38

Katarina’s POV
I tightened my grip on the cold, rusted bars, every fiber of my being yearning for Dominic to burst through the shadows. His name left my lips like a whispered prayer, desperate and pleading, as the heavy footsteps grew louder, closing in. My heart raced, anticipation mingled with fear. But when the figure finally emerged from the darkness, it wasn’t Dominic. It was him- the brutish man who had taunted me before, his cruel smile twisting his face into something monstrous.
“Expecting your mate, little wolf?” His voice dripped with mockery as he stepped closer, unlocking the cell door. A surge of panic shot through me, twisting my stomach into tight, painful knots. I backed away, pressing myself against the damp earthen wall, my mind racing with frantic thoughts. I had to stay here, I had to wait for Dominic. If they took me now, there was no telling if he’d ever find me-if he’d even find my body.
“Stay away!” I growled, but the words came out weaker than I’d intended. The big man’s sneer deepened as he advanced, a syringe glinting ominously in his hand.
“No can do, mutt,” he sneered, grabbing my shoulder with bruising force. The sharp sting of the needle bit into my neck, and a whimper escaped before I could stop it. The drug hit my bloodstream like wildfire, igniting a blazing inferno that tore through my veins. My knees buckled as darkness clawed at the edges of my vision, and the last thing I heard was the echo of my own heartbeat before the world went black.
When I finally awoke, groggy and disoriented, I was somewhere else. My pulse quickened, panic flaring as I realized I was no longer in the cell. A thick black sack obscured my vision, though I could vaguely make out the silhouettes of two figures sitting on either side of me. The bindings on my wrists were tight, biting into my skin with every subtle movement. I forced myself to stay still, pretending to still be unconscious, all while my mind raced. The drug was wearing off, but I had to bide my time, had to think of a way out.
“Once we get there, throw her in the blue room,” a gruff voice barked from the front of the vehicle, and I could feel the anxiety building, threatening to suffocate me. I couldn’t stay in this confined space much longer-if Dominic didn’t find me soon, I feared I might lose control.
As if on cue, the vehicle slowed, the crunch of gravel under the tires signaling our arrival. I strained to see through the sack over my head, catching glimpses of a large structure looming ahead, surrounded by dense woods. My heart pounded as I was roughly yanked from the vehicle and carried toward the building, my body limp in the man’s grasp. I hated the feeling of being so vulnerable, so powerless.
The house, from what I could see, was tall-at least three stories-and exuded an eerie, foreboding presence. They dumped me unceremoniously onto a creaky spring mattress, and I fought to keep my breathing steady as the sack was ripped from my head. The room was a stark contrast to the underground cell-a dingy blue paint coated the walls, and a small, ominous camera was mounted in the corner, watching my every move. There were no windows, no way to see what lay beyond these four walls.
“She’ll be up in a few hours,” one of the men muttered before leaving the room. The sound of a door slamming shut, followed by the sharp click of a lock, told me I was alone. Alone, but not safe.
I forced myself to sit up, leaning against the wall to conserve my strength. My thoughts spiraled, a whirlwind of fear and determination. Dominic was out there, I knew it. He was coming for me. But would he get here in time? Would he have backup, or was he charging into danger alone? The uncertainty gnawed at me, threatening to unravel the fragile control I clung to.
Time passed in agonizing silence, the seconds stretching into what felt like hours. My nerves were frayed, my mind racing with thoughts of what could be happening to Dominic, of what would happen if he didn’t make it in time. The door creaked open, and my heart skipped a beat as Oliver stepped into the room. He looked disheveled, his usual cocky demeanor replaced with something more sinister, more dangerous. His pale skin was marred by the scratches I’d left on his face during our last encounter, and his hair was a wild mess, as if he’d been yanking at it in frustration.
“Katarina, Katarina, Katarina,” he drawled, his voice laced with a twisted amusement as he took a step closer. I instinctively backed away, flattening myself against the wall, every muscle in my body tensed and ready to strike. Oliver’s eyes were dark, feral, as he regarded me with a mix of anger and something else-something I couldn’t quite decipher.
“You marked him, didn’t you? Stupid mutt,” he spat, venom dripping from his words.
“What’s it matter?” I shot back, my voice surprisingly steady. “He’ll be here soon, and when he is, you’ll be dead.”
Oliver chuckled, a low, maniacal sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Oh, we have tabs on what your little Alpha is doing, don’t you worry about that.”
His words made me pause, confusion flickering through me. How could he know what Dominic was up to? My thoughts raced as Oliver took another step closer, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
“Oh, you didn’t know?” he taunted, his voice mocking. “We have someone on the inside. You never even noticed, did you?”
A growl rose in my throat as I tried to process what he was saying. Someone on the inside? Someone in Dominic’s pack? The realization hit me like a punch to the gut, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me.
“Back off, Oliver,” I snarled, my voice low and dangerous. “I’m not the same girl you tried to kill last year.”
Oliver’s sneer faltered for a moment, but then it returned, more vicious than before. “Really? Has little Katarina finally grown up?”
“You have no idea,” I growled, and before I knew it, I was lunging at him, my nails extending into sharp claws. I aimed for his throat, but my strength was waning, and he managed to shove me away before I could land a fatal blow. I hit the floor hard, but I quickly scrambled to my feet, ready to strike again.
“You think I’m bad?” Oliver cackled, blood dripping from the wound I’d managed to inflict on his shoulder. “Wait till you meet my sister.”
His words stopped me in my tracks, confusion and dread mingling in my mind. Sister? What the hell was he talking about? Before I could ask, his phone rang, and he answered it with a string of curses, his face contorting with anger.
“Don’t worry, your pretty little head, Katarina,” Oliver sneered as he ended the call. “Your life will end at my hands soon enough.”
With that, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him and locking it with a resounding click. I sank to the floor, my head spinning with questions and fear. Someone on the inside, someone close to Dominic. And who was this sister Oliver mentioned?
My thoughts were a jumbled mess, but one thing was clear: Dominic wasn’t safe, and neither was I. But I wouldn’t go down without a fight. Not this time.