Vanya's POV
Desperate, I used my head to hit the nearby pillar, each impact sending a piercing pain through me.
But I ignored it. I was just hoping Cliff and the others could hear the noise and come to rescue me.
At the same time, I called out to my wolf in my mind.
"Selena, are you there? Can you take over my body?" I wanted to shift to break free from the ropes and escape.
"These ropes are made of a special material. If I forcefully take over your body, we might break bones," Selena's voice echoed in my mind.
My heart sank.
Soon, I heard the sound of footsteps.
The sound made me pause. It wasn't the heavy and steady sound of men's leather shoes on the ground but the crisp tapping of high heels.
I looked up with difficulty and was surprised to see Melinda walking towards me.
Her expression was somewhat gloomy.
'How did she get here?' I wondered.
She must be here with Cliff.
Seeing her gloomy face, I instantly recalled her behavior from my past life.
She wasn't here to save me.
According to her true character, she'd want me dead so she could become the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack.
She walked towards me without hesitation, seemingly intent on pushing me off the building without mercy.
I sensed a dangerous aura approaching but couldn't pinpoint what was off.
At that moment, Cliff's voice echoed from not far away, "Vanya!"
Hearing Cliff's voice, Melinda's movements froze. She quickly crouched down, pretending to be removing the tape from my mouth.
She feigned concern, "Luna Vanya, are you alright? I'll untie you now."
Watching her seemingly worried expression, I remained skeptical.
Hopefully, my feeling was wrong.
"Why did you come up here?" Cliff frowned slightly, displeased and puzzled to see Melinda. "I told you to stay in the car."
"I was worried about Luna Vanya, so I thought I'd help search for her," Melinda said with a pitiful expression, her eyes involuntarily drifting towards me.
Her gaze seemed to hide some indescribable emotion, intensifying my unease.
All I wanted was to escape this dangerous place, with no time to consider the subtle tension between them.
I urgently shouted, "There's a bomb here. Where are Theodore and Derrick? Tell them to run!"
My voice trembled with anxiety as I searched for signs of a bomb and listened for the terrifying "beep" sound, fearing the explosion could happen at any moment.
Without hesitation, Cliff strode towards me, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
He bent down and lifted me from the ground awkwardly.
I could feel his arms trembling slightly, whether from nervousness or something else.
As he held me, I caught the familiar scent of him.
I wriggled, saying urgently, "Untie me first, so I can run on my own."
"There's no time," he said coldly.
Then, he shouted to Theodore and Derrick, who were searching for me anxiously, "Found Vanya! Let's go!"
His voice echoed in the empty, unfinished building, carrying an undeniable sense of urgency.
He carried me towards the exit.
Melinda followed behind Cliff. I glanced at her. Her expression seemed normal, but her eyes were inescapably gloomy.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Melinda cried out. Cliff turned to see that her high heel had broken.
"Alpha Cliff, I'm sorry... I think I've twisted my ankle," she said.
Seeing this, I indifferently said, "Put me down, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Cliff looked at me doubtfully.
"Mm-hmm," I replied calmly.
Ever since Cliff arrived, my wolf had been silent, not feeling the sense of security that a mate's presence usually brings.
Hearing my response, Cliff put me down and turned to carry Melinda.
I had a wound on my ankle that couldn't heal just yet.
The sharp pain from my ankle made me frown involuntarily.
At the same time, footsteps sounded in the corridor.
I looked up to see Theodore running over. His gaze swept over me, and he immediately noticed my ankle.
Without a word, Theodore stepped forward and picked me up.
I was taken aback, "What are you doing?"
Theodore said as he walked, "Your foot is injured, too. Why didn't you say anything?"
"It's not important," I paused, then said, "Moreover, he cares about Melinda more."
It was obvious to everyone that Cliff's preference for Melinda had long crossed the boundaries of a typical relationship.
Cliff still used his wolf to explain his favoritism towards Melinda, which was a bit self-deceptive, but I couldn't deceive myself.
"Fool," Theodore adjusted his hold on me, saying, "Hold on tight."