CHAPTER TWO
1177 Words
The great hall was cold, its lofty walls illuminated by torches whose fires sprang high over the dark stone. The air was heavy with the odor of smoke and wet earth, a contrast to the gold, honey smell of home still remembered.
My wrists were bound, the rope wrapping tightly about my wrists as I was pushed along by two guards. My legs trembled, but I would not fall, I can't be weak now. I would proceed in front of the monster who had driven everything in my life to ruin with head held high.
The end of the hall, farthest away where a monolith throne carved of dark stone beneath him held him up, was the place where Alpha Kaiden sat. Golden eyes blazed in the moody flicker of torches, keen and unrelenting. Incarnation of icy might—broad shoulders that dwarfed all mountain ranges, pelt-trimmed overmantle worn about his torso, tousled black locks that suggested he'd just emerged from combat, and bulk that seemed to fill air in the room heavily.
By his side was his Beta, white-faced but sporting the menacingly-framed glasses of an evil little man with ice-colored, gray eyes. He regarded Willow with the detached interest of a spectator observing a caged animal.
"Down on your knees," one of the guards shoved me to my knees.
I nearly found myself slapped onto the hard, icy stone floor with my knees. My veins burning with fury, I clenched my teeth, not for their sake but to show them how tough I can be.
Kaiden leaned his arm on the arm of his throne. "This is Lord Aldric's daughter," he said, his silky-deep voice dripping with scorn. "I wanted a fight."
I clenched my jaw. "I am not a prize to be won."
A low huff resonated in Kaiden's chest. "No, you are a debt to be paid.
I clenched my wrists into a fist. "My father had no right.."
"And yet he struck the bargain," Kaiden cut me off, his smirk intact. "Now you will fulfill it."
My gut churned in revulsion. I knew I was not going to be a toy already. I was not even going to be taken prisoner. No, it was worse than that.
"You will remain here at this fortress for three months," Kaiden continued, his voice matter of fact, like the weather. "And when that's over, you'll provide me with a male heir. Or else." He shrugged, his head c****d, looking for some sort of response. "Your family dies."
Those words are a body blow. My breath got trapped in my throat, my heart pounding against my skull.
"No," I whispered.
Kaiden's eyebrow rose. "No?"
I glared back at him, venom in each ounce of disdain I could muster. "You're an i***t if you expect to get a child from me."
His grin widened further. "Then you are an i***t if you think you get to decide."
My shoulders shuddered in fear but I would not allow fear to be in command. I must think, I must escape. And so the words tumbled out before I was even aware of what I was saying.
"I can't conceive."
There was stillness down the corridor. The Beta, who had stood still, stepped forward.
Mind your words, girl," he growled, his gray eyes regarding mine intently. "Deceitfulness to the Alpha is not enriching."
Despite my racing heart, I maintained an even face. "The truth, a healer told me long ago that I am barren."
Kaiden's laughter fell away a bit. He looked at me, as if he was peeling away layers of my being. "That was what they told you?"
"Yes," I said. "Then your plan won't work."
The Beta's eyes blazed with anger at Kaiden. "We can have the pack healer confirm it."
Kaiden pushed his hand away. "That will not be necessary."
I nearly let out a sigh of relief—until Kaiden rose, taller than I was tall to cast his shadow on the ground. He came down the throne steps, boots thudding against stone.
He paused in front of me, falling to his knees to level their sides.
"If you're lying, Willow," he panted, his tone slyly tender,
"I will regret the day I ever laid eyes on your face."
I swallowed hard, but didn't flinch. "Then you have nothing to fear."
Kaiden softly whistled, as if in answer to my words. And then, with a swift motion, he curled his fingers under my chin, angling my face toward his. The touch was resolute, commanding, designed to remind me who was in charge here.
"You have fire," he breathed, tracing the line of my jaw with his fingers before dumping me like a hot potato. "Good, that makes this more interesting."
My skin burned where he had touched me, not from pleasure but from rage. “You’re a monster.”
Kaiden smirked. “You will learn your place soon enough.”
Then, he stepped back, his expression once again unreadable. He turned to his guards.
“Take her to the lower chambers.”
I barely had time to react before I was yanked to my feet. I thrashed against them, but their grips were like iron.
“You won’t break me,” I spat.
Kaiden only chuckled. “We’ll see.”
The lower chambers were nothing short of a dungeon. The air was damp and musty, thick with the scent of decay. The floor was nothing but cold stone, and the only light came from a few dim torches flickering along the walls.
I was harshly shoved into a cell, the door slamming shut behind me.
I barely had time to balance herself once again when I sensed a movement in the shadows.
I was not alone.
Someone stepped out from the shadows, and a woman with sunken eyes and untidy hair was standing before me. She looked at me compassionately and wearily.
"A new one," the woman let out a tired sigh.
Another voice murmured in the darkness of the cell. "Don't speak with your mouth, Helena. She'll come around soon enough."
I slowly turned, vision adapting to the blackness. Three other women shared the cell, each of them thin, tortured.
I swallowed. "How long have you been here?"
The first girl, Helena, laughed harshly. "Too long."
There was one younger woman amidst the others who stared at me with pleading eyes. "Nobody escapes Alpha Kaiden's torture," she whispered hardly audible.
My blood grew icy.
I ground my teeth, my fists pushed into the cell bars. "I will."
Helena's head trembled. "You say that now. They all do to begin with."
I shut my eyes, clenched. No cost too great, I would ride out this horrible nightmare. I would definitely find a way out of this nightmare.
I heard footsteps down the corridor. Fear creeped down my spine. What now? I wondered.
The door to the room was kicked open afterwards.
Kaiden stood in the doorway, golden eyes shining in the dim light of the torches.
"Time to begin your task," he said, stepping in.
- Writer
