The wolves snapped closer. Claws brushed my leg.

“Who?” Jakobi asked, amused. “Her? Or the pregnant one?”

My chest tightened.

For a second… I waited.

I still waited.

His voice came out strained. “I—”

Then Chiara cried, choking, “Drake… please save me… our pup… I can’t… I can’t die…”

Everything went quiet. Even the wolves seemed to pause.

And then—

“Chiara.”

Just one word.And that was it. Something inside me broke so quietly I almost didn’t notice.

The wolves lunged.

Pain exploded as teeth tore into my flesh, claws ripping, my body dragged and thrown like I wasn’t even human. I screamed until my voice disappeared.

Then they pulled me out only to throw me back again.

And again.

I lost count.

By the time they dragged me out for the last time, I couldn’t even move. I could barely breathe.

“Are you trying to kill her?” Drake shouted, his voice breaking. “She won’t survive this!”

Jakobi laughed softly. “You chose this. Don’t look at me like that.”

I was thrown onto the ground. My body felt numb, heavy, like it wasn’t mine anymore.

“Second game,” Jakobi said casually. “Let’s make this more interesting.”

Something was dragged. Metal scraping.