The Shadow Wolf - Part 1

The candle had burned out hours ago, taking the remnants of warmth with it. The shadows that had danced on the walls disappeared, leaving nothing but darkness in its wake. The thickness of the walls muffled sounds of laughter from the distance. 

Time was an abstract thought. It was fleeting in the never-ending darkness surrounding the broken soul that curled in the corner of her earthly tomb. Waiting for death to come was a daunting task, but what option did she have? It was the perfect outcome to a hideous situation, freeing her from her abuser's intent on tormenting her broken body. 

Her eyes snapped in the direction of the door, where she longed to make her escape. Not that her legs would carry her, even if she could get past him. They were in the middle of the frozen wastelands, the northernmost inhabited land, far from modern-day civilization. 

She'd never make it if she ran, but if her wolf decided to show up, she might have a fighting chance to escape from this hell hole. 

The door cracked open, and his eyes roamed the room, searching for her before he entered. Immediately, he locked the door before turning his unwanted attention back to her. His voice echoed in her mind as he spoke. "Nive, you'll turn eighteen in a few days, but it's a shame you'll never see the moon in the sky again."

"Not that I care," she tried to say nonchalantly. She desperately needed him to believe she was unfazed by his torment, but she was well aware that he'd see through her false bravado.

His faux smile clung to his face, distorted by the flames dancing in the lantern he held. "Now, Nive, after all I've done for you, are you willing to throw it away?"

Not having the strength to fight him, she whispered, "Whatever." Let his wrath boil over. Perhaps he'd end her misery before the New Year celebrations took place.

"Stupid Omega. Do you think I owe you something? Huh?" Alpha Lúka knelt next to her, grabbed her by the throat, and growled, "If it weren't for me, you'd have died on that ice pack."

She noticed his delusional behavior had morphed again. Now, he had a savior complex. Thinking back to her arrival at the ice hut, she might have been better off with the creep flirting with her than this monster. Save her. Huh. All he did was interrupt an uncomfortable conversation. 

Unwilling to correct him again, she muttered, "Then you should have let me die. What kind of existence do you call this? How is this better than death?" 

Looking stunned, he asked, "Have I not preserved your life?"

"For what? Don't you plan to sacrifice me to one of your imaginary gods? Isn't that your plan?" 

A smug look spread across his face before he suggested, "Perhaps not. What if, on your birthday, we discover we're mated? I might accept you as my mate."

She moved away from him, saying, "I'll reject you. Full stop! Even if you glued my mouth shut, I could still reject you in my mind, and the moon goddess would accept my rejection."

"You'll do no such thing," he said. 

Nive knew he was fuming but didn't care. She wouldn't accept anyone from this pack, regardless of who they were—not after what he had done to her. How many months had he kept her hidden away from the rest of the pack? Why? So he could sacrifice her to his ancient gods? What kind of a monster was he? One that would do anything to suppress the truth. 

"You can't force me to mark you!" 

"I can, and I will!"

She bristled at his words, replying, "How do you plan to stop me from rejecting you?"

Snapping at her, he hissed, "If you try, you won't live to regret it!" 

"Whatever. You're a psycho! I'll never be with you! Ever!"

His hand wrapped around her frail neck. Letting out a guttural growl, he managed to say through gritted teeth, "I own you, bitch. You'll do as I say."

She tried to pry his hands off of her throat, but he was too strong. All of her abilities were muted. Digging her nails into his arms, she heard him swear as he backed away. Snarling at her, he kicked her in the ribs and said, "You little bitch! You'll pay for this!"

The door slammed as he left her curled up on the filthy floor, holding her ribs as the pain radiated from where his boot hit her. Feeling like time was standing still, she felt her wolf stirring, struggling to escape the wolfsbane poison swirling through her veins. Softly, she cried out, "Uyi, where are you? I need you!"

Uyi was too weak to push through and turn, but her desire to attack this bastard was strong. In the recesses of her mind, Nive heard, ‘When the poison wears off, he's a dead man. We’ll hunt his offspring until his line is destroyed forever. Vengeance shall be ours.’