Deleted Scene…
“I try to wiggle out, but he squeezes me tighter, leaving me no other option, so I stomp down on Jackson's foot and twist free. My heart races as I sprint through the trees, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I can hear Jackson shout behind me, but I don't dare look back, as fear propels my legs faster than I've ever ran before. In an instant, Jackson steps in front of me, forcing me to a halt. He grabs my arm and lets out a breathless laugh. His fingers encircle my wrist with a vice-like grip, and with a swift motion, he pins my arm above my head against the rough bark of a towering tree. The bark bites into my back as he presses forward, his body a barrier preventing my escape.
“Freya, as much as I love spending time with you and getting the chance to tame you, it’s getting quite old.”
“Bite me, asshole.”
His lips curl into a devilish smile, revealing extremely sharp teeth. “Just say please.” His voice is rough as he leans in whispering in my ear.
I can’t let him keep me here. Not like this!
“You want to play? Come here!” I bat my eyelashes and lean in closer.
Jackson's eyes soften as he leans in closer, his expression shifting from one of fierce determination to unexpected tenderness. He seems to be searching for the right words, his lips parting slightly as if preparing to speak. But before he can utter a sound, I take advantage of the momentary lapse in his focus. Leaning in, I bite his throat with enough force to startle him. Jackson lets out a yelp, his grip loosening just enough for me to pull away, freeing myself from his hold.
"Seriously!" He says, placing his hand on his throat.
Before he grabs me again, I make a run for it. My feet pound against the earth as I sprint away, desperate to put distance between us. I make it 20 feet before an inexplicable heaviness creeps into my limbs, as if invisible chains are wrapping around me. My strides shorten, and my legs begin to falter, each step becoming more labored as an unseen force pulls me back toward the looming forest from which I fled.
Panic surges through me as the grip of this mysterious force tightens, and I struggle to push forward, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. Desperation fuels my determination, and I dig my heels into the earth, clawing at the ground in a futile attempt to resist the pull. My mind races, searching for a solution, for any possible escape from this unseen captor. I try to scream, hoping that the sound might shatter whatever spell binds me, but my voice is swallowed by the dense forest, leaving only the echo of my labored breaths in the air.
Completely out of my control, I feel myself stop abruptly as an invisible weight bears down on me, forcing me to stay in one spot. It feels as if an enormous hand is pressing down on my shoulders, pinning me to this spot with an unyielding force. My legs refuse to move, and my breath comes in short, panicked gasps as I fight against the oppressive sensation. The air around me seems to thicken, making every movement a struggle, as if I'm wading through a dense fog that clings to my skin, suffocating my will to resist.
I glance over my shoulder, and my heart skips a beat as I lock eyes with Jackson. His eyes glow an ethereal gold, casting an otherworldly light that pierces through the chaos surrounding us. His arm is extended toward me, fingers splayed wide, and I realize with a jolt that he is the source of the invisible force holding me in place. It's as if his will alone is enough to bind me, and I can feel the intensity of his power coursing through the air, anchoring me with an unyielding grip.
Jackson approaches slowly, his footsteps barely audible over the pounding of my heart. He circles me with a deliberate grace, his eyes never leaving my face as if savoring the moment of my inevitable submission. Each step seems measured, echoing with a quiet authority that only intensifies the paralysis gripping me. Finally, he halts a few feet in front of me, the distance between us charged with an unspoken tension. His presence looms large, both a torment and a focal point of my desperate hope for escape.
"I am tired of games, Freya. Kneel and submit to me!” Jackson steps forward with his eyes cold and unforgiving, leaving no room for defiance. His gaze pierces through me, demanding my surrender.
An electric current surges through my veins, igniting every nerve with a rebellious fire that threatens to bend me to Jackson's will. My muscles twitch involuntarily, caught in a battle between instinct and defiance, as if they yearn to yield to his command. Despite my determination, a part of me trembles on the brink of submission, teetering on the edge of an abyss where surrender seems both inevitable and abhorrent.
“What… are you…. doing to me? Why… can't… I move?" I say, my words coming out in short, ragged spurts.
Jackson's voice softens slightly, though the steel in his eyes remains unyielding. "You are special, Freya," he begins, his words wrapping around me like chains. "By blood, you belong to Agares' pack, and through claim, you are mine as well. This dual bond places you in a unique position of power and vulnerability. Until one of our packs performs the ritual to seal you, binding you irrevocably, both Agares and I hold sway over your actions." His lips form a thin line, "Do you understand now? You are caught between us, a pawn in a game of alpha dominance, with both of us able to command your obedience at will. Agares will stop at nothing until he destroys anyone in his way, and anyone that stands against him."“
-F.R. Moore
