18

Third person's POV

Rhett just sat down after Melissa left. He hadn't wanted to waste his energy. He had connected with Eliana, and he hoped she got the message. Even if she hadn't understood, his brothers would know.

He laid on the cold floor, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. He hadn't bothered to reach his brothers again; he conserved his energy for the escape plan he had crafted in his mind. He had just been waiting for the perfect time to strike, to break free.

But sleep was inevitable. Just as he was starting to drift off to sleep, the sounds of footsteps had awoken him. He smelt her even before she came to stand in front of him. It was Melissa. She seemed to have adjusted her makeup; it looked darker even though she was pale.

“I thought you'd have slept.” She had said, her voice dripping with seduction. “Well, I walked here right when you could use my company.”

“I don't need your company.” Rhett told her as a matter of fact.

She laughed, swinging her head backwards before she became steady and looked back at him. “Oh, it's not a choice, my dear. And trust me, you aren't getting out of there. Any plans you have formulated in your mind, it's better to trash them now because you aren't leaving here.”

Rhett had raised his eyebrows, his face confident. He couldn't lose that; that was the only way to outsmart a cunning woman like Melissa's. “What made you think I would escape? You clearly said I cannot leave here, and this damned cage is covered in wolfsbane. I cannot leave; use your head.”

“I know you, Rhett. And anyone in his right senses would try to escape. And thank goodness you know you're stuck there. I like that you are sensible and determined. It's admirable.”

“Just go away; I don't want to talk to you.”

Melissa chuckled, her eyes glinted with amusement as she came closer to the cage. “I just came to tell you that your plan wouldn't work. I also wanted to add that you should give up that foolish plan you have in your head. I am not evil; I will take care of you throughout your stay here, if only you'd cooperate.”

Rhett's gut twisted with disgust, but he had kept his face emotionless. She was the type of woman that knew how to manipulate men very well — in a carnal type of way. She used her body to get what she wanted.

“I am not interested in what you have to offer. You don't even move me as a woman. I don't entertain women like you.” Rhett told her flatly and looked away from her.

Melissa's smile had faltered as he said that, but she quickly recovered, responding to him with her arms behind her. “All right, I am not your type of woman, agreeable. But I just can't keep it locked in me; I had to compliment your beauty as a man.”

“I don't find you alluring.” Rhett said. He wanted to piss her off, but then something told him that would only anger her, so he had focused on winning her over instead.

“I'll give you what you want, Melissa,” he had told her, his voice low and husky. “You want me, yeah? You can have me. Sex, companionship, whatever you want from me, I'll give it to you.”

Melissa raised her eyebrows, a sceptical look in her eyes. “Oh, you wouldn't fool me, Rhett.” She told him. “I cannot be bought.”

Rhett knew it wouldn't be easy, but women like her just needed a little bit of teasing to fall into a man's trap. He had read enough books to know how to taunt a woman till she fell helplessly for a man. “I'm damn serious now, Mel. I don't have anything to lose. You and me, on this cold floor, your moans, my hands in your dark, lush hair. It's heaven and I know you want it.”

Melissa gave him a shrug, but she had fallen already; she just hid it from him. “Very well then. We shall see whose moans can cut through the thickness in the room — yours or mine.”

Melissa casted a few spells and brought out the cage key from her gown. She got into the cage; her back turned to Rhett so she could lock the gate back.

She shouldn't have done that though, because with her back turned to him, Rhett moved faster than a lightning bolt. He sprang towards her, and his hands closed around her throat like a vice, choking her. He covered her mouth so she wouldn't scream.

“Die, witch.”

Melissa's eyes began to go pale; it lost its darkness, but Rhett didn't let her go. He had tightened his grip around her neck. He dug his claws straight into her neck and watched as blood streamed down. And in a twinkle of an eye, he snapped her neck with a swift motion that made her crumble to the floor.

She dropped with a thud, and Rhett waited for a while to see if she would move. She didn't.

“Witch!” Rhett spat on her body. He watched dark blood ooze from the five marks of wounds given to her by his claws.

His plan didn't end there. He rushed out of the cage, locating the door in minutes. He navigated the dark corridors with swift motions. He had used his inner eyesight to study his environment. All he needed was to get to the exit, but that wouldn't be easy.

“Hey, who's that?” Rhett heard a call right before him, and two women showed themselves.

Witches.

They looked him up and down and saw his blood-stained claws. They didn't need anyone to tell them what had happened.

“He killed Melissa! Get him!”

Rhett didn't hesitate; his movements were calculated, and his skills were divine. He gave the witches blows that sent them crashing into the wall. He dispatched them with ease, broke their neck bones and legs, and in minutes, he was standing above two dead women.

“You do not mess with an Alpha.” He laughed and made his way to the exit.

Rhett ran into the night and a rush of triumph came over him. He had played the game of seduction well and he won.

Now who said reading books had been a waste of time?

Rhett smiled to himself and kept moving. He had to stay far away from here before he could rejoice completely. He ran through fields and thorns, but he didn't stop, he kept running, kept moving until he knew he was out of the Darkmoon Pack.

Rhett got back to the pack, his figure silhouetted against the cloudless sky. His brothers hadn't seen him coming. It wasn't until he called their names that they realised he was the one.

“Rhett!” Eliana called out his name, her eyes shining with tears. She hadn't thought twice before she flung herself into his arms, giving him a warm embrace. “We were so worried about you.”

Rhett had smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I am home now, Eliana,” he said and looked at his brothers. “There are witches in the Darkmoon pack, and we have to do something because they wouldn't like that I escaped.”

Ace nodded. “We would sort it out. Come inside first.”

They had dinner, and everyone went to sleep. Later that night, Eliana came to Rhett's room. Her excitement had been palpable as she greeted him. Her eyes sparked with an intensity he hadn't seen before.

“Hey, how are you?” He had asked her.

“I'm good.” She said and continued, “I want to be with you tonight, Rhett.”

“Uhm, are you sure?”

She only nodded and came to him. She kissed him at first, slowly and steadily. She taunted and teased him. The rest of the night had been a blur of passionate lovemaking, their bodies entwined in a loving sight.

Rhett had fallen asleep with his arms around Eliana's naked body. He felt her stomach and felt the life in it. It made him happy.

But as he woke up the next morning, his hand instinctively reached out to pull Eliana closer. Instead of finding her warm body around him, his fingers met the cold, damp floor. Even if he had fallen to the floor while sleeping, the floor shouldn't be this cold.

He opened his eyes and took in his surroundings. He was met with a familiar sight of darkness, a stench of rot and misery.

He was back in the cage — where the witches were.

Rhett's stomach rolled, and he scrambled up to his feet; his heart raced with uncontrollable panic. "No!" he screamed, his voice echoing off the walls. "This can't be! I escaped! I was free!"

He screamed. He touched the metal bars again, and it burnt him, but nothing could be done. He was back in the cage. Everything had been a dream.