Caleb's POV
When the door swung open, a wave of relief crashed over me like nothing I had experienced before. Finally, someone had arrived. This nightmare would end. But that relief transformed into pure terror the instant I recognized the figure standing in the doorway, tears glistening in her wide eyes.
Damn it. Damn it all to hell.
"She'll be here any moment."
Those words from this twisted woman finally made sense. My mind had been too clouded to understand until now.
"Jessica..." I managed to whisper, watching her face as my heart shattered at the anguish and vulnerability written across her features. My own helplessness felt even more crushing than hers. Self-loathing consumed me, and for the first time in my existence, I cursed my non-human nature. If I were mortal, this damned rut wouldn't be crushing me under its weight.
