensity of his presence. It's overwhelming, infuriating, and—God help me—thrilling all at once.
I feel my wolf rise, pressing against the edges of my mind. Her desire to be close to him is almost unbearable. The mate bond between us feels like a live wire, pulling me toward him
"Carissa," he murmurs. His voice drops to a tone that makes my knees weak.
The way he says my name sends a jolt through me, like he's reached into my chest and wrapped his hand around my heart. I hate it. I hate how much power he has over me without even trying.
"I'll be going now" he says "Let's see if you can live up to this...show you're putting on"
Without another word, he turns around and leaves.
I close the door to my room and lean back against it, trying to catch my breath. My chest rises and falls as though I've just run a marathon. Every nerve in my body feels like it's on fire, and my wolf won't stop pacing in the back of my mind. The mate bond is unbearable. Its pull is stronger now than ever before.
My skin tingles with the memory of Jaime's presence, the heat that radiated from him when he stood so close. It's maddening. I shake my head, trying to stop the warmth pooling low in my stomach.
"No," I whisper to myself. "I can't let him get to me like this."
But even as I say it, I know it's a lie. He's already under my skin.
The room feels too small, too stifling. I need air. Desperately.
Grabbing a light shawl, I wrap it around my shoulders and slip out of my room. The palace at this hour seems empty. The few servants I pass don't even glance my way.
It's strange. I've always been treated as though I'm beneath notice, but today, it's like I don't even exist.
An idea strikes me—a dangerous, reckless idea that sends a thrill through me.
What if I just walk out?
My heart races at the thought. No one cares where I am, and clearly, no one is paying attention to me. It's almost like I'm invisible.
I wander through the palace, testing my theory. I walk past maids busy cleaning, guards stationed at their posts, and even a few high-ranking officials deep in conversation. None of them spare me so much as a glance.
The realization encourages me.
Maybe I can do it. Maybe I can slip away and find some freedom, even if it's just for a little while.
I make my way through the several hallways. The castle is massive, and I pass through several guarded sections, each time holding my breath, waiting for someone to stop me.
But they don't.
The guards don't even shift in their positions as I walk by. Their eyes are focused elsewhere. It's almost laughable how easy this is.
I keep going and soon I get close to the gates.
Freedom. It's right there, just a few steps away.
I quicken my pace. But just as I'm about to step through the gate, a voice cuts through the silence, freezing me in my tracks.
"Carissa."
The sound of his voice sends a jolt down my spine. It's deep, commanding, and I totally know who it is.
Alpha Kaine.