CHAPTER 25

ABBY POV.

The hairs at the back of my neck stood up as I turned to face the basement door, only to find my eyes lock with a pair of eyes that reflected my own. The only difference was, that his seemed emotionless and dead. Something inside of me recognised him. As though I instantly knew that I was the same as what he was. I stumbled back in the dimly lit cell room of the mansion, my heart pounding in my ears, dread coiled in my stomach as I stared at the man in front of me. The scent of damp earth mingled with fear as I stood close to Marcus and my parents. The tension in the air was high for a few seconds before Marcus seemed to snap out of his shocked state. He pulled me in behind him although I knew it would do no good to shield me.

The cold eyes of Donavan Stone held mine for another moment before his eyes jumped to the person behind me. I instantly knew it was at my mother. I could see his eyes widen slightly in shock and then narrowed hatefully before they came to rest back on mine. He had a look of dislike and anger on his face as he looked at me now, seeming to have connected the dots to who I was and to who the rumours were referring to as the unknown she wolf with purple eyes.

A growl vibrated from his throat that left me feeling cold as a soft whimper of fear escaped my mother, a heartbreaking sound that filled me with anger and sorrow and I hated the man before me to make my mother so fearful. Marcus’s hand tightened around mine as he tried to shield me, offering silent support while he stood his ground, fighting between fear and defiance. I knew he was scared. I could feel it in the slight trembling of his hand on mine and that angered me more. I could feel something within me stir, the primal urge to protect my loved ones rising to the surface, but before I could say or do anything, Donavan spoke up.

“When I received word of a Violet she wolf on your pack grounds…” He spoke as his eyes travelled from mine to Marcus’s father. I could see alpha Marius swallow fearfully from the cold man’s gaze. “I thought that it was another desperate plea for attention from Peter.” Alpha Donavan said and took a step down. Marcus’s hand tightened on mine and he moved more in front of me to shield me and my parents.

“But imagine my surprise when I was told that it was not Peter, but his brother, alpha Marcus, himself.” Donavan said silkily and my head snapped to my mate’s father. I knew he could feel me glaring at him but he didn’t move an inch. He was watching Donavan like a hawk.

“So, I just had to come down here and see for myself and imagine my surprise to what is standing before me.” He said, his voice dripping with malice as his eyes turned on me again whilst still making his way down the stairs. "Just look at what we have here. The little pup and her family, trying to flee with their tails between their legs."

Marcus, straightened himself to make him look taller as he stood beside me, his eyes blazing with a fierce protectiveness. "Let us go, Alpha Donavan. We mean no harm to you or your pack and you will never see or hear from us again."

Alpha Donavan chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "Oh, but you do mean harm.” He said as he looked Marcus up and down as he stood by my side and for a fleeting moment Alpha Donavan’s eyes darted to my neck to where Marcus bit me just days before. A shadow passed over his face, almost something like disapproval. “You see, I was under the impression that the bitch got rid of the brat…” Alpha Donavan said and shot a glare at my mother. “And from the mark on her neck and the protective way that your son is clinging to my daughter…” He said, basically spitting out the word ‘daughter’. “I would say that I have made it just in time prevent any further harm from being done.” He said and pinned Alpha Marius with an unamused look.

And as for you, runt..." His gaze locked onto mine and I sucked in a shocked breath at being addressed directly with his voice filled with a cruel intensity. "You're a prize I intend to claim for myself. A prize that should have been eliminated before birth, if it weren't for your mother's defiance."

Suddenly, my parents came out from behind me and stood beside me. My mother’s eyes flashed with fierce protective determination and I was shocked to see the same look in my father’s eyes. "We won't let you have her, Donavan," my mother growled in a voice I have never heard her speak before. It almost scared me as I stared at her with wide eyes. I could almost feel her predatory side emanating from her. "She's our daughter, and we'll protect her with our lives."

Donavan's eyes darted to my father with an unidentified emotion shifted in his gaze before a smug and dark smile grew on his face. "Ah, but I think you'll find that you're in no position to negotiate. You see, I have a few...guests, who are eager to meet you." He gestured behind him. it was only then that I noticed that he wasn’t alone. My heart sank as I saw my best friend, Audrey, and my brother, James, being dragged into view. They were bound and gagged, their eyes wide with fear.

“Imagine my surprise to find two humans at your border, demanding to be let in because they were looking for…” Donavan said smugly as he turned his gaze to me. “You, Abby.” He said and a cold shiver ran down my back when he called me by my name. “He was apparently looking for his sister and her her…” His gaze turned to Marcus with a sneer. “New boyfriend.”

"Let them go!" I snarled, as I tried to take a step forward, but it was my parents how darted forward before me. “Let them go, they have nothing to do with this Donavan!” My mother said as she held a hand onto my dad’s arm, holding him back from trying to get to James.

Alpha Donavan's eyes gleamed with triumph. "Oh, I don't think so. You see, they're my insurance policy. As long as they're in my possession, you'll do exactly as I say. And if you don't...well, let's just say I have no qualms about hurting them. Or worse."

Marcus's eyes met mine, and I knew that he was thinking the same thing. We had to find a way to get Audrey and James out of there, but how? They were at Donavan's mercy, and he knew it.

The air was thick with silenced tension as my heart raced with fear. I tried to think of a way to outmanoeuvre my ruthless biological father. But for now, they were trapped, with no clear escape in sight.

Donavan's eyes narrowed in annoyance as he received no answer, his gaze fixed on me. "You have two options, pup. You can come with me, and I'll spare your family and friends. Or you can refuse, and...well, let's just say I have no problem with making an example out of them."

I gasped at his words. My mind raced as I weighed the options. If I gave in to Donavan's demands, it would just as well mean a death sentence, but refusing would put the people I loved in grave danger and I f we were to fight him… we would most certainly die. I thought to myself as I eyes the men that held my brother and best friend and I instinctively knew that there would be more of them waiting inside the manor. I realised that It didn’t matter what I chose, I was trapped either way.