MATED: Vampire Don & Omega Wolf.

The Alpha’s claws dug into Celeste’s jaw as he slammed her to the ground again.

“What gives you the right to refuse me, huh?” the Alpha growled, his voice deep and furious, hot against her skin. “You really think anyone would want an omega like you?”

Blood filled her mouth, but she spat it out onto the dirt. “I would rather die than lie with you.”

A low, cruel laugh came from him. Then his foot smashed into her ribs, once, twice. Pain tore through her body like fire. She gasped, blood spilling from her lips again.

No one around them moved.

The other pack members just stood and watched. Silent. Distant. Some of them didn’t care. Some felt bad. While others seemed satisfied, even pleased. No one ever stepped in when the Alpha lost his temper. No one dared.

Most of the female wolves hated Celeste anyway. She had always stood out, she was the only one with long blonde hair and glowing golden eyes. An omega with rare beauty, something that drew too much attention. They had probably waited for this moment.

He squatted over her, his hands squeezing tightly around her throat. “You belong to me. Your body. Your wolf. Say it.”

Her voice came out raspy, barely above a whisper. “No. I would rather die than belong to you.”

Her body was growing weaker by the second. The world around her started to blur, but her will to live refused to die here. Not like this. Not beneath him.

With what little strength she had left, she reached up and grabbed him in the manhood between the legs. Hard and squeeze it.

He let out a pained grunt, “ Ahhhh!” And his grip on her neck loosen just enough.

She didn’t waste the moment.

She rolled, dragging herself up with shaking limbs, and staggered to her feet. Then she ran. Very fast, as fast as she could.

Behind her, voices shouted her name. Feet pounded the ground. But she didn’t look back. She pushed her legs harder. Her body ached. Her lungs burned. And her wolf was becoming weak. But she didn’t stop.

Branches tore at her skin. Roots pulled at her feet. Blood flowed from her feet and her face. But none of it mattered. She kept going.

And then, the aura around the forest changed.

She had crossed the line.

She had entered the cursed forest.

No one followed her in. They wouldn’t dare. Everyone knew the stories. Once you enter the cursed forest, you never return.

She didn’t care.

If it means that she will be free from all these, she is ready to disappear forever.

The trees grew darker and bent at unnatural angles. The wind wailed like a living thing, whistling through twisted branches. The deeper she went, the colder it got. Her breath turned to mist in front of her. Her heart pounded.

And then she saw it.

A silver glow up ahead. Like moonlight reflecting off water. Soft and vibrating.

A portal.

She didn’t know what it was. But something in her heart told her to move forward. She stepped into it.

The air changed instantly.

It was thicker. Hotter. The sharp scent of blood and metal hit her nose. She fell hard onto the ground, the breath knocked from her chest. She gasped and slowly lifted her head.

She wasn’t in the forest anymore.

She was in a warehouse.

Wooden crates, rusted tools, and dusty shelves surrounded her. The light was dim, there was only a narrow ray of sunlight filtered in from a broken window near the ceiling. Her limbs were still shaking, but she crawled forward on her elbows, drawn by the sound of voices echoing nearby.

She crept behind a stack of crates, keeping low.

Then she saw him.

He stepped into the sliver of light, tall and composed. He was dressed in black, sleeves rolled to his elbows. A pistol rested casually in his hand.

But it was his face that stopped her heart.

He was beautiful in the most terrifying way. Sharp jaw, pale skin, sleek black hair that brushed his forehead, and eyes so icy blue they felt like blades.

A man knelt before him, bruised and bloody. His hands were raised in surrender.

“Please... no...”

The shot rang out.

The man dropped. Blood splattered the concrete floor.

She gasped. Too loud.

His head turned.

Their eyes locked.

She froze. Her whole body stilled like prey caught in a hunter’s stare. But instead of fear, a strange sensation filled her chest, it was something like a pull. Deep and dark and impossible to name.

He stared at her. And she stared back.

There was no emotion on his face. No surprise. No alarm. Just quiet focus, like he had expected her. Like he was trying to figure out why he wasn’t pulling the trigger on her too.

Her breath caught, His eyes were so beautiful that it made her forget how to breathe. 

There was power in his eyes, they were old and dangerous. And yet, it didn’t make her want to run. It made her want to get closer.

He took one step toward her.

And in that moment, she knew she hadn’t escaped death at all.

She had run straight into it.

Luciano started walking toward Celeste, each step slow and steady. Her heart pounded fast, so fast it felt like it would burst out of her chest. Her legs wouldn’t move. Her wolf wouldn’t stir. She was frozen still kneeling behind the crates like prey, her wide eyes locked on him as he stepped closer.

Blood was pooling from the man he had just killed.

She stumbled back, hands shaking. “Please… don’t kill me,” she whispered. “Please.”

He stopped just a few feet away. The sunlight from a small window hit the edge of his cheekbone. He leaned down toward her until they were eye to eye.

“Give me a reason why I should spare you,” he said. His voice was low and dangerous.

Her throat went dry. Her lips trembled, and she didn’t even realize when she started talking. Her voice was cracked, breathless. “I’ve been running from death my whole life. I just… I just want to live freely for once. Please…. spare me please.”

His gaze didn’t waver. And for a second, s