Their Secret Obsession by Pippa Moon

Chapter 0303

Lottie's POV

(Ten Minutes Earlier)

I stirred to the sound of creaking just outside the room. My eyelids felt heavy, weighed down by sheer exhaustion. I tried to ignore it, pulling the quilt tighter around me. My body ached in places I didn't know could hurt, a dull throb that echoed the turmoil in my mind. All I wanted was to eat something warm, sink back into this bed, and let sleep claim me until it was time to leave this place behind.

But the creaking persisted, followed by the murmur of raised voices. I sighed, tossing the quilt aside. So much for a peaceful night's rest. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I stood up slowly, every muscle protesting. "Seriously? Can't a girl get some sleep around here?" Annoyance bubbled up, but beneath it was a flicker of curiosity.

Padding softly across the room, I approached the door. Pressing my ear against the cool wood, I strained to make out the conversation. Adam's voice came through, stern and edged with irritation. He sounded... rude, even for him. Someone was insisting on seeing me. I rolled my eyes, assuming it was Laura or another overzealous pack member unable to respect boundaries.

Then I heard another voice-a voice that made my heart skip a beat. Kane.

My breath hitched as a rush of emotions surged through me. Confusion. Anticipation. A glimmer of... hope?

"Why is Kane here?" I closed my eyes, trying to piece together fragmented memories that danced just out of reach.

Suddenly, images flooded my mind: a secret deal whispered in hushed tones, a stolen moment with Kane in the kitchen-the warmth of his gaze, the brush of his hand against mine.

Anger and hurt swirled within

however fleeting, meant I wasn't going crazy. Something was happening-something real. A small sob escaped my lips as the memories began to fade, slipping through my fingers

no... please," I whispered desperately, pressing my palms against my temples as if I could

see him." Determined,

pulling me back with swift force. Panic

Sage whispered faintly. "It's magic." her muffled words were swallowed by the fabric pressed against my lips. The scent of chemicals

away just as

the texture of leather gloves against my skin. Spun around, I came face to face with a familiar set of eyes-cold, unyielding. Recognition sent a jolt of fear through my core. "It's him... but why?" "Help me! Please!" I tried to reach out through the mindlink, desperately hoping someone-anyone-would hear me. But there was nothing but silence, an empty void where

see the cuffs-the same ones that had been used to suppress my father's powers months ago. Horror twisted in my gut. "They've planned this. They know exactly how to keep me powerless." I thought to myself as I tried to slow my breathing

I will use

softly over my stomach. The threat was clear, the unspoken implications making my blood run cofe. My hands instinctively

back, to shift, to do something-but the cuffs rendered me

Sage, but all I could think about was the

as the magic wore off. My captor smirked, satisfied, and began pulling me toward the far wall. To my astonishment, a hidden

this?" I asked a still silent Sage, but I knew as much as I tried to speak to her,

stepped

the secret tunnels that ran through the packhouse. Lilly and I used to play in them as children, our laughter echoing in the confined spaces. As teenagers, we would sneakout using these very paths, chasing adventures beyond the