Chapter 231

“Shut her up before someone else sees,” David barked. A cloth was pressed over my mouth and nose before I could scream. I held my breath, fighting it, but eventually had to inhale. The world spun, and darkness encroached. The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was the night sky, stars twinkling above me as strong arms carried me away.

When I awoke, I was in motion. The low rumble of an engine and the feeling of movement indicated a car, though I couldn't see. My hands were bound behind my back, a rough fabric bag over my head. Panic surged as the night's events flooded back. I had to escape.

I kicked wildly, my feet connecting with something solid—probably the back of the seat.

“Fuck. She’s awake,” a gruff voice said.

“Just keep driving,” David replied. “We’re almost there.”

I redoubled my efforts, thrashing and kicking. My foot struck something that gave way with a satisfying crack, a feral growl escaping my bloodied lips.

“Damn it!” the driver cursed. “She broke the taillight, the little bitch!”

“It doesn’t matter,” David said calmly. “When we get paid, you can buy a whole new car.”

“Fuck a car,” the driver chuckled. “I’m going somewhere warm and getting one of those motorbikes. What are they called… Vespas?”

“Vespas are for girls,” David retorted.

Their casual demeanor infuriated me. However, when I tried to access my wolf's strength, it was useless; the drugs had weakened me, leaving only the ability to scream and snarl like a feral animal.

“Let me go!” I shouted, my voice muffled. “You won’t get away with this, you bastards!”

“Oh, shut up,” David said, like an annoyed sibling. “Or we’ll have to sedate you again.”

I did shut up, to keep my head clear for planning an escape. I don't know how long we drove. With the bag over my head and zip ties cutting into my wrists, time lost all meaning.

Finally, the car stopped. I heard doors opening, footsteps on gravel. Hands grabbed me, pulling me roughly from the car. As soon as my feet hit the ground, I tried to run. But with bound hands and obscured vision, I only managed a few stumbling steps before someone caught me.

Chapter 531

“Nice try,” a gruff voice sneered. “But you’re not going anywhere.”

I was half-dragged, half-carried across uneven ground. The sound of rushing water grew louder.

“Where are you taking me?” I demanded, struggling.

“You’ll see soon enough,” David replied.

Suddenly, I was thrown onto hard ground, and the bag was yanked off. I blinked in the sudden brightness, my eyes adjusting to the full moon's light.

I knelt on hard stones at a cliff's edge. To my left, a massive waterfall raged. Behind me were dense woods. My gaze darted around, searching for escape. But I was surrounded by men on one side and faced with a sheer drop on the other.

And then I saw him.

“Jake?” I breathed.

He stood at the group's center, flanked by men I recognized—men I'd assumed were his lovers. But the Jake I saw was nothing like the charming man I'd known as Amber's fiancé. This was far more than a case of a closeted man cheating.

His face twisted into a cruel smirk as he looked down at me. Slowly, he crouched, bringing himself to my eye level.

“Hello, Hannah,” he sneered, eyeing my bikini. “I see you’re already dressed for a swim.”