Matilda's POV
I flinched as Kade reached for me, my entire body recoiling in disgust.
"Don't fight me, Matilda," he murmured, his fingers brushing against my arm. "The sooner you accept that you're mine, the easier this will be."
I wasn't his. I would never be his.
My stomach twisted with fear, but I lifted my chin, forcing myself to stay strong. "Marco will come for me," I whispered. "He'll kill you."
Kade's expression darkened, but then he smiled. A slow, cruel smirk that sent chills down my spine.
"Marco?" he scoffed. "Your Alpha doesn't even know where you are. You belong to me now."
I clenched my fists. "I will never belong to you."
His eyes flickered with something dangerous. "We'll see about that."
Then he grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His grip was firm, but I refused to break.
"You're stubborn," he murmured, his thumb brushing against my cheek. "But I like that."
I jerked my face away, my pulse hammering.
I was trapped. Weak. Helpless.
But I refused to give in.
"Marco, please. find me."
I tried to pull away, but Kade's grip tightened, his fingers digging into my chin. His dark eyes burned with possession, sending a shiver of fear down my spine.
"You can fight all you want, Matilda," he murmured, tilting my face toward him. "But in the end, you're mine."
I clenched my teeth, forcing down the rising panic in my chest. "I will never be yours."
Kade's expression darkened. For a moment, I thought he would strike me, but instead, he let out a slow breath, his grip loosening just slightly.
"You're only making things harder for yourself," he said, his voice eerily calm. "I could give you everything, Matilda. Safety. Power. A future."
I swallowed hard, my hands trembling at my sides. "I already have a future with Marco."
Kade's jaw clenched, and his fingers tightened painfully around my wrist. "Marco isn't here. I am."
I refused to cry. I refused to break.
But fear was coiling in my stomach like a living thing.
Then, suddenly, Kade's grip loosened. He exhaled sharply, as if trying to compose himself. "I don't want to hurt you," he said. "I just want you to see that I'm the better choice."
I glared at him. "I would rather die than choose you."
His face twisted with something dark, but before he could respond, a knock echoed at the door.
Kade cursed under his breath before stepping back. "We'll talk again soon," he said before striding toward the door and disappearing into the hall.
The moment he was gone, I crumpled onto the bed, my breath coming in shaky gasps.
I had to stay strong. I had to hold on.
Marco was coming.
My heart pounded as I crept through the dimly lit halls, my breath shallow and controlled.
This was my chance.
Kade was gone for the night, and most of the guards had retreated to their posts outside. Anita had slipped me a key earlier, whispering that it might unlock one of the side doors leading to the forest.
I had to try.
I clutched my stomach protectively, willing my body to stay strong. My baby needed me. Marco needed me.
I reached the door and shoved the key into the lock, my hands shaking. Come on, come on…
It clicked open.
I barely held back a sob of relief as I pushed through, stepping into the cool night air. The scent of damp earth and pine filled my lungs. I was almost free.
Then
My foot caught on a jagged stone.
I gasped as my body lurched forward. Pain exploded in my knee as I hit the ground hard, my hands scraping against the rough dirt. My right arm twisted at an unnatural angle, and a sharp, searing pain shot through it.
I bit my lip to keep from screaming.
No. No, no, no!
Tears blurred my vision as I cradled my injured arm, my entire body trembling. I tried to push myself up, but the pain was unbearable.
And then
Footsteps.
Loud. Fast. Coming straight toward me.
"Stop her!" a voice shouted.
Panic crashed into me like a tidal wave.
I scrambled to my feet, but my body was weak, my injured arm useless at my side.
I had failed.
Strong hands grabbed me from behind, yanking me back.
I thrashed, screamed, kicked but I was too hurt, too exhausted.
And then Kade's voice sliced through the night.
"Matilda," he murmured, his grip tightening around me. "You never learn, do you?"
Terror gripped my chest as he turned me to face him, his eyes burning with fury.
"You're mine," he growled. "And I'm going to make sure you never try this again."
Kade's grip on me was tight, his body tense as he scanned my injuries. His fury was unmistakable, but there was something else in his expression something that almost looked like concern.
"Damn it, Matilda," he muttered under his breath, lifting me as if I weighed nothing. "Look at you. You're hurt."
I tried to push away, but the sharp pain in my arm made me gasp.
Kade's jaw clenched as he carried me inside, his hold almost gentle. It made me sick.
"You did this to yourself," he said, his voice low with frustration. "Why do you keep running?"
I glared up at him, my body shaking. "Because I don't belong to you."
His eyes darkened. "You will."
I trembled as he carried me back to my room, placing me on the bed. The moment he let go, I recoiled, holding my injured arm close.
Kade exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. "You could have hurt the baby," he muttered, more to himself than to me.
My heart clenched. I didn't want him to care about my baby. It wasn't his. It was Marco's.
He turned back to me, his gaze sharp. "You need a doctor."
I pressed my lips together, refusing to speak.
He sighed, then called out, "Anita!"
Moments later, Anita hurried in, eyes widening when she saw me clutching my arm.
"Fix her up," Kade ordered. "And make sure she doesn't do anything stupid again."
Then, without another word, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
The moment he was gone, I let out a shaky breath.
Anita rushed to me, kneeling beside the bed. "Matilda…" she whispered, her eyes full of worry.
Tears burned in my eyes, but I forced them back. "I have to get out of here," I whispered. "Before it's too late."
I clutched my injured arm, my breaths shaky as I looked at Anita. "Where were you?" I whispered.
She hesitated, then leaned in closer. "I went to get Marco."
My heart nearly stopped. "What?"
Anita's eyes flickered toward the door before she continued in a hushed voice. "He's hiding nearby. He's coming soon. You need to be ready."
A sob of relief almost escaped me, but I swallowed it down. Marco was here. He was coming for me.
I gripped Anita's hand. "How soon?"
"Tonight."
I sucked in a sharp breath. I needed to be strong. I needed to hold on just a little longer.
Anita glanced at my arm, worry creasing her face. "Can you move?"
Pain shot through me as I tried to adjust, but I gritted my teeth. "I'll manage."
She nodded. "Good. Because when the time comes, we run."
Hope ignited in my chest.