CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR
NADIA
Let me go!” I screamed at them.
To my horror, they seemed more interested in the game they were playing than in my desperate pleas. Before me stood Lara, Bethany, and their boyfriends, Tony and Fletcher.
“I can’t hear you,” Tony said, mocking me.
The rusted old cabin I had been taken to was tucked away in a secluded part of the woods, far from the prying eyes of anyone who might hear my screams. The air was thick with the musk of pine trees and the earthy smell of the forest floor, both foreign and terrifying at this moment.
They had tied me up, hands and feet bound to a rickety old chair that creaked under the pressure of my thrashing limbs. Escape seemed impossible, each pull met with the unforgiving scratch of the rough rope cutting into my wrists and ankles. I shuffled my feet, the chair scraping against the wooden floor, hoping for any chance to loosen the knots that held me prisoner. I was desperate, my heart racing with fear as I felt their eyes on me.
Bethany, the ring leader of this twisted game, took a leisurely stroll toward me, twisting her long dark hair around her finger. With a devilish grin, she lit a cigarette, the flame flickering briefly before it settled into a steady glow. She took a deep drag, her eyes glinting with mischief, and released a smoky cloud directly into my face.
Coughing, I turned my head away from her toxic exhalation. “What did you say?” Her voice was lilting, as if she were amused by my predicament.
“I said… let me go!” My voice cracked on the last syllable, fear bubbling up within me. I couldn’t help but feel small and vulnerable under their relentless gaze.
“And what do we gain if we do?” she whispered.
“I won’t tell Alex and Sandro, or anyone else that you guys kidnapped me.”.
Bethany turned to the rest of the group. “She says she won’t tell them. Oh, we must be lucky, really lucky!” The laugh that erupted from her was chilling, echoing in the dark cabin as the others joined in, their revelry cutting at me like ice. It felt like I was the punchline of a cruel joke that I had not even asked to be part of.
Fletcher leaned against the wall, arms crossed, while Tony hovered to the side, both of them observing me with a predatory hunger.
What kept me sane was my longing for the warmth of Alex’s heart and the protective presence of Sandro… even though it still felt strange.
“Surely,” Lara said with a mock-curtsy, strutting over to where Bethany had left me breathless. Her poise was intimidating, hair cascading down her shoulders like a dark waterfall. With a self-satisfied smirk, she reached out her delicate fingers to play with my hair. I instinctively jerked my head back, refusing to let her mess with me.
“Oh, come now!” Lara laughed lightly, as if my resistance was a playful game. Her expression shifted; she bore down on me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. “We’re not afraid of anyone, you know,” she declared.
“Alex and Sandro? They are no match for us, especially with Tony and Fletcher around.” Her words dripped with venom, making me grip the arm rests of the chair tightly, my nails biting into the wood. “We know all their weaknesses, every one of their strengths. We could bring them down if we wanted to. We’re just waiting for them to dare us.”
Defiance washed over me, even as the fear gripped tighter. I couldn’t let them see me crumble, not now. “Fuck you!” I spat.
The cabin fell into a tense silence, and the air in it was so thick, it was almost tangible. Shock registered across their faces, an unexpected disruption to their sadistic fun. But then, it morphed into a look of disdain. Lara’s eyes narrowed, and I could see the fury ignite within her.
In one fluid motion, she slapped me across the face. The stinging sensation blurred my vision and brought tears to my eyes, both in pain and anger. Growling low in my throat, I felt the instincts of the wolf inside me clawing to break free, wanting to retaliate, wanting to show them the fire I possessed. But before I could even speak, she was hitting me again, numerous blows raining down as the chair rattled beneath me.
My growls turned desperate, my body writhing against its captors. It was explosive, my primal instincts clashing with their human forms, our inner wolves battling for dominance.
“Stop her!” Bethany shouted, the edge of her voice tinged with panic as Tony and Fletcher stumbled forward to restrain her struggling form. They grabbed her arms, attempting to pull her back, but the fire ignited within us.
For a brief moment, I could sense her transformation looming, the wildness whispering just beneath the surface of her skin. It took both boys to contain her ferocity, her wolf instincts threatening to break free just as mine were.
“Breathe, Lara!” Tony yelled, his voice firm, yet panic lacing his words. “You’ll blow our cover!” He struggled to hold her, grappling with her flailing limbs that were borne of rage and the unleashing of her wolf.
Bethany stood idly to the side, watching the chaos unfold before her. “You’re all just so pathetic!” she jeered, twirling her cigarette like a baton. “Is this what you’ve resorted to? It’s embarrassing, really. Who would’ve thought a couple of boys would need to hold you back?”
Lara heaved great breaths, her body vibrating with energy. She was like a coil ready to unleash. But even in this frenzy, I could see a glint of realization flash across her face. Her wolf instincts battled alongside her human consciousness, her desire to torment me clashing against the primal will to maintain control.
With unified force, Tony and Fletcher pulled Lara back enough to steady her. “This isn’t helping!” Fletcher exclaimed, his grip on her arms tightening. “We need to focus on the goal! We can’t lose control like this!”
As they struggled, something primal surged within me. My gaze shifted between their faces, each battling their own wild sides. I was tied down, physically, yes, but the strength of my will was surging. I growled again, the power of my lineage rushing through my veins. “You think this is over?” I hissed. “You think you can keep me like this?” My words slipped out spitefully, amplifying the tension and conflict in the air.
After what felt like ages, breathing painfully slowly, Lara’s expression softened. The struggle dwindled, and under the grip of Tony and Fletcher, she steadied herself, her growls subsiding as she took deep breaths. I watched, entranced, the power within me still thrumming against the confines of my bindings. Was this not what they wanted? A challenge?
Finally, Lara’s eyes narrowed, and in a calm voice, she said, “Let’s get one thing straight, Nadia. You don’t know the power you’re dealing with. You think you can just unite with your precious Alex and Sandro against us?” She leaned in, the teasing edge returning. “Please… a thousand of them wouldn’t be able to save you from what’s coming. You’re ours, and there’s nowhere to run, not until we take what we want from you.”
I shook my head, anger fueling my defiance. “You’ll see,” I shot back, my tone laced with both challenge and resolve. “Just wait till they come looking for me.”
“Maybe we should challenge them to a fight,” Bethany said.
“Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!” Fletcher exclaimed.
“Just what I wanted!” Tony added.
“You’ll regret this, all of you!” I yelled at them.
Bethany walked over to me and said, “Why don’t we find out if we will!”
“Fuck you again!” I yelled at her.