They compelled me to revert to my wolf form after administering a liquid that left me numb and weak for days.
“I can never be with you,” I told Aaron, who was sitting beside me. Each day I opened my eyes to see him, and my irritation grew.
Without hesitation, I placed the bracelet he had given me on the table. “This is your bracelet. Give it to someone who can handle your excesses. I’m exhausted; I can’t be a mate to you and your brothers.”
He shot me a skeptical glance before picking up the bracelet and spinning it around his fingers.
“So, you’re really throwing away our love just when I was trying to protect you? What did you expect me to do? You wanted me to share a truth you clearly weren’t ready to hear?”
“Forget whether I wanted to hear the truth or not; you should have told me anyway. You and your brothers turned me into a punching bag and toyed with my emotions, especially you, Aaron,” I replied, tears streaming down my face.
He reacted as if my words were foreign to him, which was typical. He always believed he was right, that he was doing me a favor, expecting my gratitude in return.
“Have you forgotten how I saved you in the woods? Do you think you’re doing us a favor by being our mate? We’re the ones doing you a favor; trust me, you’d be dead if we rejected you!”
I met his gaze, recalling the times he had struck me repeatedly, treating me like a slave. I had spent years trying to please him, but not anymore. For the first time, I was prioritizing myself.
“I’ve been a walking corpse all these years with you. Even if you all killed me now, it wouldn’t matter; I’d welcome death. You’ve always said I’m unworthy of you. Let me go and find another woman.”
He remained silent after that, simply reclining in his chair and observing me. I couldn't care less if I was replaced or even harmed; all I wanted was to distance myself from him and his malevolent brothers.
“You're completely in the dark about this, Sharon. Instead of seeking clarity, you're contemplating rejecting the bond and fleeing. Do you really think that's the answer to our dilemma?”
He questioned, tightening his grip on the bracelet. When I failed to reply, he tore it apart, and just as I anticipated, he raised his hand to strike me. But Ryker intervened, stepping in and shooting him a fierce glare that made him lower his hand.
“There’s an issue,” Ryker stated, handing a letter to Aaron.
As Aaron read the letter, his expression grew increasingly grim with each passing moment.
“That fool Marcelo is overstepping his bounds. How dare he demand our woman in exchange for the deal?”
“And that’s not all. He’s threatening to infiltrate our packs, which poses a serious risk for us. We need to devise a plan to counter him. Since he desires Sharon, why not use her as leverage against him?”
After hearing Ryker out, Aaron slammed his fists on the table, his composure shattering. “I don’t care what you think; I refuse to yield to Marcelo’s demands. Our father owns the pack and we must stand our ground!”
Ryker nodded in agreement, issued a few commands to his men, and exited, leaving me alone with Aaron once more. For some reason, I felt a strange sense of safety with Ryker around.
“You should stay,” he said, his tone softening. “It’s an order.”
I shook my head defiantly. “No, you don’t have the right to control me anymore, Aaron. I’m exhausted. I want nothing to do with you or your brothers. Just leave me be.”
“You think I don’t notice the way you look at him?” he said, halting me in my tracks as I turned to face him.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I mean, Sharon, so don’t even think about playing innocent! You really believe you can just walk away from me and chase after my brothers? That’ll only happen over my dead body!”
My heart races when I heard him label me a hybrid.
I've always been intrigued by my origins, desperate to understand why I couldn't shift like other wolves. Aaron never provided answers; instead, he just kept feeding me more of those strange portions.
“Why did you just call me a hybrid?” I asked, bewildered, and he chuckled darkly.
“Because that’s what you are. You’re a monster, Sharon, and I’ve been using my secret portions to keep your demons in check! You’re the offspring of two hybrids, which means you have powers that your body can’t handle.”
“And is that why you’ve been punishing me?”
“You see it as punishment, but I see it as control. I can’t let my mate dominate me, no matter her abilities. In time, your powers will be mine, and you’ll be reduced to the weak wolf you were meant to be.”
