River:


    I saw the exact moment she broke.


    And even as every instinct in me screamed to run to her, to pull her into my arms, to shield her, to destroy the man who had reduced her to this... I didn''t.


    I just stayed still. Because my wolf... it was on the brink of snapping, and if I went to her like this, I knew I wouldn''t stop. Not until there was nothing left of Damian but blood on the floor.


    So I stayed where I was - still, rigid, and barely holding on.


    Instead, I met Kieran''s eyes, telling him silently to take her away, and he understood immediately.


    Kieran moved first, wrapping his arms around her just as her legs gave way beneath her.


    Oscar was right there, steadying her, shielding her from the sight behind her.


    "Enough," Kieran murmured, his voice low and steady as he pulled her back.


    She didn''t resist, didn''t fight. She just… broke. And my brothers held her through it.


    I watched, every second of it burning into me. The way she clung to them, the way her body shook, the way her voice cracked as she whispered things no one should ever have to say.


    And it took everything in me... everything... not to lose control right then.


    And I didn''t.


    Because she needed me calm. I needed myself calm and steady... so I could finish this.


    I watched as they led her out of the cell, away from him, away from the past and from everything he had done to her.


    And only when she disappeared beyond the corridor, only when I knew she was out of earshot... did I turn back to face him.


    Damian.


    He was still there, still chained, still breathing... still alive.


    For now.


    For a long moment, I just stood there and watched at him. I took in every bruise, every cut, every sign of what had already been done... and yet I felt nothing - no satisfaction, no relief.


    Because this... this was way far from enough. How could this little bit of torture be enough for what he had done to her?


    "You should have stayed gone," I said quietly, and yet my voice echoed in the silence.


    He didn''t respond. Didn''t even look at me. But I noticed the tension in his body, and the way his breathing shifted.


    Good.


    He was listening.


    Slowly, I stepped forward. My each step was measured, deliberate. And once I was close enough, I grabbed his chin and forced his head up.


    His eyes met mine, and there it was... fear. It was small, faint, but there.


    He tried to hide it, tried to bury it beneath that same arrogance. But I saw through it like I always did.


    "You know," I murmured, my voice almost conversational, "you made a mistake."


    His brow twitched slightly, but he stayed silent.


    "You think pain is the worst thing I can do to you." My grip tightened just enough to make him wince. "But pain is easy."


    I released him abruptly and stepped back, my every move calm and controlled.


    "I could break every bone in your body," I continued softly. "I could make you bleed until you begged for death." I tilted my head slightly, watching him. "And you would survive it."


    I paused for a moment before adding, "But that''s not what scares you, is it?"


    His jaw tightened.


    And I caught the reaction. I smiled faintly, but it was cold and sharp. "You have already endured pain," I continued. "You know how to survive it."


    I stepped closer again, close enough for him to feel my presence, to feel the weight of it.


    "But you don''t know how to survive this."


    I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping to a near whisper.


    "I''m going to take everything from you... your will to survive, to live, or to escape."


    The air between us became heavier.


    "I''m going to break your mind," I continued, my tone calm. "Piece by piece."


    His breathing hitched, just for a second. But I caught it.


    "And the worst part?" I added softly. "You won''t even realize it''s happening until it''s toote."


    That''s when the fear grew. Not fully. Not yet. But enough to matter.


    Good.


    Because that''s what he feared. Not pain, not death, but losing control. Losing himself.


    And I would make sure of it.


    The next half hour was… methodical, precise. My every move was calcted, every word chosen carefully.


    I didn''t rush, didn''tsh out blindly. Instead, I let him feel it. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.


    Quietly and calmly, I spoke about things he didn''t expect me to know, about patterns, about his behavior, about the way he thought, the way he reacted, and the way he hid behind his masks.


    I dismantled himyer byyer until the arrogance cracked, the silence broke, and real fear settled in his eyes.


    And when it did... that''s when I stopped. Because this wasn''t about finishing him, at least not yet.


    This was just the beginning.


    When I was done, I stepped away without another word and walked out of the cell and stepped into the adjoining chamber at the end of the corridor.


    There, I washed my hands, watching as the water ran red for a moment before turning clear again.


    I also changed my shirt as it had blood sprayed on it. And thest thing I wanted was to face my mate with his traces all over me.


    Though I knew she held no sympathy for Damian, she still didn''t need to see this. All I knew was that she wouldn''t carry this as that was my burden.


    Not hers.


    Once I looked presentable enough, I headed to find them. And I didn''t have to look far as they were just outside in the front courtyard.


    The moment I saw her, everything in me stilled.


    She was sitting between Kieran and Oscar on one of the benches, wrapped in their warmth.


    Safe.


    And she was smiling at something Kieran had said. It was a small, soft stretch of her lips, but real.


    It hit me harder than anything else... her smile. Because it meant Damian hadn''t taken everything. Not yet. And he never would.


    This time, I let myself move toward her. There was no hesitation like before, no need to keep distance.


    The moment she saw me, her arms opened without a second thought. And I went to her, pulled her to her feet before into my arms.


    I held her close as my lips found hers in a deep, grounding kiss. I didn''t rush it, didn''t make it feel desperate... but certain. I let our mate bond speak everything I couldn''t form into words.


    And I found her responding immediately.


    When I pulled back, I let my forehead rest briefly against hers. "What do you want me to do with him?" I asked quietly.


    Her eyes met mine. Those beautiful amber orbs looked way clearer, steady, and stronger than they had in days.


    "I don''t care how you handle him," she said softly, and my grip on her tightened slightly as she finished, "I trust you."


    The words settled deep. They were heavy and unshakable.


    "I just…" she swallowed. "I don''t want to see him again." She paused and took a deep breath before adding, "He''s yours to deal with."


    I nodded slowly, understanding everything she wasn''t saying. "He won''t appear in our lives ever again. You have my word," I said.


    Her lips curved slightly. The smile was once again faint, but sure.


    "I know."


    And that was enough.


    Because she trusted me, and I would make sure that trust was never broken.