Chapter 27 Chapter 27

Chapter 27 Chapter 27
MIRA

The room felt too full of them. Luca stood close enough that his warmth pressed against my side, his hand resting low on my back like it belonged there. Jax leaned against the wall, silent, eyes half-lidded but never leaving Sofia. Zane blocked the doorway, arms crossed, shoulders filling the frame like he was daring anyone to try and get past him.

Sofia sat on the edge of the bed, blanket clutched tight to her chest. Her hair was still damp from the bath, strands sticking to her neck. The bruises there looked ugly—dark fingerprints pressed into pale skin—but she kept tugging the blanket higher like she could hide them. Her eyes were red-rimmed, cheeks streaked with dried tears. She looked small. Broken.

I sat beside her, my hand on her arm. “Sofia… we should tell the Alpha what happened.” I whispered, brows pulled down.

She swallowed hard, shaking her head and clutching the blanket tighter. “No! I…I don’t want to go there again. I don’t want to remember how they grabbed me. Dragged me into the woods and tied me up. Hurt me. For days.”

Her words cracked on the last part. A sob escaped. She curled in on herself, blanket slipping a little. I pulled her closer, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and she leaned into me, trembling.

Luca growled low. “We’ll find them. Rip them apart.”

Sofia shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Not tonight. Please… can you all go? I just need rest and Mira. Just Mira.”

Luca’s hand tightened on my back. “No way. Not after—”

Zane cut him off. Voice flat. “She needs space. We’ll give it.”

Jax pushed off the wall without a word. Luca hesitated, eyes flicking between me and Sofia. Finally he squeezed my hip once then followed Zane out and the door clicked shut.

The silence that followed felt heavy.

Sofia let out a shaky breath as the trembling eased. She looked up at me, eyes wide and pleading. “Mira… we have to go. Right now. While they’re gone.”

I blinked. “Go where?”

“The cabin. Where they kept me.” She stood, blanket falling away. Underneath she wore one of my old dresses that was too tight across her chest, hem frayed. “I need to show you. Proof. Before they come back.”

My heart thudded. “Sofia, you’re hurt. You just said—”

“I know what I said.” She grabbed my wrist. Nails dug in—not hard enough to hurt, just enough to pull me up. “But you need to see it. Please. Come with me. Alone.”

My wolf stirred uneasily, but I nodded anyway. “Okay. Quick.”

We slipped out the servants’ side door—the one no one used anymore. The night air hit us cold as we moved. Sofia moved fast, leading me deeper into the trees. Branches clawed at my arms, drawing thin lines of blood. My wolf stayed alert, ears pricked up for danger.

“It’s not far,” she whispered. “Old hunter’s cabin. They dragged me there. Tied me up and left me there to die .”

The word tied made my stomach twist, but I pushed it down. That was before. Before the shift. Before Luca. Before the bond made everything feel… right.

We reached the clearing.

The cabin sat dark and crooked, the door hanging off its hinges, windows shattered. The scent hit me. Blood. Fear. Sweat. But underneath it all was Zane’s cedar and smoke. Faint. Old.

Sofia stopped. Trembling again. “In there. They… they did it in there.”

I stepped closer. My heart pounded. The door creaked when I pushed it open. Inside smelled of damp wood and something sour. Rope lay coiled in the corner, frayed and stained. A mattress on the floor, stained too. My wolf whined with distress.

Sofia’s voice came from behind me. “See? Proof.”

I turned to face her. “Sofia… why does it smell like Zane?”

Her eyes widened. “What? No. It can’t—”

A growl ripped through the trees and I turned to see…

Rogues.

Three of them stepped into the moonlight. Eyes glowing yellow. Lips peeled back. My heart slammed hard and I took a shaky step back.
“Jackpot,” the biggest one snarled. “The breeder and her little friend.”

Sofia backed up. “No…that’s not th—“

“Run!” I yelled, cutting her off, my heart racing as I shoved her toward the opposite trees. “Go!”

She bolted.

I turned to face them, my heart exploding. My wolf surged forward but they were faster. The first rogue lunged, slamming me to the mud. Leaves and dirt filled my mouth. I kicked, clawed, screamed but his weight crushed my chest. Claws raked down my shirt and the fabric tore open with a vicious rip. Cold air hit my breasts. He laughed, rough hand grabbing one, squeezing until I cried out.

“Look at these fucking tits,” he growled. “Perfect for biting.”

His nails dug in, drawing blood. I bucked, sobbing and kicking. The second rogue dropped beside us, pinning my wrists above my head. Claws sliced through the skin, hot blood trickling down my arms. The first one clawed at my pants, ripped them open from crotch to thigh. Cool air hit my bare pussy. His fingers shoved between my legs, rough, no warning. Pain flared bright and sharp.

“Already wet?” he laughed. “Omega whore. You like it rough.”

The third rogue stroked himself through his pants, watching. “Make her scream. I want to hear it.”

Tears streamed down my face as I thrashed, voice breaking. “Stop! Please!”

He slapped me across the face and stars burst behind my eyes. “Do you know how long we have been watching you? How you pass our woods with your ‘Alphas’ and now we get to taste what they taste!” He laughed, his hand twisting my nipple until I screamed. The second rogue’s fingers pushed deeper, stretching, invading. 

“No!” I sobbed. “Zane!”

The rogue on top laughed. “Calling for your alpha? Cute. He won’t—”

A roar shattered the night.

Zane exploded from the trees, half-shifted, eyes blazing gold, claws extended like knives. He slammed into the first rogue, ripping his throat out in one brutal swipe. Blood sprayed hot across my face, my chest, my torn shirt. The rogue gurgled, collapsing in a twitching heap, guts spilling onto the mud.

The second one scrambled up. Zane grabbed him by the skull and twisted. Snap. Neck broken. Body dropped like garbage.

The third shifted, lunging. Zane met him mid-air—massive black wolf now. Jaws clamped around the rogue’s throat. He shook him violently and the flesh tore. Blood poured. The rogue went limp.

Zane shifted back—naked, chest heaving, covered in gore. Claw marks raked across his ribs, deep and angry, but already closing. His eyes locked on me.

“Mira…”

I curled into myself, arms over my body , legs pressed together, sobbing. Blood and mud streaked my skin. My nipples throbbed from the rough handling. 

Zane dropped to his knees beside me. Hands hovered, shaking. “Fuck… baby…”

He pulled me up gently, crushing me against his chest. His heart thundered against my ear. Blood smeared between us. I clung to him, shaking so hard my teeth chattered.

“I almost…” His voice cracked. Raw. “I almost didn’t get here in time.”

Sofia stumbled into the clearing, face pale and a gasp leaving her lips. “Mira… oh my gods.”

Zane’s head snapped toward her. Eyes narrowed into a glare that could kill but he said nothing.

Just scooped me up, cradling me against him like I was made of glass.

“We’re going back,” he growled. “Now.”

He carried me through the trees with long, furious strides. Sofia trailed behind, silent. My body shook, but the bond hummed, pulling me into him. Safe. Protected. Even as the past whispered: They’ll ruin you again.

But this time… he’d come for me.

He’d killed for me.