Amelia and I remain huddled together, separated only by the bars that encase us. The minutes drag on, and it must have been nightfall when James descends the steps.
James unlocks my cell door with a deliberate lack of words. His intense gaze locked onto me the entire time. As he reaches out to grab and pull me away from Amelia, I resist with every fibre of my being.
'Don't touch me! Get your hands off of me!' I shout in defiance, attempting to slap his face in protest. However, he swiftly pins my wrists between us, immobilizing me with a fierce grip.
'I wish I could mark you right now, Astrid,' he whispers into my ear, his words sending a shiver down my spine. 'I look forward to your first shift tomorrow night. Ever since Ryker showed up looking for you, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. The thought of him taking you away from me is killing me,' he confesses with longing and desperation.
'I belong with Alpha Ryker, not you! You'll be sorry when he finds me here!' I assert.
James glares at me, his pent-up frustration and desire evident in his eyes as he pushes me harshly against the iron bars. 'You are mine! And I will claim you as mine after your first shift, and I will make sure you're bearing my pups by the end of the night!' He proclaims vehemently.
'I will never mate with you, and I would rather die than bear your pups!' I retort fiercely.
In response, James delivers a brutal strike to my face, the force of which causes me to tumble to the ground. Amelia cries out in alarm, her voice echoing with concern as she witnesses the violent encounter.
With a final glare, James storms out of the cell, leaving me bruised but also more determined than ever to escape the clutches of this nightmare and reunite with Ryker.
'I'm okay, Amelia. I'm sorry you had to see that,' I whimper, my voice still trembling from the harrowing encounter with James.
Amelia's eyes glisten with distress as she clutches the cold, unforgiving bars separating us. 'Astrid, we need to get out of here,' She pleads urgently, her voice quivering with fear and desperation.
'I know,' I respond with fierce determination, my gaze fixed on the dimly lit cell.
In the midst of the dismal atmosphere, Seth begins to stir, slowly lifting himself from the cold floor. 'Seth!' I exclaim with an outpouring of relief, my voice filled with genuine joy. 'Seth!'
He removes the mesh bag that covers his head, squinting as his eyes struggle to adjust to the feeble light. 'Astrid, is that you?' He asks with disbelief and uncertainty.
'Yes, it's me! Seth, I'm so glad you've woken up. I was so worried!' I exclaim.
Confusion shrouds Seth's features as he takes in his unfamiliar surroundings. 'Where are we?' He asks with dismay as the grim reality of our situation dawns on him.
'We're in the cells below the Shady Crest packhouse,' I reply somberly.
Seth's gaze shifts to Amelia, and he points a finger at her. 'Who is that?' He asks with curiosity and concern swirling in his eyes.
'This is Amelia. She tried to help me escape, but she got caught, and now she's here with us. She's John's chosen mate, not his fated mate.' I explain.
Seth is incredulous as he grapples with the shocking revelation. 'Why would anyone have a chosen mate?' He questions with disbelief.
'Alpha Zenith doesn't want his children or pack members to be with their true mates. He killed John's and Vanessa's mates, deeming them weak omegas. He intends to select high-ranking, strong werewolves as the chosen mates for his children to breed stronger pups. Amelia, an Alpha's daughter from another pack, was purchased to mate with John. And as for me, he's attempting to force me to mate with James after my first shift tomorrow night,' I explain, telling him all I know.
Seth's expression shifts to anger, disbelief, and determination. 'You're Alpha Ryker's mate! You're my Luna! You can't mate with James!' He declares fiercely.
'We need to devise a plan to escape before I shift. Otherwise, cling to the hope that Ryker will come to our rescue,' I tell them, the urgency in my voice intensifying with each word.
Seth and Amelia nod, and we spend the rest of the evening trying to devise a plan.
Ryker’s P.O.V
The city's bustling streets give way to the modern exterior of Zenith Creations as we arrive, parking our vehicles. With determination, we enter the sleek facility, greeted by the soft hum of ambient lighting and the polished surfaces that define the building's aesthetic. As we make our way to the elevator, we anticipate the confrontation ahead.
The elevator doors chime melodically, parting to reveal the next phase of our mission.
Stepping out into a luxurious hallway, Kane takes the lead, reaching out to open the grand door that beckons us forward. Leon and I follow suit, entering a space that exudes corporate opulence. The waiting room is a testament to modernity, with contemporary decor and even a calming water feature adorning one of the walls.
The contrasting ambience of affluence against the backdrop of our impending confrontation intensifies the sense of anticipation that courses through me.
My tolerance wears thin as I approach the large desk. A blonde-haired woman engrossed in a phone call meets my arrival with an arch of her perfectly groomed eyebrow. Impatient, I tap my fingers assertively on the desk, hoping to convey the urgency of our presence.
However, the woman remains unperturbed. Deciding to take matters into my own hands, I seize the phone from her grasp and forcefully return it to its cradle. Her protestation follows swiftly, with irritation and surprise colouring her voice. 'Excuse me!' She retorts. ‘That was a very important client on the phone!’ She states.
I cut straight to the point. 'I don't care who was on the phone. Where is Zenith? I want to speak with him immediately,' I demand firmly, my intense gaze locked onto hers.