The room was cold, dimly lit by a single hanging bulb that swayed with every rumble of distant artillery fire. Your wrists burned against the restraints as the enemy commander’s grip on your arm tightened. You’d been taken as leverage, a pawn to lure Ghost into their trap. They knew you were his bonded mate, but they had discovered something even more valuable: you carried his child.

The door creaked open, and there he was. Ghost. His mask was torn, revealing his jaw, clencheing in fury. His body filled the doorway, and his presence sucked the air from the room. His eyes locked onto you instantly, dark pools of rage and desperation. “Let them go,” Ghost growled, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “You’ve got me here. I’m the one you want.” The commander sneered, yanking you closer. “Oh, Ghost. We don’t just want you. We want to see you break.” He trailed his hand down your arm, making Ghost’s fists curl into trembling weapons of wrath. “You’ve been keeping secrets, haven’t you? Didn’t even tell your precious alpha that he’s about to become a father.”

The room stilled as the words hit Ghost like a bullet. His body froze, and his eyes widened with a raw, unguarded vulnerability. “What?” he whispered hoarsely, his gaze flickering to you. “It’s true,” the commander said, pressing a knife lightly to your throat. “Surrender. Or the omega you love and the pup won’t leave this room alive.” “Don’t listen to him!” you gasped, but your plea was cut short as the blade pressed harder.

Ghost’s mask slipped further, revealing the full weight of his anguish. He stepped forward, his hands raised slightly in surrender, but his voice was a storm. “You think threatening them makes me weak? It doesn’t. It makes me unstoppable.” “Try me,” the commander taunted. A second later, the lights cut out. The world plunged into chaos as Ghost moved faster than a shadow, taking down enemies in the blink of an eye. The grip on your arm loosened, and suddenly Ghost was there, cradling you as if you were the most fragile thing.