Maya's POV
My heart was pounding so loudly that I was certain everyone upstairs could hear it as I pressed my ear against the chilly basement door. My blood froze when I heard Connor's voice drifting down from the kitchen above.
Connor said, "The witch says she can break any mate bond." "But it's a messy process."
"Messy how?" That was Connor's best friend Jake.
"To break the connection, she must deplete the Omega's life force. Maya won't make it through."
My legs failed me. I barely felt the pain as I slid down the door and struck the floor. Connor intended to murder me. Kill me, please.
Jake sounded shocked as he said, "Dude, that's murder."
"If it appears to be an accident, it's not murder," Connor said icily. "The witch is a resident of the border. There are a lot of rogues there. Everyone will believe that Maya was attacked during our trip."
To keep myself from yelling, I covered my mouth. This was actually taking place. In order to sever our mate bond, Connor was going to take me to a witch who would murder me.
"When?" inquired Jake.
"Tonight, tomorrow. We're going to see the witch to 'fix our problem,' I've already informed Maya. She believes that I will simply reject her in a proper manner."
I felt sick to my stomach when I heard them both laughing.
"How about Sophia?" Jake pondered. "For weeks, she has been making Maya's life extremely difficult. If Maya passes away shortly after that, won't people find it suspicious?"
"Sophia's been perfect," Connor declared with pride. "She has been gradually dismantling Maya. Maya will be so weak by tomorrow that she won't even attempt to defend herself. I'll add that Maya was suicidal and depressed in case anyone wants to know. Who would question that?"
I felt like puking. For weeks, they had been organizing this. All of Sophia's cruel treatment of me, including the impossible tasks, the starvation, and the humiliation, was intended to weaken me to the point of killing.
"The witch wants payment," Connor added. "However, it's worth it to permanently get rid of Maya. After that, I'll be able to properly be with Sophia."
"You're going to do this?" Jake inquired.
"I don't have a choice," Connor uttered angrily. "I will always be bound by this bond as long as Maya is here. I'm going to correct the error that the Moon Goddess made."
I heard them heading upstairs as their footsteps left the kitchen. I was trembling all over as I sat on the floor. Connor would take me into the forest to die tomorrow night.
But then I had a memory. Three nights ago, I had a dream. A deep-voiced man with gentle eyes had addressed me in it. He had said, "Look for the silver light when you're in the darkest place." "You must have the courage to run, but I will find you."
I believed it to be a dream at the time. Now, though, I questioned whether it was more. It might have been a sign. Perhaps someone was actually going to assist me.
However, I couldn't simply wait for a dream to come to my rescue. I needed a plan.
I slithered over to my basement room's tiny window by the ceiling. I was so thin now that I might be able to squeeze out, even though it was barely large enough for me to fit through. The pack kept their trash cans in the side yard, which was accessible through the window. I could run to the forest before Connor arrived to pick me up if I could escape.
Where would I go, though? Outside of our pack's territory, I knew nothing.
I thought and planned for the remainder of the night. I had made up my mind by morning.
The following day passed slowly and painfully. Sophia said the floor wasn't clean enough, so she made me scrub it four times. She forced me to carry bulky laundry baskets up and down the stairs until I thought my arms would give out. I "looked at her wrong," so she made me stand in the corner for an hour.
Knowing why she was doing it, however, was the worst part. She wasn't merely being cruel; she was assisting Connor in weakening me so that I couldn't defend myself against his attempt to kill me.
During lunch, Sophia said sweetly, "You look tired, Maya." "Perhaps you ought to rest. Tonight, you'll need your energy."
My blood froze. She was aware. She was fully aware of Connor's plans.
"What's tonight?" Trying to sound normal, I asked.
Sophia grinned and said, "Oh, just a little trip Connor wants to take you on." "Don't be concerned. I have no doubt that everything will go according to plan."
I wanted to yell at her. I wanted to share her and Connor's plans with the entire pack. Who would believe me, though? They were the Alpha and Luna of the future, and I was only a servant Omega.
They gave me a small dinner that night, which I pretended to eat. Actually, though, I was listening for Connor's footsteps. I had heard that he would come get me when everyone had gone to bed.
As everyone went to their rooms, I could hear the pack house growing quieter. Then I heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs to the basement, Connor's.
It was this. Time to go for a run.
I had already moved a chair under the window and unlocked it. I climbed onto the chair and pushed through the window as soon as I heard Connor's key in my door.
"Maya!" Behind me, Connor's voice boomed. "Come back here!"
However, I was already outside, sprinting as quickly as my frail legs would allow. As Connor tried to follow me, I heard him crashing through the basement behind me, likely breaking things.
My heart was racing with both hope and fear as I ran toward the forest. I might be able to hide in the trees. I might be able to get assistance. Perhaps I had had a dream that someone was actually coming to save me.
However, I was struck hard in the back just as I got to the tree line. Gasping for air, I fell forward. Connor's hands seized my shoulders before I could rise.
"You stupid little fool," he growled. "Did you truly believe you could get away?"
With a painfully tight grip, he pulled me to my feet. "I must now alter my plans. The witch will simply need to put in more effort."
Connor began dragging me away from the pack house and farther into the forest. I was too weak to fight. I was powerless after all those weeks of hardly eating.
"Please," I muttered. "Please don't do this."
"It's too late for begging," Connor stated icily. "Instead of attempting to destroy my life, you ought to have accepted your position."
We ventured farther into the shadowy trees. Connor seemed to know the way, but I could hardly see where we were going.
At that moment, I heard a long, melancholy howl reverberating throughout the forest. Connor halted his progress and pivoted, his hand releasing my arm.
He whispered, "What was that?"
This time the howl was closer. My heart began to race with hope when I heard something else. Steps. Footsteps running. Swiftly approaching us.
"Connor," I muttered. "A visitor is on their way."
However, a figure emerged from behind a tree before Connor could react. I somehow recognized the man from my dreams, even though I had never seen him before.
The stranger said in a deep, authoritative voice, "Let her go."
Connor chuckled. "Who are you to give me instructions? This is my territory, and this is my mate."
I gasped when the stranger entered a patch of moonlight. His eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, and his dark hair made him the most beautiful man I had ever seen. He had another quality, though, a power that sent my werewolf senses reeling.
Calmly, he said, "My name is Alexander." "And I'm protecting that woman."
Connor's face turned pale. "Alexander? King Alexander, as in?"
"The very same," Alexander answered. "I'll ask you again now. Release her."
However, Connor's surprise soon gave way to rage. "I don't give a damn who you are! I own Maya." He took out a silver knife and put it to my throat. "I'll kill her now if you take one more step!"
Despite the angry flashes in his eyes, Alexander raised his hands. "Connor, you don't want to do this. I'll let you go if you let her go."
"I'm not leaving anything behind!" Connor let out a scream. "She is my partner! I got her from the Moon Goddess."
At that moment, Alexander flashed the scariest smile I had ever seen. "The Moon Goddess made a mistake," he said softly.