Chapter 225
Chapter 225:
Have I been kidnapped? Was this all a nightmare? I mean, what are the odds that it’s not?
“Where…” My voice was hoarse, the word barely a whisper. I licked my lips, desperate for water. My throat was on fire.
I pressed my palms flat against the cold floor and pulled myself into a shaky sitting position, wincing with every inch of progress. My body tilted precariously on my weak arms when I spotted them: two hulking men. Both over six feet tall, broad shoulders hunched like they carried the weight of doom itself.
The first had a bald head and a beard that looked like it could house a small family of birds. The second was clean-shaven but equally dreadful.
“Where am I?” I croaked, my eyelids fluttering as I stared blearily at them. If I hoped for a crumb of sympathy, I was sorely disappointed. They stared down at me with blank, unyielding faces.
“Sit,” the bald one barked, stepping closer.
My body, traitorous and weak, sank against the wall. A heavy fog of fatigue clouded my mind. Fear clawed its way through me, leaving me wide-eyed as the cold truth settled—I’d been kidnapped.
A helpless tear streaked down my face as a sob bubbled in my chest. Who had done this? Why? Was it one of Ryder’s enemies? But who in their right mind would dare kidnap me—his mate—in his own territory?
“If you don’t shut up, you’re not gonna like the rest of your stay here,” the clean-shaven one snarled, cracking his knuckles.
“Go away,” I blurted, my head shaking violently as I scrambled backward. Please let this be a dream, I begged the Moon Goddess silently. If I pinched myself, maybe I’d wake up in my bed with Ryder’s arms wrapped around me, his scent filling my nose.
My illusion shattered the moment a rough hand clamped down on me.
“You’re gonna be a good girl and sit,” the bald one hissed, yanking me forward.
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My instincts flared. With what little strength I had, I jerked away and headbutted him. Hard.
“You little bitch,” he snarled, his hand flying off my arm and straight to my throat. He squeezed, his scowl deepening with rage.
I squirmed and gasped, but satisfaction warmed me. I’d hurt him. Even if I paid for it, I’d hurt him.
His scowl darkened further as he grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me up, a sharp cry tearing from my lips.
“She fucking hit me,” he growled to his partner, who shrugged in amusement.
The next moment, pain exploded on the side of my face. A slap, harsh and stinging, sent me sprawling. My cheek burned, the ache reverberating deep into my skull.
Another hit came just as I shut my eyes. This time, it knocked me half-dizzy.
“Y’all don’t know who you’re messing with, are you? I’m Ryder’s Kael fucking mate, the Luna to their pack, and if I were you, I wouldn’t think of this twice,” I threatened, hoping this worked because everyone knew how intimidating Ryder could be.
A smack landed on my face harder. I saw red.
“This will be the last time you’ll fucking see him,” my body shuddered. Does that mean I won’t get out of here alive?
Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I cradled my sore face.
“Drink this,” the second one ordered, shoving a plastic cup to my lips. Whatever was inside was odorless. I licked at a drop on instinct, my heart sinking as Layla’s voice shrieked in my head. Veil root!
My eyes snapped wide. The Veil root meant killing Layla for a second damn time.
“No, no, no,” I whispered, trembling. First, they kidnapped me. Now, they were trying to kill my wolf. Not again. This was too much. I looked up at my captors, pleading silently. They didn’t care. Their eyes were cold and predatory, daring me to disobey.