Traded for Survival

ELOWEN'S POV

Blood drained from my face as I struggled to respond. “How..how did you know?” I stuttered in disbelief.

How did he find out about my pregnancy?

“Your little maid friend.” He said, laughing hysterically. “You actually thought she wouldn't say a word to me? Have you forgotten the rules of the Manor, Elowen?”

How could she do this to me? She knew how far I've gone in this Manor and everything I had to endure. 

“She told you?” 

“Yes.” He scoffed, “She thought you told me already. Spilled everything right in my palm.”

“It's so dumb of you, Elowen. You were actually planning on keeping this a secret from me and running off with my child? The heir to my pack?” He continued, absolutely berating me. “What were you thinking, huh? That I would not catch you?”

His smirk deepened as he stared at me darkly, “You'll rot in here until he's born and I am done with you. And you better pray it is a boy you're carrying, else you'll be in more trouble.” 

I whispered, trying to call him. “Vonn..how could you do this to me? How..how..how could you say that to me?”

He leaned closer to the bars, his smile fading into a cold stare. “Elowen.. you're still under the delusions that you actually mean something to me? Gosh! You've got to be kidding me right now.”

“But…” I tried talking but I was cut short.

“But what about Elowen?” He said, “What's so hard that you're unable to understand. Huh? Do you want me to put it in simple terms for you?”

“You don't mean anything to me. You never did, and you never will. You're a breeder, a tool and that's what you'll always be. It's best if you stick that to your brain cells.”

“I..I thought you loved me Cyrus…”

“Probably in your dreams, Elowen.” He laughed, “You're nothing to me. Your job here is to breed and produce an heir for me. Nothing else. This isn't some sort of fairytale you have pictured in your mind or did your brother lie to you about this?”

“He said we were mated.” I replied, “You're my mate. Right?”

Suddenly, he burst out laughing. “Gosh Elowen, you're hilarious!” 

“Your mate? Are you joking right now?” 

“You're.. you're not my mate? We..aren't mated?” I stuttered, my hands shaky. 

“C’mon Elowen! I thought you were much smarter than this.” He mocked, “How could I be like this to my mate? It's not possible? We're not mates nor are we bonded or mated.”

“How..how..how..could you keep such a secret from me?” I broke down in tears, my hands slamming the bars of the cell.

“Tell that to your brother. I made my intention clear to him when he gave you up to me.” Cyrus spat, “And to my defense, I tried bonding with you..but it just wasn't working. I thought maybe our countless sex sessions would add a bit of spark but..it just wasn't it!”

I shut my eyes as I watched him leave without batting an eye on me. He turned his back from me and walked away, smiling darkly.

The doors to the dungeon slammed shut the moment he left, dimming the light which escaped from the opening and leaving me with the weight of my own despair.

But suddenly, something weird happened. The dungeon which was silent a second ago was broken by the sound of footsteps and muffled sounds which was strange because Cyrus had left just a second ago.

My head snapped up as I saw wolves bearing the mark of the SilverMoon pack dragged a broken and beaten figure into the dimmed light. 

I squinted at the figure before a gasp escaped my lips. 

It was Cyrus.

His bloodstained shirt was dragged by one wolf who held a dagger to this throat, pressing just enough to draw out blood.

“The great Alpha Cyrus.” The wolf growled, “After sending your men to ambush us at the Landor Forest, did you really think you would go scot free and we'll let you get away with it?”

“Kill him!” Another wolf yelled, “An eye for an eye!”

Cyrus gazed toward my cell, a calculating malice glinting in his eyes. “You want revenge, right? Take her instead.” 

The wolves glanced at each other, confusion plastered on their faces. The one with the dagger held us close to his neck and groaned, “Her?”

“Yes. Her!” Cryus said in panic, “She is not just any prisoner.” His tone is calculating and dubious.

“The lady you're all staring at is Elowen Wynter, the Lycan princess of the Heliotrope. We all know Alpha Dorian despises lycans. Just imagine his happiness when he cuts her throat in front of everyone. Don't you think that'll be great?”

My heart tightened. Alpha Dorian who's widely regarded and feared as the Beast of the East?

The wolves exchanged glances again, then sneered. “A lycan princess, huh?”

“Get her out!” One of the wolves commanded. Cyrus limped over to my cell, smiled darkly before yanking me out.

I tried fighting against him but his grip was too strong. He grabbed my hands, handing me over to the pack of wolves. 

“Let's see how special you truly are.” One of the wolves.” One scoffed.

My heart pounded with a mixture of emotions, fear and betrayal flooding through me as I was pulled into the night and despite carrying his child that he's now fully aware of, Cyrus didn't hesitate not to trade my life.

I barely heard his mocking laughter even as they dragged me out. They threw me into a car, pinning me between wolves whose eyes glared at me like predators.

The ride to the SilverMoon was pure torture, every bump in the road jarring my nerves until my palms were covered with sweat. 

The car screeched to a halt, and

the wolves grew silent. From the shadows outside, a pair of glowing eyes stared straight at me.