Chapter 8

HANNAH POV

The knock came in the morning, interrupting my sleep. I didn’t even know how I drifted off to sleep. The knock startled me and I was up on my feet in seconds.

“Hannah.” I froze at the sound of my name. I recognized the voice immediately. Calm and also controlling. It was Kael.

“Breakfast is ready.” I didn’t answer.

For a moment, there was only silence. My heart thudded painfully against my chest as I waited, unsure of what would come next.

“Hannah,” the voice came again, firmer this time. “You are expected downstairs.”

I swallowed hard, and my throat suddenly became dry. My fingers dug into the fabric of the bedspread as fear crept slowly up my spine. I thought of the paper they had slid across the table earlier. The words burned into my memory. The way they had looked at me like I was something they already owned. I needed my freedom and I needed to be my own person. And if I wanted to be free, I needed to fight for it.

“No,” I whispered, though I knew they couldn’t hear me.

The door didn’t move. No one forced their way inside. But I could feel them there, on the other side, waiting.

“You will open this door,” another voice said. Deeper. Sharper. “This is not a request.” I recognized the voice to be Lucien's own.

My body shook. Every instinct screamed at me to comply, to do what they wanted just to make the fear stop. But something inside me refused to comply.

“I’m not coming,” I said, forcing the words out, my voice trembling. “Leave me alone.”

The silence that followed felt heavier than any threat.

“You’re making a mistake,” Kael warned.

“Then it’s my mistake to make,” I replied, my hands clenched into fists. For a long moment, nothing happened. I pressed my back against the headboard, my breathing shallow, waiting for the door to burst open, But it didn’t.

“Fine if you refuse to come out to eat, then you’ll starve. No one would serve you food. Then you’ll know that we are not to be messed with.” Kael said. I could feel the anger from his voice. But I didn’t care, I didn’t reply to his threat.

Once they noticed I wasn’t going to comply, they left. I slid down onto the floor, my legs giving out beneath me. The moment I was alone, the tears came. Hot, uncontrollable, I couldn’t control myself . I covered my mouth with my hand, biting down hard to keep from sobbing too loudly.This was my choice, This was my fight. I wasn’t ready to break in front of them. I won’t allow them to break me.

I cried so badly till my tears couldn’t come out again. My eyes were so puffy, and I was starting to have a migraine. I slept off on the floor.

By morning, I woke up curled on the floor, my eyes swollen and red. My throat burned from crying, my head heavy with exhaustion.No one came, No angry knocking,No angry voices.

My stomach growled softly. But I just had to ignored it.

Hours passed slowly. I paced the room, then sat, then lay back down again. Time stretched until it felt meaningless. Hunger gnawed at me, but fear sat heavier in my chest. If I decided to call for the maids, the alphas would win and I couldn’t let them win.

I regretted sleeping during the day. Now I had to manage this hunger till in the morning because I knew no one was going to come for me. Kael meant every word he said and I knew no one would dare defy his order.

I sat on my bed, counting invisible sheeps, waiting to go to bed but the sleep didn’t come. I was already exhausted and weak.

I walked round my room in circles, deciding on what to do about my current situation, but nothing came to me. I didn’t know what to do and it was already getting to me. I can’t be living like a prisoner here, and I can’t give them what they want.

I sat down back on my bed, contemplating on if I should call Valerie and rant to her again, but time had gone and I didn’t want to disturb her with my problems. She already had enough on her plate. I was so surprised when the alphas didn’t take my phone. I guess they wanted me to have a little bit of connection with the outside life.

I started thinking of different ways to escape, some worse than the other choices, and I started drifting off to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up curled on the bed.The sun streamed through the tall windows, lighting up the room in a way that felt almost cruel.My stomach growled softly, reminding me that I did not eat anything throughout yesterday. I ignored my stomach cry of food.

I wasn’t expecting the alphas to come to my room, since they left me starving for a whole day. While talking to myself, I heard a loud knock on my door which startled me because I wasn’t expecting anyone.

“Hannah.” This time, I didn’t move at all.

“You will come down for dinner,” a voice said from behind the door. “This ends now.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. No,I had already given up everything else. I wouldn’t give them this too.

“I’m not coming,” I said again, my voice hoarse. “Go away.” The door remained closed. No yelling. No force. Just the quiet pressure of knowing they were listening.

“You can’t stay locked in here forever,” someone said. “You’re only hurting yourself.”

“I know,” I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks. “But I don’t care.” The footsteps left. I stayed curled on the bed, not knowing what to do or what step to take next. I let the exhaustion take over my body and I slept off.

Late that night, a soft knock came.

“Hannah?” a timid voice whispered. I recognized it instantly. The maid. I got up slowly and cracked the door open just enough to see her. She stood there nervously, holding a small tray, her eyes darting down the corridor.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I shouldn’t be here.” I opened the door wider and she slipped inside quickly, setting the tray on the table. There was soup, Bread and Water. My throat tightened painfully.

“Eat,” she whispered. “Please.” I nodded, unable to speak or argue. I needed the food and I was extremely grateful for her to risk her life for me.

She didn’t stay long. Just long enough to make sure I started eating. When she left, I locked the door again and sat on the floor, eating slowly, carefully, like the food might disappear if I rushed. That night, I slept a little, I had gained little energy from the little I ate.

I lost count of how long I stayed locked in my room. Sometimes they came to the door. Sometimes they didn’t. The words changed, but the meaning stayed the same. Come out, Stop this, You’re being stubborn.

I never opened the door.

The maid brought food when she could, always at night, always quietly. Small portions, Enough to survive, but not enough to feel full. We often spoke, and I found out her name was Tianna. She was the first person to actually make me feel comfortable around here. Atleast I could consider her as a friend of mine.

It didn’t take long for me to grow thinner and Weaker, due to my lack of food. My limbs felt heavy, my thoughts foggy. But every time doubt crept in, I reminded myself why I was doing this.

If I gave in now, I would lose myself completely. I cried often. Sometimes quietly into the pillow. Sometimes silently, staring at the ceiling. Other times, the tears came without warning, my body shaking as I tried to hold myself together. This was my way of fighting. Not with strength, Not with power, But with refusal.

On the fourth night, the knock came again.

“Hannah.” I didn’t answer.

“You’re pushing this too far,” a voice said calmly. “This will end.”

I pressed my forehead against the door, my heart pounding.

“I won’t come out,” I whispered. “I won’t.” No response came. I slid back onto the bed, curling into myself as exhaustion finally claimed me. My body hurt. My heart ached. But deep down, beneath the fear and hunger and loneliness, something remained unbroken.

I needed to find a way to survive and I needed to be fast about it.