Chapter 6 The Failed Escape

We traveled all night through several territories and boundaries before he gave a command for the men and horses to rest as the sun slowly rose over its horizon. I had kept my eyes open all night, looking for every opportunity to escape, but none came. He had me so tightly tied that I couldn't break free from the rope unless I shifted. That was a huge work, so the option was scrapped.

As the horses stopped, he sliced one of the rope's edges with a knife and yanked the rest off me powerfully, but he was careful not to hurt me.

"Feed her," he commanded as he helped me off the chariot, and his men rushed to his side.

"We have about three hours to go before we get to the pack. She cannot catch up with our speed in this state, so feed her well till she's strong enough to shift and bolt," he added and handed me over to the men.

The moment Damian's grip loosened, I bolted.

My body moved before my mind could catch up; my muscles were surging with desperate energy as I spun away from him. The cold air rushed past me as I sprinted toward the dense forest. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out everything but the sound of my feet slamming against the dirt road.

Behind me, a furious growl caught up with me.

"Run all you want, little rogue," Damian's voice was a low, amused rumble. "You won't escape me."

I ignored him; my focus was set on the tree line ahead. My only chance was to shift; if I could get to my wolf form, I'd be faster and harder to track. My body trembled as I called to the wolf buried deep inside me, the side I had suppressed for so long. She responded with a primal surge, with a fierce energy overtaking my human form.

My bones cracked, skin stretched, and reshaped as silver fur rippled down my limbs. My fingers curled inward, replaced by powerful paws, claws digging into the ground for traction. In mere seconds, I was no longer human.

I darted between the trees with sharp breaths. I pushed harder; the memories of how I had run all my life flashed before me. But then, I could still hear him behind me. He wasn't even running in his wolf form until I looked to see him shifting.

His massive black wolf emerged behind me. His eyes were glowing in the dawn and locked into mine as I turned to see him closely catching up. His wolf was more terrifying than I had imagined. It was enormously huge and larger than any wolf I had ever seen. Its presence was suffocating as his sleek fur blended with the dark atmosphere.

His giant stride was swallowing the distance between us. He was playing with me. Letting me think I had a chance. Sharply, I cut to the left and entered the thick underbrush, but he wasn't fazed. It was as if he had predicted my movement.

In panic, I launched myself over a fallen log, but I managed to control myself and made a smooth landing before I picked up the speed again. The bush before me moved, and I realized something strange, Damien was ahead.

I barely had time to react before a wall of muscle slammed into me mid-leap. A sharp yelp escaped me as we tumbled to the ground, his massive form pinning me down with insane strength. The world spun as I shifted back, my human form panting beneath him, my limbs trembling from the fight.

Damian followed suit; he shifted without struggle. His dark hair was tousled, his bare chest rising and falling with calm breaths, unaffected by the chase. His hands pressed down into the dirt beside my shoulders, trapping me as he stayed above me. His scent filled me in a suffocating manner, making it impossible to escape but submit.

"I told you," he murmured; his voice was low and dangerous. "You can't outrun me."

I thrashed against him, but he didn't budge. His body was hard and firm, effortlessly restraining me. My nails raked against his arms, but he only smirked.

"Let me go," I snarled, glaring up at him. My chest was stuffed with frustration and fear.

"You're mine, Aria. You can fight it all you want, but the bond doesn't lie."

I spat at him, fury burning through me. "I'll never belong to you."

He leaned in, his breath fanning over my lips; his voice sent shivers down my spine.

"You already do."

A growl rumbled in my throat, but he silenced it with a single move. He grabbed my wrists, pinning them above my head as he showed his authority. His power was so suffocating and impossible to ignore. My wolf whimpered beneath its weight, torn between rebellion and instinctive submission.

"You're very strong," he admitted as his grip tighten slightly. "But you're not stronger than me."

His certainty infuriated me. "Then kill me," I whispered. "Because that's the only way I'll ever stop fighting you."

"No," he murmured. "That would be too easy."

He moved so fast that I barely had time to react. One moment, I was beneath him; the next, he hauled me up, tossing me over his shoulder effortlessly. I shrieked, pounding against his back, but he didn't flinch.

"Put me down, you bastard!" I kicked, writhing against his iron grip.

A sharp smack landed on my thigh, not hard enough to hurt but enough to shock me. "Behave," he said smoothly, carrying me toward the cracked dawn of the forest.

Panic flared in my chest. I twisted, trying to get a glimpse of his face, but all I could see was the vast expanse of the forest.

"Where are you taking me?" I demanded.

He didn't answer right away. But when he did, his voice was firm.

"Home."

With that, true fear slithered down my spine.