"High-grade silver," Jasper explained, nodding towards the knife. "Just like the chains. You won't be healing anytime soon." I glanced up at the chains that bound me; they hadn't burned me, as I'd expected silver to do. It only added to my confusion and fear.
"Erica can't shift," Christian suddenly spoke up, his voice tense. "The curse isn't broken. Just tell him, so he can take you away from here." His eyes flickered over to Jasper's father, who was whispering with a man radiating power, and I could see the worry etched on Christian's face. It wasn't just about what Jasper had planned, he was afraid of something else. My glare focused on Jasper, but my lips remained sealed. I would not give them the satisfaction of hearing me beg or plead.
"Please, Erica," Christian implored, desperation in his tone. "Tell him, so he knows you're not a threat." I closed my eyes, refusing to show any sign of submission. Jasper sighed, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
"Fine. I have all night to break you. It's not like anyone is coming to save you." The words struck me like a physical blow, but I fought to keep my tears at bay. He continued, venom dripping from every syllable.
"I hear alpha boy returned home the day after you were taken. No mention of rescuing you, though. Don't worry, once I'm done breaking you, I'll fuck you into oblivion and leave you as a message at the Silver Stone gates, just like Jessica."
A cold shiver ran down my spine, my eyes snapping open as I struggled to process the implications of Jasper's words. Who was Jessica? The name tugged at the edges of my memory, a shadow of something important I couldn't quite grasp. A whirlwind of emotions threatened to overwhelm me; confusion, fear, anger.
"Ah, so our little captive has no idea what I am talking about," Jasper grinned maliciously, his laughter echoing off the walls around us. "Seems your mate has been keeping you in the dark, hasn't he?"
"Fuck you," I spat. My heart hammered against my chest, but I refused to back down.
"Maybe if you knew what happened to Jessica, how Liam allowed her to be killed." He paused for emphasis, relishing the effect his words had on me. "Or better yet, how Christian here played a part in her death."
My eyes widened, flicking over to Christian, who seemed to shrink under my gaze.
"No," I whispered, refusing to believe that he has obviously been involved in something so cruel.. But the look on his face told me everything I needed to know.
"Believe it, sweetheart," Jasper sneered, his eyes locked onto mine. "And soon enough, you'll get to ask Jessica herself how it felt to die at the hands of the ones she trusted." Ice-cold dread settled in the pit of my stomach. If Jasper was willing to share this information, he truly meant to break me, with no hope of rescue. This realisation sparked something inside me, a fire that spread through my veins, filling me with an unfamiliar strength. My eyes shifted to the pale gold of my Alpha wolf, a growl rumbling in my chest. Jasper's eyes widened slightly, regarding me with awe for a moment before recovering himself.
"Impressive," he said, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "But it isn't going to save you." He lifted the knife again, prepared to bring it down on me, but suddenly both the man and Jasper's father looked up at me in shock. With surprising speed, Jasper's father rushed forward and pushed Jasper out of the way. He grabbed hold of my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes.
"Well hello there, precious," he grinned, and something about his words sent shivers down my spine. Before I could react, he turned and ordered everyone to leave the room. He then turned to Jasper and told him they needed to speak immediately.
As everyone filed out of the room, Christian hesitated, looking at me with concern. “That means you too Grant,” Jasper’s father said without looking back. Reluctantly, he followed the others, leaving me alone. Jasper's father led him away, their voices fading as they exited. I was left alone in the room, fear and self-pity threatening to consume me. My body still hummed with arousal from Heidi's unwanted touch; I hated that she had forced this reaction from me. And I hated that I was so weak and afraid of what plans Jasper had for me. Anger flared within me, mixing with the lingering terror.
Alone in the cell, I shivered as the cold air licked at my exposed skin. The chains bit into my wrists, their relentless weight threatening to pull me down. My toes struggled for purchase on the damp floor, my arms aching from holding up my body. The wound in my side throbbed mercilessly, a slow burn that reminded me of the torment I had endured. I could feel the blood seeping from the gash, but it seemed to be slowing its pace, as if my body were already fighting against the pain. Exhaustion and fear gnawed at the edges of my consciousness, and I let myself slip into the dark embrace of unconsciousness.
I woke to the sound of clanking metal, my body tensing instinctively. The pressure on my arms lessened as I was lowered to the floor, the chains releasing their cruel hold on me. I felt the cuffs being removed from my wrists, replaced by the gentle warmth of a soft blanket draped over me. Forcing my eyes open, I searched for the source of this unexpected kindness.
"Jasper," I whispered in disbelief as I saw him carrying me out of the cell, his strong arms cradling me like a fragile treasure. His blue eyes met mine, and he shushed me gently.
"Shh, you're safe now," he murmured, his voice soothing despite the confusion swirling within me. "I'm sorry, Erica. I had no idea who you were." His words held a sincerity that made me question everything I thought I knew about him. As I felt myself slipping back into unconsciousness, Jasper's voice echoed in my mind. "Rest now, my Queen."
Chapter 17
Liam
Thefrontdoorofthe Alpha's quarters in the pack house slammed open, the force of it sending a shiver through the walls. My chest heaved as I stormed into the living room, fury burning like wildfire in my veins. Over the course of the four-hour journey back to the pack, I'd grown angrier and angrier about my father not protecting Erica. The rage bubbled within me, threatening to erupt at any moment. And the sight of my father standing in the living room was the final straw.
"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" I screamed, my voice hoarse from hours of cursing the heavens. My hands trembled as I clenched them into fists, the whites of my knuckles shining through my skin. "If she dies, I swear, I'll kill you!" I lunged forward, blind with rage, and attacked my father. My fists collided with his face over and over again, each strike fuelled by the desperate fear that my mate could be slipping away. Blood streamed from his nose, his mouth, but he didn't even try to defend himself, didn't even raise his hands to shield his battered face. He just let me pummelled him, his eyes fixed on mine, filled with an indescribable sadness.
"I told you so," I snarled as I landed another blow, blood staining my knuckles. "You should've done something! You should've protected her!" As the others watched in horror, I couldn't see them, couldn't hear their gasps, their pleas for me to stop. All I saw was my father's bruised and bloodied face, and all I could think of was Erica, her vivid green eyes, her light red hair, her strength and determination. And how she might be suffering because of us, because of our failures.
"Please, Liam," my father whispered, his voice choked with pain. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry isn't good enough!" I roared, my heart pounding in my ears. "She's out there, alone and afraid, and it's because of you!" In that moment, all I wanted was to make him hurt as much as I did, to feel the same crushing weight of guilt and fear that threatened to suffocate me. It was irrational, I knew, but the thought of losing Erica was too much to bear. And so I lashed out, giving in to the darkness that clawed at the edges of my soul.
"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" I screamed again, my voice cracking. But even as the words left my lips, I couldn't ignore the nagging whisper at the back of my mind, the one that told me I was just as much to blame.
Hands grabbed at my arms, desperate to pull me away from the broken man beneath me. My father. I fought against their grip, still consumed by fury and fear for Erica's life. The sight of my father's bloodied face did nothing to calm me; instead, it only fed the fire that burned within me.
"Get off me!" I snarled, shoving one person aside as I tried to reach my father again. "This is his fault! He didn't protect her!"
"Stop, Liam!" someone shouted, though their voice was distant, lost in the chaos of my rage. I could hear others yelling as well, but their words were meaningless, drowned out by the pounding of my heart and my own desperate need for retribution. Then, without warning, a sharp sting pierced the side of my neck, followed by an unbearable wave of dizziness. My limbs went limp, betraying me as they refused to obey my commands. Confusion and panic set in as I struggled to remain standing, to continue fighting.
