Mated to the Father, Claimed by His Son.

p and authoritative, reminiscent of thunder r

a

self. Yet, I was unable to sa

mprisoned me for such a long time. However, he did not halt.

risky. "Say it," he whispered once

ddered beneath the significance of the moment, a

tense pain coursed through me, burning and intense, but it disappeared just

ze, engulfing my entire being. My lips opened, and aft

ap

shattering quiet, dismantling

ze was intense and turbulent, yet there was also a g

urmured, his tone g

t time ever, I h

h. My head pounded, and my body hurt in ways unrelated to Rio or his dismissa

The unknown person, his hands on me, his mouth. The b

on the nightstand. A piece of jewelry worn around the neck. Uncomplicated, graceful,

ed sore, and my fingers quivered as they glided across it. It wasn't a frie

?" My voice was rasping, harsh from lack of use. The sound took me by

ears of quiet, I shou

ntinued to resonat

to focus on him or how he had made me feel. I needed to continue progressing

tfit. They were wrinkled, frayed in spots, but they would suffice. My stomach churned a

anymo

the room I had exited. Merchants yelled, their voices clashing in a clamor that caused my hea

s fast. I possessed no funds, no companions, no definite goal. All I possess

d, jerk," someone snarle

g an apology to myself, but

s and didn't see the shadow hoverin

My hands reached out reflexively to break my fall, but they scraped against the harsh ground, and pain e

ice. The noise halted the air in my chest

look to realize w

above me, his malicious smile contorted with glee. The faint illumination of

wn to seize my arm. His grip tightened around it like a cla

ugh to make me inhale sharply, although I quickly stif

His breath emanated an odor of old beer and somethin

rritating-a noise that se

aimed, pulling me ahead. "We h

ut it wasn't sufficient. My body felt excessively weak, excessivel

e tinged with annoyance. "You're just mak

he pulled me through the woods, his speed unwavering. The lively noises of the market vanished in

g glow of torches. A group had assembled, their

iumphant smirk adorning her lips. Next to her, my mother remain

one laced with malice. "See who ch

n the ground. My heart raced in my ch

ving around me like a predator hunting its target. "No

their murmurs cutting through my

t the words lodged in my th

to scorn. "Pathetic," she

Her pace hesitated briefly before she charged ah

eyes growing larger as they notic

but remai

ickly reaching for the necklace partly concealed in the fabric of my dr

cklace for everyone to view. "An offering from

ined not to provide her wi

eally believe you can leave, sleep with someone you

aunts more intense, piercing, and agonizi

"Bind her to the pole," she commanded, her tone icy and author

ey pushed me against the old wooden pole, tying me securely. The coarse ropes pressed into my skin, the jagged edges cu

was persist and get

ng above, and shortly after, rain started to descend, initially as gentle drops, then transforming into a f

f. "Next, I'll find a way to break fre

r laughter diminishing into the distance. Yet I re

red so violently it seemed like they could shatter. My wolf whined gently in my thoughts, her pres

reminder of my past hardships. My fingertip

. I would not. Crying w

rt, the borders of reality dissolving. My breaths arrived in

-a howl, low and echoing, slicing

oise was eerie, intense, and it inc

under