A surge of fury burned through my veins, making my vision blur. My grip on the bars tightened. "You’re a coward!" I spat. "You betrayed me. You let an innocent woman die just to fuel your own ambitions!"
Before I could react, his hand shot between the bars, fingers locking around my throat like a vice. The world tilted as I gasped for air, his grip crushing my windpipe with terrifying ease.
"Watch your tone," he warned, his voice soft but laced with menace. He yanked me forward, bringing my face inches from his. "I am your Alpha now. Your life belongs to me."
I clawed at his wrist, nails sinking into his skin, but he didn’t even flinch. Darkness crept into my vision as my body fought for oxygen.
"You promised…" I wheezed, my strength failing. "You said… once you became Alpha… you’d let me go."
Abruptly, he released me, and I crumpled to the cold stone floor, coughing violently.
"Oh, I will," he murmured, pacing in slow, deliberate steps. "But your release won’t be freedom. It’ll be something far worse."
A chill ran through me. "What does that mean?" I forced out, dread curling around my heart.