Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Mia's POV 

I looked at Kai in surprise when he apologized. 

I hadn't been expecting him to do so, so I just nodded out of shock. 

“I... It's okay,” i stuttered, not knowing what else to say. 

He simply nodded as he continued feeding me, and I diligently ate the food, feeling quite flustered about the whole thing. 

After some minutes, Kai finished feeding me, and I was full. 

A maid came to clear the table, and I sat in silence. 

Kai was still sitting beside me, and I felt him staring at me. 

“Does it hurt a lot?” he asked, staring at my hand. 

“Not that much, but it still hurts,” I responded in a low voice. 

He didn't say anything as he stood up and walked away. 

I thought he had left the dining room, and I was about to stand up and head back to my bedroom when he returned. 

“Hold this against your palm,” he said, holding a cold compress. 

I slowly took it from him, still confused by the sudden change in behavior. 

Was his wolf making him do this? Or was he perhaps bipolar?

I reluctantly pressed the cold compress against my swollen knuckles, the pain I was feeling immediately getting a bit or relief.

I let out a sigh as I closed my eyes. I could swear I felt someone’s eyes on me, and sure enough, I opened my eyes to see Kai gazing at me intently. 

When our eyes locked, he immediately looked away and cleared his throat. 

“The cold compress should ease your pain and you'll feel better soon,” he quickly said before standing up. “I have some work to do.”

He didn't wait for my response before he walked out of the dining room. I stared at his back before he turned a corner and disappeared from sight. 

I couldn't help but feel conflicted by the difference in how he acted towards me in the morning and now. But one thing was certain: I couldn't live like this. 

I returned to my bedroom and the rest of the day passed by in a blur till I finally fell asleep at night. 

I woke up the next morning and got ready for school. I went down for breakfast and I noticed that Kai wasn't in the dining room like he normally would be. 

Valerie, the maid I had seen the first morning I woke up here, came to serve my food and I stopped her before she could leave. 

“Do you know where Kai is? Have you seen him this morning?” I asked her curiously, and she smiled slightly. 

“Mr. Voss left really early to go to the company this morning. He said he has back-to-back meetings and will be occupied for the most part of the day,” she replied, and I bobbed my head slowly. 

“Thank you,” I flashed a smile at her, and she bowed a bit before walking away. 

So Kai would be busy in his company throughout today, which meant he wouldn't be coming to the academy to take on his instructor role. 

I hummed to myself as I thought about it, a smirk tugging at my lips as I ate my food. 

If I played my cards right... Maybe this could be my chance to escape. 

I didn't give away what I was thinking as I was driven to school, flanked by two bodyguards. They were going to be the biggest stumbling blocks in my plan, but I'd have to find a way around them. 

We got to school and just like yesterday, other students were staring and gossiping as I walked in. I paid them no mind as I sat down for my first class. 

The next couple of hours passed by normally, and then I made my way to my last class of the day. When I got to the door, I turned around to stare at the bodyguards. 

“You can't walk into this class with me,” I said simply. 

Both guards stared at each other in confusion before looking at me. 

“Why, Miss Hale? We've maintained silence during your other classes. And following you everywhere you go is part of our job,” one of them said. “Mr. Voss will not be pleased if he hears we're not doing our job correctly.”

“The professor for this class is very strict and doesn't allow anyone who is not taking her class into the room. You can stay at the door, I'll join you when I'm done,” I said firmly, leaving no room for arguments before going into the classroom. 

I sat all the way at the back of the class, making sure my seat was nearest to the window. As the professor began the lecture, I kept stealing glances outside the classroom through the little window in the door to make sure the guards were still there. 

The class was filled with a lot of students today so it wouldn't be easy for the guards to see me. I was also far enough away from the front of the class that the professor probably wouldn't notice what I was about to do. 

About thirty minutes into class, I slipped out of my chair and crouched as I briskly made my way towards the door at the back of the class. I tried my hardest not to draw any attention to myself, and even if anybody saw me, they didn't say anything. 

I quietly slipped out of the classroom through the second door and once I was out, I started walking fast-paced through the halls and towards the entrance of the school. 

I kept my head down as I walked, praying that nobody would stop me or ask where I was going.

Once I got outside, I immediately picked up my pace.

I had no idea where I was going yet. I just knew that I needed to get as far away from the academy and Kai's villa as possible.

I made my way through the crowded school grounds, blending in with the students who were leaving their classes. I kept glancing over my shoulder, but there was no sign of the bodyguards.

My heart raced as I reached the school gate.

I was actually doing it.

I stepped outside and quickly made my way down the street, resisting the urge to run.

Running would only draw attention to me.

Instead, I walked quickly until I was several streets away from the academy before finally breaking into a jog.

My lungs burned almost immediately.

I wasn't used to running long distances. Unlike everyone else in my clan, I didn't have a wolf spirit to give me enhanced speed or stamina.

Still, I pushed myself harder.

I couldn't stop.

I had no idea what I would do once I got out of the city, but I would figure it out somehow.

All I needed was a head start.

I eventually reached a busy roadside where several vehicles and buses were passing by. I looked around desperately, trying to figure out where I could go without being recognized.

I reached into my bag and pulled out my phone.

My fingers hovered over Liam's name.

I wanted to call him.

I wanted to hear his voice and tell him that I was finally free.

But I stopped myself.

If Kai's people were looking for me, the last thing I wanted was to put Liam in danger.

Besides, I couldn't risk Kai discovering who he was.

I quickly put my phone away and continued walking.

I was almost at the next street when a black SUV suddenly pulled up in front of me.

I froze.

The doors opened, and two men stepped out.

My heart dropped.

I turned around immediately and started running in the opposite direction.

“Mia!”

I ignored the voice and ran faster.

My legs were already aching, but I forced myself to keep going.

I didn't make it very far.

One of the men caught up to me and grabbed my arm.

“Let me go!” I screamed, struggling against his grip.

“Miss Hale, please don't make this difficult.”

I kicked and twisted, trying to free myself, but it was useless.

The other man approached and took my bag from me.

“Mr. Voss wants you brought back immediately.”

“No!” I yelled. “I don't want to go back!”

Neither of them responded.

They simply escorted me back to the SUV.

My heart sank as I was forced into the back seat.

I had failed.

Again.

The drive back to the villa was silent.

I stared out the window, watching the city pass by as I tried to think of another way out.

But for the first time since I had been brought to Kai's villa, I felt completely hopeless.

I had thought that with Kai away at the company, I could finally escape.

Instead, he had somehow found me before I could even get out of the city.

By the time we arrived at the villa, I was exhausted.

One of the guards opened the door for me, and I stepped out reluctantly.

I was led inside and immediately noticed Kai standing in the living room.

He was dressed in a dark suit, his expression unreadable as he watched me approach.

I stopped a few feet away from him.

He dismissed the guards with a nod, and they left the room.

The moment we were alone, Kai's expression hardened.

“Do you want to tell me what you were thinking?”

I swallowed as I met his eyes. “I wanted to leave.”

His jaw tightened. “I can see that.”

I looked away. “I can't stay here forever, Kai.”

“You don't get to decide that,” he snapped, his voice cold enough to make me shiver.

“I am not your prisoner,” I argued.

His eyes narrowed. “Then what exactly do you call being escorted everywhere you go and being required to return here every day?”

I opened my mouth but couldn't find an answer.

He stepped closer.

“I warned you before, Mia. You are here because I don't know who sent you or why they sent you.”

“I told you I was trying to help my boyfriend!” I yelled. 

“And I told you that I don't believe you.”

His voice rose slightly, and I flinched.

He took a deep breath before continuing.

“You tried to escape while I was away today.”

I lowered my gaze. “I wasn't going to hurt anyone.”

“That isn't the point.”

He stepped closer until there was barely any distance between us.

“If you try this again, I won't simply bring you back.”

I slowly raised my eyes to his. “What will you do?”

His expression was terrifyingly calm. “I will find whoever sent you.”

My heart stopped.

“And when I do,” he continued, “I will destroy them.”

I stared at him in horror. “You... you'll kill them?”

“If that's what it takes.”

My stomach twisted.

Kai still didn't know who had sent me.

He didn't know Liam's name.

He didn't know what Liam had asked me to do.

But if he discovered the truth, he would kill him.

The thought terrified me.

I couldn't let that happen.

Kai stared at me for a few seconds before speaking again.

“Try to run again, and I promise you, Mia, whoever is behind this will not survive my anger.”

I nodded slowly, my throat too tight to speak.

“Good.”

He stepped away from me.

“You will continue attending the academy. You will return here afterward. Your guards will remain with you at all times.”

I swallowed and nodded again.

He turned to leave, but I called out to him.

“Kai.”

He stopped and looked over his shoulder.

“Why are you doing this?”

His brows furrowed.

“You broke into my home. You were caught trying to steal from me. You refuse to tell me who sent you. And now you've tried to escape.” He paused. “I have every reason to distrust you.”

I looked down at my injured hand, the cold compress from the previous night still fresh in my mind.

Yet despite everything, I couldn't stop myself from remembering how he'd sat beside me and fed me dinner.

For a moment, his expression softened.

Then it disappeared.

“Don't give me another reason to.”

With that, he walked away.

I remained standing in the living room long after he was gone.

My escape had failed.

And now I knew that trying again could put Liam's life at risk.

I had no choice but to stay.

At least for now.