Page 101 of Bind Me

Chowder watches intently from my shoulder as I fiddle with the lock, his whiskers tickling my cheek. My hands work quickly, and soon, I hear the satisfying click of the lock giving way. I open the door cautiously, peering out into a narrow wooden passage lined with several other doors.

“Stay quiet,” I whisper to Chowder, moving stealthily toward the small steps.

The ship’s creaks grow louder as I ascend, my heart pounding in my chest. Fear claws at me, but I push it down, knowing I need to stay focused. Chowder clings tightly to me.

When I reach the deck, I emerge into the open air, staying low. The fishing boat we’re on is large but in need of maintenance, its wooden hull groaning as it cuts through the waves. The salty breeze tugs at my hair, and I take in the vast expanse of the sea surrounding us. Norway’s coastline is not too far behind us, meaning we just left shore.

I keep my eyes peeled for any signs of life on the deck, my heart hammering in my chest. The boat’s rusting rails and peeling paint tell me it’s been a while since it was last cared for. The deck is cluttered with ropes and equipment.

“We have to get off this boat. We’re going to swim back,” I whisper to Chowder.

The air is cold, the chill biting through my clothes as I edge closer to the railing. I spot a set of stairs leading up to the captain’s area.

As I near the railing, I hear voices—a low murmur that sends a jolt of fear through me. I freeze, straining to make out the words, but they’re too distant, too muffled by the sound of the sea. I can’t risk being seen, not now.

I edge closer, my movements slow and deliberate. The voices grow louder, but they’re coming from the other side of the boat, near the stern. I peer around the corner, careful to stay hidden, and catch a glimpse of figures—two men, their backs turned to me as they talk.

Suddenly, a tightness squeezes around my throat.

Panic surges through me, and I’m frantically reaching for my neck, but there’s nothing there… yet the tightness squeezes as if invisible hands are choking me. I scratch at my neck, gasping for breath. Chowder hisses and growls while clinging to me.

“What’s happening?” I manage to choke out, struggling against the invisible force. Fear pulses through my veins, and my mind races, desperate for a solution.

The world spins as I’m yanked away from the railing, my back slamming against the wooden deck. Pain explodes through me, and I gasp for breath, the grip around my neck unrelenting.

Chowder’s terrified squeals pierce the air, but they’re almost lost in the rush of blood in my ears. Terror tears into me, and I struggle against the hold, my fingers clawing desperately at the invisible force.

This time, it’s different—stronger, more relentless. I feel myself being dragged across the deck, the wood scraping against my skin.

“Chowder!” I choke out, my voice barely a whisper. But he’s still with me, his little body a warm presence against my skin.

I fight with everything I have, thrashing against the hold, refusing to give in to the darkness closing in around me. Chowder’s terrified cries surround me as shadows close in around me.

Chapter 28

Sasha

I’m lying on my back on the boat and glance up at someone standing there—Lilia, the woman I spoke with at the pier last week, the same person in the photo at the library. Her blonde curls bounce lightly around her shoulders. There is an ageless beauty about her, though the deep lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth reveal her older age.

The tightness around my neck loosens just enough that I’m not choking, and I reach for Chowder, frozen on the spot for a moment.

Lilia’s gaze blazes with anger as she watches me struggle. Behind her, a few bulky men stand close, their expressions hard, their eyes fixed on me.

“Sasha,” Lilia’s voice cuts through the chaos like a blade, smooth and sharp. “I would have thought you were smart enough to heed my warning and not keep looking into things that aren’t your business. I gave you a chance to leave the city, to go back to South Africa, stay where you belong.”

The coldness in her words sends a shiver down my spine, and my breath comes in short, panicked gasps as I continue to struggle. I scream inside my head for my wolf to come out, to help me break free. I feel her growling, pushing for release, but something’s holding her back. And that worries the hell out of me.

“Don’t waste your time,” she mutters casually. The invisible grip around my neck completely releases, and I breathe easy. My vision swims as I struggle to regain my footing. Chowder hangs on to my shoulders, perched there, pressed close to my head.

“What the fuck do you want, Lilia?” I rasp, my voice hoarse from the struggle.

She laughs, a sound that cuts through me like shards of ice. “Oh, so you know my name. Good, you’ve done some research. Or was it that buffoon Kaden feeding you lies? Though he’s as useless as his grandfather, so let me give you a piece of advice, girl to girl. Dump his sorry ass because he’s only going to betray you in the end and rip your heart out.”

“What the fuck do you want? And how are you wielding such magic?” I shout, frustration and fear making my voice tremble. My wolf is still silent, trapped by whatever magic she’s used on me.

Before I can demand more answers, Chowder leaps from my shoulder, his mouth opening to reveal rows of sharp teeth as he lunges at Lilia. The woman’s laughter rings out again, and one of her men steps in front of her, intercepting Chowder’s attack with efficiency.

Panic grips me as I see the man’s hand reaching out to catch Chowder. I lunge forward, yelling for Chowder to stop, but he’s already biting down on the man’s fingers.

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