005| FORCED PROXIMITY

~RAVENNA~

Biting down hard on my lower lip, I tried not to think of running away as the man before me unchained me.

With a loud sound of crashing metals, the chains were finally removed from my wrists and ankles.

They don’t know it’s me yet. I still have time to help my pack escape this hell.

The metal burned where it had bitten too deep, drawing a wince from me.

I sucked in a breath, refusing to let them see my fear. I won’t give them that satisfaction.

“Stay still,” one of the guards muttered, shooting me a glare, his scent stinking of ale.

Hissing at him, I scoffed. “Try me.”

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. It seemed they were told not to hurt me, not yet.

I felt the heat of someone’s gaze on me, I turned only to meet the king’s gaze fixed directly on me.

There was something about the way he looked at me, something that made me feel raw and vulnerable.

I looked away, cursing under my breath. I had no wolf to begin with, but there was something about him that tugged at my body, as if my body knew him, too well for me to ignore.

He killed dad. I will make sure he faces the same fate.

When they were done, the guards yanked me up and dragged me through the stone corridor.

My bare feet scraped against the rough floor as they dragged me away, but I didn’t care.

Subtly, I took my time to monitor each step we took. I have to find a way to escape as soon as possible, and to save my pack.

My heart pounded as the scenes of earlier replayed in my head.

Luis.

My eyes burned with unshed tears. He couldn’t be dead, right? He couldn’t.

I need to see him, just once. I need to know if he survived.

The thought of him lying somewhere, bleeding and alone twisted something deep inside of me.

They shoved a door open suddenly, and threw me into a small chamber.

I almost fell with the suddenness of this, but I dug my feet into the ground, barely steading myself.

The room was dimly lit by a single torch on the wall. There were no windows or exit. It was just the silence and stench of damp stone.

I turned to the guard before they could shut the door. “Where is he?”

He frowned. “Who?”

“Luis.” My voice shook lightly. “The man you brought in with me. Where is he?”

The guards exchanged glances, but instead of responding, the shut the door with a bang.

I clenched my fist, then landed a hard kick on the door, strong enough to make my toes sting.

“Cowards. You all will pay a deadly price for treating us like this.”

I tried not to notice how heavy the air felt in here, as though it was pressing against my chest.

Every breath hurt. It got so intense that I lifted my shirt slightly. The sight made me gasp.

My body was almost covered with injuries, bruises from when I fell down that slope.

I tried to touch it, but the pain intensified.

Up until now, I have avoided getting wounds on my body. I have no wolf, so I have no way of really healing like the rest. I healed almost as slow as humans.

Putting my shirt back on, I starting pacing. But there was not enough space to move around.

Every corner of the room reminded me that I was still trapped, and maybe the fate of my people lies in my hands.

Goddess, how can you watch all these happen? What have we ever done to deserve this?

I let out a loud scream, the sound so sharp that it felt as though the ground was trembling under my feet. I ran my hand through my hair in rage.

But then, everything changed.

A strange sensation ran through me. I felt the pull again, the same one I’d felt in the throne room.

The hairs on my neck rose, my heartbeat quickened. It felt as though there was something forming in the pool of my stomach.

What I was feeling wasn’t fear, it was something worse, something I couldn’t understand.

The door cracked open behind me.

I didn’t need to turn to know who it was. The air suddenly shifted the moment he entered. The air felt colder and sharper, as though even shadows were bowing to his presence.

The Alpha King.

He didn’t speak immediately. He just stood there, watching me.

I could feel his gaze almost burning a hole through me, dissecting me piece by piece.

“Ravenna, was it?” His voice came, almost sending a shiver through me.

I dug my fingers into my palm, ignoring him.

“You’re persistent,” he added after a while, his voice smooth but hard as steel. “I gave you time to think, but you seem unready to give me what I want.”

For the first time, I turned to look at him, crossing my arms.

“I don’t owe you anything, and I don’t plan on telling you anything either.” I’d rather die than let him exploit me.

He smirked, taking a step closer. I felt every inch of his movement. “I must say, you are bold for a prisoner.”

I lifted my chin defiantly. “And you’re arrogant for a king.”

Something flickered in his eyes, surprise, amusement, I wasn’t so sure.

He took another step closer, towering over me with his crazy height.

I subconsciously took a step back, suddenly feeling the need to run from his presence.

He leaned in. “Sharp tongued huh? I wonder how long you can keep that up, with your pack’s life in line.”

I shivered. “What?” My voice was barely a whisper, the loud pounding of my heart echoing in my ears.

He smiled, stepping closer until the space between us vanished.

“Now tell me,” He murmured, his breath brushing against my ear, “where is the Shadow Bride?”

I swallowed, hard. Slowly, I met his gaze head-on. “I don’t know what you are talking about. You got the wrong pack.”

That made him still. For a moment, neither of us moved. The tension only thickened, as the air felt charged with something I couldn’t place on.

I hoped it was hatred, burning from deep inside of me, but I knew it wasn’t. It was something deeper, something terrifying.

“We are going this route again?” his eyes darkened suddenly, his voice dropping an octave. “You have five minutes.”

The images of the chaotic scenes from earlier, dad’s head separating from his body, the pack members slain, Luis badly wounded, all flashed through my head.

Then I did the one thing my instincts screamed against. I attacked.

I shoved him hard, lunging for the dagger on his belt.

But I didn’t expect him to move. He was faster. His hand caught my wrist midair, with a smirk, he twisted me easily, hitting my back against the wall again, harder this time.

I yelped at the sudden contact, but the sound rushed back down my throat.

He was inches from me now. His grip was unyielding, his breath mingling with mine.

For a moment, neither of us moved. His chest brushed mine with every breath. I hated how my pulse raced with every brush, how my body kept reacting to the enemy.

He leaned down slowly, our lips inches apart. “Do you have any idea what you’re playing with?”

I glared up at him, anger surging through me. “You will pay for what you did to my people.”

Something shifted in his gaze then, something wild, uncertain. His nostrils flared as his hand loosened slightly. His eyes roamed my face, then froze.

He stepped back suddenly, almost stumbling.

“Your eyes…” he breathed.