I'm woken by the sound of shouting. My heart thundered in my chest as the chaos outside seeped into the cave. I blinked, adjusting to the bright light that filled the cave. It's morning already.
The space beside me on the bed is cold, empty. My fingers brushed the empty space where he'd been, and a flood of memories crashed over me— The taste of his cherry lips, the roughness of his hands when they gripped my butt, steadying me. Every breath I drew as he fucked into me. The size of his manhood, barely able to fit in my hands. I remember how it felt to be with him under the waterfall. He washed my hair, my body, covered me in kisses then fulfilled my wishes. He fucked me under the light of the moon, made me moan, claimed me. Every touch, every kiss burned into my memory. The way he carried me, the way he made me feel weightless, cherished, consumed.
I pulled the blanket closer, inhaling the faint scent of him. Smoke and cedar. It made my insides twist.
But he was gone now.
The noise outside surged louder. Panic crawled up my throat as I scanned the room for my wheelchair. It was nowhere to be seen. My breathing hitched, fear turning my stomach cold. The roaring of engines—louder now—was unlike anything I'd ever heard. A brilliant light poured into the cave, throwing my small world into stark relief.
I swallowed my panic. "Move," I whispered to myself.
Digging my palms into the rocky floor, I dragged myself forward. My arms screamed in protest as I pulled my useless legs behind me, inch by painful inch. Sweat slicked my forehead, dripping into my eyes as the weight of my body threatened to drag me down.
The cave opened up to chaos.
It wasn't the Lycan King's men. Not at first.
A massive metallic structure loomed in the distance, dwarfing the treetops like a nightmare come to life. The land around it was scarred and flattened, turned to ash by whatever force had birthed this monstrosity. Figures moved around the ship—tall, muscular men with blue-hued skin, braids and a tail. They were in somewhat human form, given the only difference between us was their shier height, their tails and their blue skin. Their voices, even the language they spoke, was off.
My heart slammed against my ribs. I had no words for what I was seeing. This wasn't the wrath of the Lycan King. This was something far worse.
And then I saw him.
My mate was standing among them, his broad shoulders relaxed as if he belonged. He wasn't fighting the invaders or demanding answers. He was talking to them, gesturing toward the ship with an air of authority.
A traitor.
The realization struck like a blade to the chest. My mate, the man who'd held me like I was the most precious thing in the world, was working with them. He was betraying our planet by working with the alien wolves. How could he?
The Lycan King would call this treason, and treason didn't come with second chances.
I had to leave. Now.
A whimper escaped my lips as I started to pull myself back into the cave, but it was too late. His head turned, and his eyes—those same ones that had been filled with fire and desire the night before—found mine.
"Run," I whispered to myself, even though my body refused to obey.
He began walking toward me. I clawed at the ground, dragging myself away, but he was faster. Stronger.
He caught me just as I reached the edge of the waterfall. His hands closed around my arms, pulling me up like I weighed nothing.
"Let me go!" I screamed. I kicked at him, my legs useless but my panic fueling every strike of my fists. "You're working with them! You're a traitor!"
His face twisted in confusion, but he said nothing. Goddess! Doesn't he speak?
Tears blurred my vision. My words spilled out in a broken rush. "The Lycan King will kill me just for being near you! Do you have any idea what they'll do if they think I was helping you?"
He didn't respond, his silence as damning as his actions. I clawed at him, hysteria rising as I tried to push him away, but he held firm.
Then I heard it—the distinct sound of boots pounding against the forest floor.
I turned my head just in time to see them. A group of the Lycan King's soldiers emerged from the trees.
"There she is!" one of them shouted, pointing directly at me.
My heart sank.
Before I could process his words, his gaze shifted, taking in the field of the ship behind me and the towering blue men that moved around the forest.
"By the goddess," he breathed, his voice trembling.
At that moment, I knew.
We were all as good as dead.
I don't know what the hell is going on, but I don't have time to figure it out. Panic surges through my body, and before I can even process it, something snaps inside me. My legs—they move.
I can feel the ground beneath my feet for the first time, the muscles in my legs screaming in protest, burning with each step I take. But I don't stop. I don't slow down. My heart is racing, and I'm running—running so fast it's like I've become someone else, someone stronger.
Behind me, my mate is distracted, his attention shifting between me and the soldiers. I push myself behind his broad frame, the sheer force of him blocking my path, a brief, fleeting protection. My hands press into the dirt, and before he can even turn around, I'm gone.
I run.
My legs—my legs—are carrying me, and it feels like everything I've ever wanted in this moment is finally within reach. My lungs burn with every breath, but I keep going, pushing past the pain, ignoring the protests of my body. I need to escape him. I need to be far, far away.
The forest blurs, trees whipping past me, their branches scratching at my skin, but I don't care. I look back over my shoulder—he's not there. My heart hammers in my chest, my body surging with adrenaline as I push harder, faster, until I can't see the forest anymore.
I'm free.
For a moment, I think I'm free.
Then I crash into something solid. My body jolts, and I stumble, landing hard on my ass. The impact knocks the breath out of me, but I don't have time to recover. I look up—and there he is.
The Lycan King.
His eyes are cold, cruel, and fixed on me. "Hello… little pet." His voice is laced with malice, and the words feel like a punch to my gut.