CHAPTER 4
1113 Words
Maybe it was the way Keith looked at me or perhaps it was my growing curiosity about the three enigmatic brothers that led me to let him leave without questioning him further.
Either way, his words lingered in my mind long after he jumped out of the window: “Sneak into one of their rooms tonight, and see for yourself.”
Just like he advised, I waited late at night to sneak out of my room. And when the hour seemed right, I slipped out of my room
The halls were deserted, as expected. The maids must have completed their nightly routines and returned to their quarters afterwards.
I moved carefully, as I made my way to Damon’s room. But as I approached, a figure emerged from the dimness, startling me.
A maid sat cross-legged on a small stool just outside Damon’s door. Her sharp features were partially obscured by the dim light, but I recognized her immediately—Riya, Damon’s personal maid.
She rose gracefully, smoothing invisible creases from her apron. “Do you need anything, my lady?” Her voice was soft.
I hesitated, a dozen excuses swirling in my mind. “Not really.” I said finally, offering a small, strained smile. “I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d take a walk.”
Her dark eyes narrowed ever so slightly, a hint of suspicion threading through her otherwise polite expression. “I don’t mean to be rude, but it is unwise to wander these halls at such an hour.” She cautioned. “If Alpha Xander were to find out…” She trailed off.
“Of course.” I agreed quickly, my pulse quickening. “I’ll head to the garden instead.”
She bowed her head. “A wise choice, my lady.”
Turning away, I felt her gaze linger on my back until I rounded the corner. I exhaled slowly, my breath quivering as I gathered my thoughts. My plan had already hit a snag, and I couldn’t afford another
As I moved further down the hallway, it became apparent that Damon’s room wasn’t an option. And with the maids bustling around Gideon’s quarters, my choices dwindled rapidly.
My feet led me almost instinctively to Xander’s door. I wasn't intending to end up here, but it was the only space consistently devoid of prying eyes. But his room was always locked, silver chains draped across the heavy wood.
But tonight, the chains were gone.
“Strange.” I murmured under my breath, a chill creeping along my skin.
I hesitated, my hand hovering over the handle. Logic screamed at me to turn back, but curiosity—dangerous and intoxicating—pulled me forward.
With a deep breath, I pressed down on the handle. And the door opened with a click.
I slipped inside, closing the door gently behind me. The room was larger than I had imagined, draped in muted shades of grey and silver. A king-sized bed, neatly made with white linens was at the centre. To the right, a sitting area with plush chairs. Shelves lined the far wall, housing an impressive collection of wines.
It felt wrong to be here, but I forced myself to take a step forward. Then another.
A loud growl echoed, freezing me in place. I spun around, my back pressing against the cool wood of the door.
I reached for the door handle, ready to flee, but something in me—perhaps that same reckless curiosity—forced my hand away. Instead, I moved toward the sound.
The noise seemed to come from beyond the door to my left. A closet, perhaps, or a bathroom. I edged closer, fingers grazing the wall for support.
My touch found the door handle, and I pushed it open. The room beyond was a walk-in closet with racks of clothes and shoes.
But the growling continued.
My pulse thundered in my ears as I maneuvered through the closet. I reached the far wall, where a large, ornate mirror stood.
To the right, a small button glinted beneath the mirror’s frame. I hesitated only a moment before pressing it.
A soft hiss filled the air as the mirror slid aside, revealing a hidden passageway. And the growling intensified.
My fingers trembled as I tapped the torch icon on my phone screen. It revealed a narrow stone staircase spiraling down into what felt like the belly of the estate.
The stone beneath my feet was rough, the edges biting through the thin soles of my slippers.
The staircase ended abruptly, spilling me into a cavernous space. My torch barely pierced the shadows, but what little I saw turned my blood to ice.
Steel bars crisscrossed the room, forming a maze of cells.
I moved cautiously, my breathing shallow. “What is this place?” I whispered, the sound barely audible.
My feet guided me forward, my curiosity dragging me where reason would not. I reached out, my fingertips grazing the cold metal of the cell bars.
They were solid, and immovable. Whatever they were built to hold, it was not meant to escape.
As I moved further into the room, the beam of my phone's light caught something—no, someone.
A figure slumped against the far wall.
My heart hammered painfully against my ribs. I stepped closer, squinting into the darkness. At first, it was just a mass of shadows—broad shoulders hunched forward, a cascade of dark, matted hair. Then, as I drew closer, details sharpened.
Thick chains bound its wrists, and its legs were shackled to the wall.
I have seen werewolves shift, and whatever was before me looked nothing like one.
“Xander?” My voice cracked, disbelief tightening my throat.
It couldn’t be.
But then my gaze dropped to the necklace around its neck, a black, ropey cord threaded through a single, battered bullet. The same necklace I had seen Xander wear countless times.
My hands moved on their own, unhooking the latch of the cell door. I hesitated, but then I slipped inside.
The creature—no, Xander—didn’t move at first. His head remained bowed.
“Xander?” I tried again, my voice softer.
His head snapped up.
Our eyes met—his, a molten gold, wild and unrecognizable. Before I could react, the chains shattered.
His body launched forward, as he wrapped his hands around my throat.
I gasped, my phone clattering to the floor.
His grip tightened and my hands flew up, nails digging into his skin, but he didn’t flinch. “Xander,” I choked, my voice nothing more than a rasp. “It’s me.”
But there was no recognition in his eyes.
- Writer
