Page 23 of Wolf

But there’s another fear. Matias. The psychotic, manipulative bastard who’s tormented me relentlessly. I should be relieved at the prospect of escaping him and his electrifying touch that sets my body on fire even as my mind screams in protest.

Yet, the thought of never seeing him again, of losing that dark, magnetic connection we share, fills me with a profound sense of loss.

I roll over, burying my face in scratchy hay to muffle a sob. I hate myself for feeling this way, for craving the very monster who’s brought me so much pain. But in this hellish place, where brutality and desire intertwine, Matias has become a twisted anchor, a source of sick comfort.

I don’t know what the future holds, whether I’ll end up in the hands of some cruel stranger or if, by some miracle, I’ll find a way to escape. All I know is that these next three days will be a final dance with the devil who’s claimed a piece of my soul.

The cell door creaks open, and a familiar figure steps inside as if I conjured him with my thoughts. Matias. His dark eyes lock onto mine, and I quickly turn away, not wanting him to see the tears that stain my cheeks.

But it’s too late. He’s already noticed. With a few swift strides, he’s at my side, his rough hand cupping my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze. His expression’s a strange intensity, a mix of possessiveness and something else I can’t quite decipher.

“What’s this, little rabbit?” he murmurs, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. “Are you crying for me? Because you know you’re going to be taken away from me?”

I try to turn my head to escape his piercing stare, but his grip is unyielding. My heart races in my chest, a traitorous rhythm that betrays his effect on me.

I want to deny it, to spit in his face and tell him that I’m crying tears of joy at the thought of being free of him. But the words stick in my throat, and I remain silent, my eyes locked on his.

Matias leans in closer, his breath hot against my ear. “You can’t hide from me, Kali. I know the truth. You’re mine; no matter where you go or who buys you, that’ll never change.”

His words send a shudder down my spine. I hate myself for the way my body responds to him, for the way his proximity makes me ache with a need I can’t control.

Matias’s grip on my arm is firm as he leads me out of the cell, his steps purposeful. I stumble along beside him, my heart racing with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Where is he taking me this time? What new torment does he have in store?

Surprisingly, he doesn’t lead me down the dark, winding path to the forest. Instead, we go through a series of dimly lit corridors, our footsteps echoing off the cold, damp walls. I try to memorize the route, but the twists and turns are dizzying, and I soon lose track.

Finally, we reach a door, and Matias pushes it open, revealing another small, sparsely furnished room like the first one he took me to. There’s a bed in the corner, and a single light bulb hangs from the ceiling, casting a sickly yellow glow over everything.

He shoves me inside, and I stumble, catching myself against the wall. I turn to face him, my breath coming in short gasps. But there’s something different in his eyes tonight, an emotion that I can’t quite place.

Without a word, he stalks toward me, his movements predatory. I shrink back, but there’s nowhere to hide. His hands find my waist, and he pulls me against him, his body hard and unyielding.

I brace myself for the brutal onslaught of his desire. Instead, his touch is almost gentle, his fingers skimming over my skin with a tenderness that catches me off guard. He’s still rough, but there’s an undercurrent of something else that makes my heart ache.

His lips find mine, and he kisses me with a fierce intensity, his tongue delving into my mouth, leaving me breathless. I find myself responding and my body melting into his.

He breaks the kiss, his dark eyes boring into mine. I see a flicker of vulnerability I’ve never witnessed before. It’s gone in an instant, replaced by the familiar hunger.

Wordlessly, he pushes me down onto the bed, his body covering mine, his weight pinning me in place.

I let out a shaky breath as Matias looms over me, his dark eyes burning with an intensity that terrifies and captivates me. “Please,” I murmur. “Don’t do this.”

Matias’s lips curve into a twisted smile, and he leans in, his breath hot against my skin. “Don’t do what?” he murmurs, his fingers tracing the curve of my waist. “Don’t claim what’s mine?”

His hand slides up, cupping my cheek, and I can’t help but lean into his touch. “You know the truth, Kali,” he whispers, his thumb brushing my bottom lip. “No matter who tries to take you from me, you’ll always be mine.”

I shake my head, trying to muster the strength to push him away, but his grip tightens, and I find myself trapped beneath him. “I’m not yours,” I whisper. “I’ll never be yours.”

Matias lets out a low, rumbling chuckle. “Oh, but you are,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against mine. “And you know it, don’t you? Deep down, you crave me, just like I crave you.”

I try to turn my head to avoid the searing intensity of his gaze, but he won’t let me. His fingers tighten around my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Look at me, Kali,” he growls, his voice low. “I want to see the truth in your eyes.”

I can feel the tears welling up, threatening to spill over, but I refuse to let them fall. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break, not again. Instead, I hold his gaze, my eyes narrowing in defiance.

Matias’s expression darkens, and for a moment, I think he’ll lash out to punish me for my defiance.

Slowly, his grip on my chin loosens, and his hand slides down, tracing the curve of my neck. His touch is gentle, starkly contrasting to the brutality I’ve come to expect.

“You’re so beautiful when you defy me, you know that?” he murmurs. “It makes me want to break you, to shatter your stubborn spirit until all that’s left is a quivering, desperate thing that lives only for my touch.”

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