Voices pulled at the edge of my consciousness—whispers of betrayal, the roar of rushing water, and the anguished growl of a stranger who should not exist.
Damien Blackthorne.
The name echoed like a curse.
"Stay with me, Sienna." His voice was a command, not a plea. Strong hands gripped my shoulders, anchoring me to reality.
I opened my eyes, blinking against the blur of darkness and flickering moonlight. The scent of cedar and storm clouds filled my senses, sharp and wild.
Damien's face hovered above mine, his silver eyes sharp and unyielding. "You fainted."
I tried to push away, but my limbs felt like lead. "I'm fine," I whispered, though the tremor in my voice betrayed me.
"No, you're not." His tone softened, but his grip remained firm. "You've been running too long."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Lucien—"
"I dealt with him."
"What?" My eyes widened. "You fought him?"
Damien's jaw tightened. "He won't stop. Not until you're his again."
"I was never his," I spat, anger bubbling to the surface. "The bond was a lie."
Silence hung between us, heavy with unspoken truths.
"Then why didn't you break it?" Damien's voice was low, a challenge hidden in the question.
The truth clawed at my chest. "Because I'm not strong enough."
"Not yet."
The forest stretched endlessly around us, shadows twisting like predators. Every step was a reminder of how far I had fallen—from the proud wolf who believed in mates and loyalty to the shattered soul carrying the weight of betrayal.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Somewhere safe," Damien said without looking back.
"Safe?" A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "There's no such thing."
"There is," he said firmly. "But you need to trust me."
I hesitated. Trust was a luxury I couldn't afford.
"You saved me," I admitted quietly. "Why?"
His steps faltered, just for a moment.
"Because I know what it's like to lose everything," he said. "And I'm not letting Lucien take more lives."
The weight of his words settled over me like a heavy cloak.
We reached a clearing where the forest thinned, revealing a small cabin tucked into the shadows. The structure was worn but sturdy, the kind of place where secrets could hide and wounds could heal—or fester.
Damien opened the door without a word, gesturing for me to enter.
I stepped inside, my senses sharp despite the exhaustion. The air smelled of pine and ash, and a fire crackled in a stone hearth.
"Sit." He pointed to a worn leather chair.
"I don't—"
"Sit."
Reluctantly, I sank into the chair. The warmth of the fire seeped into my bones, but it did little to calm the storm inside me.
Damien crouched in front of me, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Lucien's wolves will come," he said. "They'll hunt you until there's nowhere left to run."
"I know." My voice was steady, though fear curled in my chest like a sleeping serpent.
"You need to break the bond."
"I told you—"
"You're stronger than you think, Sienna."
The way he said my name—like it was something precious—made my breath catch.
"What do you want from me?"
His gaze darkened. "Justice."
"For what?"
He stood, his eyes burning like molten silver. "For the mate I lost. For the pack Lucien destroyed."
The truth slammed into me with the force of a tidal wave.
"You… you were his brother."
"Was," Damien said coldly. "But not anymore."
I trembled, the weight of the revelation sinking in. "You hate him."
"With every piece of my soul."
The firelight danced across his face, highlighting the scars that marked him—a man forged by betrayal and vengeance.
"Why didn't you kill him?" I asked.
Damien's smile was sharp and bitter. "Because death is too kind."
The night grew colder, and silence settled between us like a fragile truce.
"What will you do now?" I whispered.
"I'll fight." His answer was simple, final.
"Alone?"
His eyes met mine. "Not anymore."
The door rattled suddenly, a sharp knock breaking the stillness.
Damien's body tensed like a coiled spring, his eyes flashing with danger.
"Stay here." His command was a growl.
He moved to the door, every step measured, a predator ready to strike. He flung it open—and came face to face with a wolf I had hoped never to see again.
Kellan.
"Damien," Kellan sneered, his fangs glinting in the moonlight. "I wondered where you'd been hiding."
"I'm not hiding." Damien's voice was a blade, cold and sharp. "You're trespassing."
Kellan's eyes flicked past him, landing on me. "The omega doesn't belong to you."
"She doesn't belong to anyone," Damien said.
"She belongs to Lucien," Kellan growled. "And he's coming for her."
"Then he'll die."
The words hung in the air, a death sentence wrapped in ice.
Kellan laughed, low and menacing. "You've forgotten your place, traitor."
"No," Damien said, stepping forward. "I've found it."
Their eyes locked, two storms colliding.
I clenched my fists, my heart racing as the tension crackled like fire.
"Tell Lucien," Damien said quietly, his voice a dark promise. "If he comes for her, I'll finish what I started."
Kellan's grin widened. "I'll be sure to give him your regards."
As the door slammed shut, I felt the ground shift beneath my feet.
Damien turned, his eyes unreadable.
"They know where you are."
The truth settled like a stone in my chest.
"They'll keep coming," I whispered.
"Let them."
His words were fire and fury.
"We'll end this."