"I think he's coming for us. He knew we were coming here." I frowned looking at the man's now limp body and lifeless brown eyes.

Ryland reached down and pulled me up.

"I need to warn my mom." I breathed looking into Rylands worried yet cold eyes.

"No need for that." My head snapped at the sound of his voice.

Cade walked through the trees into the clearing standing before us. The squad stood defensively prepared for an attack. The energy and life almost felt like it had been completely sucked out of this clearing with his presence.

"I am here for her. No need for any of that." He chuckled taking a step closer. Ryland stepped in front of me blocking my view of Cade.

"You must be her mate. How unfortunate." He chuckled again. He raised his hands sending the whole squad except for Ryland and I flying. He had them pinned to the ground around us.

"If you do not come with me. I will snap their necks right now." He said with a grim look.

"She's not going anywhere." Ryland growled shifting into his wolf.

"Poor choice." He was about to move his wrists when I screamed.

"I'll go! just let them go!" I could feel tears running down my cheeks.

"I'm going to be needing him as well." He spoke taking another step towards us. Ryland growled viciously.

"That wasn't the deal." I snapped. "You just wanted me." I felt the anger boiling in my chest.

I was about to say something when I felt darkness swallow my vision.

—————————————————————

I felt a drowsy feeling wash over me as my eyelids cracked open. The room was blurry but felt unfamiliar. I went to move but my hands were restrained with chains.

"Ryland." I breathed out. Blinking multiple times. I coughed out uncontrollably and I saw as blood splattered on the cold cement below me. I yanked on my chains but felt too weak to do anything.

"Octavia." Spoken just barely above a whisper. I blinked a few times, looking in the direction of the voice.

After a few minutes I could tell it was Kolton.

"They took him." He breathed. "Try to be as quiet as possible or they will come back."

I just nodded.

"How long have we been here." I whispered still feeling incredibly drowsy. I blinked a few times.

"A few days maybe. They have been separating us. It started out as the whole squad and they kept coming to take people." He whispered with a sad look.

"We're going to get out of here." I breathed.

"The chains are enchanted, they won't break." He sighed.

I scooted onto my knees and pulled at them again. They had a faint shimmer lining each of the links. I channeled the demon and felt it take over. I pulled at them but they would not snap.

The wall around the chains post did begin to crack, which gave me hope. Maybe the chains will just have to be stuck to me a
Little bit longer. I continued pulling as the cracks became more evident. The sound of cement pieces hitting the ground echoed through this dark cell.

"Shit. Someone's coming. Pretend to pass out again." He whispered hurriedly. I quickly lay back down, letting my legs fall in front of me and making sure my back was blocking the cracks in the wall.

"Grab her." An unfamiliar voice spoke. I opened my eyes immediately and fought against the hands that were grabbing on to me. It had to be at least four men grabbing onto my legs and arms. I kicked and thrashed against their grasps but it was no use, especially with the chains still on. I panicked looking back before being yanked into another room. I was shoved hard down to the white tiled floor that was now below me.
"Hello again." I refused to look up. I would not look at him.
I heard the sounds of his shoes against the tile before his shoes quickly entered my vision on the floor.

"Is someone angry?" He laughed gripping my chin. I felt the anger boil deep in my chest but I had to control myself, he was trying to get a reaction.

"Your mate was angry too, but he came to his senses. He was a tough one to break but everyone breaks when you push them enough." This time I slowly looked up at him.

"What did you do?" I snapped. I felt my mind shift into the demon.

"There she is." He smiled wickedly. "I need you, not your weak host."

"You will die." A voice that wasn't mind radiated from my body.

He seemed surprised but only for a split second, quickly masking it.

"Then say goodbye to what is left of your mate." He snapped. A door creaked open. And a wolf was dragged into the room with a chain around his neck. Ryland.

I screamed and charged at Cade. He was quick to react but not quick enough. I wrapped the chains encasing my wrists around his neck.

He trying pushing me off but it was no use. In this moment I was stronger than him. I suddenly felt hands grab my arms and waist yanking me off of him and throwing me to the floor. A sharp pain went through my side and radiated throughout my body. I groaned in pain as I felt kicks repeatedly hit my ribs. I could taste the metallic taste of blood on my tongue.

I managed to lock eyes with Ryland as the room around me began to blur. That's when something ignited in his eyes. He snarled and ripped away from the men holding him and charged towards me. However, he was abruptly sent crashing into the furthest wall. I heard his wolf whimper as he laid on the floor limp.

This was my opening. I kicked the nearest mans ankle causing his knees to buckle. Cade and I made eye contact when suddenly, alarms started blaring.

"Dammit." He groaned.

"Leave them, they will likely die here anyway. They are useless."

They hurriedly walked out of the room slamming the door shut and locking it in the process. I groaned clutching my abdomen as I pushed myself to get up.

"Ryland." I breathed.

I felt my vision blur as I took shaky steps towards him. My legs gave out once I got near him. This time I let the darkness take over.

——————————————————————

"Octavia Darkstone, daughter of our savior Luna Brielle." I managed to crack my eyes open to see shadows on the floor in front of me.

I blinked rapidly and that's when I saw them. At least seven or eight half shifters stood before me.

Startled I jumped up only to have the room blur as I did so.

"Careful, we will not hurt you." He spoke reassuringly.

"You must go, take your mate with you. Your mother will explain everything when you find her. The dark warlock will be back any minute."

"Ryland." I spoke with a shaky voice. He was still shifted. He whimpered in response.

"We have to go. I need you to get up." I whispered. He whimpered in response again.

"Please." I cried out. The half shifters quickly came to my aid pulling his large wolf up until he was on four feet and slightly leaning against me.

"You must hurry." They motioned me towards the door.

"I will forever be in your debt. I will never forget this." I spoke to them all. We made it out of the iron door that has been unbolted and the freezing air nipped at my skin. I almost collapsed at the view in front of me. We were in the middle of a blizzard. Ryland quickly lifted his snout up and then bolted off in front of us.

"Ryland!" I yelled out. I began walking as fast as I could in the snow.

"Ryland!" I continuously yelled as I felt my energy deplete as time went on.

"Ryland." I breathed leaning against a nearby tree to try and catch my breath. The air was so thick and dry it felt almost impossible.