chapter 4

Chapter 4

Noah's – POV

I blinked as the cloth bag was yanked off my head. Light hit my eyes like a slap, and it took me a second to adjust. When I could finally see, there was a man standing right in front of me. He casually handed off the drink in his hand to someone else and started circling me, the way a lion would inspect its prey. His gaze was intense, sharp, and unreadable. Every step he took made my skin crawl.

He didn’t say anything at first. Just watched me. I couldn’t tell if he was amused, disappointed, or just curious. My legs were aching from kneeling, but I stayed frozen. I didn’t want to show weakness, even though I was scared out of my mind.

Finally, he raised his hand slightly, and someone stepped forward, dragging me up from the floor. I staggered on my feet as the man sat down in a chair and leaned back like this was some kind of job interview. He pointed at me like I owed him an explanation.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked, my voice rough. “Where am I? Who are you?”

One of the guys who had taken me here stepped forward. “The old man thought this would settle his debt.”

“What?” I snapped. “What debt?”

The man in the chair chuckled. It wasn’t a nice laugh. It was cold, like it came from someone who didn’t feel anything anymore.

“Your father,” he said, voice like gravel, “owes more than you can imagine. But he seems to think trading his son’s life is an acceptable form of payment.”

I felt my entire body go cold. “You’re lying.”

The man shrugged. “I don’t need to lie. He begged us to take you instead.”

My jaw clenched. I couldn’t believe it. My father had sold me off like I was nothing. I tried to step forward, but two men held me back.

“Who the hell are you?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why did you bring me here?”

He stood up slowly and walked toward me. The smirk on his face sent a chill down my spine.

“I don’t know what it is yet,” he said, stopping just inches from me, “but there’s something about you. I think I’m going to like having you around.”

Something shifted in the air between us. It was strange, almost magnetic. My chest tightened, and I had no idea why. I wasn’t just scared now—I was confused. Something about this guy made my stomach twist, but not just from fear.

Then, right in front of me, he placed his hand on his chest. He closed his eyes, his brows furrowing like he was trying to push something away. His breathing turned uneven, like he was in pain. I took a step back, unsure if he was about to pass out.

From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw something… his eyes, they weren’t normal anymore. They looked red. Not bloodshot—glowing. A low growl rumbled from his chest.

The man who had brought me in rushed forward, worry on his face. “Everyone out. Now.”

Within seconds, the room cleared, leaving just the two of them and me.

“Are you okay?” the guy asked him.

The man nodded slowly and then turned his gaze back to me. His expression had changed. It wasn’t smug anymore—it was shocked.

He walked closer again, and this time, instead of mocking me, he gently placed a hand on the side of my neck. I froze. I didn’t know what he was doing. His touch wasn’t rough—it was like he was trying to figure something out.

He leaned in and whispered, “Human mate? That’s impossible.”

I pulled away, panic setting in. “Let me go,” I said, backing up.

He didn’t answer. He turned to the other man and spoke firmly. “Get him out of here. Lock him up. I don’t want to see his face or feel his presence. Keep him away from me.”

“What?!” I shouted. “What are you talking about? Why are you doing this?”

The guy who brought me here walked toward me again. I stumbled back. “No. Please. You can’t just lock me up! I didn’t do anything!”

He didn’t say a word. Just grabbed my arm, yanked me up, and dragged me out of the room.

We walked down a long hallway that smelled like metal and something rotten. My heart pounded in my chest. This wasn’t just some basement or hideout. Wherever I was, it was built to keep people in.

Finally, he opened a heavy door and shoved me inside. The room was small—bare walls, a single bed, and something I didn’t expect to see. Chains. And not just regular ones. They looked reinforced, like whoever they used them on was expected to break free.

I tried to fight. “Don’t do this. Please. I don’t even know who you people are.”

He didn’t care. He ripped my shirt off, leaving me only in my boxers, and forced me onto the bed. Cold metal wrapped around my wrists and ankles as he locked me in place.

“You’re not a prisoner,” he said quietly, like that made any of this okay. “Just stay put.”

Then he left, slamming the door shut behind him. I heard the lock turn. The silence after was deafening.

I lay there, breathing hard, my body shaking. I felt like I was going to throw up. My mind was racing, trying to process what had just happened. My dad betrayed me. I was taken to God knows where. And now, I was chained up like an animal in a room filled with torture equipment.

I didn’t know what they wanted. I didn’t even understand half of what that guy said. Mate? What did that mean? Why did he touch me like that? Why did he act like he was in pain just from being near me?

Tears started falling down my face, and I didn’t even try to stop them. I was scared. I was angry. And most of all, I felt completely alone.

That man… whoever he was… he wasn’t someone to be messed with. And now, I was stuck in their world, with no idea how to get out.

I closed my eyes and tried to breathe through it, but nothing helped. My body ached. My wrists stung from the chains. My mind wouldn’t stop racing.

I had to survive this. I didn’t know how, but I had to.

Because no one was coming to save me.