Page 66 of Spike

However, I wasn't naive. Jack was a formidable adversary, cunning and resourceful. Underestimating him would be a grave mistake.

GRAY

The sound of jingling keys and approaching footsteps jolted me awake. After my conversation with Draven, I hadn't expected to sleep through the night.

However, exhaustion had hit me like a ton of bricks, and somehow, I'd managed to doze off.

Seeing Clive's sneering face as he entered the cell, my wolf immediately snapped to attention.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, but Clive's haughty expression told me my time was up.

"Time for you to meet your maker, Gray," he declared, his voice dripping with malice.

With a swift motion, he grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet. I tried to resist, but his grip felt like steel, unyielding and strong.

He chuckled softly at my feeble attempt to break free, relishing in my helplessness.

"A pity Jack intends to get rid of you right away," Clive continued, his tone mocking. "You would've been fun to break and play with."

His words sent a chill down my spine, and a sour bile rose in the back of my throat.

Spike had suspected that I wasn't the first stray shifter Jack had offered refuge.

"How many omegas have you and Jack preyed on?" I couldn't help but ask, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger.

Clive chuckled darkly, confirming my worst suspicions.

"Too many to count," he replied nonchalantly. "Olaf knew, or at least suspected, but the old wolf couldn't really do a damn thing about it."

“Enough talking. It's time for your execution," Clive declared, his grip on my arm tightening as he dragged me out of the cell.

Determined to maintain some semblance of dignity, I gave him a forceful shove, causing him to release me.

"I can walk on my own, thank you," I said, trying to inject a note of defiance into my voice. But deep down, I was terrified.

Terrified of dying and leaving Spike and the new friends I'd made behind.

Since Spike and I were bonded as mates, it would only be a matter of time before he followed me to the grave.

As Clive and I stepped out of the dungeon, the familiar rumble of motorcycle engines reached my ears.

I froze in my steps, a mix of dread and hope swirling inside me. Spike had come for me, just as I'd hoped.

However, the thought of him walking into this danger gnawed at my heart.

Perhaps, I thought miserably, Spike would have been much better off never meeting me.

Then, I grew angry with myself for entertaining such a depressing thought. Despite the imminent danger, the short time we'd been together had been the happiest of my life.

I wouldn't trade those wonderful memories we created for anything in the world.

Then I thought of the late-night conversations Spike and I had about our future, and a wave of sadness washed over me.

Spike and I often discussed our dreams of getting a larger apartment in town, perhaps even a small house with a backyard big enough for us... and our future kids.

We would spend hours imagining what our life together would be like, painting vivid pictures of lazy Sunday mornings, family dinners, and bedtime stories.

But now, faced with the grim reality of my impending demise, it seemed like those dreams would forever remain out of reach.

---