Randall’s eyes gleamed with a strange, cruel light. “That’s right. I’ve searched everywhere; I even used your hair for DNA matching. Imagine my surprise when I found out you were the perfect match.” “You think doing this to me won’t make her hate you when she finds out?” I said coldly. Randall’s expression didn’t waver. “She can hate me all she wants. My only goal is to save her. And besides—once you’re dead, no one will ever know.” “You don’t actually think you can kill me, do you?” I stared him down. Randall glanced at my hands and gave a slight, mocking smile. “Just now, I destroyed your ring and your phone. Who exactly are you planning to message?” Only then did I realize the Bluetooth ring I always wore was gone; my chest tightened. This was bad. Truly bad. With the wolfbane still in my system, Freya and I had lost our mental connection; I couldn’t summon her even if I tried. Suddenly, Randall’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, frowned, and stepped out of the room. I immediately perked up my ears, catching every word. “Boss, the doctor says we can’t perform the transfusion surgery just yet. Raelyn, she—” Randall’s voice sharpened. “What about Raelyn?” “She’s an Omega, a low-ranking wolf. Her body’s weak; if we rush the procedure, it could kill her.” Silence followed—long enough for me to imagine his expression as reality sank in. I let out a quiet breath of relief. So my blood was safe for now. Who would’ve thought pretending to be an Omega would actually save my life? “What do we do, then?” Randall asked, his tone clipped. “Have her eat more; get her healthier. Put on twenty pounds, maybe then it’ll work.” Randall walked back in, frustration clear on his face. His gaze swept over me, sharp and calculating. “From today on, you’ll eat properly. I’ll have the butler feed you on schedule.” I gave a short laugh. “Then I have one condition, I want to move around the villa freely.”“No.” Randall shook his head without hesitation. “You’re too cunning; I’m not letting you have that kind of freedom.” “Then I’ll starve myself.” His cold, emotionless eyes suddenly flared with heat. “If you refuse to eat, I’ll kill you. Quietly. No one will ever know.” I spat in disgust. “You’re insane.” “Thanks for the compliment. If you want to call me a love-driven lunatic, I’ll humbly accept that too.” He stood, ready to leave. I glared at him. “I’m hungry.” Randall checked his watch, his tone flat. “I’ll have the butler bring it. And don’t bother screaming; the room’s soundproof, and there’s nothing around for miles. You’re wasting your energy.” With that, he walked out, closing the door behind him. I flopped back against the bed, frustration knotting in my chest, and shut my eyes. For now, my only option was to eat just enough to keep myself alive but not gain weight—buying time. The rest… the rest was up to Aiden. He would know something was wrong. He would come for me. Aiden’s POV: I never imagined that right before we were supposed to head back to Varken, Raelyn would just… vanish without a trace. I scoured every place she might have gone, but came up empty. Out of options, I called Jackson. The moment he heard what had happened, he caught the next flight to Capital City. “Where was the last place Raelyn was seen?” Jackson asked as soon as we met. “The underground garage,” I said. “Her car was still there; there was no sign it had moved, and no suspicious vehicles entered or exited.”Jackson frowned. “So she was taken. Right?” “Yes. But I don’t know by whom.” His brows furrowed deeper. “Could it be Andrix?” “No. If it were Andrix, he’d already be here, waving Raelyn in my face, demanding something in return. She’s never been his target.” I forced myself to think, to retrace every detail. Then it hit me—someone who had been conspicuously absent ever since I’d taken her away from that engagement. I turned to Jackson, my voice sharp. “I know who it is.” He blinked, confused. “Who?” “Randall,” I said, lowering my voice. “Jackson, find me every one of Randall’s properties—every house, every private estate. And do it fast.” Raelyn’s POV: The next few days in the villa were miserable. I was force-fed meal after meal, weighed on schedule, and given measured doses of wolfbane to keep my mental link with Freya severed. But instead of gaining weight, my body stubbornly refused to change; in fact, I’d somehow lost a few pounds. Randall was baffled, though there was nothing he could do about it. But I found it hilarious. Some people were just naturally slim—too bad for him. One morning, after yet another blood draw for testing, the door opened. I expected the butler bringing another tray of food, but when I looked up, it wasn’t him. A young wolf girl walked in, carrying a steaming tray. She looked sickly pale, but her eyes were bright; her face delicate and sweet, like a porcelain doll. “Who are you?” she asked. “My name’s Raelyn,” I replied, studying her carefully as a bold suspicion took root. “And you are?” She offered me a shy smile. “I’m Anna.” “And what’s your relationship with Randall?” At the sound of his name, Anna froze for a moment. “He’s my boyfriend.” I stared at her, realization dawning. “You’re Randall’s first love, aren’t you?”