PREDATOR

My heart felt like it had stopped beating entirely as I watched him study me, his golden eyes narrowing in curiosity. Was this part of the torture? Were they planning to make my death slow and agonizing? My body refused to obey me; every muscle was frozen, leaving me shaking like a leaf caught in a storm. He was built like a Greek god-broad shoulders, sculpted muscles, and skin kissed by a perfect tan. Everything about him screamed danger. I had no doubt he could snap my neck with a single hand.

I scooted back, inching away until my back hit the cold, unforgiving wall. He didn't stop his approach, his gaze fixed on me like a predator toying with its prey. For a brief moment, I almost wished he would just kill me already. The fear of what he might do was far worse than death itself. My mind raced with all the horrible possibilities.

He crouched down, bringing himself level with me. I screamed-an ear-splitting sound that tore through the silence, making my own eardrums ache. He moved slowly, almost gently, placing his hand near the side of my neck, just behind my ear. A shiver ran through me at the touch of his skin, warm and deceptively soft. Then everything went black.

---

When I regained consciousness, my eyes snapped open, and my heart began racing all over again. Panic surged through me, making it hard to breathe. I squeezed my eyes shut and whispered a desperate prayer, "Please, let this be a nightmare. Please, God..."

"Oh, this is definitely going to be your worst living nightmare," a dry, croaky voice said, startling me.

I jolted upright, only to slam my head into something solid above me. I winced in pain, blinking rapidly as I realized I was in complete darkness. "What is this?" I gasped, my voice cracking as I reached out with trembling hands. Cold metal met my touch, and a horrible realization dawned on me: I was inside a tiny cage. The space was so small I could barely shift my body. I started to hyperventilate, feeling the walls close in around me. "No... no... no! Oh God, please!"

"God?" the voice replied, dripping with sarcasm. "There is no God that's going to save you here. Save your breath, human."

It took a moment for my brain to register that someone else was here with me. I sniffled, swallowing my sobs, knowing that crying would do nothing to help me escape this nightmare. "Who are you? Where are we? What is this place?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

"I'm Vladivostok," the voice replied with a bitter chuckle. "But you can call me Vlad. Welcome to hell, sweetheart-the beasts' lair."

"Their lair?" My voice shook with disbelief.

"Yes, their home," he answered, his tone flat and emotionless.

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. This was bad. Very, very bad. "Why are we still alive? We shouldn't be alive," I said, my voice breaking. Being kept in these cages like this-it was worse than death. It was a fate that promised suffering far beyond what I could imagine.

I gripped the cage's metal bars and rattled them, the chains clinking loudly in the darkness. There *had* to be a way out of this. I wasn't dead yet, which meant I had a chance. I had to try.

"Stop wasting your energy," Vlad said with a dry cough, his voice sounding parched, as if he hadn't had water in days. "You're not getting out of here. You're still alive because they want you alive. Whoever took an interest in you decided to keep you-for amusement, for pleasure, or for something far worse."

His words sent a fresh wave of fear coursing through me. I squeezed my eyes shut, pulling at my hair in desperation. The man-the creature-from earlier flashed in my mind, his golden eyes burning into my memory. I did not want to be at the mercy of these monsters.

"What do they do to you?" I whispered, dreading the answer.

For a moment, he was silent. Then, with a voice that sounded as hollow as an empty grave, he said, "They destroy you. They take away every last piece of your soul, drain every ounce of hope, until you're nothing but an empty shell-a puppet for their entertainment."

Before I could respond, the sound of a heavy door creaking open echoed through the darkness. My entire body froze, breath caught in my throat. The footsteps that followed were heavy, deliberate, each step sending a spike of fear into my chest. They were coming for me.

My cage door rattled as it was unlocked, and large, rough hands grabbed me, pulling me out with little effort. I stumbled, unable to see in the darkness, and didn't even try to resist. What would be the point? This was their domain. I was just a mouse in a den full of snakes.

The sudden brightness of a corridor's lights stung my eyes, making me squint. The walls were a dull, industrial gray, stretching on endlessly as the bulky man dragged me forward. The corridor was narrow, with countless twists and turns. I couldn't keep track of where we were going; it felt like we were moving deeper into a labyrinth.

Finally, we arrived at a staircase that led up to a room. It looked like an office-nothing like the decrepit spaces I'd seen for years. There were bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes, a luxurious couch, a polished wooden desk, and even a sleek laptop. I didn't have time to take in more before the man yanked me back into the corridor.

He pulled me into another room, this one stark and empty except for a single chair and a small table. He released me roughly, shoving me forward before slamming the door behind him. I barely had time to breathe before two women entered.

They were stunning, with features so perfect they looked otherworldly. The blonde, with icy blue eyes, grabbed my arm so hard I winced, while the brunette slapped me across the face with a force that sent me sprawling to the floor.

"Strip her," the blonde commanded, her voice cold and emotionless.

I tried to resist, but it was pointless. Within seconds, I was on the floor, completely naked. "Please... stop," I begged, feeling exposed and humiliated.

The brunette, Anna, handed a flimsy, black dress to the blonde. It was sheer, practically see-through. Anna tossed it at me and dragged me to my feet.

"He will like this," the blonde said, her lips curling into a satisfied smirk as she looked me over.

They dragged me into a dining hall. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst from my chest. The dress clung to me, revealing everything, leaving me feeling utterly vulnerable. My eyes darted around the room until they landed on *him*.

The man from earlier sat at the head of a long table, his golden eyes locked onto me. He looked like a prince out of a storybook-blond hair neatly styled, flawless skin, and an air of cold, detached beauty.

"Come," he said calmly, his voice smooth and authoritative.

I took a tentative step forward. The women behind me made sure I had no choice but to obey.

"Closer," he commanded. I obeyed, moving slowly, every nerve screaming at me to run.

"Sit," he said, and I sank into the chair, my body stiff with fear. He reached out and gently took a strand of my black curls between his fingers. "Beautiful," he murmured. "You are mine now."

A shiver ran down my spine, and I stared at him, unable to speak. All I wanted was to escape, but there was nowhere to go.

A large man entered the room. "Beta Elijah, the Alpha requires your presence for the feast," he announced.

Elijah's golden eyes lit up with a flicker of excitement, though his expression remained calm. "Ah, perfect timing," he said, rising to his feet. He gestured for me to follow. "Come."

My blood ran cold. He was taking me to a feast, dressed like this. Was this where they would kill me-or worse?