My stomach was in knots from hunger, and the cell I was in reeked.
I hadn’t moved for what seemed like weeks, but I knew it had probably been only a few days. No one had come down to check on me. It was as if I was left to rot in this cell until I died of either starvation or infection.
My injuries felt as though they were on fire. My arms were completely numb due to being chained to the wall. I didn’t even want to think about the mess from being stuck here for days.
I closed my eyes. This was much different from how I always thought my life would end. I was not sure how long I sat in the dark with nothing but silence as my company.
Suddenly, the sound of the cell door snapped me back to reality. I didn’t even notice them coming down the stairs.
When one of them held up a lantern, I had to shut my eyes and blink a few times to let them adjust.
There were a total of three men—two were warriors I didn’t recognize from the alpha’s pack, but the one that stood in the middle was slightly familiar. He was one of the higher-ranking members of the pack that stood by their alpha.
He had dark-colored hair, which seemed to be growing back after a buzz cut. He had dark brown eyes and dressed casually.
I gulped and looked at each of them, not sure what was going on. The man who seemed to be in charge turned away and spoke to the two men beside him.
“Get the information how you see fit. I’d prefer as little blood spilled as possible. We don’t need the pack house to reek of blood. Once you’re finished, report back to me.”
My heart sank as I listened to him speak. They weren’t here to help me at all, only to hurt me further. Instinctively, I tried to back up as far as I could against the cold cement wall, ignoring the burning pain.
The two warriors simply nodded and approached me. One of them used a key to undo my restraints. The other held a bucket of water.
I tried to speak when my hands were released, but they splashed the bucket of cold water on me. I gasped from the shock. But I couldn’t hold myself up due to the lack of feeling in my arms.
Looking up, I could see the man with brown eyes staring down at me.
“I can’t guarantee you won’t be punished or killed in the future, but I can tell you that you can spare yourself much pain today if you tell us where your father is.”
He took my silence as me refusing to cooperate and nodded his head at one of the warriors to continue.
Before I could even open my mouth, I was hit across the side of my head and knocked down to the floor.
My head hurt, and everything became blurry for a moment. I cringed from the pain and tried to recover from the blow.
Shakily, I pushed myself up and bowed my head.
“I don't know.” My voice came out as a hoarse whisper.
“Hmph...fine, then. Have it your way.” He nodded to the two men before turning away and walking out.
I had no time to recover before one of them grabbed me by the hair and pulled me up. The next hit was a solid punch to my stomach. I would’ve hurled if I had anything left in me.
I wheezed, and my vision became blurry from pain. I was about to pass out.
“Get the needle.”
I couldn’t register what they meant by needle until there was a sting on the side of my neck. I could feel my heart race frantically.
They had injected me with adrenaline so that I wouldn’t pass out. I tried to grab my bearings but was kicked in the side, causing me to lose the air in my lungs. I could feel something breaking from the blunt force of the kick.
“Please, I really don’t know!” I choked out the words to make them stop, but they wouldn’t take it as an answer.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as they continued to beat me black and blue. By the time they were done, I was but a limp beaten body on the cold floor.
Everything hurt—my ribs and sides, my back, and my now-fractured ankle. I didn’t dare try to move or get up once they left. I knew it would just hurt more.
I told them multiple times that I was telling the truth, that I had no idea where my father was, but they didn’t listen. So I stayed silent.
My head hurt and throbbed in pain in sync with the rest of my body. I supposed this was my new life now.
Ethan used to tell me things would get better, that I would escape my father and maybe find my mate who would love, care, and respect me. But those were things you tell children.
They were simply fairytales.
And this was my reality.
No matter how much I tried to get her out of my head, no matter how much I hated her and her wretched father, her face wouldn’t let me rest, wouldn’t let me focus!
I swiped my arm across my desk, knocking the papers and candles off. She was my enemy, but she was my love. This couldn’t get more comically cruel! I snarled and slammed my fist onto the desk.
From what my guards told me, she was just as bad as the rumors said. She was spoiled and wicked, hardly in the presence of anyone who she deemed unworthy, and she acted high and mighty like her father.
When I went after her that night, I thought it was a game. I was indeed confused by why she attacked me, but if she really wanted to cause harm or escape, then she could have transformed.
I growled, looking out the window behind me. The pack had accepted me as alpha—as they should—and they were starting to get over the raid.
It was necessary to take over. They may not be happy about it, but they would learn to grow and accept us. They would also be treated fairly, and we would train and teach them how to truly survive.
I watched my warriors get used to their new home, our home now. Although most of the pack stayed away from us, there were a few who were more than willing to get along. They would be the most loyal.
The fact that no one dared to stand up for the previous alpha’s daughter showed that they disliked her as well, so the rumors must be true.
Yet the boy was willing to stand up for her. A love-sick pup, perhaps? I couldn’t help the rumble in my chest over the idea of her having a love interest.
I shook my head and began to pace. There it was, she was in my head again.
I paused, thinking back to when I first saw her at the cottage and she saw me. Could she have alerted her father through the pack link? That must be how he had escaped in time.
Moreover, she had chosen to sleep soundly in that cottage while her pack was being attacked so that she wouldn’t sully her hands or be in danger. I growled at the thought.
Perhaps she knew where Kade was. No one else in their pack had any idea where he could be, and their beta’s son, Ethan, didn’t know the reason for his leave nor the location of where he had gone.
I called in my beta through the pack link. He walked in only moments later before bowing.
“Yes, Alpha?”
I sat back in my chair and looked out the window. I ran my hand over my face.
“Take me to her,” I instructed my guards.
