Chapter 4
1298 Words
Catherine’s Point of view:
The door shut behind him with a heavy thud. I was alone in the room.
I stood frozen, my chest rising and falling too quickly.
My mind spun.
My legs wanted to collapse, but I forced myself to stay upright.
I wasn’t free. I was bought!
My eyes scanned the massive room again.
A bed with sheets so white they glowed. A dresser polished like glass.
A balcony with curtains flowing in the night breeze.
It was beautiful. Too beautiful for someone like me.
I should’ve felt safe here, but I didn’t.
My stomach twisted with dread.
My hand brushed over my pocket, the ring.
It was still there, heavy, burning through the fabric. My secret. My only weapon. Or maybe my curse.
I sat on the edge of the bed, wincing when pain shot through my back.
The whip marks screamed. I pressed my lips together, trying not to cry.
What does he want with me?
Why me?
Why the ring?
Before I could think more, the door opened again.
Caleb stepped inside, his presence filling the room instantly.
He carried a small tray, bandages, a bowl of water, and a cloth.
My brows furrowed.
An Alpha King bringing me bandages?
He set the tray down on the nightstand, then looked at me.
“Take off your blouse.” he ordered.
My heart stopped. “W-what?” I asked unbelievable.
“Your back is bleeding,” he said simply, his voice calm but commanding.
“It needs to be cleaned," he suggested.
I shook my head quickly, hugging myself.
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You’d rather let it rot?”
“I don’t need your help,” I muttered, avoiding his gaze.
A sharp exhale escaped him.
He walked closer, crouching slightly so his face was level with mine.
His voice dropped, deep and firm, “Stubbornness won’t keep you alive, Catherine.”
I trembled, staring at the floor.
My pride wanted to keep refusing, but the burning pain across my back reminded me I couldn’t do this alone.
With shaking hands, I loosened the torn fabric of my blouse, just enough to reveal the bruised skin.
His eyes darkened when he saw the lashes.
His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Instead, he dipped the cloth into the water and pressed it gently against the wounds.
I hissed, jerking forward. “Ow—!”
“Stay still,” he ordered.
I clenched my fists, biting back the whimpers.
For a few minutes, the room was silent except for the sound of cloth against skin and my uneven breathing.
Finally, I couldn’t hold it in.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked him.
His hand paused, just for a second.
“Because you’d die if I didn’t.”
I turned my head slightly, trying to see his face. “Why does it matter to you if I die? You don’t even know me.” I questioned him.
He didn’t answer right away.
His jaw shifted as if he was fighting words he didn’t want to say.
Then, quietly.
“You remind me of someone.”
My chest tightened. “Who?”
His eyes flicked up, piercing into mine.
“Don’t ask questions you’re not ready to hear answers to.”
A shiver ran through me.
After he finished cleaning the wounds, he wrapped my back with fresh bandages.
His touch was careful, almost gentle, but his presence, his silence, his authority, it suffocated me.
When he was done, he set everything aside and straightened.
“You’ll stay here from now on,” he said.
“This room is yours.” he informed me.
“What? No. I don’t belong here.”
“You don’t belong with Molly either,” he shot back.
“I don’t belong anywhere,” I whispered.
His eyes softened, just for a second. Then it was gone.
“You’ll eat, you’ll rest, you’ll recover. Tomorrow, we talk.”
“I’m not your servant,” I said, my voice trembling but sharp.
“You’re not,” he agreed.
My brows knit in confusion. “Then what am I?”
He stared at me for a long, unbearable moment.
Finally, he spoke. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Then he turned and walked to the door.
Panic rushed through me. “Wait!”
He stopped but didn’t look back.
I swallowed hard. “If you think I’m just going to obey you, like Molly, I won’t. I’ll find a way out of here.”
Silence.
Then a low chuckle escaped him. He finally turned, eyes gleaming like steel.
“Run if you want. But Catherine…” His voice dropped, dangerous and slow, “No one runs from me.”
A cold chill shot down my spine.
He left, shutting the door behind him.
I stood there frozen, my breath shallow.
My legs finally gave in, and I collapsed onto the bed, clutching my knees to my chest.
Tears slipped down my cheeks as I whispered into the empty room.
“What kind of hell did I just step into?”
---
The next morning, I woke to sunlight streaming in through the balcony curtains.
For a moment, I thought it was a dream,.the soft bed, the smell of fresh air, the silence without screams.
Then I touched my bandaged back and reality hit.
I wasn’t free.
I was here, With him.
The door creaked open, and a young woman stepped inside carrying a tray of food.
She looked at me with wide eyes, like she wasn’t expecting to see me there.
“Good morning,” she said softly.
“I’m Lila. The Alpha King asked me to bring you breakfast.”
My stomach growled at the smell of eggs and bread, but I hesitated.
“Why would he feed me?”
Lila blinked and confused. “Because you need to eat?” she answered, her voice was questioning.
Her innocent tone made me frown.
Maybe not everyone here knew why Caleb brought me.
Maybe no one did.
After she left, I ate slowly, my thoughts racing.
Every time my hand brushed my pocket, I felt the weight of the ring.
I couldn’t let Alpha Caleb know I had it. Not yet. Not until I understood why it mattered.
Later that day, the door opened again.
Caleb entered, dressed in black, his presence even heavier in daylight.
“Walk with me,” he said.
I hesitated. “Why?”
“Because I told you to.”
I gritted my teeth but followed him through the mansion’s halls.
Guards and servants bowed their heads as we passed, stealing curious glances at me.
My cheeks burned.
Finally, we stepped outside into a garden. Roses, fountains, perfectly trimmed hedges.
It was breathtaking, but I couldn’t enjoy it,.not with him beside me.
“Why me?” I blurted.
He didn’t answer.
“I need to know. Did you really pay hundreds of dollars for me just… just to play some twisted game?”
He stopped walking and faced me. His gaze locked onto mine.
“It wasn’t for you,” he said quietly.
“It was for what you carry.”
My stomach flipped.
He knew.
But then he turned and continued walking, leaving me frozen.
“What do I carry?” I forced out, my voice shaking.
He glanced at me, his expression unreadable.
“A secret. One that even you don’t understand.”
I swallowed hard, my hand pressing against my pocket.
He knew about the ring. But if he wanted it, why didn’t he just take it from me last night?
Unless, he wanted me to give it willingly.
That thought terrified me more than anything.
Because deep down, I wasn’t sure if I ever would.
---
- Writer
