Chapter 79

Thirty minutes before*

Selene

I'm not sure how much wolfsbane was actually in that last dose, but I can feel its effects wearing off quickly. Any hope of escape seems non-existent now that Kate's lifeless body lies at my feet.

After I promised that I would allow Zack to mark me, he killed her right then and there. He slit her throat with one of his claws, the blood staining the floor as her vacant eyes stare blankly at me. I can't do anything but look back at her, her blood still seeping out, a haunting reminder of what just happened.

Zack disappeared upstairs moments ago, presumably to find a bag big enough to dispose of her body when night falls. I have to get the fuck out of here. My blood is rushing my ears, and I can feel the panic rising. Even though Kate was involved in my kidnapping, she tried to help in the end. And it got her killed.

When Zack returns with the bags, he advances towards me. "You convinced her to help you, didn't you?" he asks, a dark smirk playing on his lips. When I don't respond, he just laughs. "Of course you did. That's why my plan will work out so well. You know how to manipulate people to get what you want. You'll be an excellent Alpha."

I want to argue, but I know that there isn't any point. There's no way out now.

I just wonder how he managed to hide his insanity so well before when we were kinda dating. He seemed normal, but I should've realized when he started getting aggressive and spazzing out when he saw me having dinner with phoenix that something wasn't right.

Zack tosses the trash bags at me. It will probably take two to conceal her body, and then he'll likely need to duct tape them together or something.

My eyes widen in fear. "What do you want me to do with these?" I ask, trying to keep the panic out of my voice, but failing miserably.

"Clean her up," Zack commands callously. "You made me kill her. You are responsible for her death, Selly. Don't you think the least you can do is bury her?"

I shake my head, my voice trembling. "No. I didn't make you do shit."

He suddenly grabs my hair, yanking it painfully. 'You did, though. Now I won't give you anymore wolfsbane for now. You were right...I do need your wolf to accept our bond, but that means until then, you will fucking obey me. I am your mate now, and I won't tolerate any disobedience from now on."

"I still haven't eaten anything. How do you expect me to have the strength to bury a fucking body?" I snap, frustration edging my tone.

His hand flies across my face with a sharp slap, but I don't make a sound. Instead, I just glare at him in defiance.

He points to Kate's corpse. "Now, put her in the fucking bags and maybe I'll find something for you to eat," he growls before walking away.

Silent tears stream down my face as I crawl over to Kate, trying to vomit as I slide the bag over her lifeless body. I close her eyelids and arrange her arms over her chest, fighting back the hysteria rising within me.

As I work, I whisper, "I'm so sorry," my voice breaking. I vow to avenge Kate's death

After the top half of her body is in one bag, I start to work on the bottom half; it's the only way I'll find any resemblance of peace with what's happened here.

My body is so weak and exhausted, I'm running on fumes, but I can slowly feel my wolf stirring, slowly coming to the surface. It won't be too long now, I just need to try to keep her hidden. The silver will prevent me from being able to shift anyway. At this point, I'm not really sure if I will be able to escape. Maybe Kate was my only hope, and now she's gone.

When I finish, I'm practically covered in her blood. Zack smirks when he comes back into the room, his eyes moving up and down my body like he wants to devour me. I shiver in disgust. Is he turned on by the fact I'm covered in some somewhat-innocent woman's blood? Or that he thinks he's turning me into the monster he is?

"Don't look at me like that, Selly. Let's get you in the bath so I can mark you properly." The implication of his words make me want to fucking throw up. I'll never allow him to have sex with me. I'll never want that, no matter how long he keeps me as his prisoner.

But I need to wash Kate's blood off of me. I can already feel it drying, staining my skin.

Reluctantly, I allow him to unlink my collar from the floor and carry me upstairs. He forces me to undress in front of him while he sits on the toilet, his gaze hungrily following my every movement. I avoid eye contact, focusing on the floor.

"Can I please shower alone?" I ask through gritted teeth.

After a long pause, he responds, "Fine, but I'll be sitting right here waiting for you."

I nod and step into the shower, turning the water on the hottest setting. A bunch of black shit comes out before the water clears, but I swallow my disgust, forcing myself to stay under the scalding stream.

The blood washes off me, running down the drain. I swallow hard, tears welling in my eyes.

Please...please can I wake up from this fucking nightmare now?

"You have five minutes, Selly," Zack announces, making me jump. I almost forgot the sick fuck was still in here. "Or I'll assume you want me to fuck you in there."

Great, now my ex-mate wants to force me to be his mate and rape me. What the hell did I ever see in him?

Suddenly, I feel my wolf rising to the surface, and I stifle I scream as I feel the full effects of the silver around my neck.