d on Damien, knocking him to the ground. His fists lan

" Damien growled, st

l strength, Boris wouldn't have stood a chance. Bu

ile as his hands wrapped around Damien'

h caught. "No

on a vase sitting on a nearby table. His ey

rstood i

ed. Boris threw another punch, Damien let out a de

im across the room. He crashed hard into the fa

ered, coughing as h

smug. "Go on, try to run. I

off the ground, grabbed Raven's

far!" Boris's voice

red against the floor

e clenched Damien's hand tighter and

breath, forcing her

n door and yanked Damien inside with her. It was the wine storage. A vast room lined with towering wooden racks filled with

the wall. Together, they shoved it into place, barricading the door

nst the door, her heart poun

ck with sweat, and when he lifted his hand to cover his mouth, another violent cough shook h

ing closer. "You've got to pow

g through him. He nodded grimly, swiping the back of his hand across his mouth. "I wo

ike a spark in the

ir

loosened its grip, replaced by a sharp, calculated focus. If t

h every possible escape route. Then her eyes landed

ered, already s

furrowe

wall is the worst quality in the entire base. He hasn't replaced it in ye

et. As soon as he was clear, Raven lifted her foot and slammed it against the wooden panel.

blow cracke

d splint

other, a voice drifted through the

or, thick with mockery. "Raven, you didn't re

r heart hammering against h

arth-shaking boom as Boris slammed his weight against the door. The entire f

fun," Boris taunted, his amusement

breath coming fast. Splinters littered the floor, and cracks had alread

body swayed slightly, his strength waning fast. Whatever poison they had given him

it hap

but this time, it wasn't a tau

tone layered with power.

round her limbs. She went rigid, her breath catching in her throat as

est. No. Not now. Not

, snapping her out of her

oiling around her, sinking into her bones. It was the same power that had controlle

trong," she choked out.

"I'm an Alpha too. Foc

nough. She wasn't bonded to Damien, not yet. Boris's hold on her was absolute, a

voice low and firm. "Reject Bor

e of the door. "Raven! Do not li

squeezing, suffocating her with the need to obey. Her body jerked forward. She tried to dig her heels int

s command. He won't be able to control you anymore." His voice dropped into som

e a promise of something safer. Freedom dangled righ

y to spill out. But just as she was

s Alpha's power crashing

lf, instead of kicking through the weakened wooden pane

shed to the floor

was the last thing she heard