The Alpha's Prisoner

Maya Pov "Where is that worthless girl?"I heard Uncle Marcus yelling from the main floor. I was already moving, grabbing my cleaning bucket and hurrying from the tiny storage closet where I'd been scrubbing floors. My bare feet made no sound on the cold tile.The moment he saw me, his hand connected with my face. I didn't make a sound. Five years of this taught me that crying only made it worse. My cheek burned but I kept my eyes down, waiting for whatever order would come next."We have important guests arriving in two hours. The meeting room better be spotless." His breath smelled like coffee and anger. "Alpha Ryker doesn't tolerate mess, and I need this alliance."I nodded quickly. Alpha Ryker. I'd heard whispers about him from pack members when they thought I wasn't listening. The most powerful Alpha in six territories. A man who'd absorbed three other packs through combat. Someone even my uncle feared, though he'd never admit it."Do you understand how important this is?" Uncl

Maya Pov I couldn't stop shaking.The car was bigger than my storage closet room. Soft leather seats, tinted windows, and enough space that I didn't have to curl into a ball to fit. But my body didn't understand safety. It only knew fear.Alpha Ryker sat across from me, watching with those ice-blue eyes. The other two men sat beside him—one with green eyes and brown hair, the other younger with a friendly face."Maya, this is Kade, my Beta," Alpha Ryker said, pointing to the green-eyed man. "And this is Owen, one of my warriors."I nodded, not knowing what to say. My hands twisted in the fabric of my gray dress, the only dress I owned."Are you hurt?" Kade asked gently."No." The lie came automatically. I'd learned to hide injuries. Showing pain only invited more of it."Maya." Alpha Ryker's voice made me look up. "You're safe now. Nobody here will hurt you. But I need you to be honest with me. Are you injured?"My throat felt tight. I didn't know how to do this—how to talk to peopl

Maya Pov I woke up screaming.In my dream, Uncle Marcus had found me. He dragged me back to Silvercrest, back to the basement, back to the darkness. Sienna stood at the top of the stairs laughing while I begged them to let me out.Strong hands grabbed my shoulders and I thrashed, fighting to get free."Maya! Maya, it's okay. You're safe. It's just a dream."The voice penetrated the panic. I blinked, gasping for air. Alpha Ryker knelt beside the bed, his hands gentle on my shoulders. Moonlight streamed through the windows—it was night now."You're in Shadowpeak," he said softly. "You're safe. Nobody's going to hurt you."My whole body shook. I couldn't catch my breath."Breathe with me," he said. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. Come on. With me."He demonstrated, breathing slowly and deeply. I tried to copy him, but my breaths came in harsh gasps."That's it. You're doing good. Keep going."Slowly, my breathing evened out. The panic faded, leaving me exhausted and embar

RykerThe question hung between us like a physical thing. Maya wanted the truth about why I'd brought her here, and she deserved it. I'd kept her at arm's length with half-answers and protective gestures, but that wasn't fair to her. Not after everything she'd survived.I gestured to the chairs in my office. "Sit with me. This conversation requires honesty."She moved slowly, her body still healing from years of abuse. Every careful step reminded me of what her uncle had stolen from her. She settled into the leather chair across from my desk, her hands folded in her lap like she was preparing for punishment. That gesture alone made my wolf snarl with rage."Maya, look at me," I said gently.Her dark eyes lifted to mine. Even dulled by trauma and malnutrition, they held a strength she didn't recognize in herself. I'd seen it the moment I walked into that meeting room in Silvercrest. Something in her called to something in me."When I entered your uncle's pack house, I came for a milita

Maya Pov I stared at the ceiling in the darkness, counting the wooden beams overhead. One, two, three, four, five. My heart wouldn't stop racing. Six, seven, eight. The clock on the nightstand glowed with cruel red numbers: 2:47 AM. In three hours, we'd leave for Silvercrest.Ryker's breathing was steady from the chair by the window. He'd stayed like he promised, his large frame somehow fitting into that too-small chair. I wanted to wake him, to tell him I couldn't do this, but my throat felt closed up tight. The air in the room seemed to thicken with each breath I tried to take.My chest grew tighter. Tighter. Like invisible hands were squeezing, squeezing, squeezing until there was no room for air. I sat up slowly, careful not to make noise. My hands trembled as I pushed back the covers. The floor felt cold under my bare feet as I stood.I needed space. I needed air. I needed to get away from the suffocating weight pressing down on my lungs. The bathroom door opened silently and I