Chapter 31

Colette tried to swallow, but her throat was sore from Avram’s rough handling. He was such a jerk, strutting around like he owned the place, taking pleasure in causing her pain.

“Are you okay?” Ylenia whispered, helping Colette to her feet.

Colette tried to respond, but all that came out was a tiny squeak. Her voice was gone. Panic set in.

“It’s okay,” Ylenia reassured her. “Sometimes people lose their voice after being ~strangled~.” She shot Avram a pointed look.

He just rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “Move it, witch,” he ordered.

Ylenia huffed but stayed close to Colette.

Their walk was purposeful, but Ylenia knew what was coming. No female wolf of breeding age would dare to walk so boldly through the center of the compound. They all kept a low profile. All except Shemika.

Every male wolf stepped out of their homes, drawn by their scent, to watch the spectacle. Poor Colette was going to be the center of attention tonight. And not in a good way. ~Everyone~ would be watching.

Ylenia rubbed Colette’s arm in a comforting gesture and positioned herself between Colette and the wolves.

Soon, they reached the center of the compound, right where Dancescu had said he wanted to perform the ritual. So everyone could watch. Dancescu was already there, a cruel smile on his face.

“Avram, what took you so long?” he demanded.

Avram clenched his jaw and ran his tongue over his teeth. “The little witch was perfecting her spell,” he sneered.

“My witch,” Dancescu cooed, extending a hand for Ylenia to take.

She glared at him but took his hand, allowing him to pull her into a hug that was meant to suggest a closeness that didn’t exist.

“You didn’t waste time, did you, dear?” he whispered in her ear.

She shivered in revulsion but shook her head. She knew several spells that could incapacitate him, but she would be the prime suspect unless someone else was clearly to blame.

“Good,” he crooned, playing with one of her curls. “When can we start the ritual, my witch?” he asked, grinning.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Whenever you’re ready, sir. I just need to finish…setting up by the full moon.”

“I see.” He brushed Ylenia aside and turned to Colette, pretending to be hopeful for her success. “Human girl, we’ve been waiting for you. The entire pack is hoping you’ll shift and join us,” he lied.

After a moment, Dancescu tilted his head. “Why does she look like that?”

“It was Avram,” Ylenia quickly interjected, clinging to his arm. “He strangled her,” she said, her voice trembling.

Avram stiffened.

“You laid hands on a woman, Avram?” Dancescu asked, his gaze hardening.

Avram swallowed audibly. “Yes, sir, but I—”

“You ~strangled~ a woman, Avram.” Dancescu shook his head in disbelief.

“Yes, I know, but she—”

Dancescu turned away, raising a hand to silence him. “Ylenia, how long until the final preparations are complete, my dear?”

Ylenia shot Avram a frightened look before answering, “Just a moment, sir.”

He nodded. “Good.” Turning back to Avram, he said, “Go to my chambers with Ionut. Wait for me there,” he ordered. When Avram started to protest, he added, “Now,” in a low, threatening voice.

Avram nodded quickly and hurried away.

Dancescu stayed to watch Ylenia finish the ritual. She tied Colette to a wooden post with thick rope and completed the final incantations.

“Why don’t we just remove her clothes now?” Dancescu suggested, his eyes roaming over her body.

Sorin’s scent was completely gone now. She smelled only of sour milk and the dust from her cell.

Ylenia saw the fear in Colette’s eyes and laughed nervously. “Oh, sir. I don’t think she’d be comfortable with that. Humans are very modest about their nudity,” she said carefully.

He raised an eyebrow but nodded. “I see. So the clothes stay on.”

Colette sighed and gave Ylenia a grateful smile.

“Explain the process to me, little witch. So both the human and I understand,” he ordered.

Ylenia nodded. “I’ve done all the prep work. Now we wait for the full moon. It’ll be about three hours. She’ll either shift or…” Ylenia looked away.

“Ah, yes. And then I might…have Sorin end your life, just for fun,” he said, his voice bitter.

Colette sucked in a breath, the only sound she could make with her injured throat.

Ylenia was shocked too, but she didn’t argue.

“Now, human, would you like to see your supposed mate?” he asked, his tone falsely cheerful.

Colette nodded silently.

He grinned wickedly and stepped aside, gesturing behind him. The crowd of wolves parted, revealing a figure lying on the ground. A human form, chained to a thick steel post.

Colette let out a strained, painful gasp.

It was Sorin, unconscious and bound, across the square.

“I just want him….to watch,” Dancescu whispered in her ear.

Tears filled her eyes as she stared at Sorin’s unmoving form. She wanted to call out to him, to run to him. She was reminded of the last ten years of her life.

She’d been a loner, a recluse.

Colette shook her head. No. She didn’t want that life anymore. She wanted Sorin.

Colette had a wish. She wanted to be with Sorin, just not the werewolf-pack part of him. But she knew that wasn’t really an option. Sorin was a werewolf, after all, and Ylenia had made it crystal clear that werewolves needed a pack.

What Colette really wanted was to share a home with Sorin, to go on dates like she’d never done before. She yearned to experience all the things she’d missed out on because of her introverted lifestyle.