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When I didn’t answer, he gripped ain, his voice harder and dehheld abovewith as ht my wrist before it landed its blow That was the last straw, the last hope I’d hung onto I was defeated and weak, a blip onripped both of ainst the wall above ain He left the rooht off as he went

My mind was in a dark, dark place; one that I never visited before It was filled with hatred, self-loathing, and a depression so great it ate away atahead into the darkness as I let all of emotion in at once My wolf snapped and bit to break free She was angry and just as rabid as I felt Time slipped by at a snail’s pace I sat in the sa ahead, dazed as I retreated to the dark hell inside ly emotions, it took me a moment to understand it was really there and not justof his words

Anna, where are you? Answermy cool skin So this was the torture Ada me think he still loved me? It orse than I expected, worse than any physical pain he could cause This kind of abuse attacked ile state of mind I didn’t respond

Damn it Anna, please answer me Tell me you’re okay I don’t care if you need space I just need to know if you’re alright

His voice wasn’t hard any me how easily he’d fooled me

You should win an Emmy, I responded

Holy hell, Anna, where are you?

I tried to block out his voice I wouldn’t play this game and lose what little bit of ed on and on and on Adathey’d putrant me my wish

Adam continued to speak to me telepathically, but I never responded My body eak from the lack of food The last time I’d eaten was the last day I’d spent with the pack I felt like crying, but I had nothing left to give My eyes couldn’t shed any been pinned above ers, but I couldn’t feel the and hurt fro sounded aboveI wasn’t sure if it was real ortricks with my mind It wouldn’t be the first time since I’d been here A si cracks, snarls, and yelps serenated the small space I watched the door in horror, afraid of as coainst e, not that I expected theroan in protest The handle jiggled, but the intruder couldn’t get in without a key Crunching metal echoed a horrific sound and the door was kicked open I screeched,as far away asto see as in the roo happened, I looked up, peaking through the stringy strands of h the door so I could see Adam His face depicted disbelief and relief all in one His eyes ide, his mouth a hard line as he set his jaw As soon as we made eye contact, he rushed forward He fell beside ainst his chest I wanted to fight against hiic, too dazed, and too empty to care If he wanted to play out this fantasy, at least I’d die with a happy er buzzed in the air like a downed power line Reaching up, he claspedfro with it Adam broke apart the manacles and freed my wrists He still hadn’t said a word, just watched me as he rescued me from my prison Once out of ainst his chest and whispering soft words I chose to ignore I could lose ht he was, but I could not listen to his lies I tuned hiful of his scent It’d been so intoxicating tothat spot in my chest that fell for him I hated it and loved it at the same time

"Anna" My name was a soft whisper on his lips, a declaration of passion that didn’t belong I closedthat Inext to the real Ada, his voice pained and full of anguish I didn’t understand Another round of loud snarling and cracks sounded Ada ain and ereabout the chaos around me Adam’s arms offered a peaceful cocoon where I could lose un fired, its blast ringing inthat sounded like a body dropped in front of us, and Adah one eye, I looked up at him His face was serious, hard, and full of worry As if he could feel old

Ada Within h another door and sunshine flooded ht?

"This isn’t over," ainto ht, brother This has just begun," Ada to? Adaain, and out of curiosity, I peeked over his shoulder My mouth fell open as I stared at ame and then looked back at the man who stood off in the distance They had the same blond hair and build Ada a hand up, I cupped the side of Adam’s face, his eyes full of fury

"Adam?"

"It’s me, Chante You’re safe now"

"You found me," I mumbled

"I told you that I’d always find you, Anna," Ada words he’d once told me They were more than words, they were a promise, a declaration--a vow Whatever predicaht at the end of the tunnel, guiding me home