Bound by fate to the future Alpha.

** Chapter Thirty Two: Rejection: Malia's POV

I must have dozed off for just a minute when I was suddenly awakened by the sound of heavy footsteps echoing through the narrow confines of my cell. With barely time to gather my senses, two hulking figures burst through the door, their imposing presence filling the small room. Before I could react, their massive hands gripped my arms with a force that sent a shockwave of pain coursing through my body. I felt the unmistakable burn of metal against my skin as they slapped on handcuffs that looked and felt as if they were forged from silver. The realization of my predicament hit me like a cold wave; I was trapped, and these men were not here to offer any kindness.

“Let me go!” I screamed, my voice echoing off the bare walls, tinged with desperation. Adrenaline surged through me, igniting a flicker of resistance. I put up a good struggle, thrashing against their grip, trying to wriggle free from their iron-like hold. But it was as if they were made of stone; my efforts to resist only seemed to amuse them. My surroundings began to dim, and a thick darkness started to creep into my vision, wrapping around my consciousness like a suffocating blanket. Just when I thought I could fight through it, the world around me faded away, and I felt myself slipping into an abyss I hadn’t seen coming.

...and when I came to, I was lying on a cold, metal table in a dimly lit room that reeked of disinfectant and desperation. The two hulking figures from my cell stood guard, their faces expressionless, their eyes vacant. A third figure, tall and lean, with piercing green eyes, stood at the foot of the table, studying me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

"Welcome back," she said, her voice low and smooth, dripping with sarcasm. "I see you're feeling a bit more... cooperative now." She smiled, a cold, calculated smile that sent shivers down my spine. "You're going to answer some questions for me. And if you're lucky, you might just get out of here alive."

I tried to speak, but my voice was hoarse and barely audible. The green-eyed figure chuckled, a sound that sent a wave of fear through me. "Don't worry, we'll get to that soon enough. First, let's get you comfortable." She nodded to the two guards, who reached out and strapped me down to the table, their movements efficient and clinical.

As I lay there, helpless and trapped, I realized that I was in the hands of people who didn't care about my well-being, people who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. And I knew that I was in for a fight for my life.

"Wait! You can't do this!" I shouted, panic rising.

“Shh,” she said, her voice smooth like silk but tinged with malice. “We’re just getting started.”

I glanced around, searching for an escape. “What do you want from me?” I gasped.

“Oh, sweet child,” she crooned, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead. “Your powers will serve us well. Just think of the fun we’ll have.”

“Fun?Powers?” I spat, defiance stirring within me. “This isn’t a game!”

“Everything is a game,” she replied, her eyes glinting. “And you’re about to learn the rules.” The door creaked open, and I felt the weight of despair settle over me.

The atmosphere was thick with tension as the woman's words echoed in my mind. “First we will take a piece of your heart, then we will move on with the plan." A tightening around my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs. "My heart!" I bellowed, my voice barely above a whisper, suffocated by dread. Panic surged within me as I felt the room closing in, my hands trembling uncontrollably. I was caught in a twisted game where my emotions were the stakes — a bargaining chip in a deadly negotiation.

"You will get Blake to reject you, and no funny business, or I will take your heart," the woman cackled, her laughter sharp and menacing. It pierced through my rising despair, a cruel reminder of the power she wielded over my fate. I shook my head in disbelief, desperation flooding my veins. “He will never believe this is what I want.” The very thought of Blake's hurt expression filled me with dread, a picture I couldn't bear to imagine.

“Oh, hunny, he will," she shot back, her voice oozing malice. "And you will be convincing. Otherwise, you and everyone you love will die.” The finality of her words hung in the air like a dark cloud, casting shadows over my thoughts. I was trapped in a nightmare of my own making, torn between the desire to protect those I cherished and the insidious coercion threatening to unravel everything. I had to play my part to deceive the one person who mattered most or risk losing it all. Fear mingled with determination as I steeled myself, plotting out the lines I would have to memorize, knowing the cost of failure was far too great.

** Blakes POV **

The pack is out in full force, hunting high and low for my girl. Shadows flit between the trees, muscles coiling and releasing as they become the fierce wolves they were born to be, their instincts sharpened to a razor's edge. The air is thick with tension; primal calls echo through the night, searching for a trace of Malia. Each moment is a ride on an emotional rollercoaster, my heart drumming loudly in my chest. The resonance of their howls rips through the silence, mingling with my growing dread.

My phone vibrates violently in my pocket, pulling me from my dark thoughts. I pull it out, and my pulse quickens when I see the name on the screen—Malia. The joy bursts forth like a firework, momentarily dispelling the cloud of fear hanging overhead. "Where are you? Are you safe? Have they hurt you?" My mind floods with questions, desperate to reach her, to assure myself she’s alright. Yet when her voice flows through the speaker, it carries an unexpected sadness that halts my breath.

“Blake, stop... I can’t do this anymore,” she says, the weight of her words pressing down on me like a heavy cloak.

Her next statement smashes through my resolve. “I’m not right for you, and you need to do the right thing for the pack.” Confusion and anger flash through me; how can she say this? In my heart, I know she is everything I want, everything I need. “What the f**k are you talking about? We've spoken about this; I chose you. I will always choose you!” My voice digs deeper, filled with anger and desperation, mingling in a chaotic swirl of emotion.

But Malia’s tone shifts, becoming firm, almost like steel. “Blake, I’m serious. You need to reject me. I will only hurt you, and then it will be too late. Please, Blake, do as I ask.” Each word slices through my heart like a blade, leaving me to contend with a reality I’m unwilling to accept.