Chapter 3
The SUV rumbled over gravel, leaving the city lights behind. Trees loomed on either side, dark silhouettes against the stormy night. Liana pressed her face to the window, watching the shadows and listening to her own ragged breaths. Every instinct screamed danger, but she didn't know if it was from the world outside—or from the man sitting beside her.
Damian didn't speak; his focus was absolute on the road. The Alpha energy radiating from him was nearly suffocating, yet she felt drawn to it, like a moth to a flame she knew could burn her.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and commanding. "We're almost there. Once inside, you'll be safe… for now. But there's something you need to understand."
Liana's hands fisted the seat. "Understand what? That you think you can own me? That you barged into my life and made decisions for me?"
He didn't flinch. "I don't own you. Not yet. But for the next forty-eight hours, I'm responsible for keeping you alive. That's my claim. And whether you like it or not, you will follow my lead."
Her pulse quickened—not just from fear, but from the magnetic pull of his presence. She hated it, and yet she hated herself more for noticing.
The SUV slowed, coming to a stop in front of a massive estate hidden deep in the woods. Black stone walls rose around the property, almost swallowing the building. Lights glowed faintly through high windows, illuminating the sharp edges of Damian's domain.
"Welcome to Blackthorn," Damian said, his voice calm but edged with power. "This is where I train, where I control what happens. It's safe here. But make no mistake—danger still exists. You are under my protection, not your own."
Liana's mouth went dry. "It's… huge."
Damian's lips curved into a smirk. "Size doesn't matter. Power does. Control does. You'll learn that quickly."
Inside, the air was thick, scented with cedar and something sharper, primal. Shadows clung to the corners of the vast hall, and Liana's eyes were drawn to subtle movements—figures that seemed almost inhuman, yet impossibly alert.
She swallowed hard. "Who… who are they?"
"Members of my pack," Damian said casually. "They'll protect you if you obey, and they'll kill for you if you disobey. Either way, you'll understand the hierarchy soon enough."
Liana's chest tightened. She was terrified, yet the power pulsing under her skin—the strange, wild energy she had glimpsed during the chase—seemed to resonate with this place. Her fingers twitched involuntarily.
Damian noticed. His eyes flicked to her hand, sharp and calculating. "You felt it again, didn't you?"
Liana pulled her hand back, trembling. "I… I can't control it. I don't know what it is."
He leaned closer, the heat of his body almost burning her skin. "You will. You're stronger than you think. Stronger than anyone realizes. But right now, control is key. Show them too much, and you'll put yourself at risk."
Her heart raced. "You… you're not scared of me?"
He smiled—a slow, predatory curl of his lips. "Fear isn't useful. Respect is. You'll earn that respect… one way or another."
Before she could respond, a figure stepped out of the shadows. Broad and imposing, yet calm and authoritative. "Damian," he greeted, voice smooth and commanding. "The perimeter's secure. No sign of them following."
Damian nodded. "Good. We'll need every second. Forty-eight hours… It's not a long time, and they're relentless."
Liana's stomach knotted. "They? Who are 'they'?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gestured toward a room at the far end of the hall. "You'll learn about them soon. For now… You need rest. Eat. Prepare. You'll need your strength for what's coming."
Liana hesitated. Her mind screamed at her to run, to refuse, to fight. But she couldn't deny the truth—she had nowhere else to go. She had no one else to protect her.
Damian stepped closer, his presence a wall of heat and dominance. "You're mine, Liana. Not in the way you think… not yet. But my responsibility, my territory… my protection. And whether you accept it or not, that's the truth."
Her chest tightened. Fear, anger, and something darker—a dangerous pull—swirled inside her. She hated him. She feared him. And yet, she couldn't stop the way her body responded, couldn't stop the way her mind spun at the thought of his control.
He led her through the grand hall, past silent, watchful pack members whose eyes flicked to her briefly and then back to their posts. Each step made her pulse quicken. She could feel the energy in the estate, the way the walls themselves seemed alive with power.
Finally, they reached a room at the far end. Damian gestured for her to sit. "Eat. Hydrate. Rest. You'll need it."
The room was warm, candlelight flickering against the walls, casting shadows that seemed almost alive. Liana sank onto the bed, her hands trembling.
Damian's eyes scanned her face, sharp and unreadable. "You've barely begun to understand the world you're in. The next forty-eight hours… will decide everything. Your survival. Your secrets. And maybe… even your heart."
Her breath caught at his words, though she hated herself for it.