Chapter Eight

For now, I have no choice. I follow Brandon out of the cell and through the cave. Torches light the walls. Our footsteps echo in the most eerie way. It feels like we’re in our own world, locked away from everything else.

No one can hear my screams.

"We can't go to the mating chamber tonight," I protest. "I just got here. It's not supposed to happen that quickly."

Brandon laughs. "You’re a funny one, Katia. You're not in a position to make demands.

"You poisoned me. You tried to kill me. I'm not about to lose you or give you another chance to escape. We’re getting married tonight.

“This is all your fault because you did it in front of my pack. You humiliated me. They'll doubt my choice of mate. So, I must do this to show them and you who's in charge."

An image of Brandon and me mating fills my mind.

No! No! No! I pushed the image away.

"I refuse to mate with you," I said. "Don't think I will. You have nothing to hold over me anymore."

Brandon laughs. "Are you sure about that?” he asks. “I’m the one who holds the power here. You’re the one in chains. I don’t need a bargaining chip to get what I want now."

He pauses and grabs me roughly while glaring down at me with intensity. “You will mate with me. You hear? You will."

We resume walking and instead of playing into his threats, I scope out the area for any opportunities I might come across.

I know that Brandon is watching me. He knows that I'm planning something. He knows that I'm going to try to escape, but he can't figure me out. My eyes shift from the torches to the ground. I have to find a way to get out of here. And I can take greater risks now that Lily is gone.

We turn a corner and the cave opens up to a massive chamber.

Brandon pushes me forward.

"This is it," he says. "This is the chamber where we will mate."

I look up and see a massive bed with red and blank blankets and pillows. If he kills me upon it, my life will match the blood colors perfectly. And I can’t help but wonder if he planned it that way.

I have to escape this place. I have to get out of here. I’m going to die if I don’t, and before I die I'll have to endure much worse.

"Don't worry," Brandon says. "All of your rebellious thoughts will disappear once I'm done with you."

That's when I notice a decorative dagger on the wall. I can use it. To kill him or myself. Whatever I need to do to escape this horrible situation.

 I push past Brandon and towards the dagger.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asks.

I grab the dagger and turn around.

"You're going to die," I say. "I'm going to kill you."

      "You're not strong enough," he says. "I'm going to break you. You're going to be my mate and you're going to love it."

“I'll die before I ever love you,” I assure him.

Brandon roars and rushes me.

I ready myself, prepared to use his momentum against him. He's clearly too emotional to make sense of any of this.

Then, he stops short and laughs, waiting for me to make the first move. I realize I am the emotional one. He has all the control, and if I can’t shake him from that calm and collected state of mind, I don’t have even a slight chance at escape.

I'm at his mercy. He won't kill me right now. He wants me to suffer. He wants me to be desperate. Then, he'll kill me.

"Put the dagger down," he says. "I'm not going to kill you right now. No matter how much I want to. No matter how much you want me to."

That's when I notice the small opening in the cave. It looks like it leads outside. If I can just leave the chamber, maybe I can get help.

I lunge at him with the knife, knowing he'll try to stop me.

As he moves to stop me, I duck and leap towards the opening.

He chuckles as if he loves that I'm putting up a fight.

As soon as I'm out of the chamber, I take off running.

I don't care if he catches me. I would rather die than be with him.

I run out of the cave and find myself in the woods. There are several torches lighting the grounds around me. Brandon's pack must be near here. Somewhere.

So, I start running, desperate to get away from them. I flee from the light and into the safe, cold dark forest. I don't know where I'm going. I just need to get out of here.

Where is home anymore anyway? I can run, but where can I run to?

I hear Brandon's heavy footsteps behind me. He's chasing after me, so I bolt. The thoughts of my pack members fuel me. Guilt slows me.

His footsteps grow closer.

Closer.

And then they stop. I keep running, hearing only my footsteps on the leaves. Twigs snap. Owls call out a warning.

Brandon laughs and the laugh is eerily close to me.

I don't get far after that.

His body pounces and I dart away, but I’m not quick enough. I fall to the ground with a thud, all of his weight pinning me to the hard ground.

"Give me the dagger," he says, grabbing me by the back of my neck and forcing me to the ground on my knees while he stands behind me.

"Let me go," I say. "Let me go and I'll give you the dagger."

Brandon starts laughing as he takes the dagger from me.

"I thought it might be fun to chase you," he says with a shrug. "But I'm tired of it now. Now is where the real fun begins."