Chapter 3: The First Night

Nyssa’s Pov

The silver chains burn.

It’s not a hot burn like fire. It a cold burn, like ice pressed against my skin.

Every time I'd tried to move, they hurt my wrists and ankles more. The Moon Cell is quiet. I only hear the wind above the open roof and the soft sounds of wolves outside the glass walls.

They watch me like I’m a dangerous animal, that could escape and hurt them all.

Good. I want them afraid.

My name is Nyssa Voss. For twelve years, I've been trained to kill wolves. I slept with knives under my pillow. And learned about poisons until my hands smelled like dangerous plants. I came here ready to die if it meant I could kill Raiden.

But I never planned for the mate bond.

It feels like a second heart inside my chest. It feels warm and heavy, and it feels wrong. Every beat says: He is yours. You are his.

I want to cut it out.

The big wolf, Thorne, left a cup of water just too far away. Maybe it’s a joke. Or a test. I could stretch and knock it over, then drink from the floor like a dog. But I won’t do that. I won’t let them see me like that.

So I sit up straight, pul my knees to my chest, chains making soft noises. While I stare at the moon.

I hear heavy footsteps approaching.

Raiden stops outside the glass. He is alone now. The other wolves already left to their cabins, but I still feel them watching.

He looks tired. His black hair is messy. His shirt is torn where I bit him. Dried blood stains it dark. That should make me happy.

It doesn’t.

He puts his hand on the glass. The magic keeps him out and keeps me in.

“I brought food,” he says. His voice is low and rough.

I say nothing.

He shows me a plate with cooked meat, bread, and apple slices. It looks simple. It smells good. My stomach hurts from hunger, but I also feel hate.

“I’m not poisoning you,” he says.

“I’ve eaten poison on purpose before,” I answer. My voice sounds strong. Good.

He puts the plate down outside the door, then sits on the floor in front of the glass. He is close. I can see gold in his dark eyes.

We just look at each other.

A long time passes. The moon moves higher in the sky.

At last, he speaks. “Greyhaven.”

My body freezes.

“I was twenty two,” he says. “My father had just died. I had been Alpha for only three weeks. Someone told me your village was hiding hunters who killed our young wolves. I sent Kael and some men to ask questions. I told them not to hurt anyone. I said bring the leaders back alive.”

I laugh. It sounds angry and hurt. “That’s not what happened. I saw wolves in black armor with your sign on them. They set fire to my house. My mother pushed me into the cellar and told me to be quiet. I was quiet while she screamed.”

His face looks hurt. Real hurt. The bond pushes that pain into my chest like a sharp knife.

I hate that I feel it.

“I looked for the truth,” he says quietly. “For years. The report said your people attacked first. That the fire started in a fight. I believed it because I was new, scared, and stupid.”

“Liar,” I whisper. But the word doesn’t sound strong anymore.

He leans closer, almost touching the glass with his head. “I will open all the old records. You can read everything yourself. If I lied, you can kill me in front of the whole pack.”

I want to hate him. I want to think he is tricking me. But the bond feels warm and honest in a way words never are.

I look away first.

He stands up. “Eat, Nyssa. You will need to be strong if you still want to kill me later.”

He leaves.

The plate is now inside the door. He must've opened it when I wasn’t looking. The chains are long enough for me to reach it.

I hate him.

I hate the bond.

I hate that I crawl over, take the bread, and eat everything. Tears run down my face while I eat, and the moon sees it all.

Twenty seven nights left.

I will not allow him break me.

But for the first time in twelve years. I’m not sure who the real monster is.