Chapter 0472

Theodore

"Why?" Evelyn asks Jasmine.

"It's a long story. I'd prefer not to discuss it."

Levi groans from the floor, drawing my attention. "There must be a reason. How did he locate you?"

"Can we not." She turns away sharply. "I understand your curiosity. I'd feel the same discovering someone tied up. But I don't need others involved in my problems. Just assure me he'll be handled, and I'll be on my way."

"If you're fleeing someone, they always find you eventually."

Her golden eyes lock onto mine. "Then perhaps I'll simply become a ghost."

I should let her leave. She made her desires clear. Yet she was right—I was curious. Why did Levi have her here?

He groaned again, his eyes fluttering open. The dawning horror on his face made me smile. A taste of his own medicine was merely the beginning.

"What did you do to me?" he demanded, struggling to sit up.

"I thought you'd appreciate the irony of being injected with your own concoction."

Evelyn laughed, and his gaze snapped to her. "You foolish bitch. Just wait. I'll make you pay for this."

Evelyn crouched before him. "I believed you every other time you threatened me. Not this time. This is your end, Levi."

He turned to Jasmine. "Jasmine, release me."

"Why would I do that? You held me here against my will. You made me believe a lie."

"That's his specialty," Evelyn added. She stood and faced Jasmine. "You're not the first to believe you're mated to him. It's how he lures people in. He preys on those he thinks need correcting."

"I gathered that from all the shouting," Jasmine muttered. "I just don't understand why you haven't killed him yet. You look like some kind of powerful mutant. Pretty sure you could destroy anything in your path."

"Theodore told you," Evelyn murmured. "The Alpha wants him."

"Come on, Evelyn. You're not really taking me to them, are you?" Levi shuffled against the wall, leaning back. His eyes darted around the room, searching for an exit, but he designed this place with only one way in or out.

"He never stops, does he?" Jasmine muttered.

"Because he craves control and knows he's lost it."

"Theodore," Levi whispered my name. "You won't do this to me. I mean too much to you."

"What is he talking about?" Jasmine demanded.

"He believes we are mates."

She raised an eyebrow at me. "Are you?"

"Not long ago, he held me prisoner here. He drugged me, attempted to mark me, yet kept me in chains."

She turned back to Levi. "A bit kinky? All I got were thick ropes."

Evelyn looked away, stifling a laugh.

"You don't seem bothered about being tied up," I frowned.

"I should be, shouldn't I? But he fed me, and I had a decent bed. The lack of scent meant my pack couldn't find me. Silver lining." She shrugged. "But it doesn't mean I'm okay with what he did to me. Or from the sounds of it, what he's done to others. That's just messed up."

She wandered to the kitchen, rummaging through the cupboards.

"Do we just leave?" Evelyn whispered. "What about her?"

"She doesn't want to come. I can't force her. She refuses help. And we have him to deal with." "Okay."

"You won't win," Levi smirked at us. "Do you think it ends with me?"

"Yes." I yanked him to his feet, and he tried to shove me. But that strength he had when he struck me was long gone.