Never show me your ugly face

The branches whipped at her face as she ran through the dark forest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The dense trees loomed around her, their shadows deep and eerie under the fading light of the moon. She had never been this far out before. Fear clawed at her chest, but she couldn't stop. She had to keep running.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, rough hands grabbed her, yanking her to the ground. Her knees scraped against the dirt as a group of rogues surrounded her, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

"Look at what we've got here, boys," one of them sneered, stepping closer. His grin was twisted, cruel, as he licked his lips. "Such a pretty thing, all alone in the dark."

She trembled, shrinking away as they circled her like hunting prey. 

"What are you doing here all along, Omega?" 

"Of course, waiting for us." 

"Don't worry, we will satisfy you." 

Dirty, nasty remarks echoed in the air around her, their laughter grating against her ears. The leader, a hulking brute with a scar down his cheek, reached for her, his hand rough and cold against her skin.

"D-Don't come….near me…" 

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to prepare herself for what was coming, but before he could do anything more, a thunderous growl filled the air. Her eyes snapped open just in time to see the leader of the rogues go flying, tackled by a massive black wolf that seemed to appear out of thin air.

The wolf was enormous, bigger than any she had ever seen. His fur was jet black, gleaming under the pale moonlight, and his eyes blazed with a fierce golden light. Power radiated from him in waves. Every step he took was confident, each movement deliberate and deadly. He was a force of nature, majestic and terrifying all at once.

Without hesitation, he lunged at the other rogues. One by one, he tackled them to the ground, his powerful jaws snapping their necks with ease. His movements were swift and brutal, leaving no room for mercy.

The rogues didn't stand a chance. Their taunts turned into screams as the wolf tore through them, his snarls filling the night air. Blood splattered across the dirt, and soon the forest floor was littered with lifeless bodies.

She couldn't tear her eyes away from the scene. The raw power, the majesty of the black wolf—it was unlike anything she had ever seen. He was fierce, unstoppable. And as the last rogue fell, the wolf turned his gaze toward her.

There was something familiar in those golden eyes, something that made her heart stutter in her chest.

The black wolf's eyes glowed as they bore into hers, fierce and predatory. Her heart raced. She flinched, backing away as he began to approach her. His paws crunched softly against the ground, and with every step closer, she could smell him.

The scent was faint, almost imperceptible, but it tugged at something deep within her—a flicker of familiarity. 

Her mate. 

Or what was left of that broken bond. She wasn't sure anymore if it was real or just a cruel trick of her mind. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as the wolf began to shift.

Cassian.

Her breath caught in her throat as his form reshaped, muscle and bone twisting until he stood tall and imposing before her, naked and terrifying. His body was strong, every muscle defined, his chest broad and vascular under the moonlight. She quickly averted her gaze, heat rushing to her face.

Darius appeared, rushing over to hand Cassian his clothes. "Alpha, I—" he started, but Cassian cut him off with a raised hand.

"She just…she wanted to go back to get her brother," Darius stammered, eyes downcast. "She was scared, and I—"

Cassian held up his hand again. His voice was cold, sharp as ice. "Why did you disobey me?" he asked, his words laced with quiet fury.

Darius swallowed hard, lowering his head even further. "I-I apologize, Alpha. I thought—"

Cassian didn't allow him to finish. His eyes burned with anger as he dismissed Darius with a glance, his attention snapping back to her. He started walking towards her, his presence swallowing her whole. 

He was so handsome—too handsome—with his sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and stormy gray eyes that seemed to pierce right through her. His hair was dark, slightly tousled from the shift, but it only added to his fierce allure.

She was still on the ground, her legs too weak to stand on her own. Before she could react, his large hand grabbed her arm, his grip merciless. With a rough pull, he hauled her to her feet.

"Ahh!" She wanted to yell at him, to tell him that his grip was painful, that she couldn't breathe with him so close. But her voice failed her, trapped in her throat as panic took over.

He dragged her forward, not caring how much she struggled. Every step sent jolts of pain through her arm, but the words wouldn't come. Until finally, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop!" she screamed, her voice trembling with fear.

Cassian halted. Slowly, he turned his head to look at her, his eyes dark and dangerous. His gaze was like a blade, sharp enough to cut her down with just a glance. His expression was hard, his lips twisted into a scowl, and there was no warmth left in his features—only cold, lethal anger.

"What did you say?" He growled. His jaw tightened as his gaze bore into hers, making her feel suffocating.

Darius stepped forward, trying to interject. "Alpha—"

One deadly look from Cassian, and Darius went silent, taking a step back.

She swallowed hard, her heart racing in her chest as she tried to gather enough courage to speak. Her voice broke as she stuttered, "I…I won't go back with you. You rejected me. I refuse to stay in a place where I'm not…wanted…and where I'm not respected."

For a moment, silence fell between them. Cassian's expression darkened, his eyes narrowed into slits. Then, a low, chilling chuckle escaped his lips, though there was no humor in it.

"Respect?" he mocked, leaning in closer until his face was just inches from hers. His breath fanned across her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. "You think someone as pathetic and weak as you deserves respect?"

His words cut deep, leaving her feeling exposed and small. She clenched her fists at her sides, her heart aching with humiliation.

"Let m-me go, please," she whispered with a gulp, face twisting in agony. "I won't go with you. I won't be where there's no place for me."

His face hardened, his eyes flashing with anger. With a furious growl, he released her with such force that she stumbled and fell back to the ground. Pain shot through her as she hit the dirt, but she forced herself not to cry out.

Cassian towered over her, his expression filled with disdain. "If I ever see your ugly face in my pack again, I'll kill you myself." His voice was as cold as death, sending a wave of dread through her.

She lay there on the ground, staring up at him in disbelief, her chest heaving with emotion. He didn't even wait for a response. Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her there in the dirt like she was nothing.