“Oh, hell no! I’m not handing my friend over to you fang-faced bastards!” I shouted, spraying the contents of the bottle straight into the man’s face.

At first, he inhaled slowly through his nose with exaggerated composure—but within seconds, he clutched at his throat and dropped to one knee, still gripping his burden.

The men behind him stirred, and without hesitation, I spun around and sprayed them too.

None of them had expected that kind of reaction from an ordinary spray. Of course they hadn’t.

I had been hiding from werewolves for nearly two years now—my defenses were designed specifically for them, not for humans.

The first one was already recovering from the tranquilizer, so I didn’t waste any time. I yanked my friend off his shoulder.

The man snarled, fury blazing in his eyes, and the first ripples of partial transformation spread across his arms.

That wasn’t good.

Dragging my friend a few steps back, I tried to hoist her over my shoulder—but the world suddenly tilted.

A second later, I found myself hanging upside down over a broad, muscular shoulder.

The bottle of precious liquid slipped from my fingers and struck the pavement with a dull, tragic clink.

Clenching my fists, I kicked wildly and hurled every curse I knew.

They shoved me into a black SUV.

Remarkably, not a single person on the street reacted—no one attempted to stop a group of men abducting two women in broad daylight.

Two massive men flanked me in the back seat, boxing me in. The engine roared to life, and the car pulled away.

The man who had forced me inside took the passenger seat beside the driver. I didn’t dare make another sound.

A quick glance around confirmed what I already suspected—werewolves.

Each one of them was large, powerfully built, radiating danger.

“What do you want from us?” I finally managed to ask.

The man in the passenger seat turned around and gave me a slow, deliberate once-over—from head to toe.

For the first time, I could see him clearly: dark eyes framed by thick lashes, a straight nose, full lips faintly flushed, and a shadow of stubble along his jaw.

He looked strikingly similar to the one who had grabbed my friend—but younger.

Brothers, most likely.

He offered a lazy smile and said, “Judging by that mysterious spray you used on my brother, you already know our world exists. Your friend—she’s the true mate of our Alpha.”

Oh, wonderful. Maya had truly hit the jackpot this time. The Alpha himself. She would never be free of him now—not in a hundred years.

Lost in my thoughts, I began mapping out possible escape routes—where we could run, how we could disappear.

The man watched me the entire time.

“So tell me, sweetheart,” he said with a crooked grin, “how exactly do you know about werewolves? You smell human—but not entirely.”

I met his gaze, choosing my words carefully.

“I’ve encountered your kind before,” I replied evenly. “It wasn’t a pleasant experience.”

The glare I gave him didn’t unsettle him in the slightest—if anything, his amusement deepened.

“Why did you take me?” I demanded.

“For company. Once we’re certain you won’t talk, we’ll let you go.”

“And if Maya doesn’t want to stay—will you let her go too?” I asked, masking my tension with feigned innocence.

He chuckled softly. “Didn’t you say you understood our world? How many Alphas do you think allow their mates to walk away?”

“I won’t let you hurt her,” I said firmly, a sharp edge entering my voice.

He threw his head back and laughed.

“Hurt her? No one is going to hurt her. The only danger she faces is too much pleasure. Trust me—Kirill knows exactly how to handle a woman’s body.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I lowered my gaze to my lap and fell silent.

An uneasy silence settled over the car, though it didn’t last long.

“What’s your name, beautiful?” he asked again.

His smug tone grated on my nerves. I had to swallow a cutting reply.

“Vera,” I said curtly, turning to stare out the window.

We left the city behind and entered a suburban district—rows of expensive cottages flashing past in the fading light.

Eventually, the SUV veered into the woods and came to a stop in front of a massive two-story house surrounded by a tall fence.

They locked me in a small guest room and told me to get some sleep.

Every attempt I made to ask about Maya was ignored.

Through the window, I spotted several large werewolves patrolling the grounds.

Escape? Impossible.

There was a shower in the room, so I washed up and lay down on the bed.

Sleep refused to come. Every faint sound made my body jolt.

Sometime after midnight, I rose and crept toward the door.

To my surprise, it wasn’t locked.

I turned the handle carefully and peered into the hallway.

Empty. Silent.

Barefoot, I padded down the corridor. Voices drifted from somewhere ahead.

I stopped, straining to listen. It was them—the werewolves.

“Tell me,” one voice said, “why are you here drinking with me instead of… studying your mate’s body?”

“I didn’t want to frighten her. My story already shocked her enough, so I gave her a sedative. Let her rest.

But you—you’ve created another problem. Why the hell did you bring that second girl here? The guys could’ve buried her in the woods and spared us the hassle.”

My heart sank.

They had truly intended to kill me.

God, how I hated them. Werewolves always played by their own rules, and humans were collateral at best.

I clenched my teeth, forcing my anger down.

Lost in thought, I failed to notice when the voices fell silent.

Then, right beside my ear, a low voice murmured,

“Aren’t good girls supposed to be in bed right now?”

My entire body went rigid. Slowly, I turned—and met glowing yellow eyes in the darkness.

A chill traced its way down my spine.

“Would you like me to walk you back?”

Before I could respond, he seized my arm just above the elbow and escorted me back to the room.

This time, he locked the door behind me.

There was nothing left to do but lie down—and pretend to sleep.

Of course, I didn’t fall asleep.

Thoughts kept circling in my head, refusing to let me drift off or relax.

I woke up early and made it my mission to see my friend and talk to her—no matter what it took.

Pacing from corner to corner, I felt my patience wearing thin.

My first attempt to knock on the door and call out for someone was met with silence.

So was the second. And the third.

By noon, footsteps echoed outside, and a key turned in the lock.

I sat on the bed, staring straight at the door.

At first glance, I might have seemed calm and composed—but in reality, I was a live wire, burning from the inside out.

Every muscle in my body was coiled tight, ready to spring into action the moment my mind gave the command.

The door opened.

A man stood on the threshold, hesitating before stepping inside.

Apparently, my calm posture didn’t fool him.

He crossed his arms over his chest and studied me with a serious expression.

“With that look on your face, there’s no way I’m taking you to lunch,” he said dryly. “I’d probably choke on my food.”

I snorted and turned away.

“What do you want?” I asked irritably.

“I came to invite you to lunch. We didn’t exactly get a proper introduction yesterday.”

“Where’s Maya?”

“Your friend is fine.”

“I want to see her.”

“If you have lunch with me,” he said with a faint smile, “I might be persuaded to ask my brother to let you meet her.”

I let out an exaggerated sigh, clicked my tongue in protest, and stood up.

He stepped aside, gesturing for me to follow.

“My name’s Max,” he said as we walked down the hallway.

“Fine,” I replied with a sly smile. “It suits you. I used to have a dog named Max.”

“You’re bold, aren’t you, beautiful?” he chuckled. “Just don’t try that joke in front of my brother, or he’ll kill you where you stand.”

A pang of guilt struck me. I lowered my gaze and walked the rest of the way in silence.

We ended up in a cozy kitchen, where a middle-aged woman was bustling about.

When she saw us, she smiled warmly.

“Took you long enough to feed your guest, Max. Kirill’s already brought his girl two trays this morning.”

“Mrs. Nina, please,” Max said with a grin. “Kirill’s girl is the future lady of the house. Mine’s just a hostage. No need to feed her that often.”

To say his words offended me would have been an understatement.

Clenching my jaw, I looked around the kitchen instead of responding.

Nina came over, gently took my hand, and led me to the table.

“Don’t mind him, dear. The brothers were never known for their manners. Just eat—you’re skin and bones.”

“Thank you,” I said politely, returning her smile.

While I devoured a salad and a cutlet with obvious pleasure, Max sipped his coffee and watched me in silence.

Once I’d eaten my fill, I picked up my cup and finally decided to speak.

“How long are you planning to keep me here?”

“Don’t worry. As soon as we figure out how to make sure you stay quiet, you’ll be free to go.”

“Let Maya go, and I’ll stay quiet.”

“I’m afraid Kirill won’t agree to that.”

After tea, Max walked me back to my room.

Just as he was about to lock the door, I grabbed his wrist.

His gaze dropped to my fingers wrapped around him, then lifted to my face—pausing briefly on my lips.

Damn. Awkward.

I quickly pulled my hand back and said, “Our deal.”

“What deal?” He raised an eyebrow.

“If I had lunch with you, I’d get to see my friend.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

The door slammed shut in my face, and the key turned in the lock.

Left alone, I finally allowed myself to relax a little.

The moment I lay down, exhaustion from a sleepless night crashed over me.

There was no point in fighting it. I closed my eyes and drifted off.

A faint rustling sound woke me.

The sky outside had turned orange with sunset.

“How much drool did you manage to get on that pillow?” a voice drawled behind me.

I gasped and spun around.

Max was lying on his side, watching my startled reaction with an amused smirk.

Honestly—did he ever get tired of smiling like that?

“What are you doing here?” I snapped.

“I live here,” he said simply, getting to his feet. “I came to take you to your friend, but clearly, you’re not thrilled to see me.”

He moved toward the door, ready to leave.

“Wait!” I called, rushing over and grabbing his arm again.

Another awkward pause. His eyes drifted to my lips once more, lingering longer this time.

I let go and took a step back.

“Let’s go,” he said quietly, leading the way out.

When I saw Maya—safe, unharmed, smiling—I ran to her with open arms.

She did the same, but our reunion was cut short by a massive wall of muscle.

Or rather, an Alpha built like one.

“One more step, crazy woman, and there won’t be any conversation,” he growled.

“Crazy woman”? That was new.

If looks could kill, the beast would already be writhing in agony.

“Come on, brother,” Max intervened, slinging an arm over the Alpha’s shoulder. “Let’s give the ladies some space.”

He guided him out of the room.

I hugged Maya tightly. She looked happy—too happy for someone being held captive.

“He didn’t hurt you, did he?” I asked anxiously.

“No, he’s been kind. Though… his motives do make me wonder.”

She blushed and lowered her gaze.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you believe in love at first sight?”

“Oh no, don’t start. Please don’t tell me that nonsense. No, I don’t. What did he say to make you melt like that?”

“Vera, he didn’t promise me anything. I just… didn’t tell you. We met yesterday morning at the restaurant. The moment I saw him, my heart started pounding.”

I stared at her in disbelief.

This couldn’t be Maya talking.

But then again—she was his fated mate. Maybe she truly couldn’t resist him. Damn it.

“You want to stay with him, don’t you?” I asked quietly.

“I… I don’t know,” she murmured dreamily.

Yes, she did. And it stung.

Why did these wolves always take the people I cared about most?

A lump of despair rose in my throat.

Before I could say something I’d regret, I turned and stormed out.

I heard Maya calling after me, but I didn’t stop.

Max caught up with me near my room.

I shot him one last furious look, went inside, and slammed the door in his face.

Morning came again, and once more, I was locked in the room.

My nerves were completely shot. I wanted to break something-anything. I couldn't take this anymore.

If Maya wants to be with him, fine. She's a grown woman; she'll handle it. The mate bond won't let the Alpha hurt her anyway, so there's no reason to worry. And if she ever decides to leave him, I'll help her.

I walked to the window and looked outside. With nothing else to do, I watched the guards patrolling the grounds. The window opened easily, so when one of them passed directly beneath it, I made a desperate decision.

Climbing onto the windowsill, I carefully swung my legs over onto a narrow ledge on the other side-and jumped. My natural agility hadn't failed me. I landed softly on the grass and slipped into the garden, deciding to hide there before making my way toward the small gate that led out.

Step by step, I reached the exit-only to find it locked tight.

"Damn you," I hissed, kicking the gate.

There was no other option. I would have to climb the wall.

Time was running out. Rolling up my sleeves, I grabbed the top edge of the stone fence, wedged my foot into a crack between the rocks, and started hauling myself up.

Something snagged on my shirt, and I heard the fabric tear. I didn't bother looking back-I had plenty of shirts. I pulled harder, the rip growing louder.

That was when I heard the growl.

A deep, menacing sound-right behind me.

My heart stuttered. Slowly, I turned my head.

A massive black wolf stood there, his teeth sunk into my shirt, tugging me down. One of the guards, obviously. I let out a sharp breath and dropped back to the ground.

The wolf released the fabric and sat back on his haunches, watching me. He was enormous-at least a meter and a half at the shoulder. We locked eyes, neither of us blinking.

"What do you want from me?" I demanded, folding my arms across my chest.

He tilted his head toward the house and gave a slight nod.

So that was how it was going to be. I had to go back.

I tried stepping left to slip past him, but he mirrored me flawlessly, blocking the path again. I shot him a glare and feinted right.

My mother always used to say, "Don't run from a wolf-he'll catch you, and it'll be worse."

She was right.

A hard shove to my back sent me sprawling. I rolled across the grass and ended up flat on my back.

Damn four-legged bastard! The look on his face-as he had just won a championship-infuriated me. He even planted a paw on my chest in triumph.

Anger flared through my veins.

"What do you want, you mutt? Planning to roll me in the dirt for fun?"

The wolf lowered his head and began sniffing me. His nose nudged beneath my shirt and brushed against my pendant.

"You like it?" I snapped. "Sorry, you can't have it-it's a family heirloom."

I could have sworn he smiled.

And then all hell broke loose.

His wet tongue dragged across my face.

"Ugh! Stop it!" I tried shoving him away, but he only licked my hands, my neck-and then his nose found the open collar of my shirt.

"You filthy dog!" I shouted, pushing at his paws.

They slipped, and I kicked him-hard-right under the tail.

He yelped and jumped back.

It wasn't my first time dealing with a wolf, so I knew exactly where to strike.

Without wasting a second, I scrambled to my feet and bolted toward the house.

The wolf didn't follow.

And, as if fate had a twisted sense of humor, I ran straight into one of the guards.

He shot me a stern look and escorted me right back to the room.

Before the door closed behind me, I glanced over my shoulder-toward the spot where the black wolf had stood just moments earlier. But he was gone. Not even a paw print remained.

Alone again, I hurried to wash off the foul scent of wolf.

I stripped out of my clothes, tossed them into the small washing machine, and drenched myself in soap and shampoo, scrubbing under the hot spray until my skin felt almost raw.

When I finished, I pulled on the bathrobe hanging from the door and lay down on the bed. That was when I realized just how hungry I was. They had fed me only once yesterday. If this kept up, I really would starve.

To distract myself, I replayed what had just happened.

Who was that wolf?

I didn't know why, but I had a feeling it was Max. That smug, self-satisfied expression-it was exactly like his.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I called.

I sat up, holding my breath.

If it were Max, I would give him a piece of my mind.

But it wasn't him-it was Nina, a kind woman with a warm smile.

"Mr. Kirill asked me to bring you some food," she said gently, "and then take you to him."

She set the tray on the small table by the window and turned back to me.

"Eat, dear. I'll come for you in half an hour."

I devoured the food as if I hadn't eaten in days. Within minutes, the plates were empty.

Nina returned exactly on time, just as she had promised. I threw on my clothes-wrinkled and torn, but at least clean-and followed her.

When I stepped into the Alpha's office, he was standing by the window, lost in thought. He stroked his perfectly groomed beard, then turned toward me. His eyes flashed with anger, and a chill slid down my spine.

"There's a document on the desk," he said coldly. "Sign it and leave."

I walked over, picked it up, and smiled as I read it. They were trying to buy my silence-with a couple of million. Generous, really. All I had to do was keep quiet about what I had seen.

I folded the paper in half. Then again. And again.

The pieces fluttered down across his desk.

"I don't need your money."

"Then what do you want?" he snapped.

"I want to see Maya once a week. That's it. I'll stay out of your business, and I'll keep my mouth shut."

His eyes blazed. For a moment, I thought he would refuse-and that his wolves would tear me apart and dump my body somewhere in the woods.

"Fine," he said at last. "You'll see her on Saturdays. I will personally bring her to the café where she used to work."

"Deal. So, am I free to go?"

"Yes. You may leave."

"You brought me here against my will," I said, lifting my chin defiantly, "so be kind enough to take me back to where you found me."