8

Jade’s POV

The heavy iron chains clattered loudly against the stone floor, the sound echoing through the grand hall as the guards dragged the three new captives forward. The guards shoved them without a shred of pity, forcing them to stand in a line right next to me.

I looked at the three girls, my heart sinking as I took in their appearances.

The first girl stood out immediately. She was very tall, striking, and undeniably beautiful, carrying an arrogant air even as a prisoner. The second girl was quiet and plain, wearing thick eyeglasses that kept sliding down her nose; she seemed remarkably normal compared to the dark, violent atmosphere of this fortress.

Then my eyes landed on the third girl, and my stomach twisted. She was tiny, looking no older than sixteen years old. Her entire frame was trembling violently, her knees shaking so badly she could barely keep her feet. Heavy tears streamed down her red, blotched cheeks as she sobbed out loud, completely consumed by terror.

The guards unhitched the heavy iron shackles from their wrists and ankles. The metal dropped to the ground with a harsh clang, and the guards turned on their heels, marching out of the hall without saying a word.

Left standing in the center of the vast room, the three girls remained frozen. Suddenly, the smallest girl’s legs gave out completely. She collapsed onto her knees on the cold stone floor, burying her face in her small hands as her chest heaved with violent, unstoppable sobs.

The tall, beautiful girl glared down at the crying child, her lip curling in pure disgust. She swung her foot out and kicked the young girl’s thigh with her leather boot.

“Hey! Stop behaving like a helpless child!” the tall girl snapped, her voice sharp and devoid of sympathy. “Shut your mouth and stop crying!”

The little girl buried her face deeper into her knees, her voice hiccuping through her tears. “I... I can't help it! My medication... my drugs are all finished! I don't have any left, and my chest hurts so much!”

The tall girl crossed her arms, letting out a harsh, mocking laugh. “And whose fault is that, little girl? Get up off the floor and stop embarrassing yourself in front of everyone!”

Despite the harsh reprimand, the small girl couldn't stop. Her body racked with heavy shivers as she wept loudly on the floor.

The tall girl’s expression darkened, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. “Fine. Since you refuse to shut your mouth, I’ll give you a real reason to cry!”

She drew back her arm, her hand winding up to deliver a vicious, full-force slap across the little girl’s trembling face.

Before her palm could connect, I moved on instinct. I reached out, my fingers wrapping tightly around the tall girl’s wrist, stopping her attack mid-air.

I held her wrist firm, my own heart hammering in my chest, though I forced my voice to stay steady. “Take it easy on her,” I said, looking her straight in the eyes. “Can't you see she’s just a child? She’s sick and terrified.”

The tall girl froze, her jaw dropping in sheer disbelief as she looked down at my hand gripping her arm, then back up at my face. A bitter, condescending smirk slowly spread across her beautiful features.

“Wow,” she purred, her voice dripping with venom. “Where on earth did you get the audacity to touch me? You just arrived here today, didn't you, little girl?”

She yanked her wrist out of my grip with a violent jerk, stepping back to create space between us. Her hands pulled up into tight, dangerous fists, her posture shifting into that of a seasoned fighter.

“Fine,” she snarled, a wicked glint flashing in her eyes. “You want to play the hero? You want a fight? Let’s fight!”

The quiet girl with the eyeglasses gasped, taking a quick step forward and catching the tall girl’s elbow. “Abigail, control yourself!” she whispered frantically, her eyes darting nervously toward the front of the room. “Have you lost your mind? The Viper Alpha is sitting right over there!”

Abigail didn't even flinch. She yanked her arm free from the girl's hold, her glare remaining locked onto me. “I don't care!” Abigail spat, her jaw clenched tight. “I’m ready to die anyway! That’s the exact reason why I was brought to this hellhole!”

Hearing her words, I instinctively flicked my eyes toward the raised dais where the carved throne sat, expecting Alpha Lucien to intervene or unleash his terrifying rage.

To my shock, Lucien hadn't moved an inch. He wasn't even looking at us.

Sprawled lazily across his throne, he had his head tilted back against the stone, completely locked in his own dark world. Thick gray smoke billowed from his lips, obscuring his face as he took another long drag from his cigarette. He looked completely detached—either high out of his mind on the smoke or simply so indifferent that he couldn't be bothered to interfere in a petty catfight between sacrificial prisoners. He was treating us like invisible dust in his hall.

Seeing that Lucien was completely unbothered, Abigail let out a feral growl and lunged forward, swinging a heavy, tight fist directly toward my face.

“ENOUGH!!”

A deep, commanding voice thundered from the back of the hall, the raw power behind it vibrating through the floorboards and rattling the heavy chandeliers overhead.

Abigail’s fist froze an inch from my nose.

The girl with the glasses let out a long, shuddering breath of relief, leaning closer to whisper in my ear. “Oh, thank goodness... It’s the Alpha’s handsome brother.”