The Enemy’s Den

Chapter 3

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Estelle

The world returned to me in fragments; dull voices, the crackle of fire, the sharp sting in my side where the blade had cut me. My eyelids fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was stone. A rough ceiling above me, darkened by soot.

I shifted, wincing as pain flared through my body. I wasn’t lying on the forest floor anymore. I was in some kind of room…no, a den. The smell of pine, smoke, and something stronger, muskier, filled the air.

“She’s awake,” a voice muttered.

My eyes darted to the side. Two men stood at the door, broad-shouldered, their stances rigid.

Warriors.

Their eyes glowed faintly under the torchlight, and neither looked remotely friendly.

Fear coiled in my chest. Where was I?

“Where… where am I?” My voice was hoarse, trembling.

One of the warriors smirked. “You’re in Bloodfang territory, little wolf.”

My stomach dropped. Bloodfang? The rival pack. The pack my father hated above all others.

Before I could respond, the door creaked open, and silence fell like a heavy cloak.

He entered.

The Alpha.

Zen.

Even if I hadn’t recognized him, I would have known instantly. Power radiated from him with every step, a dark force that made the air itself feel heavier.

His eyes were sharp, gray like storm clouds, and they locked onto me with an intensity that made my breath catch.

He was taller than Elias, broader too, his presence so commanding it was almost suffocating.

His black shirt clung to his frame, sleeves rolled to his forearms, and his veins were prominent as his hands flexed casually at his sides.

And he was staring at me like I was prey.

“Well, well,” Zen said, his voice deep and smooth but carrying an edge of danger. “What do we have here?”

I swallowed hard, my pulse thundering in my ears. If he knew who I was, I was doomed. My father’s enemies would have no mercy on me.

“I… I’m a rogue,” I stammered, forcing the words out. “Cast out of my pack.”

He tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “A rogue? Is that so?”

“Yes.” My hands twisted in the sheets beneath me. “Please, I mean no harm. I was attacked at the border. I ran until I collapsed.”

He took a slow step closer, then another, his eyes never leaving mine. My breath caught when he stopped just at the edge of the bed. His presence was overwhelming, like he was testing the strength of my lie simply by standing there.

“Funny,” Zen murmured, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “Because I already know who you are, Estelle.”

My heart stopped.

The blood drained from my face, leaving me cold. He knew. He knew, so why hadn’t he killed me yet?

That could only mean one thing, he wanted something.

I forced myself to meet his eyes, even as my voice trembled. “Then you also know I’m no threat to you.”

He chuckled, a sound that sent shivers through me. “No threat? You’re the daughter of Alpha Theron. That alone makes you very dangerous… or very useful.”

Shame burned through me at the mention of my father. I bit my lip, hating the way his name still carried weight even when he had cast me aside.

Zen leaned closer, his gaze sharp. “Tell me, little wolf. Did your father send you here as a spy? Or did he finally tire of you and throw you out?”

His words cut deep, hitting the wound I was already bleeding from. I clenched my fists, fighting back tears. I couldn’t let him see how much it hurt.

“He threw me out,” I whispered, the truth slipping past my guard.

Zen’s brows lifted slightly, though his face quickly hardened again. He straightened, his tone smooth, almost mocking. “So the great Alpha Theron discarded his own daughter. Interesting.”

“I’m not lying,” I said, my voice breaking. “I don’t want to be here. I don’t want anything from you. I just want to survive.”

For a long moment, he said nothing, just studied me, his eyes searching my face as though peeling back every layer of my soul.

Finally, he turned to his warriors. “She stays. Under guard.”

“What?” My head snapped up.

Zen glanced back at me, his expression unreadable. “You’re alive because I allow it. Don’t forget that.”

The warriors bowed their heads and stepped out, leaving me trembling in silence.

The days that followed were suffocating. I was given food, bandages, even clean clothes, but never freedom. Everywhere I went, a warrior’s shadow followed me. The den was large, carved into stone and wood, filled with warriors training, laughing, living. And I was the outsider.

They looked at me with suspicion, muttering when they thought I couldn’t hear. Crescent wolf. Alpha’s daughter. Spy.

At night, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, the sting of betrayal gnawing at me. My father had thrown me to the wolves, literally. Elias had betrayed me. Anette had stolen everything. And now, I was trapped in the hands of their enemy.

Zen watched me from afar, always silent, always calculating. Sometimes I caught him studying me during meals, his eyes narrowed, like he was still deciding if I was worth keeping alive.

The uncertainty ate at me.

On the fourth day, he called me to his office.

The room was dark, lit by a single lantern on his desk. Papers were spread across it, maps and letters sealed with wax. He leaned against the desk, arms crossed, his gaze heavy on me the moment I entered.

“Estelle,” he said evenly. “You’ve been quiet.”

I shifted nervously. “You’ve kept me locked up. What do you expect?”

His lips curved slightly. “Fair point.” He pushed off the desk and moved closer, his boots echoing on the stone floor. “You’ve been wondering why you’re still alive.”

I froze, my breath caught.

“It’s simple,” he continued. “I sent word to your father. Told him I had you here, in my custody. I wanted to see what you’re worth to him.”

My blood ran cold. “You… you contacted him?”

“Yes.” He watched me closely, almost amused by my panic. “And just now, I received his reply.”

He reached for a letter on the desk, unfolded it slowly, then read aloud, his voice sharp with every word.

‘She means nothing to me. Do with her as you please.’

The room spun. My knees weakened, my stomach twisting.

“No…” My whisper cracked in the silence.

Zen folded the letter with deliberate calm, his eyes never leaving mine. “Looks like your father has spoken, little wolf. You truly are nothing to him.”