Bound by Fate, Freed by Love

I should have known they would twist the knife deeper. I sat frozen, my chest heaving, tears burning my eyes as Helena strutted over to Ivan and climbed into his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her manicured fingers trailing along his jaw as if I wasn’t even in the room.

And then—she kissed him. Right in front of me.

A searing rage exploded inside me. My nails dug into the wooden table, my breathing ragged. The sound of their lips meeting, the way Ivan smirked against her mouth, it was too much.

I slammed my hands against the table.

“You traitors!” I screamed.

Helena pulled away with a laugh, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Ivan smirked, wiping his mouth as if my presence was nothing more than an annoyance.

“Traitors?” Helena mocked. “Oh, Cynthia. You’re so stupid.”

Ivan leaned back in his chair, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

I clenched my fists. “You attacked my pack! You left my parents barely alive! And now—now you stand here, flaunting this in my face?” My voice shook, but I held my ground. “You’re wrong about them. My pack isn’t guilty of anything. My parents didn’t—”

Ivan spat on the floor. “You’re pathetic.” His smirk widened. “You can’t do anything now, Cynthia. You’re nothing but my toy.” His voice dropped to a whisper, dark and cruel. “My slave.”

The words sliced through me like a blade.

Helena sighed dramatically. “Enough with the dramatics. Soon, you’ll be out of the picture anyway.” She leaned forward, resting her chin on Ivan’s shoulder. “Once the divorce is finalized, I’ll be the rightful Luna.” She grinned. “And you? You’ll have to watch it happen.”

My heart pounded, but I refused to let them see my fear. I stood tall, swallowing the lump in my throat.

I would not let them break me.

The garden was quiet, the cool night air doing nothing to ease the storm raging inside me.

Tears streamed down my face, hot and unrelenting. I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling so alone.

I had nothing. No pack. No family. No mate.

I squeezed my eyes shut. How did I let it come to this?

“You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

The deep voice sent a shiver down my spine.

I turned sharply. Damon.

His dark eyes held something unreadable, but the moment I saw him, my walls crumbled.

I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around him, sobbing into his chest.

“Damon,” I choked out, gripping his shirt. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t—”

He held me tightly, his voice low. “I know.”

I pulled back slightly, searching his face. “You’re back?”

He nodded. “And I’m taking you away from this hell.”

My breath hitched.

But Damon’s face turned serious. “It won’t be easy. We have to be careful. If Ivan catches on—”

I nodded quickly. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Damon exhaled. “Then we play along. For now.”

And just like that, I had a plan. A chance. Hope.

The days passed painfully slow.

Ivan barely came home. And when he did, he didn’t spare me a glance.

Fine by me. It made my escape easier.

At night, I stayed in my room, careful not to raise suspicion. And now, with Damon’s help, I finally had a chance to leave this nightmare behind.

I stood in my room, staring at my half-packed suitcase, my heart pounding. This is it.

I grabbed my phone and typed quickly.

[I’m ready. Meet me in the courtyard.]

I hit send.

The moment my finger left the screen, a slow clap echoed behind me. I froze. I turned. Helena.

She leaned against the doorway, a wicked smile curling her lips. “You really thought you could run?”

My stomach twisted.

She took a step forward. “Pathetic.”

Before I could react, she swung something hard against my head.

Pain exploded in my skull. The room spun.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

I woke to cold. A sharp, sterile scent burned my nose. I groaned, my limbs feeling impossibly heavy.

Where was I?

The overhead light flickered, illuminating the white room. It was cold, clinical. Not a hospital, but something worse.

My hands were bound. I was strapped to a metal table. Panic clawed at my throat.

Then, a voice.

“You’re awake.”

Helena stepped into view, her emerald eyes gleaming with sick satisfaction.

I struggled against the restraints, my heart hammering. “Where am I?”

She tilted her head. “Somewhere no one will find you.”

Fear coiled in my stomach. “Helena, please—”

She clicked her tongue. “Begging won’t save you.”

My breath came in short gasps. “Why are you doing this?”

Helena’s expression darkened. “Because you’re a problem. And I hate problems.”

She pulled out a small device and turned the screen toward me.

My world stopped. A medical scan of me. And at the center—

A tiny heartbeat. A baby.

I was pregnant.

I gasped. “No—”

Helena’s lips curled into a sneer. “Oh, yes.”

Tears welled in my eyes. I had no idea.

Helena tossed the scanner aside and reached for something else.

A gleaming, sharp instrument.

Pure terror coursed through me.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head violently. “Helena, please—”

She smiled.

“I’m taking it away.”

The cold metal glinted under the light.

And all I could do was scream.