They ripped open the door and aggressively pulled me out. Each of them took a firm grip on me and walked me back over to the car they had come from. One face that stood out among the men. A face that otherwise would be handsome if not for the monster that wore it. This was a face that regularly appeared in my nightmares. His lips lowered into a scowl as I approached. He crossed his arms over his chest, clearly not pleased to have spent so much time chasing me. He looked at me like I was a petulant child who lost her way. I suppose that’s what I must have seemed like to him.

“Kate… at last,” he sneered. The arrogance in his voice triggered my desire to punch that smirk off his face.

“I’m not going back with you, Ben,” I barked, trying to shake loose from the men holding me. I barely budged. My body was shivering with rage and fear. He had all the power, and we both knew it.

“On the contrary, Kate. You see, while Nik has created this obsession with you, I’ve lost interest. I won’t waste more time searching for you all over the globe. He ordered me to bring you home. I don’t need your cooperation to follow through on my orders.” His words came out like a dripping poison. His threat lingered as he reached into his pocket and dialed a number on his phone.

“Tell me you have good news,” demanded a sickened, familiar voice on the other end of the video chat. I struggled harder. I pushed against their grips until I was certain their fingers would leave bruises. More tears pierced the back of my eyes, and a nauseating lump grew in my throat.

Ben glanced up at me with a twisted smile.

“I’ve got her. I’ll bring her home tonight.”

“Let me speak with her.”

I was certain my face was green. My body trembled. I felt hot and clammy. I tried to turn away. I would have ripped my arms off to escape in that moment. I couldn’t stand the thought of him speaking to me, much less eyeing me down with his salivating, lustful glances. I didn’t want anything to do with him ever again. I felt like I was trapped in one of my nightmares.

Ben held the phone out to my face, and there he was. Five years older, but the same man. The blond streaks in his hair looked more prominent, and he’d let his beard grow fuller. He looked more like a villain this way. I shuttered. I arranged my facial expression to make him fully aware of my feelings about him, but he only smirked.

“Aww, Kate, my sweet. At last. I’ve been searching forever for you. It’s time to come home,” he pleaded in a sickeningly sweet voice. I snarled.

“I have no home. Especially not with you!” I spat on the ground in front of me, wishing it could have gone through the phone and hit him in the face. Nik just looked sad. Like he couldn’t fathom how I could harbor so much hate. Like we had actually had a loving relationship until I ruined it. I was confused by his response, but mostly just angry. I couldn’t stand him thinking and acting - even if it was just pretending - like he was the victim here.

“What are you talking about? Of course, your home is with me. Your family. Especially now that our sweet Jessica is gone… we need to stay together.”

“How dare you even speak her name! You murdered her! You’re the reason my mother is dead! I will never have a home with you!” Hot tears were pressing against my eyes, and I willed them to stay back. I wouldn’t show him any weakness. But I could feel my emotions taking control, and the wolf within me longed for a fight. My darker emotions were starting to take over, and I no longer desired to flee as much as I desired to watch him die. I could feel my wolf’s longing to sink her teeth into Nik’s neck.

“Jessica’s death was a tragic accident. Come now, Kate. Do you really think so little of me that you believe I’d murder my own sister?” He sounded truly appalled, and I rolled my eyes. He held his hand to his chest and feigned hurt feelings. Either he was truly delusional or a much better actor than I ever gave him credit for. “Come home now. Let’s put an end to this, and I’ll make you my Luna, as you always should have been.”

No one waited for my answer or protests. The two men tightened their grip on my arms, and I could feel the walls closing in. I tried to think of something - anything in order to escape. I tried to find something I could do to break free of this torment. I tried to kick one of the men, but he didn’t even react, as if he couldn’t feel it at all.

“No! No!” I screamed as Ben took the phone back and the men dragged me into their car. I tried to look around for anyone to help. The taxi man had left, and there was no one on the streets. The whole area looked abandoned, and I couldn’t help but wonder if that was intentional. How long had Ben been out here staking me out? A new terror rose inside of me at the thought. I imagined him watching me work, watching me at home, and watching me sleep. I couldn’t put the feelings of it into words, but my body started shaking, and new tears pushed forward.

“I will never stop fighting, Ben! I will never stop struggling or trying to get away! I will make your life hell if you take me back to him!” Ben ignored me and continued to focus on his phone as he moved back towards the first car. My final ditch effort to escape had failed. Of course, Ben didn’t care; as far as he was concerned, I wouldn’t be his problem anymore - not once I was with Nik. He was right. I continued to scream until someone jabbed a needle in my neck. I tried to fight; I tried to keep myself conscious, and my muscles were fading, and I was already so tired. My efforts were in vain. It wasn’t long before everything turned dark.