HER HATE HIS CAGE

### Chapter

The dim light of the cabin filtered through cracked wooden shutters, casting long shadows across the rough-hewn floor. Mia Rodriguez huddled in the corner, her knees drawn up to her chest, the scent of pine and earth mingling with the metallic tang of fear. Arthur Thompson stood across the room, his broad frame silhouetted against the dying fire, his eyes glowing faintly with the remnants of the full moon's pull. The bond thrummed between them like an invisible chain, taut and unforgiving.

"Why do you fight it, Omega?" Arthur's voice was low, a gravelly rumble that sent shivers down her spine. He took a slow step forward, his boots thudding softly on the planks.

Mia swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I don't want this. Please, Alpha. My family—they're gone because of wars like this. I can't just—"

"Can't just what?" He interrupted, his tone laced with mocking curiosity. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, watching her like prey. "Submit? Accept what's fated? You think your little resistance changes anything?"

She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "It's not right. I'm not like the others. I'm weak, you said it yourself. Why would the moon bind you to someone like me?"

Arthur's lips curled into a sneer, but his gaze lingered on her trembling form. "The moon doesn't care about 'right,' Mia. It binds, and we obey. Or we suffer." He pushed off the wall, closing the distance inch by inch. "But you... you've made it worse. Resisting on the full moon? Your scent drove me mad that night. And now, here we are."

"I tried to run," she admitted, her voice cracking. "From the lost territory, from everything. But you found me."

"Of course I did." He stopped just feet away, towering over her. "The bond pulls. It demands. Tell me, what did you think would happen? That I'd let you slip away like some stray?"

Mia's hands clenched into fists. "I thought... maybe it would fade. If I said no enough times."

He laughed, a dark, humorless sound. "No? That's your weapon? Pathetic." He reached down, his fingers brushing her chin, forcing her to look up. "Look at me, Omega. See what your 'no' has done. My rage is boiling because of you."

She jerked her head away, but his grip tightened just enough to hold her. "Let go. I don't belong here. With you."

"You belong wherever the bond says," he growled, his breath warm against her skin. "But I loathe it. An Omega from a fallen pack? Shy, weak, always crying. You're a nuisance, Mia. A chain I never asked for."

"Then reject me," she pleaded, her voice rising in desperation. "Break it. Please, Arthur."

His eyes darkened, a flicker of something raw crossing his features. "Reject you? And suffer the madness? No. You'll submit, or I'll make you." He released her chin, but didn't step back. Instead, he crouched down, his face level with hers. "Tell me why you're so afraid. Is it me? Or the weakness in your own blood?"

"It's everything," she whispered, tears spilling over. "My family died fighting alphas like you. Strong, assertive... cruel. I can't be your mate. I'm not strong enough."

"Cruel?" He tilted his head, a teasing glint in his eyes despite the anger. "I'm being kind right now, holding back. But your resistance... it's stirring something dangerous." His hand trailed down her arm, light but insistent. "Feel that? The pull. It's punishing us both."

Mia tried to pull away, but her body betrayed her, a warmth blooming where he touched. "Stop. I said no."

"And yet here you are, trembling but not running." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Admit it, Omega. Part of you wants this. The bond doesn't lie."

"No," she insisted, but her voice wavered. Guilt twisted in her gut—guilt for surviving when her family hadn't, for feeling this forbidden pull. "I hate it. I hate you for this."

"Good," he murmured, his fingers now gripping her wrist. "Hate me while you can. But if you keep resisting, I'll discard you like the weak link you are. Left to the wilds, bond or no."

She gasped, confusion clouding her thoughts. "You wouldn't. The bond—"

"The bond be damned if you're a constant thorn." His free hand cupped her cheek, thumb brushing away a tear. "But look at you, crying already. So fragile. It arouses me, you know—your weakness. Makes me want to break it."

"Please, don't," she begged, but her body arched slightly toward him, the fated heat betraying her resolve.

He pulled her up slowly, his body pressing against hers. "Say it again. Say no, and see what happens."

"No," she breathed, but it came out as a sob, her hands pushing weakly at his chest.

His mouth crashed down on hers then, rough and demanding, his loathing mixing with undeniable arousal. She cried out against him, unable to resist as he deepened the kiss, his hands roaming with punishing intent.

"You disgust me," he growled between kisses, breaking only to speak. "Weak, sniveling Omega. But gods, your scent..."

Mia whimpered, tears streaming as confusion overwhelmed her. She wanted to fight, to honor her lost family, but the bond surged, making her cling to him despite the guilt. "I... I can't... Arthur, stop."

"Can't what? Resist? Or enjoy it?" He pushed her back against the wall, his body pinning hers, his arousal evident. "Cry all you want. It only makes me harder."

She sobbed, her hands fisting in his shirt, torn between pushing and pulling. "This is wrong. I'll be your nuisance forever."

"Then I'll fuck the weakness out of you," he snarled, his hips grinding against hers in a slow, teasing rhythm. "Until you break or beg."

Mia's mind reeled, guilt and desire warring as he claimed her mouth again, his disgust verbal but his touch betraying the bond's fire. She couldn't resist, not fully, and that confusion only fueled his rage—and her tears.