Page 74 of Doyle

Morgan chuckled. "I only released you after telling you the necessary trigger words,” Morgan said.

I swallowed hard as the implications of his words sunk in. My mind raced with possibilities and fears.

Had everything been part of her plan?

I shouldn’t have run out on Doyle. That had been my first thought as the car sped away from my dad's house.

I replayed the scene in my head, over and over again, filled with regret and fear.

I had abandoned my mate, left him bleeding and vulnerable.

But then another thought hit me. How did Morgan know I was going to come back here?

Did they station someone to keep a close eye on my dad? That was certainly possible, and the idea made my skin crawl.

I felt a cold sweat break out as another terrifying thought occurred to me. I still had some strange connection to Liliana.

I realized with sinking despair that the moment I missed Doyle’s heart, she probably knew I had failed.

She must have sensed it, felt the disruption in her spell.

She could have deduced the only place I would return to was Oak Meadow, because I had no other place to go.

My heart pounded as I considered the implications. Liliana's control over me was deeper than I had imagined.

She had manipulated my mind, set traps within my subconscious, and now she was reeling me back in like a fish on a line.

The idea of her having that much power over me made me feel sick.

Morgan's words echoed in my mind.

"Liliana can't wait to see her favorite pet." The way he said it, with that sadistic smile, sent chills down my spine.

I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the rising panic. My fox stirred within me, restless and agitated, sensing my distress.

The car's engine hummed, and the trees blurred past the window as we sped down the road.

I felt trapped, like a caged animal being taken back to its master.

My mind raced, trying to think of a way out, but the situation seemed hopeless.

I was caught in Liliana's web, and every move I made only seemed to tighten the strands around me.

I had to face the grim reality. Liliana knew I had failed. She knew where I would go.

And now she was pulling me back, ready to reinforce her control and punish me for my defiance.

But I couldn't let her win. I couldn't let her use me as a weapon against those I loved.

As we drove further from Oak Meadow, I steeled myself. I had to find a way to break free, to sever the connection she had over me.

If I could get close enough, maybe I could turn the tables on her. Convince her that I was beaten, that I was willing to do her bidding, just to protect those I cared about.

The moment she'd let her guard down, I'd take her to hell with me. For now, I had to play along, to bide my time.

The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: I would not let Liliana control me any longer.

I would fight back, with everything I had, and I would find a way to end this nightmare once and for all.

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