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I'm restless, unable to sleep that night, half-expecting Finn to show up, and the thought makes me clutch the shard of glass for some semblance of control over a situation that is so, so clearly out of my control.

Once the sun began to peak through the windows, I knew it was only a matter of time before he came back, turning my stomach in a combination of fear and anxiety. Sure enough, I heard a soft knock at the door.

"Come in," I quietly say, although I'm sure he would have anyway. It's not like kidnappers are known for abiding by boundaries.

The door opens slowly, and he looks nervous as he walks in, holding a tray of food and beverages. I raise an eyebrow at the large assortment of breakfast foods.

He scratches his head awkwardly as he places the food on the bed. "I, um, didn't know what you liked, so I just made everything."

I nod, surprised by his thoughtfulness. Until I remembered that I'm chained to the bed like a wild animal.

I hesitate as I pick up the fork. "I didn't poison or drug it or anything," He quickly says. "I can eat some of it first if you don't believe me."

Shaking my head, I spear a piece of fruit. "It... It's okay, I believe you," I say quietly, and for some odd reason, I really do. He seemed nervous, shy, awkward. If it had not happened to me, I never would have believed that he was capable of kidnapping someone.

He exhales in relief. "Good, okay. That's good."

I eat in silence, realizing that I hadn't eaten in awhile. "Do you like it? I can get you something else if you want," He offers timidly.

I gulp the orange juice nervously. "No, the food is lovely, thank you."

"I, um, brought you a book," He says, his voice soft as he pulls out a thick book.

"A Tale of Two Cities?" I question, inspecting he cover. It's worn, like it's been well-loved and well-read. I flip through it and see that there are notes in the margins, words underlined, and some pages folded at the corner.

"Yeah, ah, I'm sorry it's not in the best condition," He frowns, looking at it.

I shrug. "I do the same thing to mine. It makes rereading them better."

He looks at me, his eyes widening slightly. "Yes, I know exactly what you mean. Have you read it?"

"No," I murmur, putting it to the side. "Never got around to it. Although now I suppose I have nothing but time on my hands."

Finn winces at my words. "This... This is just temporary, Onyx. I promise you that much. I just need you to understand this first."

"What exactly am I supposed to understand, Finn?" I question, my voice dangerously low. "You've kidnapped me twice, drop the 'mate' bomb on me, and for some reason, give me food and books. What exactly do you want from me?"

"All I want is you," He whispers. "A future with you, as mates. I know... I know that I haven't exactly given us a very good 'meet cute' as they say... But we are perfect for each other, Onyx. You're my other half."

I stare at him, looking for signs of deception, but finding none. Unnerving, because that means he fully believes in his delusions. "Are you going to take my Gift away again?" I ask quietly, and I can't help my voice from cracking pathetically.

His face twists into sadness. "Oh, Onyx. I am so sorry I had to do that the first time. I didn't have a choice. Never again," His hand reaches out for mine, and I fight the urge to pull away, despite the warmth that stems from his touch. "I will never hurt you again."

"There is always a choice," I say, echoing what Luke had told me what felt like an eon ago.

His thumb strokes my hand. "If... If you knew why I did it, you would understand. I know you would, because you are my soulmate."

"So tell me," I suggest.

He sighs deeply. "You have no idea how badly I want to... but I can't not yet. Soon, I swear to you."

"So, what next?" I ask calmly, though I feel anything but. "You just keep me here, chained to the bed until your Moon Goddess tells you it's okay to give me back my free will?"

Finn flinches. "We both know as soon as I untie you, you're going to run back to Thane. I can't let you do that."

"Please," I whimper, deciding maybe appealing to his emotions is my best chance. "Just untie me. I won't run, the rope is just bothering my skin."

A lame excuse, and we both know it, but it seems to do the trick. He moves to the bedpost, and pulls out a knife. I flinch, but he soothingly says, "I'm just going to cut it off, I promise I won't hurt you."

I nod, trying to stop my shaking. He grabs my ankle gently, and swiftly cuts the rope. He puts the knife back into his back pocket, and hold both hands out. "See? I'm not going to hurt you. I released your restraints, and now we can start to mend things between us."

Delusional. Absolutely bonkers to think that by releasing me from the trap he put me in, he was doing a favor for us.

"I'll run you a bath," He mutters. "Sorry- I should have offered sooner."

He goes into the bathroom, and I hear the faucet run. I decide not to run, because he is obviously expecting me to. He looks surprised when he returns to find me in the same position he left me in.

"There's um, clothes in the closet for you," He nods to the closet. "If you don't like them, I can always get you more. I, ah, wasn't sure what you liked."

I nod, waiting for him to leave, but he continues to stare at me with those piercing emerald eyes. I gasp, horror flooding through my body. "You're not expecting- I mean... You're not going to..."

He looks at me in confusion before realization sets in. "Oh, fuck," He curses under his breath as his eyes widen in shock. "I mean, shoot. God, no. Sorry, no, I'll leave you be." He quickly exits the room, and I exhale in relief.

I mean, seriously? What is wrong with this guy? He is the worst kidnapper ever.

Rummaging through the drawers and the closet, I pick out a pair of jeans and a white blouse. I'm relieved when all of the undergarments are modest, stylishly so. I think I would have had a meltdown if I found any freaky lingerie.

I bring the clothes into the bathroom, locking the door behind me, even though for some reason, I know that Finn wouldn't intrude. I stop the water from running, and I can smell the lavender scented bubble bath he poured in the tub. I almost want to laugh at how much he used, there's almost more bubbles than there was water, he clearly had no idea what he was doing.

But- he tried. Tried to make something to bring me comfort, happiness. I would have been less confused about this kidnapping if he had just beat me, although it would have been far more painful of an experience.

I sink into the tub, thankful for the warmth it brought. After a while, I could feel my muscles begin to relax. I examined the bottles on the side of the tub, and he has thought of absolutely everything, even a conditioner made especially for curly hair.

What kind of kidnapper puts this much detail into their kidnapping? Surely, he had no plans to kill me if he had invested so much in trying to get me to stay. More than that, he wanted me to want to say, by my own volition.

Yeah right. He's out of his mind if he thinks I'm going to fall victim to whatever Stockholm Syndrome he's trying to inspire in me.

"Onyx, are you okay in there?" I hear his voice call out anxiously, and it's muffled. He had even waited outside of the bedroom door. Wow, he was really trying to play the role of a nice kidnapper.

"I'm fine," I call out. "Be out in a minute."

When I get out, I'm going to make my attack. I brought the shard of glass into the bathroom with me, and he would have no idea it was coming.

I drained the tub, drying myself off. I looked through the cupboards, where there were all types of hair and skincare products imaginable. "Freak," I whisper.

After drying myself off, I get dressed, tucking the shard of glass into my waistband, as I had seen Gwen do with countless weapons. I suddenly longed for her to be here, even Ares, as much as I couldn't stand her. They would have been able to get out of this. They would have been strong, unyielding, fearless.

I take a deep breath as I open the bathroom door, and as I suspected, he is not in the bedroom. I sit on the corner of the bed, lying in wait.

Sure enough, after a few minutes, there's a tentative knock on the door.

"You can come in," I call out, my heart beating erratically. I desperately hoped he wouldn't be able to hear, but it was impossible to tell, since I had no idea what his true strength level was.

He enters the room, looking at me cautiously, but his eyes twinkle in something I don't recognize. "You look lovely, Onyx."

"Bathing can do that," I try to sound casual, but there's a strain in my voice.

If he hears it, he gives no indication as he gestures to the spot on the bed next to me. "May I?" He asks.

"It's your room," I say with a tight smile.

"I had it painted before you came," He said quietly as he looked at the walls. "They were white before. Thought if it looked like a hospital it would freak you out."

"You thought the walls would be what freaked me out?" I ask, and I can't help a giggle from escaping. "You tied me to a bed and you thought the walls would be what I was concerned with."

Finn gives a breathless, nervous chuckle. "You're right, I suppose that does sound silly, doesn't it?"

My eyes wonder to his neck, and I see a long scar running down it. "May I?" I ask, curious about it.

He nods, extending his neck to give me a better look. The scar is puffed up slightly, and I can't even see the entirety of it, as it runs past his shirt collar. I shakily reach my hand out, and he makes no attempt to stop me as I pull down the collar, and I was right, the scar runs deep.

"How?" I ask, surprising myself by actually caring what the explanation was.

He sighs. "It was a long time ago. Let's just say not all rogues are as gentle as you."

"Sorry," I say quietly. "It looks like it hurt." And I am sorry, for what I'm about to do.

He shrugs. "It's not your fault, Onyx. I'm just thankful I have lived long enough to meet my mate. Not all wolves are as lucky as I."

"How are you so sure?" I ask, shifting slightly on the bed so I would be able to reach the glass easier. "How are you so sure we are mates?"

"How are you so sure we aren't?" He counters, raising an eyebrow. "We fit together perfectly. Our interests, our personalities- they blend seamlessly. Your hand," He grabs one of my hands, encasing it in his. "Fits perfectly in mine."

"I'm scared," I whisper, which is true, but not for the reason he thinks.

"I know," He says softly, and pulls me into his arms. "I haven't given you any reason to trust me, or even like me for that matter."

I can't stop a tear that falls from my eye. I'm so sorry, I think to him, hoping the Moon Goddess forgives me for killing this broken, broken man.

Without him noticing, I clutch the glass shard in my hand so tightly I can feel the glass cutting into my palm. I quickly raise the shard, and bring it down, intending on literally stabbing him in the back.

Suddenly, before I know what even happened, I'm pinned to the bed on my back. Finn holds the glass in his hand.

"I wish you hadn't done that," He mutters.

My eyes are saucers as he gets off of me, and I'm waiting for him to stab me with the glass. He gives me a sad look, but doesn't say anything as he leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

I run to the door, trying to open it, but he's locked me inside.

Pounding on the door, I can't stop the sobs that wrack my body. "Let me out!" I scream through tears as I continue to bang on the door, even kicking it a few times to no avail. "You can't keep me in here forever," I sob as I beat my fists against the door so angrily I can feel one of my knuckles shatter.

But my words were a lie.

He could keep me here. Forever.

And there was nothing I could do about it.

Read the next chapter on my Patreon! www. patreon.com/vviticus

Also, to address some of the questions/ comments I have received about the Patreon: 

- I will STILL update on Wattpad, like I've been saying from the start. That will not change. 

- I've gotten a few comments about how its unfair that I expect people to pay for early access to chapters/ bonus chapters. In my opinion, it isn't unfair at all. No author is obligated to publish their work for free, and you are still able to read my books for free. If you are a writer on Wattpad, you know how time-consuming it truly is. It is incredibly entitled to think that you deserve to read whatever you want whenever you want, regardless of how much effort the author puts in. I don't say that to be rude, just to remind you that Wattpad is FREE (unless you pay for the upgraded version or whatever, and even if you do, I still don't benefit from that) so if you do not want to pay for extra things, then that is your decision. I absolutely understand not being able to pay for it, and it really is completely fine, but it isn't me being a mean author to give bonuses to people who pay for my work. 

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VVITICUS