MIA’S POV
Nathan’s eyes burned into mine with an intensity I had never seen before.
I knew the moment my blood touched his lips, I had made a mistake.
His wounds closed too fast. His strength returned like a fire rekindled. His body-once weak and trembling-became solid again, his muscles flexing as he tested his limbs.
Then his gaze locked onto me, and a slow, knowing smirk curled at the corner of his lips.
“Well, well,” Nathan drawled, his voice dripping with amusement. “Looks like our little princess has been hiding something.”
I took a step back, heart hammering. “It’s not-”
He cut me off, standing up effortlessly as if he hadn’t been on the brink of death just moments ago. His eyes gleamed with something dark, something possessive.
“You’re the White Wolf.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
A fact he was thrilled to discover.
His lips curled higher as he stalked toward me, slow and deliberate, like a predator toying with his prey. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
I swallowed hard, trying to mask my nerves. “That I made a mistake saving you?”
He let out a low chuckle, stepping even closer. “Oh no, princess. It means that you are mine.”
I scoffed, forcing myself to roll my eyes, even though my stomach twisted at his words. “In your dreams, Nathan.”
He lifted a hand, brushing his fingers against a stray strand of my hair, tucking it behind my ear. His touch was featherlight, but it sent a shiver down my spine.
“You care,” he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. “You can pretend all you want, but you chose to save me.”
I clenched my jaw, refusing to let him get under my skin.
He tilted his head, eyes flicking to my lips before meeting my gaze again. “I have to admit, princess,” his voice dropped lower, teasing, dangerous, “I always wondered what it would be like to have you completely at my mercy.”
I stiffened.
Nathan grinned, knowing exactly what he was doing to me. “But it turns out, I’m the one at your mercy, aren’t I?”
I narrowed my eyes, pushing against his chest to put space between us. “I saved you because I didn’t want to deal with your corpse. Don’t flatter yourself.”
His lips twitched, and he caught my wrist before I could fully pull away. His thumb brushed over my pulse, which was way too fast for my liking.
“Sure, princess,” he murmured, voice laced with amusement. “Keep telling yourself that.”
I yanked my hand away, scowling. “I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
Nathan smirked, crossing his arms. “No, but you will eventually.”
I spun on my heels, ignoring the way my skin still tingled where he touched me. “In your dreams, Nathan.”
As I walked away, I could still hear his voice trailing behind me, filled with teasing amusement.
“Oh, princess, I know I’m in your dreams.”
I clenched my fists, refusing to let him get to me.
I had bigger problems than a smug, irritatingly attractive Alpha.
Someone was after me.
And I needed to find out who.
I left camp before dawn, making sure no one followed me. If I was right, there had to be a base for the rogues nearby.
After hours of careful searching, I finally found it-a hidden clearing in the woods, surrounded by makeshift tents and armed wolves.
I crouched behind a boulder, my heart pounding.
What the hell are they planning?
Whatever it was, I was going to find out.
I pressed my back against the thick tree trunk, my breath shallow as I peeked around the side. The rogue camp was just ahead-dim torchlight flickering against the tents, shadows moving inside. My heartbeat thudded steadily in my ears. I needed to get closer, listen in, figure out what they were planning.
I took a careful step forward.
Suddenly, something cold and sharp pressed against my throat.
“Well, well,” a low voice rasped in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “Look what we have here… The princess herself.”
I froze.
The tip of the blade bit into my skin, a single drop of blood rolling down my collarbone. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I calculated my options.
Damn it.
A warm breath fanned over my neck as the voice chuckled darkly. “Did you really think you could sneak up on us, little rabbit?”
A rough hand grabbed my wrist and yanked it behind me, twisting painfully. I gritted my teeth, refusing to make a sound. Another hand tangled in my hair, forcing my head back as I stared up at my captor.
A rogue.
Tall, broad, with a jagged scar running down the side of his face. His yellowed teeth curled into a smirk as he took in my expression.
“Smart girl,” he mused. “Not screaming. You already know no one’s coming to save you.”
I glared at him. “Who said I need saving?”
His smirk widened. “Oh, I like this one.”
Rough laughter echoed around us, and only then did I realize we weren’t alone. Several more rogues emerged from the shadows, weapons glinting under the moonlight.
I cursed inwardly.
One of them, a lanky man with greasy hair, tilted his head. “Should we take her to him?”
Scarface hummed in consideration. “Not yet. I think our little princess here owes us some answers first.”
The pressure against my neck disappeared for a split second before I was shoved forward. My balance faltered, and I barely caught myself before falling face-first into the dirt.
I twisted my wrists, testing for any weakness in their grip. The bastard holding me noticed and tightened his hold. “Ah-ah,” he tsked, leaning down. “None of that, now.”
I exhaled sharply. Fine. I could play along. For now.
They dragged me toward the camp, torches flickering as more rogues gathered. Some looked amused. Others? Hungry.
The air was thick with the stench of unwashed bodies, blood, and something rotten.
A makeshift wooden cage sat in the center of the camp. My stomach twisted.
Scarface shoved me inside and slammed the door shut.
The lock clicked.
I let out a slow breath and leaned against the bars, forcing a smirk. “You really think a cage can hold me?”
Scarface grinned. “No, Princess. But silver will.”
Pain seared through my wrist as the cuffs locked around them, burning into my skin. I gritted my teeth against the sting.
He crouched in front of me, arms resting lazily on his knees. “Now, let’s talk about why you were sneaking around my camp.”
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe I was looking for a decent bath. The smell here is offensive.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd, but Scarface only chuckled.
“Keep that attitude, sweetheart,” he murmured. “It’ll be fun breaking it.”
I clenched my jaw.
Scarface stood and turned to his men. “Make sure she stays nice and comfortable until the boss arrives.”
He walked away, leaving me alone with the guards.
I took a deep breath, rolling my shoulders.
Alright. Now I just had to wait for the right moment.
I arched a brow. “And who’s your boss?”
The rogues exchanged looks, then laughed. Scarface shook his head. “Nice try, Princess. You’ll meet him soon enough.”
I clenched my jaw.
So that was the plan. Keep me caged until their boss showed up.
But what did they want with me?
“You don’t look like the kidnapping-for-fun type,” I commented, shifting my weight. “What do you really want?”
Scarface’s smirk widened. “Not me, sweetheart. But our boss?” He let out a low chuckle. “He wants your blood.”
I stilled.
My blood?
“What for?” I demanded.
Scarface shrugged. “Something about power, immortality, breaking a curse. Honestly, I don’t care.” He crouched down, gripping the bars. “But I do care about the bounty on your head.”
My stomach twisted.
So they weren’t just after me for sport. This was bigger.
I needed to get out of here-fast.
Before I could respond, a loud howl tore through the air.
The rogues froze. Then another howl followed, closer this time.
I knew that sound.
The brothers.