Chapter 7

The longer I stand there staring at the padlock, it begins to feel like something is calling out to me from behind the locked doors.

A force I can't really explain, but I feel undeniably drawn to it.

One touch wouldn't hurt, right?

“You're not supposed to be here.” My hand freezes midair at the new presence behind me.

Slowly, like a thief caught in action, I turn, a sheepish smile gracing my face as I meet the eyes of the young man who was probably a guard.

“Oh I'm sorry, I think I got lost on my way back to my room…" My lie is weak, and I can tell he hardly buys it from the look on his face.

“I'm Dan, assigned to you by the Alpha to accompany you on a walk around the garden. If you don't mind, I'll lead the way there.” He thankfully doesn't press further on the matter, and I nod curtly as he motions for me to follow him and begins walking off.

As I hurry to meet his pace, I can't help but take one last curious glance at the door, the pull to whatever lies inside unexplainable.

I'll be back…

We make it to the beautiful garden soon, and I'm in awe by all the naturally grown flowers and herbs that decorated the place.

Ravenwood village was very much livelier than the one I grew up in.

The little pups ran about freely, playing games with one another, farm animals moved about here and there, people conversed in groups, hearty laughter filling the air.

Wasn't this the same pack that supposedly had an alpha who was the 'devil'?

As coldhearted and closed off as Ethan Blackwood seemed to be, his pack members looked complete at peace to belong.

Or was his special level of emotionlessness directed towards me? An amplified version of the one he showed every other person outside his pack?

I'm pulled out of my thoughts as Dan begins to explain some things to me while we walk, talking about what sort of plants they had growing and what not.

But my mind is anywhere but here presently, completely consumed by unshakable curiosity.

“Dan… what's behind those locked hallway doors?” The guard comes to an abrupt halt at my question, turning around to face me.

“Don't ask questions about what doesn't concern you, Luna. The last woman who was too inquisitive, she–well, she disappeared.” He sounds hesitant towards the end of his reply, like he was sharing a secret he shouldn't have been.

This makes me take in a sharp breath as I feel the goosebumps spread across my skin.

“Who?” I whisper, my voice caught in my throat from the weight of what I had just heard.

Disappeared? As in forever? What could've happened to her?

“No one, I wasn't supposed to say anything.” Comes his quick reply as he continues walking just as abruptly as he has stopped, giving me no choice but to trail after.

Dan doesn't speak for the rest of the walk, up to he escorts me back to the door of my room before excusing himself.

I'm left with a dozen questions and no sign of upcoming answers, my head feeling heavy from all the thinking and drama here and there.

Sighing in exasperation as I watch the guard retreat down the hall, I push open my room door, stepping inside.

It's a miracle I don't have a heart attack on the spot from whom I meet seated on my bed, and I'm even more surprised I managed not to scream as I stand face to face with none other than Alpha Ethan.

What was he doing here? And why did my stupid heart pick up merely from his presence.

“I had the maid bring in various dishes, you still haven't had breakfast.” He gestures towards the table that was set up at a corner of my room and at the dishes spread out across it.

I'm tempted to lash out at him in reply, feeling angry with his pretence.

Why act like he cared when he didn't? I was here to fulfill my part of the agreement and nothing more, so what did he care whether I ate or not?

I tear my eyes away from his, not having the strength in me to reply or start up any more drama for the second time today.

“Are you alright?” It takes everything in me to not scoff at his next question.

Alright? Could I ever be alright with every day that went past with me having no choice but to be here?

I return my gaze to his, meeting his stare head on, an incredulous look in my eyes.

“You don't need to show concern for me, especially not behind closed doors when we both know we're faking it. You said this arrangement has a purpose. So what's mine Alpha? A distraction? Tell me!” Something in me snaps as I find myself raising my voice at him.

A heartbeat of silence follows my outburst, no reaction from Ethan, and my chest begins to tighten with tension, fingers trembling as my pulse races wildly.

Maybe I had said too much…

I only realize just how rude I had spoken to a man who could easily snap my neck off with just a single flex of his hand when he finally moves to stand right in front of me.

My breaths are coming out ragged, tears welling up in my eyes as I keep my hands folded into shaky fists by my sides.

He towers over me, probably twice my size, eyes blazing with unsheathed rage and… something more?

He's standing so closed that I can literally feel the heat radiating off him, hear his heart beating against his ribcage, feel the electricity crackling prickle at my skin.

He leans down, eyes never shifting from mine even for a second as he brings his face even closer to mine, so much so that for a second, it felt like he was about to kiss me rather than snap my neck.

I can feel his warm breath fanning my face, my eyes threatening to close impulsively from the way the butterflies in my tummy soared to life from our proximity.

What was happening?

“Don't test me Lyra. That door is off limits, the next time you so much as go close to it, not to talk more of touching it, I'll have no choice but to keep you chained in your room.” And just like that, the spell is broken.

My eyes flying open like a bucket of ice-cold water just got dumped on my head as I take a staggering step back, fear coursing through my veins from the dead serious look in his eyes.

Probably satisfied with the terror that has now replaced my tough facade, he sidesteps me like a piece of woodwork, heading towards the door.

He pauses on his way out, but I don't turn, keeping my back to him.

“If you insist on continuing to dig, I won't be able to protect you then.” He mutters under his breath, slamming the door shut right behind him.

He knew! How had he found out about me coming across the door? I knew for a sure that the only person who had caught me which happened to be Dan hadn't interacted with him yet, so how did he know?

And could it be that the safety my dad has so hastily thrown me to might just be what killed me first?

I feel it then, the wetness painting my cheeks, slowly sliding down in a salty trail.

One–two…and the tears come pouring down like waterworks as I fall into bed, burying my face into a pillow and begin to sob my heart out, Ethan's words coming back to me.

Protect me from what? Or…from whom?

And why did it feel like the answers were waiting for me right behind the locked door?