Page 62 of Cruel Knots

I’m just Lucia Baldwin, an ordinary omega who’s spent the last seven years as a prisoner in her own home. Nothing matters to me more than my freedom.

I don’t want to be a captive to Callum or the Volkov brothers. My life is precious to me too and I want to use it to protect the only person who’ll die without me.

Dad, I’m coming, I think, hoping he’d hang on until I can get him away from Callum.

The thought of getting out of this place replaces all my concerns.

“Oww!” I cry out and come to a sudden halt. Something sharp impales my left foot, causing me to bite my bottom lip hard.

My breath rattles in my chest as I lower my body onto the ground. Fallen leaves crunch underneath my bare feet, sounding too loud in my ears. Checking my foot, I see a small, sharp twig sticking out of my heel.

“Not again,” I moan as a sharp pain shoots through my leg.

I’ve barely made it through the row of trees bordering the estate and I’m already injured. Blood trickles over my dirty sole as painful gasps escape me.

Gripping the twig, I give it a hard tug.

A groan escapes me as the splinter gets pulled out of my flesh. A trickle of blood seeps out from the wound. It hurts.

“I have to keep going,” I moan, forcing myself on my feet again. Breathless gasps escape me as I hobble forward, trying to be careful about where I put my feet.

Soon, it becomes evident there’s no point in going forward. The forest floor is littered with splinters and sharp rocks. Walking barefoot any further will cause me more injury.

“Are you done running yet?” A deep, familiar voice speaks from somewhere behind me.

Whirling around, I gasp at the sight of the man before me.

The scars on Damien’s face bunch together and twist as he gazes at me. A second later, I realize he’s smiling. His piercing blue eyes stab through me, pinning me to the spot.

How could he get here so fast? I wonder while my heart hammers in my chest. He hadn’t been behind me. I was careful, making sure no one was chasing me. Unless he can make himself invisible somehow, it’s impossible for him to be here without me noticing him.

Maybe he is a beast from one of the fairy tales I grew up reading. There’s no escaping him until I’ve paid the price for my brother’s sins.

In the story, the princess kisses the beast and turns him into a gorgeous, handsome prince. Would my kiss erase Damien’s scars? Not even in your dreams, my mind scoffs at me, spiking my terror.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I take deep, lungfuls of air, and force myself to move. My feet slowly retreat. The moment I feel like I can run again, I turn around and flee.

I run through the maze of trees, leaping over the leaf-covered ground. Branches whip at my face as my breathing gets louder and more labored. Fear throbs through me, making me forget about the pain in my injured foot.

“Chasing you is more arousing than having you chained up,” Damien’s husky voice sounds right behind me.

“No,” I moan, trying to run faster. My running is igniting Damien’s predatorial instincts, adding a thrill to the chase.

My foot catches on a stray root, sending me flying forward. My world seems to tilt on its axis as I land on the hard ground with a heavy thud. The fall disorients me, making it difficult to get back on my feet again.

“I told you not to run,” Damien whispers in my ear. “All you’ve done is tire yourself when I’m only getting started.”

A startled scream escapes me as my head whips around and finds Damien kneeling beside me.

Pushing him, I try to run but he grabs my arm roughly and slaps a hand over my mouth. I struggle against him but he shoves me back on the ground.

He lowers me further, forcing me to lie on my belly. Straddling my legs with his thighs, he uses his weight to pin me down. My face brushes against the moldy leaves on the forest floor as I inhale the scent of wet earth and dried grasses.

“Stop fighting me,” he growls, biting the back of my neck.

Writhing underneath him, I cry out. “Let go!”

“You thought it’d be easy to run from me?” He grates through clenched teeth. “How dare you even try?” His hand reaches between us and fumbles with the hem of my dress, hiking it up.

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