CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 105: TRUTH AND ESCAPE

The woman stumbled, blood spattering onto the grass as she desperately tried to outrun the three massive rogues chasing her. Her eyes were wild with terror, her clothes torn and dirty.

Without thinking, Callum flung open the car door.

“What are you doing?” Levi shouted, but Callum was already moving.

An unexplainable urge surged through him. It was a primal need to protect this stranger. His bones cracked and reshaped as he shifted mid-leap, landing on all fours as a sandy-colored wolf.

With a ferocious growl, he charged at the nearest rogue, colliding with the larger wolf and sending them both tumbling across the ground.

Levi cursed under his breath before shifting as well. His black wolf was larger than Callum’s, his movements more precise as he tackled another rogue. The third wolf hesitated, looking between its fallen companions and the woman who had collapsed by the roadside.

Callum sank his teeth into his opponent’s shoulder, tasting blood. The rogue yelped in pain, twisting to break free. Nearby, Levi had pinned his target to the ground, jaws clamped around the rogue’s throat in warning.

The third wolf decided the fight wasn’t worth it. With a frustrated howl, it retreated into the forest. Seeing their pack mate flee, the other two rogues struggled harder, eventually breaking free and limping after their companion.

Callum stood panting, watching the rogues disappear into the trees. Only then did he shift back to human form, quickly pulling on his discarded clothes from the ground.

“Why are there rogues in Emberfang territory?!” Levi growled the moment he shifted back, sneering.

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, turning to face the other side. The security team was spread thin since half of the warriors had been sent out to search for Hazel. Rogues finding a new way into Emberfang was not good news.

Meanwhile, the woman was still huddled on the ground, trembling.

“Are you okay?” Callum asked, approaching slowly.

She looked up, her blue eyes meeting his. “Thank—”

The world seemed to stop. A jolt of electricity shot through Callum’s body, leaving him frozen in place. His wolf howled in recognition, clawing to get closer to her.

“Callum?” Levi called, now back in human form and dressed. “We don’t have time for—”

“She’s...”

Callum was unable to shift his eyes away from the woman. Likewise, she stared at him with wide eyes, her lips slightly parted in surprise.

“My mate.”

+++

Hazel’s POV

I paced the small room for what felt like the hundredth time, searching for anything that might help me escape. Unfortunately, the door was locked, and there were little to no tools available to help me pry the lock open.

The sound of footsteps outside made me stiffen. I grabbed a heavy lamp from the bedside table, prepared to defend myself. The door opened, and Cassandra stepped in, carrying a tray of food.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the lamp in my hands.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” she slowly said.

“Sorry, but I can’t exactly believe anything you say right now,” I snapped.

Cassandra sighed, setting the tray down. “I deserve that. But you should eat something.”

I kept my distance, lamp still gripped tightly. “Where am I?”

“The headquarters of the Vox Solis,” she replied, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“And what exactly is the Vox Solis?” I demanded, though I suspected I already knew the answer.

Cassandra’s eyes met mine. “We... research mate bonds. How to break them, how to create them.”

A chill ran down my spine. “That’s not possible. The Goddess chooses our mates.”

“Science has found ways to interfere with even sacred bonds.” Her voice was soft, almost apologetic. “I should know. I volunteered to be an experiment.”

I lowered the lamp slightly, curiosity overtaking my fear. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not a werewolf, Hazel.” Cassandra smiled sadly, revealing sharp fangs.

I sucked in a cold gasp of air through my teeth. I had already guessed as much from our last exchange, but this felt like the final nail in the coffin. Pun unintended.

“I’m a vampire. We don’t have fated mates the way wolves do. I’ve lived for nearly a century, watching everyone around me find their perfect match while I remained alone.”

“So you... what? Pretended to be Callum’s mate?”

“The Vox Solis developed a way to simulate mate bonds,” she explained. “It’s not perfect, not as deep as a true fated connection, but it feels real enough. I was desperate to experience that bond, so I volunteered. In exchange, I had to spy on you.”

My stomach churned with disgust. “You stole him from his real mate. You lied to him.”

“I know,” Cassandra whispered, regret evident in her voice. “I’ve fallen in love with him beyond the artificial bond. He’s kind and gentle and everything I’ve longed for. But now I’ve hurt him irreparably.”

I set down the lamp, my anger shifting to disturbed confusion. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because Leo wants to do the same to you,” she said plainly. “He wants to break your bond with the triplets and make you his mate instead.”

My blood ran cold. “That’s why he kidnapped me?”

Cassandra nodded. “His mate died. He believes you’re the key to filling that void.”

I knew that already. But hearing it confirmed was chilling.

“I won’t let him,” I said firmly, though fear gripped my heart. “A forced bond isn’t real.”

“No, it isn’t,” Cassandra agreed. “A chosen mate bond is nothing compared to a fated one. The connection is superficial, easily broken by distance or time. But what the Vox Solis simulates is a real fated bond. It doesn’t mimic a chosen mate bond.”

I crossed my arms. “Is that supposed to make me feel better about being kidnapped?”

“No. I just wanted you to understand.” She stood, moving toward the door. “And to apologize. For Callum, for this situation... for everything.”

“Your apology means nothing if you’re still keeping me prisoner.”

Cassandra paused at the doorway, conflict evident on her face. “I wish things were different.”

With that, she left. I moved to the door, expecting to hear the lock click into place, but the sound never came. Had she forgotten to lock it? Or was this deliberate?

I waited a few minutes, heart racing. Then, carefully, I pushed the door open a crack and peered out. The hallway was empty.

This was my chance.

Slipping out, I found myself in a long corridor lined with similar doors. The place looked like a cross between a research facility and a clinic, with sterile white walls and fluorescent lighting. It was hard to believe anyone did anything here other than work, much less live here.

I moved quietly, trying to find an exit.

Voices echoed from around the corner, forcing me to duck into an alcove. Two men in lab coats walked past, deep in conversation.

“...unstable readings from Subject 17,” one was saying. “The rejection rate is nearly eighty percent now.”

“Leo won’t be happy about another failure,” the other replied. “Especially with his new acquisition.”

I waited until they were gone before continuing down the hallway. Signs on the wall indicated that an exit was to the left. My pulse quickened as I neared the corner, hope rising in my chest.

Just a few more steps to freedom. I could escape, find help, get back to my mates. I rounded the corner—

And collided with a solid chest.

Strong hands gripped my arms before I could fall. I looked up to find cold gray-brown eyes staring down at me. The familiar face that resembled my mates twisted into a smirk.

“Did you really think you could escape?”