Chapter 4

Soraya's POV

I was naked and all alone in the room with cavemen that looked like they wanted me to disappear.

My eyes trailed from the only one that had spoken to me, to the man at the door staring at me as though he was trying to make sense of my presence.

While the other man stood by at the sink, staring blankly at my ankles breasts… their eyes held no warmth.

The laughter of the man that had spoken rang in the air.

“What sort of game are we playing here?” The man at the door finally said frowning, “What the hell are you doing in here?”

His voice had this deep baritone that sent a chill down my spine.

Didn’t they see the crash? And my bloody clothes at the door?

I was about to cover myself when I felt the maniac that had bursted into laughter held my hands causing me to gasp as panic slowly settled.

He didn’t budge despite my attempt to free myself.

Turning to stare at him, I caught him momentarily staring my naked body down.

For some reason I wasn’t too conscious of my nakedness, moreover I was pregnant and the marks of my my body was a turnoff for most men.

If perhaps these men were monsters or psychopaths I’m sure they wouldn’t want anything to do with me.

The man looked lanky unlike his brothers or friends but felt so impossibly strong… the fact that I was even struggling felt laughable.

The man that was resting on the sink, took a step forward.

“Keeping silent isn’t going to help you here sweet, you have to use that sexy mouth of yours.”

My heart slammed so violently against my ribs that I thought they could hear it.

I had lived with danger for years.

Being married to a Mattew had taught me how to recognize it instantly. 

But these men were a different type of danger…

I swallowed hard, my throat painfully dry. “I…I…”

Nothing came out, only a strangled, broken noise escaped my lips, before I burst into a coughing fit.

They had sucked every bit of warmth I had felt in this room.

Just five minutes I had said and somehow I had managed to sleep until I was caught .

“Don’t play games with us,” the man at the door growled loudly, reminding me that I was still sporting a headache.

Tears welled up instantly, my vision blurring as the panic clawed its way up my chest.

I tried again but nothing.

Even without looking at the man that was near the sink, I knew he had closed the space between us.

“She is pretending and feigning this…” he finally said as he held my gaze, his eyes were grey and beautiful… but assessing if I was a threat.

What harm could I possibly do in this state? I looked malnourished if not deathly sick and pale… I was also naked.

So what about me was screaming danger to these monstrous built men?

“People don’t just wander into places like this.”

“I’m not…” I tried again, my lips trembled as all that came out was a croak… What in the name of frogs was wrong with me?

The third man holding my hand, tilted his head slowly dragging my gaze away from the grey eyes man to meet eyes darker than the night. 

The joker smile he had on was gone now, and replaced by curiosity 

“Are you mute?” he asked, irritation bleeding into his tone.

I wasn’t but I didn’t hesitate to nod as it seemed like this was my only lifeline.

‘Yes. Yes, I’m mute. I can’t speak. I can’t answer your questions. I’m not a threat. Please… please… don’t hurt me.’

I wanted to say as my head bobbed again, desperate.

It must have worked, while cursing under his breath, he finally released me.

The man at the door disappeared and came back with something that looked like his shirt and threw it at me before they left me.

Without drying up, I put on the shirt that ended up looking down at my knees and taking my time I joined them in the sitting room.

Just before they sighted me I heard one of them say, “Could she be a spy?”

I gave the house one final look.

What were the men hiding that they seemed cautious of a spy?

I didn’t even want to even think about it.

“I mean how convenient is it that she is the only one that survived?”

Just as I came into view, the dark eyed one said, “Convenient, Very convenient.”

I wanted to curl up instinctively, but I ended up wrapping my arms around my middle subconsciously as they circled me. 

Don’t cry…Don’t look weak…Weak gets punished… tears attract deserving punishments, Matt’s cruel voice echoed in my head.

I forced myself to breathe through my nose, as I could feel them watching but their gazes lingered too long on my stomach, and my panic flared.

Don’t notice…Please don’t notice.

The one who had grabbed my hands crouched in front of me. 

Something must have been wrong with my vision because this man was nothing but lanky.

Up close, he was terrifying.., broad shoulders stretching the fabric of his coat.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he said. “Mute or not.”

I swallowed and shook my head helplessly, spreading my hands as if to say I couldn’t explain even if I wanted to.

He studied me for a long moment, then snorted.

“Bullshit.”

My chest tightened.

“She climbed a cliff in a blizzard,” he continued. “Survived that crash we aren’t sure if she even caused…”

I shook my head but he paid me no heed as he continued, “survived the wolves and just happened to end up here?” His mouth twisted. “No one finds this place by accident.”

I cleared my throat and tried to speak before the man that was at the door suddenly said, “She could be bait… not only did she barge in here but she laid waiting for us in the bathroom. Naked!”

The words made my stomach drop.

What the fuck was happening?

I shook my head again, harder this time, as I pressed my palms together, and it looked convincing.

I hoped they believed fear more than tried to resist this out more than it actually was.

The third man watched me closely, and when he spoke again, his voice was now softer and that somehow scared me more.

“She’s terrified,” he said. “That’s real.”

“That can be faked,” the dark-eyed one replied.

And to think I had thought he was the nicest one.

The first man straightened abruptly. “Enough. Tie her.”

My breath hitched sharply.

No. No, no, no

I scrambled backward, shaking my head violently, as my hands flew to my stomach instinctively, fingers digging in protectively before I could stop myself.

All three men noticed and almost immediately fell.

Slowly, the man at the door who I didn’t even realize had glasses on, stepped closer hurriedly closing the gap between us before I could protest.

 His gaze dropped to my hands.

“Move your hands,” he said quietly.

I froze.

If I don’t move them and they’ll make me do it forcefully and I didn’t want to think of how they would.

My fingers trembled violently as I lowered my hands just a fraction.

His eyes narrowed.

“She’s pregnant,” he said.

“No,” I was finding it hard to keep up with appearances… one of them snapped instantly. “She’s lying or faking it.”

He must be dumb because how could I have faked being pregnant?

The third man cursed softly under his breath.

“Jesus.”

The dark-eyed one didn’t react outwardly, “That complicates things,” he murmured.

“You expect me to believe this isn’t a setup?” he demanded. “Our father sends a pregnant mute woman into our house during a blizzard?”

What a minute?.

I didn’t know who they were talking about.

Their father?

Who were these men?

On the run from the law?

I shook my head frantically, the tears streaking down my face, knowing the pity card was working faster.

The man who’d laughed earlier exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face.

“She’s not acting,” he said. “If she is, she deserves an award.”

The grey-eyed man looked torn as though he hated the fact that he was about to make those decisions.

“Lock her up,” he ordered. “She shouldn’t be left unwashed” His gaze snapped back to me.

My heart sank.

“If you’re lying about anything you’d regret seeking refuge in the wolf’s den” the dark eyes one said and I felt a chill.

I had already survived worse but I didn’t know what these men were capable of, right now, survival meant staying silent.