Ashen's POV
Pain.
It's the first thing I feel as I drift back to consciousness. My head throbs, my wrists burn from the rough ropes binding them behind me, and the cold, damp air chills me to the bone.
Where... am I?
I blink against the darkness, my vision slowly adjusting to the dimly lit room. The stench of blood and rust fills my nose, and fear coils tightly in my chest.
The last thing I remember was walking near the river. I needed air... I needed space from the pack's accusing stares.
Then.
I heard footsteps.
And everything went black.
A slow, mocking chuckle draws my attention. My body tenses as a figure steps out from the shadows.
Adam.
My blood turns to ice as his cruel smirk stretches across his face.
"Well, well... the little omega finally wakes up," he sneers. "Pathetic. Just like I thought."
My heart races as I struggle against the restraints, but it's useless.
Adam steps closer, crouching in front of me. His eyes gleam with twisted satisfaction.
"Your uncle paid me good money for this," he says with a grin. "You thought running away from him would set you free?" He lets out a dark laugh. "You were always meant to be sold off like the weak, useless thing you are."
No...
No, no, no.
My breathing quickens as panic floods my veins.
My uncle.
He found me.
He. sold me?
To who?
Adam grabs my face roughly, forcing me to meet his hateful gaze.
"You think Dominic will come for you?" he taunts. "He's probably already realized you're gone. But by the time he finds you..." Adam chuckles darkly. "You'll already belong to someone else."
I fight the bile rising in my throat as tears burn my eyes.
I can't let this happen.
I can't go back.
Not again.
The door creaks open, and heavy footsteps echo through the room. My body stiffens as the man I've feared my entire life steps inside.
My uncle.
My tormentor.
He grins, wicked and cold, as he eyes me like I'm nothing more than property.
"That's the omega," he says, walking toward me. "An Alpha from the north paid a hefty price for him. Apparently, they enjoy breaking stubborn ones."
A violent tremor racks through my body as dread consumes me.
"No," I choke out, shaking my head. "You... you can't..."
My uncle's hand strikes across my face, the force of the slap sending my head snapping to the side.
"You lost the right to say no the moment you ran from me," he growls. "You're nothing, Ashen. Just an omega who was born to be used."
Tears spill down my cheeks as my mind spirals into panic.
Dominic...
I feel the bond pulsing faintly in my chest. It's distant... weak.
But it's still there.
He's looking for me.
I know he is.
But... what if he doesn't reach me in time?
What if I'm sold before he finds me?
Adam steps closer, a sick grin on his face. "I wonder how your Alpha will feel when he finds out his precious mate was sold to another. Will he even want you after that?"
My heart shatters at the thought.
No.
Dominic...
Please...
Find me.
My body ached. My wrists burned from the rough ropes cutting into my skin, and every breath felt heavier with fear.
I could hear my uncle and Adam talking in the background, their voices laced with satisfaction as they spoke about selling me off to some Alpha who wanted an omega to break.
I felt sick.
I tried to fight. I always fought.
But now...
I felt trapped.
Tears burned my eyes as I lowered my head, the bond between me and Dominic aching through my chest.
Would he even want me after this?
The thought shattered me more than the ropes around my wrists.
But now...
I flinched as my uncle's heavy footsteps
My body ached. My wrists burned from the rough ropes cutting into my skin, and every breath felt heavier with rage.
I wasn't weak.
Not anymore.
I'd spent my whole life being tossed around, treated like I was worthless by this bastard uncle who never saw me as anything more than something to sell.
But I wasn't that scared, helpless omega anymore.
Not after him.
Not after Dominic.
"You were born to be sold, Ashen," my uncle sneered. "To serve Alphas who know how to put an omega like you in his place."
Something snapped inside me.
I lifted my head, eyes burning with hatred as I glared at the man who stole everything from me.
"You're wrong," I hissed through clenched teeth. "I'm not weak. And I'm not yours to sell."
My uncle's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "You think that Alpha of yours will want you after this? You're nothing but a broken omega hiding behind a fake beta scent. The moment he sees you for what you really are, he'll toss you aside just like everyone else did."
I felt the bond between Dominic and me flare in my chest, burning through my veins.
I growled lowly, my wolf pushing against me, desperate to fight back.
No more hiding.
No more fear.
If I was going to die here, I was going to die fighting.
I lunged forward, ripping my body against the ropes until my wrists bled. My uncle's eyes widened in shock as I slammed my head against his, sending him stumbling back.
"You'll never control me again," I spat, breathing heavily as I struggled against my restraints. "I'd rather die than let you sell me to some Alpha."
The door to the warehouse burst open with a violent crash, and the air shifted.
The bond between me and Dominic burned so fiercely, I thought it would tear me apart.
I felt him before I saw him.
Dominic.
My mate.
He stood at the entrance, his eyes glowing with lethal fury, his aura flooding the room with raw dominance.
Adam barely had time to react before Dominic ripped through him like a beast unleashed, tearing him apart in a blur of claws and blood.
My uncle stumbled back in fear as Dominic stalked toward him, radiating pure rage.
"You think you can touch what's mine?" Dominic's voice was dark, deadly.
My uncle whimpered, fear flashing in his eyes as Dominic slammed him against the wall, his claws pressing against his throat.
"Dominic..." I rasped, my voice trembling with emotion.
His head snapped toward me, and the moment our eyes locked, I saw it.
That rage.
That hunger.
That undeniable claim that screamed through our bond.
I felt the tears burning my eyes as I saw him—the only Alpha who ever looked at me like I was worth something.
Dominic released my uncle, letting him crumble to the ground like the pathetic coward he was, and crossed the distance between us.
He dropped to his knees in front of me, his hands shaking as he tore the ropes off my wrists.
"Hey..." his voice softened as he reached for me. "I've got you now."
I trembled as he pulled me into his arms, burying his face against my neck and inhaling my scent.
"You came," I whispered brokenly.
"I'll always come for you," Dominic growled, his grip tightening around me. "You're mine, Ashen. No one will ever take you from me. Not him. Not this damn pack. No one."
My heart shattered at his words.
But anger still burned inside me.
I turned my head, glaring at my uncle who was struggling to crawl away.
"No," I said darkly. "I want to finish this."
Dominic's eyes flickered with surprise, but he slowly released me.
I staggered to my feet, blood dripping from my wrists as I approached the man who had broken me for years.
"You thought I'd always be afraid," I snarled. "You thought you could own me. Hurt me. Sell me."
My uncle's eyes widened with panic as I stepped closer.
"But you were wrong." My voice trembled with rage. "I belong to him now. And I swear to the Moon Goddess, if you ever come near me again... I'll kill you myself."
I felt Dominic's presence behind me, radiating pride as he allowed me to take back my strength.
My uncle scrambled to his feet and bolted out of the warehouse like the coward he was.
I let out a shaky breath, my body trembling from adrenaline.
Dominic was there in an instant, pulling me back into his arms.
"You did good, baby," he murmured against my hair. "You're stronger than you think."
I clung to him, feeling the anger slowly fade as the bond between us wrapped around me, grounding me in his warmth.
I wasn't weak.
I never was.
And now...
I had an Alpha who saw that too.
And I'd burn this entire pack to the ground before I let anyone take him from me.