Xena''s POV


    "This isn''t going to go well. She doesn''t have her wolf so it won''t he very quickly,"


    "Fine. We can give her that liquid and do this tomorrow." Alpha Wiley''s sigh carried frustration and something darker.


    I couldn''t feel Una''s presence anywhere within me. The emptiness where my wolf should be sent pure terror racing through my veins. What liquid? What were they nning to do to me?


    "Did you bring it?" Alpha Wiley demanded.


    "Uh, no," Tatum admitted..


    "Then go fucking get it!" Alpha Wiley roared.


    Tatum stormed out, his face twisted with resentment. Secondster, an engine roared to life, and the sound gradually faded as he drove way.


    Alpha Wiley turned to me, a sinister smile spreading across his face. You''re lucky I still have some humanity left. I need you looking somewhat human in this video."


    "Why?" I locked eyes with him, pushing


    I as much venom into my gaze as I could muster.


    "They''ll pay good money for you, but unfortunately, you''ll never go home again. I''ve prepared keep my sonpany."


    perfect room for you, so you can


    His words pierced my heart like a knife. I didn''t even have time to process what he''d said before my stomach heaved, expelling what little acid remained. The mere thought of him touching me was beyond anything I could bear.


    Fear coursed through me like poison. I tried to control myself, but every muscle betrayed me, exposing my vulnerability in the face of terror. I had no idea how long I sat there, trembling, before the sound of an approaching engine sent fresh panic surging through me. Just Tatum''s proximity made me sick.


    The girl in the corner kept her head down while Alpha Wiley continued busying himself with whatever task upied him.


    "Got it," Tatum announced as he strode in.


    "Wonderful," Alpha Wiley replied, sarcasm dripping from his voice.


    Tatum walked over to the girl and kicked her. "Give


    this to her."


    She immediately stood up and took whatever he handed her.


    "What is it?" I asked, eyeing the cup suspiciously.


    "It''s a healing tea. It''ll help your eyes look less fucked up." Tatum crossed his arms, an evil smile ying across his lips as he watched me.


    "And if I don''t drink it?" I challenged, though I already knew the answer.


    "Then I kill her." With casual indifference, Tatum pulled out a gun and pressed it against the girl''s temple. His smile intensified, as if he was enjoying my defiance.


    Her eyes met mine, pleading silently.


    An innocent life in danger because of me. I knew I couldn''t let that happen. This helplesspromise tore at my soul. "Fine," I spat through clenched teeth.


    Tatum''sughter filled the room, suffocating me. I was a bird in a cage, ready to be crushed at any moment.


    The girl visibly rxed as she brought the cup to my lips and slowly poured. The tea was cold, sliding down my throat with a bitter taste. Having gone so long without drinking anything, I ended up choking slightly.


    "I''ve changed my mind. We''ll film now." Alpha, Wiley stood up,


    "Then why did I have to go get that?" Tatum looked furious.


    "Shut up." Alpha Wiley red at his son and pushed him aside.


    Turning to me, he crossed his arms. "Now listen. We''re going to film video. I have


    a script for you to follow. If you don''tply, I''ll shoot her in the foot." He pointed


    at the girl. "Then, I''ll start recording again and try once more. Every time you fail to say exactly what I want, she gets


    shot."


    My heart raced. These two were absolute monsters, worse than animals. I silently cursed them.


    "What do you want me to say?"


    "You''ll say... hmm..." Alpha Wiley stared at me, frowning. In this absurd moment, he actually seemed at a loss for words, unsure what to make me say. What an idiot.


    "Yeah? What exactly should she say?" Tatum asked sarcastically after a moment of silence.


    "You were supposed to say you left voluntarily, but since you can only see out of one eye, we need to change tactics." Alpha Wiley ignored his son and sighed.


    "If I''m not going to be released, does it really matter what I say?" The tea was making my stomach churn ufortably. I felt like I might vomit again at any moment.


    "I suppose not." Alpha Wiley said. "On second thought, maybe filming isn''t a good idea. We''ll just keep you here until you break, then we can take you back to my pack where you''ll start your new life."


    "I won''tst that long," I answered bluntly. If what he said was true, death seemed like a mercypared to the fate they had nned for me.


    "We''ll see about that." Alpha Wiley smiled wickedly. "Everyone has a breaking point."