Page 3 of Trapped By the Cartel

What did it want? Was I going to find out the answer to that question before it swallowed me whole?

Chapter 2

Damon

"You are trapped here with me," I said, the words rumbling from my chest in a low growl, a sound that vibrated through the very ground between us. It wasn't quite speech, not fully human, but enough to convey the message.

He wouldn't understand the nuances, the subtle undercurrent of possessiveness woven into the phrase, not yet.

His name was Elliot. I knew everything about him—his lineage, his anxieties, the quiet desperation that fueled his flight.

Some people would say that was creepy, but not me. It was in my nature to be like that.

I knew about the Archive, the stifling expectations, the hidden magic simmering beneath his delicate surface. But he knew nothing about me. And in that moment, he was afraid—very, very afraid, as he should be.

Being afraid was good. It meant he wasn't an easy prey.

I felt it, a ripple of raw terror emanating from him, a tangible wave of scent. It was intoxicating, undeniably. And also… utterly fascinating. He smelled of fear and old books, of longing andsuppressed yearning. A dizzying combination, and one I'd find myself savoring for a while.

He thought I was going to eat him. The foolishness of it was almost endearing. Yes, I was going to devour him—but in an entirely different way. The physical consumption would be… unnecessary.

He was going to be one. All of him.

I lowered my head further, nuzzling his shoulder again, a gesture that was intended to be reassuring, even though it likely felt like anything but. My fur brushed against the thin fabric of his shirt, and I registered the faint, sweet scent clinging to it—a trace of his own unique omega musk, barely there beneath the layers of fear.

"Quiet," I rumbled, the word escaping as more of a vibration than an actual sound. It was meant to quell the frantic pounding in his chest, to assert a fragile semblance of control. "No need for that." I tilted my head, observing him with those golden eyes. "You're not going to be hurt."

I had to say that. Otherwise, he might have a heart attack, and I didn't want that, of course.

He didn't respond, of course. He simply stood there, frozen, trembling slightly, like a captured bird. A very delectable-smelling bird, I thought wryly.

"Do you… understand?" I pressed, the question laced with a hint of amusement. My voice remained low, a guttural murmur that seemed to resonate within the confines of the forest. It was a test, more than anything else. To gauge his comprehension, to assess the depths of his fear.

I just wanted to know what he was like. This was our first interaction.

I paused, allowing the silence to settle between us. Then, I added, almost casually, "Your father… There are some things about him I have to say. Not all of them are bad, though."

The flicker in his eyes, a brief flash of surprise, quickly masked by renewed terror, told me everything I needed to know. He hadn't expected that. He wasn't prepared for it. That was going to be a lot of fun.

I let out a low puff of air through my nostrils, a sound somewhere between a sigh and a chuckle. "Don't be afraid," I repeated, softer this time, trying to promise him that, even though he was trapped with me here, everything was going to be fine. "There's much more to come."

"You're remarkably quiet," I continued, the sound vibrating through the forest floor and into Elliot's trembling form. "Most humans have a lot of questions when they find themselves cornered by large canines."

He swallowed audibly, a tiny, panicked sound. "I… I don't know what to say."

And truly, what could he say? Not much, I realized.

"Truth is always a good start," I countered, tilting my head, letting my gaze linger on his face. He was so cute. "Though I understand it's hard in your situation."

"Why? Why me and what's going on here?" The words were barely above a whisper, strained and fragile. Fragile, just like he was.

"Why not you?" I responded, smirking. "You were running. You ran right into me."

A shudder rippled through him. "I didn't run into you."

"Oh? Then what was that?" My voice deepened, a low growl vibrating in my chest. "That frantic energy? The scent of fear practically radiating off you?"

He flinched. "I… I had a reason."

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