Chapter 166 166

Chapter 166 166
Arielle's POV

I pushed him with the little strength I had, falling to the ground at the same time. He rose with startling speed, grabbing my ankle and dragging me toward him.

"Stop trying to put distance between us," he sneered. "Give up the act of still being upset with me because I was fucking Angel. I know you always wanted to suck my dick, baby. You still want to."

I punched his face, my knuckles connecting with his jaw. "Get away from me!"

He laughed, the sound cold and hollow. Then his expression shifted, hardening into something dangerous. In one swift motion, he pulled off my jacket, tearing another part of my top at the same time. I gasped as his nails dug into my forearm, leaving a deep, angry wound.

He looked at it, a slow, twisted smile spreading across his face. "Perfect." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Now you'll always have a reminder of me. Every time you look at that scar, you'll remember tonight. You'll remember that I was the one who marked you."

I spat in his face.

He wiped it off slowly, his smile never fading. "I love that fire in you. It's going to make breaking you so much more fun.”

He tore the other sleeve of my top, the fabric ripping with a sickening sound that echoed through the clearing. I screamed, crawling backward on my hands, my legs flying up, kicking aimlessly at him. "I said, get away, you pissface tramp!" I shrieked, my voice cracking with desperation and terror.

Stefan laughed, his voice dripping with mockery as he stepped closer. "Oh, she's got some fight left in her. Cute. Real cute." He glanced at the others, who joined in with cruel chuckles that bounced off the trees like a chorus of demons. "Look at her squirm. Like a little worm on a hook. It's almost adorable how she thinks she can get away."

"And I like it, Logan. Keep running, Arielle, my love,” Logan sneered, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. "It's going to make catching you so much more satisfying. The chase is half the fun."

He took another step forward, cracking his knuckles. "I haven't had this much entertainment in weeks.” He looked back at them, brows creasing. “She's like a scared rabbit, all wide eyes and trembling. It's almost a shame to break her."

They roared in mocking laughter. He looked back at me, grabbed my leg and threw it off. He grabbed it immediately, then released me, only to grab it again the next second, dragging me back toward him across the leaf-strewn ground. "You're not going anywhere," he growled, his voice low and dark, vibrating with barely contained rage. "I'm not done with you yet. We're just getting started."

He hovered over me, his body pinning mine to the cold, damp earth. His hand raked down my side, his fingers digging into my waistband, tugging at my pants with rough, impatient movements. "I love how you've kept yourself for me, Arielle. V
I've never had a virgin," he murmured, his breath hot and sour against my ear. "You're still innocent, and that's what makes this so much more interesting. A clean slate. Something only I can ruin. Something that will always belong to me."

I turned my face away as he tried to kiss me, his lips brushing against my cheek, my jaw, my neck. His grip on my waist tightened, his nails digging into my skin hard enough to leave bruises. "Stop resisting," he hissed, his voice sharp with impatience and fury. "Or I'll lose the little restraint I have left and ruin that pretty face of yours too. Don't test me, Arielle. You won't like what happens when I lose my temper completely."

My hand shot down to my boot, my fingers brushing against the small knife tucked there—a habit my mother had drilled into me. Always carry a blade, Arielle. Even if you're wolfless, you're not defenseless. I had always thought she saw me as pitiful, helpless, a girl who needed to be prepared for the worst because she couldn't protect herself any other way. But now, in this moment, I was grateful for her insistence.

I pulled the knife out and stabbed his hand.

He screamed, the sound raw and animalistic, jerking back as his blood splattered across the leaves, dark and glistening in the dim light. "You bitch!" he roared, clutching his hand, his face contorted with rage and pain. "I'll make you pay for that!"

I scrambled to my knees, my heart pounding, and stabbed one of his minions in the thigh as he lunged for me. He crumpled with a cry, his hands flying to the wound, and I took the rare chance to run. I didn't look back as they rushed to Logan, their shouts of concern fading behind me, muffled by the sounds of my own ragged breathing.

I pushed my body, running faster than I ever had. My lungs burned, my legs screamed, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. The trees blurred past me, branches whipping at my face, tearing at my already shredded clothes.

His voice tore through the woods, raw and furious, carrying across the distance like a curse. "Go get her! I must break her pride today for good!"

I quickened my pace, but his words still reached me, slithering through the trees like poison, wrapping around my heart. "You can't run from me, Arielle! You're mine, bitch!"

No, I can't let him catch me. No. Goddess, save me. Please, I begged silently, my feet pounding against the earth. I burst through the treeline, the open road ahead of me. The lights of the city flickered in the distance, a faint promise of safety.

I ran toward them, my heart pounding, my breath ragged. I didn't know how far I had to go. I didn't know if I'd make it. But I knew I couldn't stop. Not now. Not ever.

My hand shot to the back pocket of my pants, fumbling for my phone. My fingers closed around the cold metal, and I pulled it out, my thumb trembling as I scrolled to Mandy's name. There was no way I could make it out of these woods safely without help. I needed someone to know where I was. I needed someone to come for me.

I pressed the call button and brought the phone to my ear, my breath ragged, my legs still pumping beneath me. The line rang once. Twice. Three times.

Behind me, I could hear them—the snarls and growls of Logan's minions, their heavy footfalls pounding against the earth. They were closing in, their shouts growing louder, more frantic. They had shifted. I could hear the thud of their paws, the rustle of fur against leaves. They were faster than me, stronger than me.

If I managed to get out of the woods, they'd catch me on the empty road. There was nowhere to hide. No one to see.

My thumb pressed the phone harder against my ear, willing Mandy to pick up. The fourth ring.

Then my foot caught on something—a root, a rock, I didn't know. I stumbled, my arms flailing as I tried to catch myself. My body hit the ground hard, the impact jarring through my bones. The phone flew from my grip, skittering across the leaves and disappearing into the darkness.

I scrambled to my knees, my hands patting the ground frantically. My fingers brushed against leaves, twigs, dirt, but I couldn't find my phone. I looked back over my shoulder, and my heart dropped. I could see them, their shadows closing in, their eyes gleaming like embers in the dark.

I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the sharp pain in my knees, and started running again. But my body wasn't obeying. My legs felt heavy, my muscles burning, my breaths coming in shallow gasps. I couldn't run fast enough. I couldn't escape.