Page 49 of Wolf

I sink onto the plush sofa, burying my face in my hands. I should be disgusted, but I’m not. I’m confused, lost in a labyrinth of desire of Matias’s making.

He’s stripped away my defenses, exposing my weakness for him. The worst part is even here on US soil, I don’t have the strength to resist him. With each passing moment, his claws are sinking deeper into me.

Pull yourself together, Kali!

Shaking my head, I force myself to focus. Somehow, I need to find a way out of here or some leverage to hold over him. My eyes move to the bedroom door, and I stand to check through his things.

I start with the nightstand, pulling open the drawer and rummaging through its contents. There are pens, a few crumpled receipts, and an old pocket knife—nothing useful. Frustration bubbles inside me, but I push it down.

Moving to the closet, I gently slide open the door. My eyes scan the neatly hung shirts and slacks, searching for anything useful. There, on the top shelf, I spot a small lockbox. My heart races as I drag a chair over and climb onto it to retrieve the box.

The weight of the box in my hands suggests there’s something inside. I try to pry it open with shaking fingers, but it’s locked tight. I bite my lip, considering my options. If I can find the key, I can learn more about the psycho holding me captive.

Glancing around the room, I see a set of keys hanging by the door. I rush over and sift through them, searching for one for the lockbox. After several attempts, I find the right key and return to the bedroom.

A bang makes me freeze. I’m sure it was outside, but what if Matias comes back? When the silence stretches on, I breathe a sigh of relief and turn my attention back to the lockbox.

Carefully, I insert the key and turn it, holding my breath as the lid opens. I find a stack of documents, a small handgun, and a leather-bound journal. My fingers tremble as I lift the journal, my curiosity piqued.

Just as I open it, I hear the front door slam shut. Panic seizes me, and I quickly shove the journal back into the box, slamming the lid closed. I barely have time to replace the chair and step away before the closet door is wrenched open, revealing a furious Matias.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he snarls, his eyes narrowing.

I swallow hard, trying to devise an excuse, but Matias’s expression tells me he knows what I’ve been up to. And I can’t help but wonder how he knows and what he’ll do to me now that he’s caught me snooping through his belongings.

Matias looms over me, his dark eyes glinting with barely contained fury.

I swallow hard, cursing myself for my carelessness. “I-I was just looking for something to wear,” I stammer, hoping the lie will fool him. “These clothes are dirty and uncomfortable.”

Matias’s lips curl into a cruel smile. “You think you can lie to me?” he growls. “After all we’ve shared, you still try to deceive me.”

I flinch at the raw menace in his tone, my mind racing to find a way to diffuse the situation. But Matias is already closing the distance between us, backing me into the walk-in closet, his movements predatory.

“Please,” I beg, backing away until my back hits the wall. “I’m sorry, I-”

My words are cut off as Matias grabs me by the throat, his grip tight. I gasp for air, my nails clawing at his hand in a desperate attempt to free myself.

“Sorry?” he hisses, his face mere inches from mine. “You think a simple apology will save you now?”

The look in his eyes terrifies me. Tears sting my eyes as the pressure on my throat increases, and I struggle to breathe. Panic courses through me, and I can feel the darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision.

Matias releases his grip, and I crumble to the floor, gasping for air. I curl in on myself, trembling, as he looms over me, his expression one of cold fury.

“You’ve disappointed me,” he says, his voice dripping with disdain. “And now you must be punished.”

Before I can react, Matias grabs me by the hair, dragging me over to the bed. I cry out in pain, my fingers clawing at his hand.

He tosses me onto the bed, and I know that whatever he has planned will be nothing short of agonizing.

Matias looms over me, his eyes burning with feral hunger. “This is what happens when you go through my things,” he growls, his hands already working at the buttons of his shirt.

I squeeze my eyes shut, fear mingling with that indestructible desire that craves this psychopath.

Matias grabs my wrists, pulling me close. His eyes flicker with an unspoken promise, something dark and exhilarating. The air crackles with anticipation, and I feel the heat radiating off his body.

He hauls me over his lap with a force that leaves me breathless, and I surrender. My heart hammers as I’m hit with a heady desire.

The first strike of his palm on my ass sends a shockwave through me. It’s a sharp sting but quickly followed by a throbbing warmth that spreads. I bite my lip, torn between the urge to scream for help and the strange pleasure that courses through me.

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