Chapter 4

The air around the lower quarters was so cold that it made Hazel shiver.

That man called her a stray. What hurt most was the helplessness she felt, she had struggled so hard to survive these past few days, yet here she was locked up and being called a rogue.

Her hands curled into tight fists as she calmly pressed her forehead to her knees 'What now? What should I do? How do I escape?'

***

In the great halls of the mansion, Ryland moved with the assurance of a man who owned the world. Well, in a way he did.

He had money and power, what else was missing?

At his side, his beautiful fiancée Serena walked with him, her hand resting perfectly on his arm.

"You seem a little bit distracted, my love," Serena softly spoke loud enough for him to hear.

Ryland looked at her sharp features with an expression that gave out nothing as he picked up a glass of wine. "Hmm, I was just thinking."

"About the girl?" she asked, her voice laced with an undeniable trace of jealousy. "I saw... I saw how you looked at her, when she left." 

"She's no one," he shrugged as he sipped his glass of red wine. "Like I said, she's just another stray who wandered into the wrong territory, my territory."

Serena's lips quivered into a smile, but her eyes betrayed her. "If you say so. But I hope you're not planning to waste too much time on her. We have more important things to focus on."

Ryland smirked, his emerald green eyes glinting. "Of course, my dear."

As they entered the grand dining hall, Serena's hand tightened on his arm. "And yes my darling, "Is something bothering you?" she said quietly. 

His eyes darted away from her face as it settled on the bounty of food laid out before them. "Nothing for you to concern yourself about."

Serena let out a soft sigh before nodding, even though she couldn't shake up the feeling that something was very wrong. 

***

Time felt slow in the lower quarters, and the sound of footsteps cut through the quiet spell her reverie held, making her tense up, ready for the next action.

The heavy door creaked open, and light poured inside offering her a bit of warmth as a guard entered with a tray of food.

"Eat," he growled, laying the tray before her, and retreating toward the doorway.

She stared at the meal in front of her. It consisted of a light plate of bread and soup, a sight for sore eyes, but she did not move.

"Do you not hear what I said?" the guard snarled. "I told you to eat.”

Her stomach twisted in hunger, but her pride held her back. She didn’t want to take anything from these cruel people.

The guard sighed, stepping outside the room. “Suit yourself. But if you’re planning to starve, don’t expect anyone to care and by anyone I mean me.”

He turned and left, slamming the door behind him. 

The echo of the lock sliding into place sent a shiver down her spine.

She stared at the food for a while trying her best to maintain her pride, but her stomach had other plans as it gave in to the sweet temptation before her.

'Food first, pride later' she thought to herself

Hands shaking, she picked up the bread and raised it to her mouth, desperate for the slightest nourishment. It tasted bland, but who cared; this was the first real food she had eaten in days.

As she ate, her mind drifted back to the Alpha. He was everything she had imagined, powerful, cruel and cold.

She had heard of men like him from her father, they were powerful, ruthless, and untouchable men who thrived on the suffering of others, they thought of people like her as tools or toys, but...but there was just something about him, something that she couldn't quite place right. 

***

Upstairs, Ryland sat in his office as his fingers tapped light upon the armrest. He could not rid himself of the image of that wild, interesting and defiant girl. 

He had encountered lots of females throughout his life, but none compared to her, there was something inside of her he couldn't quite pick, and it tugged his curiosity in a way he could hardly understand.

“She's nothing,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head.

But the thought would not let him be. 

'Who was she? Why had she landed in his territory? And why weak as she so clearly was, did she seem so? Resilient? And why did he seem so drawn to her?'

The more his thoughts wandered about trying to figure out who the wild girl was, the more his wolf stirred restlessly within him, as an unspoken tension built in his chest.

Tension brewed in his mind, as he made a decision. He would have answers. And she had better give him the answers he was looking for…

***

She was lying on the cold stone floor when the door creaked open once more. Only this time, it wasn't a guard.

She sprang up in one quick motion to sit, as her hazel brown eyes were set on the intimidating figure standing in the doorway. 

Ryland stepped inside, his emerald green eyes narrowing while he stared at her.

"Stand up," he said, his voice firm.

She did not argue nor did she do as she was ordered, but, the man looked like he was into dangerous games, and crossing him would not go well, so she lazily got up.

He said nothing for a while, as he watched her. "Who are you?"

Her lips clamped in a thin line. "I don't understand, Why does it matter to you?”

Ryland's eyes flashed with irritation at the way she spoke to him with so much disrespect, and he stepped closer to her.

"Because you're in my territory, and I don't tolerate intruders. Now, answer the goddamn question."

She met his gaze, her fear mingling with a hint of defiance. "I'm no one," she said quietly.

His jaw clamped down, and he reached out, his fingers closing tight on her chin. "Don't you dare play games with me."

Her breath buckled, her eyes wide as she looked up at him.

"I didn't ask to be here. I didn't ask for any of this! Your men brought me here!” she exclaimed with a mixture of fear and anger. 

His grip loosened, and for a moment, something fluttered in his eyes, an emotion she couldn't understand.

 Still, in that very second, it was gone, and his cold mask slid right back into place.

"You're weak," he said in a low mocking voice. "Pitiful. I just don't know how someone like you survived being a rogue this long."

The fact that his words cut deep into her soul was something she didn't want to acknowledge. 

He let go of her and took steps back away from her. "You are not worth my time," he added, with a superior sweep of his hand as if she was a fly. "However, you will remain here until I decide.”