Mia POV
Pain coursed through every inch of my body as I slowly regained consciousness. Inara's voice echoed in my mind, urging me to stay calm and conserve energy. I attempted to move, but my wrists and ankles were tightly bound, the silver digging into my skin. I suppressed a moan. I refused to let them revel in my suffering.
"We have to break free," I communicated silently to Inara. Her reassuring response came, promising our escape. Taking a few deep breaths, I caught a whiff of Leo's scent, triggering a growl from Inara within my mind. "He betrayed us," she whimpered, her confusion evident. Footsteps approached, and I strained to listen.

"We are a good judge of character, Inara. I don't believe Leo has betrayed us. When our hands met, I sensed no evil. For now, we must play along. I would not have allowed myself to fall into a trap, Leo is on our side," I explained to Inara.
"Took you longer than expected, friend," Leo's voice reached me, his words laced with a hint of amusement. The dimly lit room echoed with his presence. Shadows danced across the cold stone walls, creating an eerie atmosphere.
"Why?" I managed to choke out, my voice cracking under the weight of suppressed emotions.
"You are simply part of the key," he spoke cryptically, his words baffling me. As I strained to listen, I heard the faint sound of more approaching footsteps, growing louder with each passing moment.
"Good, the little wolf is finally awake," a voice resonated through the room. It was Thora - her tone dripping with venom. I shuddered, recognizing her malicious presence.
"What of Alpha Artemis? Should I go deal with him?" I heard Leo inquire, his voice filled with sadistic amusement.

"The lycan already handled him for us," Thora laughed, her voice echoing in the chamber. She drew closer, her footsteps growing louder.
"What a shame you have to die in the end," she hissed, her words slicing through the air like a dagger. "My son actually grew to like and want you."
"Son," I whispered.
Leo's name escaped my lips in a choked whisper, my voice barely audible in the tense air. Thora couldn't help but laugh at my disbelief. "And here you wolves actually fell for him, thinking he was just a helpless rogue child," she taunted, her laughter dripping with mockery. The sound echoed through the room, filling it with a palpable sense of disdain.

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me bewildered and even more confused. How could Leo, with his wolf, be a warlock? The contradiction seemed impossible to reconcile.
Struggling against my restraints, I attempted to move, but my body remained unresponsive, numbed by some unknown force. The frustration and helplessness intensified, fueling my determination to break free. Every muscle in my body strained but to no avail.
"She's yours for the time being, Leo," Thora's voice echoed through the room before she departed, leaving me alone with Leo. The air grew heavy with anticipation as he approached me, his fingers lightly grazing my arm, sending shivers down my spine. His warm breath tickled my ear, intensifying the unease swirling within me. Was I really wrong about him being on our side?
"I must admit, it's true. I do have feelings for you," Leo confessed, his words hanging in the air. A wave of nausea washed over me, but I couldn't escape his presence. He continued, his voice laced with an unsettling promise, "If you don't resist, I'll ensure your survival. You can belong to me, and I'll take care of you."
A growl escaped my lips involuntarily. "Never," I snarled, my defiance clear. Leo chuckled, seemingly unfazed by my resistance. "You've always been feisty," he remarked. "Now, let's make a little movie together, you and I. A special gift for your mate."
Suddenly, a crimson light flickered above me, signaling the start of this twisted ordeal. Leo's words pierced through me, revealing his long-held anticipation. My heart shattered, realizing that this man before me was nothing like the friend I once knew. Was it real or an act?
"Do whatever you want to me," I spoke. "You cannot break me or my mate. He knows my heart belongs to him." As I regained control over my body, a surge of anger fueling my strength, Leo taunted me. "Male werewolves and lycans go crazy when someone else touches their mate," he sneered.
Inara's voice echoed in my mind, urging me to focus on our mate, to use our memories of him to endure this ordeal. I blocked out the world around me, fixating on Atlas, imagining his protective embrace. However, my concentration was shattered as a cold needle pricked my skin, followed by a searing sensation coursing through my veins. Leo had injected me with wolfsbane, causing Inara to slip into a deep slumber. But I persisted, clinging to the thought of Atlas.
“Atlas, I'm sorry, I fell for their trap, but please, whatever they do to me, don't lose control," I spoke in my mind, hopeful that he would hear me.
As I felt pressure on my body, I opened my eyes again. "Ready to have fun," Leo spoke, his face dangerously close to mine.
I could hear the faint sound of music playing in the background, adding an eerie atmosphere to the room. He began cutting my clothing off my body, the sharp blade grazing my skin. Now that my body was no longer numb, I struggled slightly against the tight bindings. "You aren't going anywhere," he said, his voice filled with malice. "As I said, you're all mine to have fun with right now."
A green light suddenly flashed above me, casting an eerie glow on the scene. Leo laughed sinisterly. "Looks like your mate is watching the live feed now. Let's see just how long it takes him to snap and turn himself in," he said, his voice dripping with venom.
Was he really going to claim me? I've never felt so betrayed before. My judgment has never failed me before. He bent down, his hot breath against my ear, "Play along, Mia. Mother is watching," he whispered. And then, he spoke louder, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "I remember when we were younger, or more like when you were younger. We used to stay up all night talking. You used to say how you'd rather remain mateless than take a chosen mate, since your father would have never accepted me as a chosen for you. We would talk about escaping the werewolf realm at times, to the city for a night out, one where you would give me your first kiss." His words were like a sharp dagger, twisting in my heart. Tears stung my eyes as he continued, "You spoke of the blue dress you would wear to a human club when we escaped, and how we would dance and party the night away. I'm taking that kiss I deserve now," he said, his lips meeting mine. I closed my eyes, feeling the softness of his lips against mine. What he said was true, all except for the dress. I hated dresses, but the word "blue" was our code, a signal that I was in trouble and needed his help. Leo had deceived me, but would he really slip that in if he wasn't on my side? He was acting on his mother's behalf, and his words held a hidden message. Whenever he said "blue," I would correct him with the color "gold," our true code.
As he broke the kiss, I looked at him, my voice strained. "You're wrong, it was a gold dress," I said, my voice trembling. "You're right, it was a gold dress and multiple kisses," he responded, bending down to make it look like he was kissing me again. "Play along, Mia. Everything I do is to get you free," he whispered.
I growled, my voice low and menacing, as I desperately tried to maintain the charade for him. Suddenly, the room was bathed in a crimson glow once more, casting an eerie ambiance. "The feed is off," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "No one can hear us now." He gently pulled away from me, creating a cool draft as he moved. "Thora can't hear us now," he confirmed. I stared into his eyes, searching for a hint of allegiance. "If you're on my side, release me," I demanded.
"I can't yet, Mia," he said, his voice filled with urgency. "We have to wait.
"You deceived me all this time," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
"I was never supposed to fall for you, but I did, Mia. I love you, but I know well you're not mine to have," he confessed, his words laced with regret. "My mother has spent my entire life obsessing over this plan. I failed my part the moment you wanted to be my friend. I'll get you out of this, but I'm afraid we both have to play along."
He moved closer to me, his breath warm against my ear. "We must speak like this in case the camera turns back on," he explained, his voice hushed.
"Atlas, if we keep this up, he will snap. That's what she wants, right? For him to lose control?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Yes, she needs him to lose control and hurt you. Her spell requires the original bond, since it is the strongest, to be broken. So, I'm supposed to break him. I know he can feel me and now see me kissing you, Mia. And I'm not supposed to stop. She told me to claim you if I had to, but I won't," he revealed.
"You put Inara to sleep with Wolfsbane. I need to link with Atlas. I need him to know this is an act," I pleaded with him, desperation in my voice.
"I can make it so you can link, Mia, but you cannot make it obvious. When that light comes back on, I have to remove your bra. I have to touch you, or she will know something is up," he whispered.
"I understand," I responded, my voice barely a whisper.
"When we're done, I will get you out of here," he promised. He placed his hand on me, and I felt a momentary warmth before my link formed with Atlas, just in time for the camera to click on.
"ATLAS!" I yelled through our link, hoping he could hear me.
"Mia, I'm going to find you," he responded, his voice strained in my mind.
"Stop watching the video feed, Atlas. It's an act," I pleaded with him, desperation seeping into my voice.
"I can't. If I log off, she said she will hurt you more," he admitted, his voice filled with anguish. "She is watching me through the tablet camera. It was in the car when we returned. If I take my eyes away while it's on, she will cause you pain."
I felt Leo's hands on me. "A kiss wasn't enough, Mia. I want to taste more of you," he spoke loudly.
"It's an act, Atlas. They want to set you off, to get you to come for me. They need you to snap. Leo is on our side. Everything he is doing to me is an act," I warned Atlas through our link as I felt him cut my bra, exposing me further.
Atlas growled through our mental link, his anger palpable. As Leo's hand grazed my breast, I fought against the bindings, determined to keep up with the act. "Don't," I growled at him, as Atlas's voice filled my mind.
"Even if this is an act," Atlas spoke through our telepathic link, his voice filled with concern, "do you really expect me to stay calm while he assaults you?"
I took a deep breath, focusing on Atlas's voice as he spoke to me.
Leo got dangerously close to my nipple, teasingly tracing circles with his tongue. A sharp pain greeted me as he sank his teeth into my flesh, causing me to cry out. “REALLY” I whispered under my breath so only Leo would hear.
“I love you, Mia,” Atlas said to me. “You’re right. I’ll focus on your voice, and you focus on mine. Did they inject wolfsbane in you?” Atlas Asked through out link. “Yes,” I acknowledged.
I struggled more against the tight bindings. A low growl escaped my lips as I fought against them. In my mind, Atlas whispered, "When we were on the train, Mia, and you slept in my arms. I kissed your lips while you slept. I was already crazy about you, and I battled against myself, even before I knew my touch could heal you. I had this strange feeling that if I kissed you, you would get better. Your lips were so soft, just like your entire body. Part of me wanted you to wake up so I could deepen that kiss. You kept saying we should go our separate ways for my safety, but I already knew I couldn't leave you. If you tried to disappear, I would have found you."
As the red light clicked off, Leo stopped touching and kissing me. He bent down, his warm breath brushing against my skin. "Tell your mate to act more upset, Mia," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "If he doesn't, she will make me continue to provoke a reaction from him."
I focused on our mental link and instructed Atlas, "Act upset right now, Atlas. She's trying to make Leo do more.”
Whispering softly against my ear, Leo's words carried a sense of urgency. "Now tell your mate I am getting you out of here," "He must hold back from going feral, and when I do, we will be hidden on your old pack lands. But he must not come to you right away or they will catch onto us."
I relayed the message to Atlas, feeling the weight of the situation settle upon us. "Mia, stay connected with me," Atlas's voice echoed in my mind. "The entire time, we fight this together, even when far away. I will hold myself together, so don't worry about me. And I want you to pull whatever you can from our bond to help you."
Determined, I reassured him, "I will, Atlas. We will be reunited soon. Keep faith in me." As I felt Leo's hands undo my bindings, a surge of anticipation coursed through me.
Leo's voice grew firm. "My mother is gone for now, Mia. So, it's time to act. I know you can't shift, but you will have to fight."
With a steely resolve, I replied, "I'm well aware, and I'm more than ready to unleash my fury.”