Calla's POV
Days passed in a suffocating haze. I stayed locked in my room, ignoring Jacob’s persistent knocks and attempts to speak. The ornate furnishings only emphasized my prison, and the mark on my neck was a constant reminder of the bond he had forced upon me. I needed to escape, but every plan I considered seemed hopeless.
The only glimmer of hope was Felix. In the fleeting moments our eyes had met, I felt it—an undeniable connection that made my wolf stir with certainty. He was my mate, the one person in this nightmare who might help me.
My thoughts were interrupted when the door burst open, and Hera strolled in, her expression sharp and malicious. She tossed a stack of photos onto the bed without a word. I froze as I recognized the faces: Heron and Vivien, smiling and radiant on their wedding day.
“They moved on fast,” Hera sneered, her tone dripping with false sympathy.
I glared at her. “Why are you showing me this?”
“To help you see the truth,” she said coldly. “You don’t belong anywhere—not in their world, not in ours. If you want peace, there’s only one way out.”
Her words chilled me. “What are you talking about?”
“You need to disappear, Calla. Permanently.” Her smile was cruel, and I recoiled, horrified.
Before I could respond, Jacob appeared in the doorway, his golden eyes narrowing. “What’s going on?”
“Just a friendly visit,” Hera said sweetly, snatching the photos and tucking them behind her back. “Oh, and to invite you and Calla to dinner at the Thorndusk Pack. Mother and Father insist.”
I wanted to refuse, but Jacob’s hand on my arm silenced any protest. “We’ll go,” he said firmly.
The dinner was unbearable. Hera flirted shamelessly with Jacob while I sat in silence, suffocated by the weight of the pack’s expectations. Alpha Garett’s booming voice broke through my numbness midway through the meal.
“Calla, you must bear Jacob’s child soon. The pack needs it.”
My breath caught, and my heart pounded as his words sank in. Jacob’s smooth reply—assuring them that their wishes would soon be fulfilled—felt like a noose tightening around my neck. My gaze flicked to Felix, but he remained silent, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable.
When dinner ended, Felix lingered near me, his voice a whisper meant only for me. “Meet me tonight,” he murmured.
Hope sparked faintly in my chest. I nodded, my resolve hardening. Whatever he had planned, I would seize the opportunity.
Later that evening, I stood on the balcony of my room, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I waited. My thoughts churned, tangled with fear and anticipation. A knock at the door startled me, but when I turned, it wasn’t Felix—it was Jacob.
“You’ve been quiet,” he said, stepping inside. His presence was suffocating, his tone laced with false concern. “You need to accept your place, Calla. The sooner you stop fighting, the easier it will be.”
“My place?” I snapped, my defiance flaring. “As your prisoner? Your pawn?”
His eyes darkened, his voice low. “You’re my Luna. You’ll act like it, whether you like it or not.”
When he moved closer, I backed away, panic rising as he reached for me. But before he could touch me, a voice cut through the tension.
“Is this how you treat your Luna, brother?”
Felix stepped out of the shadows, his presence steady and unyielding. Jacob turned, fury etched into his face. “What are you doing here?”
Felix’s gaze remained on me. “Calla, are you all right?”
Jacob’s growl deepened. “Stay out of this. She’s mine to control.”
Felix’s eyes flicked to his brother, his voice calm but firm. “If you keep treating her like property, you’ll lose her—and more than you realize.”
The tension crackled, but Jacob eventually stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The silence that followed was heavy, but Felix’s presence brought a sense of calm.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly.
I nodded, tears threatening to fall. “Thank you,” I whispered.
His expression was guarded, but his voice carried a note of urgency. “Calla, whatever you’re thinking—stop. You’re Jacob’s Luna now. Anything else will only make things worse.”
I hesitated, then confessed what I had been holding in. “Felix... my wolf says you’re my mate.”
His composure faltered for a moment before he looked away. “Don’t say that out loud. Do you understand? It’s dangerous.”
“But it’s the truth,” I pressed, my voice trembling.
He turned back, his face hard. “It doesn’t matter. You’re marked. The bond can’t be undone.”
Tears slid down my cheeks. “Felix, I can’t do this. I can’t bear his child. Please, help me escape.”
His gaze softened, but his reply was firm. “What’s supposed to happen will happen, Calla. We have to sever our bond—reject each other. It’s the only way to protect you.”
The words hit like a blow. “Reject each other?”
His pain was evident as he nodded. “It’s the only way.”
I wiped at my tears, my voice breaking. “Felix... I’m already pregnant. And it’s not Jacob’s.”
Shock flashed across his face, the silence between us unbearable. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft but steady. “I know.”
