The sky was dark when they found her.
There was mud all over her torn dress, and her face was pale, filled with blood and dirt. Her bare feet were blistered and bleeding, and her eyes stil burned with panic as she was dragged through the DeRyile gates.
"Let go of me!" Eva screamed,
writhing against the iron grip of the family's hired handyman. His fingers dug into her bruised arms. He didn't give two fucks about her desperate struggling.
"You've caused enough trouble for one night, girl; he snapped.
The gates closed behind them with a clang that felt like the end of freedom itself.
Inside the manor, the lights were low. The hallways were silenteerily so. The stillness didn't comfort Eva. It suffocated her.
She barely had time to catch her
breath before the door to Mr. Jason DeRyile's study slammed open. He was waiting.
Jason, her foster father, stood
behind the desk. The years had not softened him. His face was as severe as his rules. He had wrinkles all over his face. He didn't speak right away. He simply pointed to the ground in front of him.
The handyman shoved her forward. She fell hard.
Eva hit the floor with a grunt,her elbows scraping the ground. She tried to stand, but Jason's voice stopped her.
"Stay down." He ordered.
Her breath caught in her throat. "You've shamed this family" he said, stepping around his desk. His shoes echoed as he walked toward her. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"
*I didn't ask to be part of this family," she whispered. "Yfou only kept me
around to clean your boots and take your daughter's punishments."
That was when the first blow came. It was a harsh, open-handed slap that sent her crashing sideways. Pain exploded across her cheek. She gasped, eyes stinging with tears. "You think you have a choice?" he hissed, his face inches from hers. ""T"hat marriage has been in place since before you could walk. It is the only thing keeping our kind from war."
She blinked hard. Her vision was getting blurry. "Then let Jennifer go" Eva cried.
"She's your daughter-" "You are my foster daughter," Jason growled, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her head back. "And as my ward, your life is a tool to be used. That marriage is your duty. Eva gritted her teeth, even as pair spread through her scalp. "No... it's your deal. I was just the spare.' He let go of her, letting her slump back to the ground, shaking A slow clap echoed from the
doorway.
Jennifer.
She walked into the room with a smirk playing on her glossy lips. She was dressed in a silk nightgown. She looked more like someone preparing for a ball than witnessing her sister's punishment.
Well, well, little runaway, Jennifer purred, stepping closer. "Did you enjoy your romantic night in the mud?"
iva turned her face away, retusing to give her the satisfaction.
But Jennifer saw it-the bruise on her neck, vivid and shaped like fangs Jennifer assumed it was a hickey. She gasped theatrically, then
:huckled. "Oh mv God.. is that a ove bite?'
Jason's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Jennifer crouched beside Eva, who winced as her step-sister brushed pack her matted hair
Looks like little Eva's been sneaking off for some late-night fun," Jennifer sneered. "Better enjoy your
disgusting hookups while you can That old fossil you are going to marry-he won't satisfy anything' lason's face darkened. "What have
you done in that forest?"
Eva's voice broke. "Nothing, except from running."
If this deal falls apart, there will be blood, Eva. Do you understand me?" lason said "Thev will come for us You think the werewolves wil
forgive being insulted by a runaway human bride?"
She spat blood on the floor. "Why do care? You treat me like a slave, not a daughter. Either way I'm going to be discarded as a piece of trash Jason went still. Then he turned
pened a locked drawer in his desk and pulled out a faded envelope. Her heart skipped when she saw it. she wondered what was inside. Another punishment?
This," he said coldly, holding it up contains information about your real parents.'
Eva froze.
Jason leaned in close, letting her sees it, smell it-then yanked it away again. "Cooperate. Fulfill your duty And this will be yours." She stared at him, wide-eyed. Her preathing was heavier now due to how desperate she was. the envelope disappeared back intc the drawer with a click. Eva's shoulders slumped. I hate you," she whispered. lason said nothing. Jennifer only smiled wider.
Three days ater and in the River Pack territory, Alpha Zayne paced before the large arched windows. His whole body was flled with
tension.
He hadn't slept. Not well.
His claws itched to shift,to run,to find her. But he hadn't seen her face. All he knew about her was the fire in her soul, the scent of her skin, and the blood-deep echo of the mate bond still burning under his own. He turned as Leo stepped into the room.
"Any word?" Zayne asked
immediately.
Leo shook his head. "Nothing yet. We need to be careful in human territory. They re shielding her well." Zayne's jaw clenched.
"She ran from me," he said, pacing again. "But not out of disgust. She was chasing by someone. She was afraid of them. Of what would happen."
"She was also afraid of you," Leo pointed out. "You marked her, Alpha. Bit her basically. You didn't complete the ritual. She's probably confused, scared... maybe in pain."
Zayne's hands curled into fists. "The humans interrupted before I could give her my blood, he
growled. "I didn't seal it. The bond is raw. Incomplete. It's my fault." Leo nodded;so what now?"
"1 will marry the human girl the treaty demands," Zayne said bitterly. "T1l honor the agreement" "But?"
"But my true mate. She will be my Luna. The only one who matters." Leo exhaled slowly. "You do realize what that could cause, dont you? Marrying one, claiming another?" "I don't care." Zayne's eyes burned gold. "A treaty is politics. A mate is destiny"
Before Leo could reply, the doors burst open. Two of Zayne's trackers stormed in, panting from their run. "Alpha!" they shrieked.
Zayne turned to them immediately, hoping for news "What is it?"
"We found her!" one of them gasped. t "The gir...the human bearing your mark."
Time stopped. Zayne's heart beat even heavier now.
"Where?" he demanded, stepping forward.