Chapter 3

ELOWYN

"Where are you going?" The guard posted outside the Alpha's door asked as he stepped forward, blocking my path.

"I need time to myself," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. 

"The Luna commanded that you remain in the chamber with her until the mating activity is finished," he said firmly. "I cannot allow you to leave."

He stood tall and immovable, clad in the traditional leathers of the Ornyth guard, his blonde hair matched his blonde eyebrow, and he looked less menacing than most of the guards around the palace. He couldn't have been more than a few years older than me.

"The Luna is perfectly safe with the Alpha," I said quickly. "I just need a few minutes. Alone."

His eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, noticing the tears I was trying really hard to hide. Have you been crying."

I hastily wiped at my cheeks. "No. I haven't." That was a really stupid lie. But the guard didn't call me out on that. Instead, he looked upon me with pity. 

"Were you hoping the Alpha would choose you?" he asked quietly, his eyes raking over my plain dress and tired face. "You're not royalty. You have no gifts. And from what I've heard, you can't even shift. And you're not a warrior too."

I braced myself for cruelty, but none came. His voice wasn’t mocking, just... honest.

"The Alpha was never meant to choose you," he said. "But you don't have to cry about it. There are strong men in the Ornyth pack who would choose a girl like you. You have the prettiest and longest hair I’ve ever seen on a woman. And you're quite easy on the eye."

I nodded slowly, surprised by the unexpected kindness. "Thank you."

"My name is Seth," he added.

"I’m Elowyn," I whispered.

He nodded, then tilted his head toward the chamber door. "Go back inside. Don’t let her punish you. Not on your first day."

He was right. I was never meant to be Luna. I had no wolf. No strength. No destiny forged in moonlight or glory. I was Elowyn, daughter of a healer, born soft in a world of claw and fang.

I turned to go back inside, steeling myself for whatever came next.

But the door flew open before I could touch it. Sabrina stood there in a silk robe, her eyes gleaming with anger. 

"What are you doing out here?" she snapped.

My heart raced.

"I’m sorry, my Luna," I said, bowing my head low. "I needed the loo. I was just returning."

She crossed her arms. "The instruction was that you remain inside until the mating was over. Are you always this disobedient and incompetent?"

I shook my head, my voice low and rueful. "No, my Luna. I didn’t mean to disobey. It won’t happen again. Please... forgive me."

She smiled, but there was nothing soft in it.

"You’re forgiven. But you will still be punished."

Before I could reply, Alpha Kieran appeared beside her, his towering frame filling the doorway. He brushed a finger gently along her cheek fondly. 

"What is it, my love?" he asked, voice low, intimate.

She smiled at me, a wicked glint in her eyes, before turning sweetly to him.

"I hired a maid who’s not very good at her duties," she said. "I asked her to stay close so she could run us a bath after. But she left to collect flowers for her hair."

My eyes widened at the blatant lie. I opened my mouth to speak, but she reached out and gripped my arm, her nails digging deep into my skin.

"I dare you to argue," she hissed, her voice pure venom. "Go on. Try it."

Then, with a syrupy smile, she turned back to the Alpha.

"Come, Songbird. Let the guards deal with the servant. Come back to bed with me."

"I will do as you’ve said, my Alpha," she purred, dropping my arm as though I carried a disease.

"Guards!" she called, and two more appeared.

"Take her to the holding cell. No food. No water. I’ll decide what to do with her later."

"Sabrina, please!" I begged, but the guards had already seized me. Their hands were firm, their grip merciless.

She didn’t turn around. She didn’t look at me again.

She stepped back into the chamber and the Alpha followed her. The door shut behind them.

The guards dragged me through the halls, down endless winding staircases until we reached an underground. Their hands were rough and unkind as they continued to lead me further down. One of them grunted as I stumbled, and the other yanked my arm so hard my shoulder screamed.

"Stop dragging your feet, girl," one of them snapped.

I didn’t respond. My throat burned with unshed sobs, but I wouldn’t cry in front of them. I couldn’t give them the satisfaction.

At the base of the underground, the scent of damp stone grew. The hallway narrowed until the walls nearly brushed my shoulders. And then we stopped in front of a thick iron door, rusted and groaning with age.

The taller guard unlocked it with a heavy iron key. The sound echoed like a death bell.

“Please, let me go.” I begged. 

But they only cackled at me. 

They shoved me forward. I landed hard on the cave floor, my knees scraping against the sharp rocks.

The holding cell was not a room. It was a pit. An underground cave of moss and stone. Water dripped from above, staining the rock with green veins. The air was cold and foul, thick with mildew and something metallic. Blood, perhaps.

"Enjoy your stay," one of them laughed, slamming the door shut.

The sound of the lock twisting into place sealed my fate.

Darkness swallowed me. My breath hitched. I pressed my back against the damp wall, hugging my arms around myself.

I wondered whether my father knew where I was. And whether he would come get me. I leaned my head against the cold wall and allowed the tears to come.