Chapter 3: Sharing meals

Davina's POV

I sat at the corner of the dark room I was kept in. In the basement under the packhouse. I had been dragged, manhandled and had not seen the sun for what how long— two days? Three, four? I had no idea. I had not showered or changed my clothes. I was irritated by my own self. It didn't help that I was wearing a white dress— my wedding gown.

A few days ago, I would never had imagined myself in this position. I was the Alpha's daughter, the pack's princess. I was the heir, even though Dad and I decided that I would let Lucien be Alpha.

I wanted to shout, to cry and scream, but instead, I sat in this corner, hugging my knees to my chest. I had done all those, and no one listened to me. No one cared. This was my new reality. My father was dead and I had to find a way to survive alone.

The door opened suddenly and my heart raced when I saw who stepped in— Kane. He regarded me with a look of disgust that I really could not wrap my head around. I still had no fucking idea why they suddenly hated my father and I.

"The Alpha wants you."

The Alpha— as in Lucien. Fuck him.

"We do not have an Alpha."

Kane stepped forward, eyes gleaming wickedly. "You better watch how you talk to me or anyone else around here. We are not your daddy, and we will not hesitate to put you in you place if you ask for it."

I wanted to retort, to let him know that he could not scare me. But that was a lie. Because I was fucking scared.

"Up, now."

I struggled to get up. I had not eaten so much in the time I had spent here.

Kane dragged me out of the basement. His steps were quick, strides too long and I struggled to keep up. But he didn't care.

When he let me go, I fell to my knees. No— he pushed me to my knees. It took a moment for me to realize that I was in the living room, kneeling before someone. I looked up to see Lucien.

He was casually rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, like I wasn't kneeling there like a slave.

Anger bubbled inside of me.

"Why the fuck did you bring me out here, Lucien?"

"He is Alpha to you." Kane corrected. He was just about to kick me, when Lucien held up one hand to stop him.

"She will learn." He said it calmly, but only a fool would fail to notice the threat in his tone.

"I told you to kill her. I still don't understand why you insist on keeping her alive." Kane continued to ramble on, like I was not there.

"I know what I want with her." Lucien spoke again, and I could not still help but he surprised by how coldly he spoke about me.

This same man held was always there for me, always soft with me, telling me sweet words and holding my hands when I needed comfort. The switch was impossible.

"I will do nothing for you." I snapped.

"Oh, you have no choice in anything, Little Rose." He spoke calmly again, his tone so not bothered, as if he was certain that there was really nothing I could do.

"You will regret this, Lucien." I promised him.

"Go to your room. Shower. Change out of this..." He examined my gown carefully, and my stupid heart began to pound. I was still putting on my wedding gown, the one I wore for him. I wondered if it would touch something inside of him. But he burst my bubble real quick. "...rag."

That hurt a lot more than I thought it would, I had to drag in a sharp breath.

"Why?"

"Join me for breakfast."

I blinked. Then turned to look behind me, just to be sure that I was the one he was talking to me.

"I am talking to you."

I got up on my own, ignoring the glare that Kane shot my way. I knew that he would had probably kicked me down if Lucien didn't ask him to stop.

"You look like you have not eaten in days." Lucien pointed. Not out of kindness, because his voice was certainly a mockery.

He was right though. I had grown really thin, and my skin seemed to have lost its colour. They did bring food for me at intervals, but the portion was too small, and it took too long before I was given another portion. Not like I ate them all though, as everything tasted ashy in my mouth.

"I would not look this way if I wasn't locked up like some rogue."

I turned to leave without waiting for his permission.

"You have ten minutes."

I didn't answer.

And I spent an hour.

By the time I went to the dining table, I didn't expect to meet Lucien there. But he was. And he was glaring hard.

I walked casually to the dining table, now wearing a simple yellow sundress. I didn't look at him, but I could feel his gaze boring into my face.

I grabbed a chair and sat on it. The food was already spread out on the table. I didn't want to eat with him, but I didn't want to starve either. I wasn't certain that I would be given food again after the this. I needed the energy for what I was planning.

"Ten minutes, Davina. That was what I gave you."

The sound of his voice sent a shiver of terror down my spine, but I tried my best to hide it. I didn't want to be afraid of him. I had nothing to lose.

"That is not enough time." I answered nonchalantly, picking up a plate and putting food in it.

I took the first bite, and I fought the urge to grimace. Everything tasted so bland in my mouth. I was just forcing myself because I needed to survive. I needed to make Lucien pay for what he had done.

There was a dull ache in my heart as I thought of that. Of how he cruelly killed my father and allowed me to be dragged to that basement. Of how he did it all on the day that was supposed to be our wedding. I once thought he could not bear the thought of seeing me hurt.

"What did I do to you?" The words left my lips before I could stop myself.

I didn't want to, but I thought about our happy moments together, those times I would sneak inside his room and he would shower me with kisses.

Now, I was staring at that same man, and the contrast was overwhelming.

Until a teardrop fell on my plate that I realized that I was crying.

"You are pathetic." Lucien said suddenly, making me look up at him. I wondered if my tears disgusted him now. "Get out."

"But..."

"Out, now."

I stood up, straighted my dress. I wiped my eyes with the back of my palms and stared straight at him. "Enjoy your little reign, Alpha. But if I were you, I would watch my back."

He relaxed in his seat, the corners of his lips lifting just slightly. He was not bothered at all. He really didn't believe I could do anything to him.

"Is that a threat?"

"Make of it whatever you wish."

He stood up and walked towards me in those graceful steps. He stopped just in front of me, the distance between us, terrifying. He gripped my jaws and made me look up at him, his gaze intense.

"You are not strong enough to be a threat, Little Rose." His face was close now. Just too close, his heat surrounded me in a way that made me wish I could claw his face. "But I am curious, how long are you going to keep pretending that you still matter?"

A gasp left my lips, before I could control it.

That hit. Deep. He might as well just reach for my chest and tear out my heart.