Ashen's POV
I awoke to the harsh clatter of metal and the stifled groans of prisoners. Blinking against the dim light, I realized I wasn't alone. Beside me, chains rattled softly as I saw Dominic, his face etched with equal parts frustration and resolve. We were both trapped in a crude cell, our wrists bound by heavy iron shackles.
Before I could gather my scattered thoughts, the cell door burst open. A gruff, scarred man stepped in a rogue, his eyes cold and calculating. He barked at us, "You two! Hand over the money, and maybe I'll let you live."
I exchanged a glance with Dominic. His jaw was set; the Alpha I knew wouldn't be cowed easily. But here, in captivity, even he looked wary.
"Money?" I echoed, my voice low. "What do you want with us?"
The rogue snorted. "You'll understand soon enough. The deal's simple,you give me what you owe, or your packs will pay the price."
Dominic's eyes flashed dangerously, but he stayed silent. I could feel my heart pounding, the lack of suppressants in this cell allowing my true scent and raw adrenaline to flood my system. It was humiliating to think that these rogues believed money could buy freedom from us.
The rogue paced before us, his boots echoing on the stone floor. "I know you have funds. You've got connections, wealth from treaties and transfers. I'm not asking for a favor,just what you owe."
I clenched my fists, the memory of earlier defiance mingling with a deeper fear. If we didn't pay up, the repercussions might extend far beyond these walls. I glanced at Dominic, silently pleading for a plan.
Dominic's voice, steady but laced with barely concealed anger, broke the tense silence. "We're not your cattle to be sold, bastard. Let us go and we'll settle this fairly."
The rogue's eyes narrowed, and a cruel smile tugged at his lips. "Oh, you think you can bargain with me? Money talks, and without it, you're nothing but prisoners. Now, listen closely,if you don't give me what I want, I'll ensure both your packs bleed. And trust me, neither of you wants that."
Silence hung heavy for a heartbeat. My mind raced. I had little left in the way of money on me, and even if I did, the idea of our packs paying the price twisted something inside me. I was desperate
The rogue smirked as he pulled out a battered old phone and tossed it to one of his men. "Call the pack," he ordered. "Let's see if they value their Alpha enough to pay up."
One of the guards stepped outside, dialing the number Dominic gave. The room was tense, heavy with unspoken threats. Every second stretched, my breathing shallow as I fought against the growing weakness in my body.
I had gone too long without my suppressants. My muscles ached, my head felt light, and worst of all, I could feel the faint stirrings of my true scent slipping through the cracks. I clenched my fists, fighting the nausea rolling in my stomach.
The rogue returned a moment later, phone pressed to his ear. "Well, well, looks like your Beta is quick on his feet," he drawled.
Ryker's voice crackled through the speaker. "Money will be paid."
I exhaled shakily, relief flickering in the air. At least that part was settled. But I had my own battle to fight.
My body wasn't just weak,it was betraying me. My scent, usually masked by the suppressants, was bleeding into the room. It wasn't strong yet, but Dominic was close,too close. If he noticed…
"Ashen."
I stiffened at the quiet strength in his voice.
Dominic was looking at me now, his golden eyes scanning my face with uncharacteristic gentleness. "Are you okay?"
My throat tightened. I couldn't let him see. Couldn't let him know.
I forced a smirk, despite the pounding in my skull. "I'm chained in a rogue's dungeon. How do you think I feel?"
Dominic didn't look amused. His gaze flickered over me again,assessing, knowing.
I turned away, pressing my back against the cold stone wall, trying to steady my breathing. But I knew it was only a matter of time.
The suppressants were gone.
And Dominic was going to find out.
Days passed in that wretched cell, my body growing weaker with each hour. The lack of suppressants was breaking me down, and I knew Dominic could sense something was off. He watched me too closely, his golden eyes filled with questions I refused to answer.
Then, finally, he found a way out.
Dominic struck when the rogues least expected it. Using sheer brute force, he snapped his shackles, his rage giving him the strength to rip apart the guards standing in our way. I moved on instinct, following him through the dark corridors of the rogue hideout, my heart pounding as we ran for freedom.
But I was too slow.
Each step drained me, my limbs heavy, my breathing ragged. My head swam, my body burning from the inside out. The scent I had tried so hard to mask was unraveling, pouring into the air like a cruel betrayal.
We reached a bridge,an old, rickety thing stretching over a roaring river below. My vision blurred, my knees buckling, and before I could stop myself, I collapsed onto the wooden planks.and my real scent came out
Dominic skidded to a halt, spinning toward me. He inhaled sharply, nostrils flaring, eyes widening in shock.
Then—he roared.
"MATE!"
The word thundered through the air, raw, undeniable.
I froze. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at him, my heart slamming against my ribs.
No. No.
This couldn't be happening.
Dominic took a step forward, his golden eyes ablaze with something fierce, something possessive.
"Ashen," he breathed, his voice shaking. "You're my—"
"NO!" I screamed, staggering to my feet. I backed away, heart pounding as my body trembled with the weight of my truth. "I am NOT a sub!" My voice cracked, raw with fury and terror.
Dominic froze, his face unreadable, but his body screamed dominance an Alpha who had found what was his.
I shook my head violently. "I will not be just a thing for you to fuck!" My breaths were ragged, panic clawing at my throat. "I won't be weak. I won't be—"
I took another step back, my heel skimming the edge of the bridge. Wind howled beneath me, the river below roaring with a deadly promise.
Dominic's eyes darkened, his muscles tensing. "Ashen. Don't."
I swallowed hard. I'd rather fall and die.
Because being claimed? Being his?
That was a fate worse than death.
The moment my feet left the bridge, I felt weightless. The roar of the river grew deafening as icy water swallowed me whole, dragging me into its violent depths. My body, already weak from days without suppressants, barely put up a fight.
Darkness crept in at the edges of my vision.
The last thing I heard before I lost consciousness was a furious splash.
Dominic
I woke to warmth. Faint, but there. My body ached, my limbs heavy, but I was no longer submerged in the freezing river.
Blinking, I took in my surroundings a small, dark space. A cave? No… a hollow, barely big enough for two people. A dim glow flickered from a small fire, casting shadows against damp stone walls.
And then I saw him.
Dominic sat over me, arms crossed, his golden eyes dark and unreadable. His entire body radiated tension, his wet clothes clinging to his powerful frame.
I tried to move,only to realize my wrists were bound.
Panic surged through me. "What the—?"
"Don't." His voice was low, dangerous. "You almost got yourself killed."
I struggled against the restraints, fury igniting in my chest. "Untie me, now."
He didn't move. "No."
My breath hitched, my heart pounding against my ribs. "You can't just"
"I can." His voice was calm, but the storm behind his eyes said otherwise. "You're weak, Ashen. Your body is betraying you, and you damn well know it."
My lips parted, words catching in my throat. The scent of damp earth and burning wood couldn't mask the real problem here—me.
My suppressants were gone. My scent had fully emerged.
And Dominic had followed me.
Fury, shame, fear,it all twisted inside me. "You should have let me drown."
A low growl rumbled in his chest. "Too bad," he muttered, leaning closer, his heat pressing into me. "You're mine."
I jerked against the binds, my breathing uneven. "No," I whispered. "I will never be yours."
Dominic tilted his head, watching me with something dangerous.
"You already are."
His words sent a shiver down my spine.
Because deep down, I knew he wasn't lying.
And that terrified me more than anything.