Days passed in a suffocating haze. I stayed locked in my room, ignoring Jacob’s persistent knocks and attempts to speak. The ornate furnishings only emphasized my prison, and the mark on my neck was a constant reminder of the bond he had forced upon me. I needed to escape, but every plan I considered seemed hopeless.
The only glimmer of hope was Felix. In the fleeting moments our eyes had met, I felt it—an undeniable connection that made my wolf stir with certainty. He was my mate, the one person in this nightmare who might help me.
My thoughts were interrupted when the door burst open, and Hera strolled in, her expression sharp and malicious. She tossed a stack of photos onto the bed without a word. I froze as I recognized the faces: Heron and Vivien, smiling and radiant on their wedding day.
“They moved on fast,” Hera sneered, her tone dripping with false sympathy.
I glared at her. “Why are you showing me this?”
“To help you see the truth,” she said coldly. “You don’t belong anywhere—not in their world, not in ours. If you want peace, there’s only one way out.”
Her words chilled me. “What are you talking about?”
“You need to disappear, Calla. Permanently.” Her smile was cruel, and I recoiled, horrified.
Before I could respond, Jacob appeared in the doorway, his golden eyes narrowing. “What’s going on?”
“Just a friendly visit,” Hera said sweetly, snatching the photos and tucking them behind her back. “Oh, and to invite you and Calla to dinner at the Thorndusk Pack. Mother and Father insist.”
I wanted to refuse, but Jacob’s hand on my arm silenced any protest. “We’ll go,” he said firmly.
The dinner was unbearable. Hera flirted shamelessly with Jacob while I sat in silence, suffocated by the weight of the pack’s expectations. Alpha Garett’s booming voice broke through my numbness midway through the meal.
“Calla, you must bear Jacob’s child soon. The pack needs it.”
My breath caught, and my heart pounded as his words sank in. Jacob’s smooth reply—assuring them that their wishes would soon be fulfilled—felt like a noose tightening around my neck. My gaze flicked to Felix, but he remained silent, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable.
When dinner ended, Felix lingered near me, his voice a whisper meant only for me. “Meet me tonight,” he murmured.
Hope sparked faintly in my chest. I nodded, my resolve hardening. Whatever he had planned, I would seize the opportunity.