PLAY BY MY RULES

LYRA

The door slammed so hard the walls trembled. I didn’t move an inch, instead, preferring to sit down drowning in how he had treated me ever since I arrived.

For a long moment, all I could hear was my own breathing, it was too fast and too loud and the echo of his footsteps fading down the hallway. Only when I was sure he was gone did I let my shoulders sag.

“Asshole,” I whispered to the empty room.

My hand went to my throat before I could stop myself. The skin was tender and warm. I hissed slightly when I pressed too hard. I was definitely going to bruise at that spot, I just knew it. He had stared at me with a maddening look, like I was going to run away even though he literally had this whole pack under lock and key.

My mind went to my parents, the only people who should understand better. I now realized they were money hungry and had done what they did simply because they were fed up with me.

“I hate you guys,” I muttered.

So it really happened, I was now trapped in the pack of one of the most, if not the most dangerous Alpha in all kingdoms. The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it sounded but I was here, living in the reality I dreaded the most.

I stared down at the rumpled sheets, at the place where he had sat like he owned the space, like I was already his. My jaw tightened, wishing I could fight him and make him pay for ever touching me.

“You don’t get to scare me like that,” I muttered. “You don’t get to touch me like that.”

The room didn’t answer, it wouldn’t—everything, even the stationary objects bowed to the might of Alpha Sinclair.

I swung my legs off the bed and stood, the cold marble biting into my feet. The sting cleared my head even as I paced once, twice, then stopped in front of the mirror.

The girl staring back at me looked… different, she wasn’t broken nor defeated, just tired of having to fight the very people trying to pull her down.

I was angry, that much I could tell but at the same time, I knew I needed to use anger to my benefit, to get away from this prison and fast.

“Get it together,” I murmured quietly. “You knew this wouldn’t be easy.”

A knock cut through the room, breaking into my thoughts. I froze, my mind racing on who that might be. Despite how brave I wanted to be, I was still terrified of Sinclair, the look in his eyes was maddening and I knew the longer I didn’t give him what he wanted, the longer his anger would last and at the end, he would get what he wanted by force.

“Lyra?” a woman’s voice called, careful. “May I come in?”

I heaved a small sigh of relief, it wasn’t his voice which was the first that made my legs grow weak but I still stood, using the last of my strength even though I was tired and completely fed up with everything.

“Come in,” I said.

The door opened just enough for a young woman to slip inside. She kept her hands folded in front of her like she expected to be scolded for breathing wrong.

“I’m Mara,” she said. “I was sent to check on you.”

“Sent by who?” I asked flatly.

Her lips pressed together. “The Alpha, Alpha Sinclair.”

I wasn’t surprised because I knew he would always send his servants to check if I had bolted somehow.

“I’m alive,” I said. “Tell him that.”

She glanced at my neck, then quickly looked away. “Breakfast will be brought shortly and… he said you’re not to be disturbed today.”

I burst out laughing, I couldn’t even help it. He wasn’t only frightening but he was ridiculous. Disturbed? How else did he want to disturb me, he disturbed me enough by even being alive in the first place.

“Is that his idea of kindness?”

Mara hesitated, clearly not used to anyone speaking about her Alpha in this tone. “He doesn’t usually…”

“Care?” I finished for her.

She didn’t deny it, but instead looked down at her fingers that were even more interesting to her than what I was saying.

“Do you know what I am?” I asked suddenly.

Her eyes widened. “An Eserai.”

“And what does that mean to you?”

“That you’re rare,” she said carefully. “And… dangerous to him.”

That earned her another laugh, quieter this time. “Funny. He seems to think I’m the one in danger.”

Mara shifted, clearly uncomfortable. “Alphas like him don’t like feeling out of control.”

“Then he picked the wrong girl,” I said.

She gave me a small, sympathetic look before excusing herself. When the door closed again, the silence felt heavier than before. I stared at the breakfast she brought in earlier on, refusing to touch it. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that I was affected by this, hence my reason for eating his food.

I looked out the window, trying to find an opening, anything that could help me escape this hellhole but like he knew I would do that, the windows were shut tight with iron bars so thick, it was impossible to even see outside.

“Fucking Alpha,” I snapped.

Just then, the door burst open all of a sudden to reveal him. I jumped in fright just as I scurried towards a corner of the room.

“You’re awake,” Sinclair said, walking further in.

“I was never asleep,” I replied.

“You were when I arrived earlier.”

I turned slowly. “You mean when you broke into my room?”

His mouth twitched. “You’re in my territory.”

“And I didn’t ask to be,” I shot back.

He studied me for a moment, eyes dark, unreadable. “You look steadier.”

“Disappointing?” I asked.

“Interesting,” he countered.

I snorted. “You came to stare, or did you plan on choking me again?”

The air snapped tight and I knew something had changed. I had breached a place I shouldn’t even have in the first place.

“I told you not to speak to me that way,” he growled.

“And I told you not to touch me,” I replied. “Looks like we’re both struggling with boundaries.”

Then he exhaled slowly. “Why weren’t you in bed?”

“Because I wouldn’t be cornered again.”

His gaze flicked to the balcony doors. “You think standing closer to the window makes you safer?”

“No,” I said. “It reminds you that I could break it and fall to my death.”

Something sharp flashed in his eyes, something I didn’t even want to register as fear.

“You wouldn’t,” he said.

“Wouldn’t I?” I said. “You already admitted I’m your miracle and your solution. What happens if the solution splatters on the stones below?”

“Enough,” he snapped, stepping closer. “Stop playing games.”

I stood still, daring him to do his worst. “Then stop pretending this was only about blood.”

That stopped him cold and despite the way he tried to hide the expression on his face, I could tell that this shocked him.

“What are you implying?” he asked quietly.

“I smelt it,” I said. “Your wolf isn’t the only thing that wants me.”

His jaw tightened. “You know nothing about Chaos.”

“I know he hates being denied,” I replied. “Just like you.”

He laughed once, low and humorless. “Careful, Lyra. You’re mistaking tolerance for weakness.”

“And you’re mistaking fear for obedience,” I shot back.

“Say I waited,” he said finally. “Say I humored this defiance. What do you think that bought you?”

“A choice,” I said. “When and how I didn’t know but that was the only thing it bought me.”

“You’re asking me to starve.”

“I’m asking you not to kill me,” I countered. “Because we both know once you start without restraint, you won’t stop.”

His silence was answer enough and from the look in his eyes, I knew he was thinking about it seriously.

“Look at me,” I said softly.

“Tell me you didn’t feel it,” I continued. “That pull and itch under your skin when I was close.”

His voice was rough when he answered. “I felt too much.”

“Then control it,” I said. “Or you lose me.”

“You think threatening your life gives you power over me?”

“No,” I said. “It reminds you what it costs to lose control.”

He stepped back, running a hand through his hair. For the first time, he looked… strained.

“This was never supposed to be complicated,” he muttered.

“Then you shouldn’t have come yourself,” I replied. “You shouldn’t have touched me.”

“I won’t apologize,” he said.

“I didn’t ask you to,” I replied. “I asked you to listen.”

“What are your terms?” he asked at last.

I straightened. “You don’t feed unless I’m awake and willing. You don’t restrain me and you don’t speak to me like I’m prey.”

“And in return?” he asked.

“You get my blood,” I said. “When I’m ready.”

His eyes darkened. “And if I say no?”

“Then you keep bleeding power into rituals until they break you,” I replied calmly. “And eventually, Chaos wins anyway.”

“You’re bold for someone who could be crushed in seconds,” he said.

I smiled thinly. “You haven’t crushed me yet.”

Finally, he nodded once. “Temporary terms,” he said. “Don’t mistake this for surrender.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I replied. “This was survival.”

He turned toward the door, then paused for a while. “Rest and eat.”

“I don’t take orders,” I said.

He glanced back. “You do…for now.”

He shut the door behind him even as I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“This isn’t over,” I whispered to the now empty room.

For the first time since I arrived here, I knew something important, he wasn’t the only monster in this castle and I wouldn’t be the quiet one.