The wind blew through the trees. The moon was high, cold, and white.
I stood there, my heart beating so fast I could hear it in my ears.
Ivar didn't move. He just looked at me with that strange smile.
"I've been watching you," he said again. "I've noticed that you are a pathetic loser, and I've observed everyone hates you—well, including me. I came back recently and heard Jason saved a girl. Well, I was surprised because Jason has never saved anyone before, so I decided to observe you for a while, and just as I expected, you are a loser. I actually thought maybe you were his mate; that's what made him interested in you, but an alpha cannot mate someone like you. He would lose his respect and trust, so I'm going to kill you."
I took a small step back. "W-why?"
He tilted his head, still smiling. "Why? Because I was curious. You're the girl my brother keeps locked in his land. The one he saved when he should've left her to die. The girl that killed my father and my brother. The girl that put us all in pain for no reason and then came back to put our men in danger."
I shook my head quickly. "I didn't ask him to save me! I never wanted any of this. Please just leave me alone and let me go. You don't even know me, and I've been having a bad day since. Please, I have enough problems already. Please don't kill me," I said as tears began dropping from my eyes.
"Quiet," he said. His voice was low, sharp. "You talk too much."
He walked closer. I could smell his coat, the smoke and iron in it. I tried to move, but my feet felt heavy, like the ground held me down. He held my waist and his right hand on my chest, slowly approaching my breasts. "How old are you?" he asked.
"17," I said while I was shaking.
"You must be a virgin, I guess, and I can't lie, you look hot. Too bad no one would enjoy this beauty."
His eyes looked like silver in the moonlight. "You know," he said softly, "you ruined my family."
"I didn't!" I said, tears filling my eyes. "Please just let me go."
He leaned close, his breath brushing my cheek. "Don't lie to me. Your father killed ours. And now you stand here, in his pack, breathing his air. Tell me, do you think that's fair?"
My chest ached. "I swear, I didn't do anything—"
He grabbed my arm. His fingers were cold and hard. Then he put his hand on my hair and his nose on my neck, inhaling my sweat like he was pleased with it.
"Then maybe you'll pay for him," he said.
"Please… stop," I whispered, still crying. "You're hurting me. Please stop."
He didn't listen. He pulled me forward, dragging me through the trees. My feet stumbled on the wet ground. I cried quietly, but he didn't care.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked, my voice small and scared.
"You'll see soon enough," he said simply.
The forest grew darker. The air felt heavy. We stopped in front of an old house made of stone and wood. The windows were broken, the door hanging loose. It looked forgotten—like a place no one should ever enter.
Ivar pushed the door open and pulled me inside. The floor creaked under our feet. There were ropes and broken chairs in the corner, and dust everywhere.
He let go of me, but his eyes never left my face.
"Do you know what this place is?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"This used to be a hunter's cabin," he said. "My father brought wolves here when they disobeyed him. They screamed until they learned not to."
My throat closed. I took a step back. "Please… let me go. I didn't do anything wrong."
He walked toward me slowly, his boots echoing on the floor. "You don't have to do wrong to deserve pain. Sometimes, pain just finds you."
He stopped in front of me, so close I could see the small scar under his left eye.
"You know what I think?" he said. "I think Jason pities you. I think that's why he keeps you here. But pity doesn't last forever. He'll forget you soon."
I looked down, trying to hold my tears, but they kept coming while my voice broke down. "I don't care what he thinks. Just let me go."
He laughed, but there was no joy in it.
"Let you go? No, little stray. I want to see what my brother sees in you. Why he bothers to keep you alive."
He grabbed a rope from the table and ran it between his fingers. "Maybe if I make you bleed, I'll understand."
I tried to run, but he caught me by the wrist again.
"Please!" I cried. "I'm begging you!"
He tightened his hold, his smile fading into something darker
"You should be begging," he said. "Because tonight, you'll learn what happens to people who destroy others."
My tears fell fast now, my voice barely coming out. "You're wrong… I didn't destroy anyone."
He leaned close, his whisper colder than the wind outside.
"Then maybe I'll make you wish you had."
He threw the rope aside and stepped back slowly, his eyes burning with hate.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "I won't kill you. Not yet."
He turned, the light from the door outlining his tall shape.
"I'll make you suffer first. Then, when you finally understand what pain feels like… I'll kill you."