ALPHA THORNE: Claimed by the Billionaire Beast

iented, the velvet texture of the carpet scratching against my cheek. My limbs w

long had

a cool hush clinging to everything. The fire in the hearth had bur

rything else. Layla's memory-gone. Damian's cold,

ring my breakdown. My breath hitched, but the tears wouldn't come

Damian

loathing I'd never known I was capable of. I hated him for stealing me from my life, for caging me like a prized

is next power trip. I was getting o

t. The room was still cloaked in shadows, but the window revealed th

rf

, but It didn't budge. I twisted harder. Yanked it, but still

hissed under my breat

t ajar during the night. A soft breeze whispered through it, tugging

small sigh of relief escaped my lips when I realised it wasn't too high. Maybe eight or nine feet. There was a narrow ledge

orning air was cold against my skin, making goosebumps rise along my arms, but I

pped, but I caught myself, teeth clenching. Using the wall for suppor

a thud, knees stingin

ra

n catching on low shrubs as I bolted past fountains, hedges, and shadow

ave way to thick, looming trees. Woods. A forest. Dark and dee

the treeline and ran like my life d

hanging limbs and vaulted over fallen logs, lungs burning with each breath.

snap of a branch. And then, it was followed by a

ning, and at the sight of what was

but both massive enough to put nightmares to shame. Their eyes glowed in the shadows. A

faster. Silent and swift and closing in like shadows with claws. I

wrist and hip, but I didn't stop. I flipped onto my back and scrambled backward, digging my hands into t

chests, the rippling muscle beneath their fur. One-the red-eyed beast-

The voice cut through the night like a

mi

h the previous day. I couldn't remember his name, but he was staring at me, his arms crossed, expression unreadable. I turned my head to

ead. "You really thought you'd just climb

d with fury. "Yo

ng it's teeth at me. Elias shifte

your enemy, Evelyn. But you keep acting

hell,"

ened. "Alread

. Stay

aze to him. "Don't," I growled. "Don't you dare try to say a word." Somethin

, breath hot and reeking of the wild. I didn't know how

yn. Do you think this world is kind to outsiders?

y chances,"

hind my eyes. My vision blurred, colors swimming together into a dark haze. My head spun, and