VIOLA'S POV

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I never intended to mistreat myself this badly but I want Haze to realise that I'm serious and willing to risk my own health. I'm out of the infirmary now and tucked back in my luxurious prison cell.

When Haze was gone, I ate some of my food and pretended the tray fell on the floor shortly after so it wasn't obvious what I had and hadn't eaten. I don't want to play these games but I'm not going to back down until I win.

Even if I feel like I'm at a breaking point already. I'm fragile, I know that much.

I pace my bedroom trying to come up with some logical plan but everything seems to fall through. This place is too guarded. There is no way I could escape without inside help, the only person who seems to have any empathy for me is Noah—but he said the same thing Haze did about giving their location away.

The name Malakai sparks my brain and I remember Noah mentioning him. Is that who they're desperately trying to hide from? I don't know the ins and outs of the danger but I know how most packs need extra precautions to protect their wolves.

Nate does it to our pack and he'll protect them with his life, along with Imogen.

My head lowers at the thought of my brother and my best friend. I miss them. I miss home.

The door to my room cracks open and the scent of my unwanted mate wafts into the room and I immediately turn my back on him. I don't want to look at his face—I don't want my wolf to cry out for him in a conflict of emotions.

I clutch my arms around my elbows and tuck my shoulders forward as I walk to the bolted windows and sit down. Outside looks lovely, although I'm not free to do anything but sit here and waste away like a pile of trash. It's touching really. I release a morbid chuckle.

If I don't laugh, I'll cry. But I fail miserably and in fact end up doing both.

Like I said, I'm fragile and losing my damn mind.

"The doctors said you've eaten." His rough voice echoes behind me.

I scrunch up my face. Traitors.

Instead of replying I release a sigh and raise my fingers to wipe the pathetic tears that coat my cheeks. I despise the thought of crying in front of him but I can't stop the waterworks, no matter how hard I try. My pride shrinks with me.

Haze's footsteps echo further into the room until I can sense him directly behind me, his shadow casting over me from the hanging light. I bite down on my jaw and refuse to look up.

"Ah, the silent treatment," he grumbles. "Mature."

My nostrils flare. I want to fucking throttle him. Worse, I want to stab him through the chest.

But I don't do either of those things. I stare straight through the window at the picturesque view and release a soft sigh. The tears keep rolling and I'm convinced I'm broken, I don't think I've cried like this in a long time.

"I need you to talk to me, Viola."

The hairs on the back of my neck stand at the way he says my name. I shake it off subtly and don't remove my eyes from the window. I might be petty but I'm not the one who wanted to be in this situation.

"Fine," he shouts. "We'll go back to how it was before."

My eyes narrow and I slowly glance over my shoulder at him. He's standing right behind me with his large arms folded over his chest and a deathly glare focused at me. And he has the audacity to look at me like that? It should be the other way around.

But the second he sees the tears that stain my cheek, he sobers his expression.

I'm certain I'm seeing things because Haze looks like he enjoys inflicting pain on others and laughing at their expense. Right now he looks angry for other reasons and it's not because of my cold shoulder.

"I'll keep fighting you," I spit through my teeth and more tears drip off my jaw. "I'll let myself rot until I'm dead and I don't care what it costs me. I am not doing this with you."

Haze's dark eyes flicker as he watches each fat tear fall until it splats on the floor beside my bare feet. He stares at me like I'm an alien who has landed on planet Earth and he has no idea what to do with these emotions.

Because he's a psychopath.

"You want to speak to your brother?"

I sniffle and nod.

"Fine," he rasps and his jaw tightens. "You can speak with him, but I cannot take you home."

My heart stops in my chest altogether. "Wait...really?"

Haze stares down at me but nods once. "Yes. If it'll make you happy."

My wolf howls and stupid butterflies erupt in my stomach. Why? He's doing the bare minimum and my wolf is fawning over him like he should be boyfriend of the year. I clear my throat and keep my eyes fixated on him.

"I want to talk to him for as long as I want," I raise my chin, not willing to back down.

Haze shakes his head once and it makes my eyes narrow. "Ten minutes."

I open my mouth to protest but I don't want the minutes to start going down. So I shut my lips and say nothing. It's five more minutes than I was expecting—I'm not going to fuck this up.

"Fine."

"Put some shoes on," he gestures to the cupboard of clothes I've barely looked at.

The eagerness in me can't calm down for five minutes. I rush towards the wardrobe and put on a pair of boots before meeting Haze at the door. He's watching me with a curious look in his eye but I won't let him ruin this moment for me.

"Let's go," he grunts and opens the door and waves a hand for me to exit first.

There are those damn butterflies. Get a grip, girl. I hiss to my wolf in my mind.

I step out into the hall and let Haze guide me downstairs. My hands collect together in front of me as we make our way outside. I expect to see other members of Haze's pack but this grand mansion is empty and the wide halls make this place seem lonely.

"Where are we going?" I call out to Haze as we walk towards the edge of their gated community.

I've never seen so many guards in my life and I thought our security was intense.

"Where the magic borders are lowered, so you can mindlink your brother," he states but doesn't spare me a look.

My throat tightens. "Why are you in so much danger?"

"It doesn't matter," he shakes his head.

"Well it does matter, you brought me here and I should know if my life is in danger."

Haze turns to me so suddenly I almost topple backwards over a rock, but his huge hand reaches out to stabilise me before I fall. His fingers are warm and tight around my wrist to stop myself from breaking my neck.

My lips fall apart as a burst of endorphins rush to my brain at the simplest of touches. I don't want to give into the bond but it practically flashes at me with bright neon lights when he holds me.

I release a quiet gasp as he tugs me towards him. "Be careful," he bites out like it was my fault. "And your life isn't in danger. I won't allow it. You are safe here. Much safer than your old pack house, sweetness. How could you forget about all those times I snuck into your bedroom without your Alpha knowing?"

My nose scrunches up and I glare at him. I rip my hand from his grip, making sure my feet are stable first before I go flying. "Let me talk to him."

Haze steps back and folds his arms over his chest once more. "Ten minutes."

I turn away from him and stare into the distance as my eyes fill with tears.

Nate? His name breaks in my mind.

Viola. Oh my Goddess. Viola. Are you okay?

I'm okay. I kneel in the grass and sob. Are you okay?

Fuck if I'm okay, Vi. What's going on? Where are you?

I sniffle and shake out my wrists. Haze. He took me.

Where are you? He demands.

I-I don't know. I'm far from home, Nate, that's all I know.

Has he hurt you?

My head automatically glances over my shoulder at Haze. He's right where I left him and staring at me with those intimidating brown eyes and stern expression.

Viola– Nate's voice pleads. If he's hurt you I am going to fucking kill him.

He hasn't hurt me. I admit. He hasn't laid a finger on me.

Nate releases a breath of relief but he's still pent up with anger. I'm going to find you, okay? We haven't stopped. We're not going to give up. I promise you.

I turn away from Haze and let tears swarm my eyes. This place is riddled with magic and it's a lot stronger than what we're used to. I fear that this place is hidden from wolves. I want to come home. I miss you. I need to see you.

Viola, I will find you. Do you hear me? You're not going to be there much longer.

How's dad?

Nate's silent. He's distraught. We all are. When I couldn't contact you through mindlink, I feared the worst. But I knew our twin bond would have told me if you were in physical danger, I knew you were alive. I didn't want to give up hope.

Please, don't give up. I need to have some hope.

I am never giving up, Vi. You hear me?

Yes.

Tell me more about this place. Down to the last detail.

So I do. I list everything I can think of as quickly as possible before Haze says my ten minutes are up. I hear him take a step towards me and I tense, I know we're getting close.

I can't talk for long, Nate. Magic is used in the house and it blocks off mindlink.

Okay. I love you. Hang in there, okay? I'll see you soon.

I love you too. Tell everyone I'm thinking of them.

Viola, everyone is thinking of you too. We're all worried sick.

The thought swells my heart. It's nice to know people care about my wellbeing after being isolated for what feels like forever.

"Wrap it up," Haze's voice makes me jump.

"Okay. One minute."

"Now."

I've got to go, Nate. It was so good to hear your voice.

You too, Vi. This isn't the end. I'll get you out of there. Whatever it takes.

I stand from the grass and wipe my sore eyes. "I'm ready," I whisper.

Haze's eyebrows raise in surprise but I'm not going to fight him. If I get to speak to Nate every now and then, it's worth behaving for—as awful as it sounds. I'm willing to put my pride aside to feel like this.

We walk back to the house in silence and I don't miss the way Haze glances at me out of the corner of his eye every so often. He's probably suspicious but the smile on my face doesn't want to hide.

I'm not going to thank him for letting me speak to my brother. But I don't hate him as much anymore.

As we enter the front door Haze pauses when another tall male with golden brown skin walks to his side with an angry face. "Haze, we've got a problem."

My heart hammers. A problem?

Haze grumbles something under his breath and beckons the closest guard. "Take her up to her room."

"What's going on?" I ask Haze.

The other guy snorts in my direction and I pull back at his reaction. "Jheez, Haze. What are you doing? This wasn't part of your plan."

"Shut up, Maddox. Take her," Haze growls.

I'm taken by the arm and dragged away as Haze walks away urgently with Maddox, they talk under a hushed breath. "Wait–" I huff but the guard's fingers dig into my skin until I'm hissing in pain. "Ah. That hurts. Let me go."

He tuts and drags me up the stairs with his mighty strength, almost crushing the bones in my arms. "You're a little brat," he grumbles and unlocks my door before shoving me inside until I fall on my ass. I brace myself with my hands and groan as they scrape against the floor. "Do you see what you're doing? Because of you Haze is distracted and someone needs to put you in your place."

"Fuck you," I snarl.

My arm throbs but I don't cup it. I'm not willing to give him that satisfaction. There is already purple bruising running along my skin and it's tender to move.

"You'll get what's coming to you," he chuckles coldly before slamming the door and locking it.

As soon as he's gone I cradle my arm into my lap and whimper at the way it flops pathetically. I grit my teeth and breathe through my nose. It'll heal soon. I hope so anyway.

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Author's Note

Haze is becoming softer for Viola and I'm here for it🥹

I'm so glad Viola spoke with Nate and it reminded her that everyone loves her

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Also fuck that guard, shit is going to hit the fan for him!!!!

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