Chapter 6

~ Elara's POV ~

My eyelids felt like they weighed a ton, heavy and unyielding. I blinked slowly, every movement sending sharp aches through my skull. When my eyes finally cracked open, a small, strangled gasp escaped my lips. I wasn’t where I should have been... I was lying on a bed in a strange room.

It wasn’t a beautiful room. Just a small bed. A single candle flickering weakly on a wooden stand. But that was the least of my concerns right now.

How did I end up here?

What sick order had he given his pack this time?

I tried to sit up, but agony shot through my body like lightning. My muscles screamed, forcing me back into the bed. That’s when I noticed something strange. I was no longer wrapped in my bloody, torn dress.

Somehow… my bloodied body had been cleaned. Only the bruises remained—dark and throbbing reminders of what I had endure.

Did Alpha Kael order all of this?

The wooden door suddenly opened and a girl with brown, curly hair stepped in. The moment her eyes landed on me, she smiled warmly.

"You're finally awake? I thought it would take the rest of the night before you wake up," she smiled again.

My brows knitted together. Did she just smile at me? From what I could remember, everyone in Timberwolf Pack hated me for being a rogue’s daughter.

"My name is Vespera," she said gently, walking closer.

I immediately shifted back a little, fear tightening my chest. What if she wanted to hurt me too?

What if she planned to do something worse than what Ysoria and the others did?

"You don’t have to be afraid, Elara... I don’t bite," she said softly, a small smile on her lips.

How did she expect me to believe her? I am an enemy to everyone here.

"I promise you, Elara, I’m not going to harm you," she assured me as she moved closer.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes slowly moving over my bruises. A heavy sigh escaped her lips… like she actually pitied me.

"Does it hurt badly?" she asked concernly.

I stared at her, studying her face carefully. She didn’t look cruel. She didn’t look vengeful like the others.

"It hurts so badly, right?" she asked quietly.

Slowly, I nodded.

"Too bad then, the only thing I could do for you was wipe your blood and change you into something else," she said, her voice tinged with guilt.

"You... are the one who changed my dress?" I whispered.

"Yes, I did," she said, offering a small, genuine smile.

"Why?" I muttered.

"Because Alpha Kael ordered me to," she replied simply.

My hands clenched against the sheets. He’s really serious about making me suffer. If I wasn’t so weak… I would have ripped his heart out myself.

"Now that you’re awake. I’ll get you something to eat. He said I can give you something to eat when you wake up." Vespera beamed and quickly left.

He ordered food to be given to him?

Vespera reentered the room with that same warm smile.

The rich smell of freshly cooked meat filled my nostrils, warm and savory, and my stomach twisted painfully, rumbling so loudly it embarrassed me.

I was starving.

"You should eat," she said softly, placing the bowl of steaming meat and a cup of fine wine in front of me.

Without hesitation, I began devouring the bowl of meat. I didn’t stop to think. Didn’t stop to question her. Didn’t stop to care if it was poisoned.

Hunger had stolen every ounce of caution I had left.

Besides… that heartless Alpha had said he wouldn’t kill me, which meant the food wasn’t poisoned.

And I needed strength. Strength to run. Strength to survive. Strength to escape before he decided I was no longer worth keeping alive.

"Do you want another bowl? Alpha Kael ordered me to feed you until you're full." Vespera said gently.

I nodded, my mouth still stuffed with meat, too desperate and hungry to speak.

She left quickly and returned with another bowl, and again, I devoured it within seconds, barely chewing.

Slowly, warmth spread through my body. Life crept back into my limbs, though pain still pulsed in every joint like a cruel reminder of where I was.

"This is your room from now on, Elara" she said as I drained the cup of wine, the liquid burning slightly as it slid down my throat.

He even gave me a room?

"Alpha Kael is really dangerous, Elara. I was surprised when he spared your life. If you want to live, don't upset him." Vespera advised.

Alpha Kael already hates me, whether I upset him or not, he was still going to treat me however he wants. So the best way out of this was escaping.

I stared at Vespera and nodded slowly.

"You should get some rest. I'll come check up on you tomorrow." she said, smiling again.

"Why are you nice to me?" I asked before I could stop myself. My voice sounded small and fragile. "Everyone seems to hate me… but you don’t. Why?"

"I'm not like the others, Elara. Let's just say it's because I'm also a weak wolf like you... an Omega" she smiled, and walked away.

She's nice to me because she's a weak wolf? Is that even possible?

I brushed it off, focusing on how to escape from this place.

I forced myself off the bed, biting back a cry as pain exploded through my body. Step by step, I dragged myself toward the small window.

The crescent moon was still in the sky, which meant many in the palace were still awake.

If I tried to escape now, I would be caught. And I didn’t want to imagine what Alpha Kael would do to me if that happened.

No… now wasn’t the right time.

Midnight would be my only chance, when the palace would finally be quiet, when most of them would be asleep.

At midnight… I would escape.

So I waited.

And waited.

Until silence finally wrapped around the palace like a blanket, and crickets chirping softly outside.

As quietly as I could, I sneaked out of the room. There were no guards. It was almost like this section was separated from the rest of the palace.

My eyes scanned the area carefully, my breath shallow and uneven. When I was sure no one was watching, I ran. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, ignoring the pain tearing through my body.

A shaky smile spread across my face when I saw the palace fence ahead. If I could just climb over it… I could escape this nightmare.

I wasn't a strong wolf, but my brothers had taught me how to climb fences when we were younger.

I rushed toward the fence and grabbed onto it, trying to pull myself up. But the moment I put pressure on my body, pain exploded from my wound, spreading like fire through my nerves.

Still, I climbed stubbornly, despite the searing pain, until my grip slipped, and I crashed to the ground, pain bursting through me so violently it felt like my bones had cracked.

"Ow…" I whimpered, trying to push myself up, my body trembling.

And then... I felt it. His aura. Dark, heavy and suffocating.

Pure terror slid down my spine when my eyes came in contact with his icy, dark blue eyes.

"What were you doing?" His voice was deadly, low, and filled with fire.

My mouth trembled. Fear strangled my voice. He was supposed to be sleeping, why is he awake?

Before I could even try to speak, he was already in front of me, fast and terrifying. His hand wrapped around my neck, lifting me off the ground effortlessly.

Air rushed out of my lungs as panic exploded inside my chest.

"How dare you try to escape from me?" he growled, his voice vibrating with fury.

He threw me aside like I was nothing. Like I was a mere piece of wood.

My back slammed against the fence with a sickening crunch, pain blinding me. Blood filled my mouth, warm and metallic, spilling past my lips.

I coughed weakly.

Then he started walking toward me like a predator.

His eyes burned like hellfire.

And I knew…

I was in terrible, terrible trouble.