Page 2 of Falling for My Shifter Enemy

I swallow hard, her words wrapping around me like a warm blanket. “Thanks, Zoe,” I whisper. “I’m glad I’m not alone in this.”

The silence stretches between us, and I can feel the weight of the room pressing down once more. Zoe suddenly stands, her movements decisive. “We need to try again,” she says, determination flooding her voice. “There has to be a way out of here.”

I’m not sure how she maintains her strength, but I find myself standing too, drawn to her resolve. “Okay,” I say, trying to muster up some of my own. “What’s the plan?”

Zoe’s eyes scan the room with laser-like focus. “The door. We haven’t really examined the hinges or the lock mechanism. Maybe there’s something we missed.”

She’s right. I haven’t been thorough enough before. Together, we move to the door, our hands tracing every inch of the metal. It feels solid, unyielding, but Zoe’s sharp intake of breath catches my attention.

“Chloé,” she whispers, excitement lacing her voice. “I think the screws holding the lock in place might be loose. If we had something to use as a screwdriver…”

My heart leaps with hope. I scan the room quickly, my eyes landing on the table. “The table!” I hiss, trying to keep my voice low. “The screws on the legs—maybe we can get one out and use it?”

Zoe nods, and we hurry over to the table, our fingers working furiously to loosen the screws. The metal digs into my fingertips, and I can feel the skin tearing, but I don’t care. We’re so close. Hope rekindles, burning bright enough to push aside my fear.

And then we hear it—the sound of heavy footsteps descending from above. My blood runs cold. Mark.

“We’re out of time,” Zoe whispers, her voice tight with fear.

Panic grips me as the footsteps grow louder. My hands shake, my whole body trembling as the door swings open and Mark appears, his face twisted in a cruel smile. His presence sucks all the air from the room, leaving me light-headed with terror.

“Well, well, well,” Mark drawls, his voice dripping with malice. “Looks like we’re all settled in for a nice little chat.”

I flinch at the sound of his voice, my mind racing. I want to disappear, to be anywhere but here. Zoe, on the other hand, squares her shoulders and steps forward, fists clenched at her sides. Her bravery in the face of this monster fills me with both awe and shame. I’m not like her. I’m not strong.

“What do you want from us?” Zoe demands, her voice steady and strong, despite the fear I know she’s feeling.

Mark’s smile widens, revealing too-sharp teeth. “Oh, it’s not about what I want from you, sweetheart. It’s about what I’m going to take from them.”

His words send a chill down my spine. “Them?” I whisper, barely able to get the word out.

Mark’s face contorts with rage. “The Whispering Pines pack,” he spits, pacing like a caged animal. “Those self-righteous bastards who think they’re better than everyone else. Who think they can just take whatever they want.”

His voice drops to a low growl. “I’m going to take away every unmated female in that pack, one by one. They’ll learn what it feels like to lose everything they care about.”

I think of all the women in the pack, the ones who have no idea they’re in danger. We have to warn them. We have to get out of here.

“You’re insane,” Zoe spits, her anger breaking through her fear. “You can’t possibly think you’ll get away with this.”

Mark whirls on her, his eyes flashing with dangerous intent. I feel the tension in the room spike, my heart hammering in my chest. This is it. He’s going to snap.

But before anything can happen, a loud crash from upstairs makes Mark freeze, his head snapping toward the ceiling.

“What the hell?” he snarls.

A second crash follows, louder this time, and I feel a surge of hope. Is it a rescue? Could someone have found us?

Mark’s face contorts with fury. “No! Not yet! It’s too soon!”

He turns back to us, his eyes wild. “This isn’t over,” he hisses, his voice venomous. “You hear me? This isn’t over!”

He rushes toward the stairs, his footsteps heavy and angry. My heart pounds in my ears, and I turn to Zoe, my voice barely a whisper. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know,” she replies, her voice filled with the same mixture of hope and fear that I feel.

Before we can say anything more, a deafening roar echoes through the house, shaking the very foundations beneath us. It’s a sound I’ve never heard before—primal, raw, and terrifying. My breath catches in my throat as the door explodes inward, sending wood and splinters flying across the room.

And then I see him.

---