Chapter 4

Mira's POV,

The morning sunlight stabbed at my eyes the moment I tried to open them. I blinked a few times, groaning as I squeezed them shut again. My head was pounding like crazy.

I forced my eyes open once more, wincing against the light. Suddenly I could feel a warm light touch of someone’s hand over my forehead.

Instinct kicked in. I jerked away, ignoring the protest of pain from my body. The person touching me jumped back too, startled as a weak voice came from my side. “You’re awake. I… I… I was just checking your wound.”

Ignoring the ache in my body, I forced myself to sit up. My heart skipped few beats as I look around the unfamiliar space, trying to make sense of it all.

I turned toward the voice. “You? Where am I?”

The girl hesitated. “You… Alpha Kieran brought you to the castle. I’m Erin.”

My gaze swept over the room. It was definitely better than the disgusting prison cell I’d been in before. The air didn’t feel as suffocating, and I was lying on a small cot instead of a cold, hard floor.

My fingers trembled as they brushed against the bandage on my forehead. Flashes of last night came rushing back. Alpha Kieran’s cold, terrifying voice echoed in my mind, making a shiver run down my spine.

Then it hit me like a punch to my gut. I was still trapped in Alpha Kieran’s grip.

A young maid was standing in a distance from my bed. I locked my eyes on her and she seemed to crunched down a bit under my sharp gaze. She didn’t even dare to look into my eyes, just kept standing a bit far from me.

“When was I brought here?” My voice came out rougher than I expected.

She flinched, gripping her apron tightly. “Last night. You were hurt badly.”

I wasn’t expecting anyone here to speak to me so gently.

Erin hesitated before nudging a food tray closer. “You should eat something.”

I barely glanced at it. “How many guards are outside?”

She looked startled. “I… I don’t know,” she stammered. “I’m not supposed to tell you that.”

Without another word, she turned and hurried out. Before I could even try to get a glimpse outside, a guard stepped in and shut the door. Once again, I was left alone in the dark.

I had lost count of how many days I was locked in this room. The guards kept bringing me food, always watching me like I was some wild animal ready to pounce.

Besides them, Erin was the only one who ever showed me a shred of kindness. She’d sneak in sometimes, bringing extra food or a blanket for the cold nights. At first, I couldn’t figure out why she was risking so much for me. But over time, I realized the truth.

She pitied me.

But kindness, no matter how small, was rare in this cruel place. So, I held onto it.

A few days later…

“You! Get back.”

A sudden blow exploded in my stomach as a guard’s fist slammed into me. I gasped, doubling over as he sneered and tossed a food tray onto my body.

“What happened?” Another guard entered the room.

“The bitch tried to run again,” the first one growled. “She attacked me when I brought her food.” He kicked me again and I bit back a cry.

“Such a waste,” the second guard scoffed. “This breeder won’t last long if she keeps pulling stunts like that. Nobody gets out of the Shadowmoon Clan’s prison alive.”

“She should be grateful,” the first guard spat. “Our Alpha was generous enough to bring her here, give her decent food, and she still tries to fight us.”

A rough hand suddenly wrapped around my throat.

“Agh… let go!” I choked struggling against his grip.

But he only tightened his hold, leaning in with a vicious smirk. “Try that again and I’ll snap your weak little neck.”

Then, just as suddenly as they came, they left leaving me curled up on the floor, shaking and gasping for air.

That had been my third attempt to escape. I had studied their shift changes, memorized every detail and waited for the perfect moment. The second they opened the door to give me food, I made my move.

The farthest I managed to get was just outside the room for only a couple of seconds before they caught me and dragged me back, beating me without mercy. It was clear this part of the castle was locked down tight, heavily guarded with no gaps for escape.

But I wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet.

Then, one night, I got another chance.

It was past midnight when a guard stumbled in barely awake, to drop off my food tray. He was so out of it that he didn’t notice as I slipped past him. Pressing myself into the shadows behind a thick pillar, I kept myself hidden from them. I waited with my heart pounding as long as the guards switched their regular routine shifts.

The moment they were gone, I ran fast. As fast as my aching body would allow me to save my life.

I could tell I was still in the castle’s basement and I needed to get as far as possible. I knew I needed to find a drain or a tunnel with an outlet, anything that could lead me out. I’d figure out the rest later.

As far as I walk, I got the stronger scent of filth making the basement air suffocating. My breath caught in my throat as I ended into a dirty, dimly lit chamber.

And then I saw them.

There were some cells lined in the basement walls, stretching into the darkness. The flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows over figures curled up on the cold floors, their wrists shackled.

A chill ran down my spine as I took a step closer, my pulse thundering in my ears. It was actually a hidden dungeon under the castle and I wasn’t the only prisoner here.

Those people were almost dead to me, barely taking breath with their blood covered body. They were heavily tortured and just left there for die.

"Hey, girl, can you pass this to Alexia for us?" One of the barely-alive prisoners shoved himself against the bars, slipping me a small note. "You don’t look like you’re from the Shadowmoon Pack."

Startled, my hands shook as I grabbed the note and quickly tucked it into my sleeve.

"Alexia?" I mumbled, dread creeping in under my skin again. Who the hell was this Alexia?

"She'll find you when it's time." The man whispered before turning in the dark corner as if nothing happened between us.

“Run. Mira, you have to run.” My mind screamed at me seeing all these but my legs refused to move. The horror of this place pinned me in place like a statue.

I forced myself to snap out of it, pushing away from the wall. But the second I moved, the alarms blared.

I could hear heavy footsteps of guards thundered down the stairs. My heart pounded as guards stormed in grabbing me before I could even put up a fight.

The man leading them smirked, blocking the only way out. "You really should’ve stayed in your room, little fugitive."

Before I could react, something hard struck my head and everything went black.

When I woke up, I was already on the cold floor at Alpha Kieran’s feet.

His dark eyes burned with fury as he loomed over me. “You just couldn’t obey me, huh?” His sharp voice was piercing my mind. “Always so eager to run away.”

“And you’re always so desperate to keep me locked up,” I shot back, spitting blood onto the floor. “What’s the matter, Alpha? Enjoy breaking weak women to feel powerful?”

His jaw clenched. His bloodshot eyes locked onto mine making dread coil in my stomach.

“Want to run again, breeder?” He tilted his head, a twisted smirk tugging at his lips. “Fine. I’ll make sure you never try again.”

I met his gaze, refusing to lower my head in submission. “You’re wasting your time, Alpha,” I growled in my trembling voice. “Kill me now if that’s what you want.”

He hissed in bling anger and moved faster than I could react. His fingers dug into my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

“You will conceive my child,” he muttered, his grip tightened in my throat. “And once you’ve served your purpose, I’ll get rid of you.”

I clenched my teeth, refusing to show him the weakness he wanted. “Guess I’ll have to disappoint you then, because I’d rather die than let that happen.”

His eyes flashed with raw fury before he abruptly let go, shoving me back to the floor. “Enough! Take the breeder to my chamber. Now!