Chapter 005

*FREYA*

The warning hangs in the air like smoke and a chill runs down my spine.

“Whatever you want is here, the bathroom is that way,” she says pointing to a door at the far end.

Then her lips tilt into a small smile.

“Your omega friend will bring you some food.”

“She is not my friend,” I murmur.

“Well,I don't care. Just don't leave this room.”

She turns to leave then stop. “And for your sake, don't think of running. We are surrounded by forest and you wouldn't make it within a kilometer radius before he finds you.”

Her tone is calm but something in her eyes unsettles me than her words.

Without any other word, she walks away.

The lock on the door snaps in place after her and I collapse on the mattress, pulling my knees to my chest.

My throat burns as I fight the scream clawing its way up.

I've long accepted my fate will never change.

I'll always be in bondage—with no way of escape no matter how hard I try to fight it.

Just when I wanted to make a change— carve out my own path, my fate swiftly took a dramatic turn.

True to the woman's words, Alera is allowed in by the burly stony faced guard stationed outside the door. She comes bearing a large tray of food.

The sweet scent of muffins wafts through my nostrils and my stomach growls loudly.

Alera let out a small giggle as she sets the tray me before me.

She then sits at the edge of the mattress, tucking her feet beneath her torn dress.

I look closely at her and notice a fresh bruise across her jaw.

I say nothing.

“You should eat,” she says quietly, breaking the silence. “The beta's mate will have my head on a platter if you don't.”

My gaze drops to the pile of blueberry muffins.

I pick one up and shove it into my mouth, the flavor melts on my tongue and something inside me cracks.

I have never tasted anything this good. Back at the tavern, we were only offered bread and we'd be thankful if it wasn't stale.

Tears burn the corner of my eyes and I sniff, shoving another one into my mouth.

If Alera notices I was crying, she doesn't say anything.

She instead decides to blabber about the full moon, speaking in terms I don't fully understand. But I am able to catch a few.

In her words, new wolves were shifting for the first time tonight and me , loitering around might be seen as a threat. They may attack me even.

I shudder as my stomach twist with dread.

What have I gotten myself into?

When I'm done, she gathers the leftovers and gobble them up before slipping out.

The guard doesn't spare me a glance as he shuts the door behind her.

And once again, I’m alone with the silence.

****

The day blurs into hours and soon, dusk crawls in slowly.

The moon shines it's brightest, it's glow seeping in through the window.

Suddenly, snarls break out and the ground trembles beneath me, a deep, rhythmic pounding, like a stampede.

Howls pierce through the night, wild and deafening and I push my weak body up, leaning against the windowsill to look.

And then I see them.

Wolves.

Dozens of them.

Their furs glinting under the moonlight as they tear across the clearing like shadows come alive.

Their howls rise in unison, echoing like an ode to the moon.

Every hair on my body stands erect. My heart slams against my ribs.

Despite my situation, I can't stop the “Wow” that slips past my lips.

I watch in awe as they move with terrifying grace—feral yet almost… organized.

Something twists inside me, a deep ache I can’t explain. It’s as if the sound calls to something buried within my bones.

Then I see him.

The largest of them all.

Black as night, his fur shimmering with silver streaks under the moonlight.

He stands at the front of the pack, head raised, eyes burning violet.

My breath catches.

Those eyes.

They seem familiar.

As if it could sense my gaze, the wolf’s head jerks in my direction.

Our eyes lock.

Just for a second and panic flares in my chest as heat floods my cheeks.

I stumble back, collapsing on the mattress.

What is that?

My thoughts spirals gradually as I drift into a restless sleep.

Something or rather the feeling of being watched stirs me awake.

My eyes groggily adjust to the darkness , making out a faint outline.

The guard.

The one who was supposed to be outside—he’s inside.

His face hovers inches from mine as he drags his tongue over his lips.

I jolt upright, shoving him off and scrambling backward until my back hits the cold wall.

His lips curve into a smirk and something feral flashes in his eyes.

My pulse spikes as he takes a predatory step closer.

“W-What a-re you doing?” my voice comes out weaker than I wanted.

“I need to know,” he murmurs. “if human girls taste as sweet as they say.”

A whimper escapes my lips.

No one will hear me scream from down here.

He hitches closer.... and closer, reaching for me.

Before the tip of his fingers could touch me, the door slams against the wall, the hinges almost flying out.

Both our heads snap toward it.

A figure stands at the doorway— taller, broader, radiating fury.

The air thickens with something dangerous.

The guard’s smirk vanishes, color draining from his face as a furious growl rips from the figure's throat.

“Alpha—”

He doesn’t get to finish.

A blur of movement—then a thud.

The guard crashes into the opposite wall, limp.

He matches towards him and in one swift motion, rips the guard's head off.

I freeze, beads of sweat trail down my back.

My eyes widen in horror as the severed head dangles carelessly from his hand like a toy, blood splattering across his face.

I push myself up, taking a shaky step backwards.

A gasp slip past my lips when he finally turns to me.

His eyes -no longer violet- are now pitch black.

Dark veins snake up his arm, spreading across his face.

Every hair at the back of my neck rise as he takes a predatory step toward me in a slow, lazy gait.

“D-Don't come closer,” I whisper, trembling.

He halts—then tilts his head, his curls falling over his face.

Ignoring my warning, he takes another step closer, slowly this time.

My heart stops as he leans closer, his lips curling into a devilish smirk.

“Mine,” he rasps, his voice deeper than usual. Rougher.

His eyes flickers to violet before changing to black.

I can't speak. My mind races with different thoughts.

His head drops to the crook of my neck as he sniffs.

“Hmm, you smell so good...so addicting.”

I try to move but an invisible force holds me in place.

A dangerous glint flashes in his eyes. “I need to mark you to show everyone that you are mine. Only mine.”

His tongue swipes over his long canines.

Before I can even move, he lunges—his fangs sink into the crook of my neck.

Pain explodes through me.

A strangled scream tears from my throat and black dots surround my vision.