Claimed By The Twins Alphas

Chapter 12

~ ROWAN’S POV ~

The silence in the bedroom was as heavy as the weight on my chest long after Julian left. His scent of musk, pine, and sweat, clung to the silk sheets. I lay there for a long time, staring at the ceiling, my body humming with a dull ache that I hated. Every time he touched me, he took a little more of my dignity, leaving behind nothing but the cold reminder of my purpose. Why I was here. To breed an heir for the Knox Alphas.

I sat up, my legs trembling. I wouldn't stay here. I couldn't. The walls of the Knox mansion were closing in, and the memory of Julian’s rough hands and his chilling words–“You are mine to breed”–echoed in my ears.

I stood up and walked to the ensuite bathroom. I scrubbed my skin until it was raw, trying to wash away the feeling of him, but the bruises on my hips were already darkening into a deep purple. They were shaped like his fingers.

"I am not a machine," I whispered to the steamed-up mirror. "I am Rowan Brooks."

I dressed quickly in a simple pair of black leggings and a grey hoodie I had found in the closet. I knew the main exits were heavily guarded by the enforcers, but I had spent the last few days watching the staff. There was a small entrance near the kitchens, a servant's door used for deliveries. It was my best shot.

I slipped out of the bedroom, my bare feet making no sound on the thick carpets. The hallway was dimly lit, I moved like a ghost, pressing my back against the wall every time I heard any distant noise.

I reached the back staircase. It was narrower and colder than the grand foyer. I descended quickly, my breath coming in short and jagged hitches. The smell of the kitchen, roast meat and herbs, grew stronger. I peered around the corner of the door frame. The kitchen was empty, the silver counters gleaming under the industrial lights.

There it was. The heavy steel door at the far end of the pantry.

I lunged for it, my fingers wrapping around the cold handle. I pushed. It didn't budge. I threw my shoulder against it, desperation clawing at my throat.

"Going somewhere, Miss Rowan?"

The voice was like a bucket of ice water over my head. I froze, my hand still gripped tight on the handle.

I turned slowly. Standing by the large prep table was Silas, the lead Enforcer. He was a massive man with scarred knuckles and eyes that never seemed to blink. He was crossing his arms over his broad chest, a mocking tilt to his head.

"I wanted some air," I said, my voice remarkably steady despite the terror vibrating in my gut.

Silas chuckled, a dry, grating sound. "The Alpha said you might get restless after your... session. He told me to keep a close eye on the service doors."

"I am not a prisoner, Silas," I snapped, stepping away from the door.

"Aren't you?" He stepped closer, his shadow engulfing me. "You’re a traitor who got a lucky break. Don't push that luck. Now, move. I’m taking you back."

He didn't grab me, but he didn't have to. The sheer threat of his presence was enough. He gestured toward the security wing of the house, a part of the mansion I had never been allowed to enter.

"The Alpha wants you to understand the reality of your situation," Silas said as we walked. "He’s tired of the games."

We passed through a set of reinforced steel doors. The air here was colder, humming with the sound of servers and electronics. Silas pushed open a final door and stepped aside.

"Look," he said.

I stepped into the room and gasped. It was a surveillance hub. One entire wall was covered in high-definition monitors, flickering with live feeds from every corner of the estate.

My stomach turned.

I saw the library where Marcus had kissed me. I saw the sunroom where I sat every morning. I saw the gardens, the hallways, and the dining room. But then my blood ran cold.

There was a monitor dedicated entirely to my bedroom.

I watched a delayed loop of myself on the screen. I saw myself curled in a ball on the bed after Julian had left. I saw myself standing in the middle of the room, looking lost. I saw the way I had touched the bruises on my neck when I thought I was alone.

"You've been watching me," I whispered, my voice trembling with rage. "Every second."

"Every room except the bathroom," Silas said, his voice bored. "The Alphas like to know where their property is at all times. Julian likes to watch the way you pace when you think no one is looking. Marcus... he just likes to make sure you're eating."

I looked at the screens again. It wasn't just security. It was an obsession. The cameras were positioned at angles that captured every expression, every moment of weakness. I wasn't just a breeder to them; I was a specimen in a jar. They were studying me, hovering over me even when they weren't in the room.

The realization hit me like a physical blow. There was no escape. Not through the doors, not through the woods. They had eyes everywhere. They owned my image just as much as they owned my body.

"Take me back," I said, my voice hollow.

Silas nodded. "Smart girl."

He led me back through the maze of hallways. I felt the weight of the cameras now. I could almost feel the lenses tracking my movement, the red glow of the infrared sensors burning into my skin. I kept my head down, my jaw clenched so hard it ached.

I need a blind spot, I thought. There has to be a blind spot.

My mind was already working, fueled by the stubbornness that my sister always said would be my downfall. If they wanted to watch me, I would give them a show, but I would find the one corner where their eyes couldn't reach. I wouldn't stop until I found a way out of this hell.

When we reached my bedroom door, Silas stepped back. "Sleep well, Rowan. Try not to wander off again. It’s a long walk to the gates, and the dogs are hungry."

I didn't answer. I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, my heart racing.

The room felt different now. Violated. I looked at the corners of the ceiling, spotting the tiny, pin-sized lenses hidden in the crown molding. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tear the curtains down and smash every glass in the room.

I walked over to the bed, intending to crawl under the covers and disappear, but I stopped short.

There was something lying on my pillow.

It was a dress. Or it had been a dress. It was the beautiful silk gown Marcus had gifted me a few days ago, the one I had actually liked. Now, it was shredded into pieces. The fabric was hacked to pieces, the delicate lace was torn away as if by claws.

Pinned to the center of the wreckage was a small, white note.

The handwriting was sharp and feminine.

'Know your place, b***h. You are a hole to be filled, nothing more. Don't get comfortable in his bed.'

I stared at the shredded silk, the scent of Sabrina’s heavy, floral perfume clinging to the ruins. My hands began to shake.

Julian used me. Marcus watched me. And Sabrina wanted to destroy me.

I crumpled the note in my fist, my hazel eyes flashing with a dangerous light. They thought they had broken me. They thought that by showing me their power and their surveillance, I would simply roll over and accept my fate.

They were wrong.

I threw the ruined dress onto the floor and sat on the edge of the bed, staring directly into the hidden camera in the corner of the room. I didn't blink. I didn't cry.

"I'm coming for all of you," I whispered to the empty room, knowing they were listening.

I would find my blind spot. And when I did, I would make them regret the day they ever decided to keep me.