The Alpha's Secret Prisoner

Nessa Calder had learned to recognize footsteps before she learned to recognize voices. There were the hurried footsteps of servants carrying breakfast upstairs. The heavier steps of her father's guards. Her brother Corbin's uneven pace when he was angry. And then there were the footsteps she feared most. Slow. Measured. Coming down the stone staircase beneath the house. Those footsteps always stopped outside her door. Tonight, they came at exactly midnight. Nessa sat on the edge of her narrow bed and stared at the locked door. One step. Another. Then silence. She waited. The key turned. The door opened. Corbin stood there. He was twenty-seven now, but Nessa still remembered him as the boy who used to sneak pastries from the kitchen and hide them beneath her pillow. That boy had disappeared years ago. The man standing in front of her looked like someone she barely knew. “Get dressed,” he said. Nessa looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s midnight.” “I know.” “You woke me up to tell me to get dressed?” “You weren’t asleep.” She frowned. Corbin knew her too well. She looked at the guard behind him. “What’s happening?” “Nothing.” “You brought two guards.” His eyes shifted. “Just get dressed.” Nessa stood. “I’ve been locked down here for five years, Corbin. When people suddenly come to my room at midnight and refuse to explain why, I’m allowed to ask questions.” His expression tightened. “Put this on.” He held out a dark dress. Nessa didn’t take it. “Why?” “Because someone is coming.” “Who?” Corbin hesitated. That hesitation told her more than his answer would have. “An Alpha.” Nessa stared at him. “What Alpha?” “Riven Marrick.” She knew the name. Everyone did. Riven Marrick was the Alpha of the northern territory, one of the largest and most feared territories in the region. Nessa had never met him. She had never expected to. Her family had told the entire pack that Nessa Calder died five years ago. As far as the outside world knew, she didn’t exist. So why would an Alpha come looking for a dead woman? “What does he want?” Corbin’s jaw tightened. “You.” Nessa gave a short laugh. “That’s impossible.” “He knows you’re here.” Her smile disappeared. “Who told him?” Corbin didn’t answer. “Did Father?” “No.” “Then who?” “Stop asking questions and get dressed.” Nessa stepped closer. “What are you afraid of?” Corbin looked at her. For several seconds, neither spoke. Then he quietly said, “Everything.” Before she could ask what he meant, he turned toward the door. “Five minutes.” “Corbin.” He stopped. Nessa’s voice softened. “Why is an Alpha looking for me?” He looked over his shoulder. “I don’t know.” Then he left. The door locked. Nessa stood alone. She looked at the dress in her hands. It was new. That alone was strange. For five years, no one had bought her anything unless it was necessary. She changed quickly. The dress was black, simple, and surprisingly comfortable. When she looked at herself in the small mirror, she barely recognized the woman staring back. Her dark hair had grown long. Her face looked thinner than she remembered. Twenty-three. She was twenty-three years old today. Her birthday. She had almost forgotten. There had been no cake. No candles. No celebration. Just another day beneath the house. Nessa touched the faint scar on her wrist. She remembered how it appeared. Five years ago. The night her wolf was supposed to awaken. Every eighteen-year-old werewolf in her family received their wolf. Everyone except her. Instead, she’d collapsed. When she woke, she had a strange silver mark on her wrist. Her father had seen it. He had gone pale. By sunrise, Nessa was locked underground. She had never been allowed outside again. The sound of footsteps returned. This time, several people were coming. The door opened. Her father stood there. Nessa hadn’t seen him in three weeks. He looked older. His hair had more grey in it. “Come.” She didn’t move. “Why?” “You’ll understand soon.” “I’ve heard that before.” His expression hardened. “Nessa.” “No.” She folded her arms. “I want answers.” He looked at her for a long moment. Then he said something that made her stomach twist. “Your life is about to change.” “Because of Riven Marrick?” “Yes.” “Why?” Her father looked toward the guards. “Not here.” He turned and walked away. Nessa followed. For the first time in years, she climbed the stairs from the basement. The upper floor looked exactly as she remembered. Polished wood. Tall windows. Family portraits. The large grandfather clock. But everything felt smaller now. Or perhaps she had simply grown. When she reached the main hall, she saw him. Riven Marrick stood beside the windows. He was taller than she’d imagined. Dark hair. Broad shoulders. A black coat. He looked calm. Almost too calm. Two men stood behind him. Nessa stopped. Riven turned. His eyes met hers. Something changed in his expression. It lasted only a second. But Nessa saw it. Recognition. Not surprise. Recognition. He already knew her. Riven took a step forward. “Nessa Calder.” Her father moved between them. “Alpha Marrick.” Riven didn’t look at him. “I wasn’t speaking to you.” Nessa’s eyebrows lifted. Her father looked furious. Riven’s attention remained on her. “You’re older than the photograph.” Nessa frowned. “What photograph?” He reached inside his coat. Her father immediately said, “Don’t.” Riven stopped. The room became silent. Nessa looked between them. “What photograph?” Riven slowly lowered his hand. “Your father didn’t tell you.” “Tell me what?” Riven looked at her father. “How long were you planning to keep her hidden?” Her father didn’t answer. Nessa’s heart began beating faster. “Hidden from what?” Riven finally looked at her. “From the people who have been searching for you.” She swallowed. “Who?” “The Blood Council.” The name meant nothing to her. “Why would they want me?” Riven’s expression became serious. “Because they believe you are the last surviving member of a bloodline that should have disappeared generations ago.” Her father stepped forward. “Enough.” “No,” Nessa said. She turned toward him. “I’m done with enough.” Her voice shook. “For five years, every person in this house has told me nothing. I want the truth.” Her father looked at her. “You aren’t ready.” “Then make me ready.” Silence. Riven studied her. Then he said quietly, “Your wolf isn’t dead, Nessa.” Her entire body went still. She looked at him. “I don’t have a wolf.” “You do.” “My family tested me.” “They lied.” Her father closed his eyes. Nessa felt the room tilt. “No.” Riven continued. “Your wolf was suppressed.” “By who?” He didn’t answer. Her father did. “By me.” Nessa turned. The confession hit harder than she expected. “Why?” Her father’s voice was barely audible. “Because if your wolf awakened, they would find you.” “Who?” “The people who killed your mother.” Nessa stopped breathing. Her mother had died when she was twelve. A fever. That’s what she’d always been told. “You said she was sick.” “She was.” “That’s not what you just said.” Her father looked away. Riven’s voice was quiet. “She wasn’t killed by a disease.” Nessa stared at him. “How did she die?” Neither man answered. Then something struck the floor beneath them. Boom. Everyone froze. Another impact. Boom. The grandfather clock rattled. Nessa looked down. “What was that?” Her father stepped backward. Riven’s expression changed. “Everyone out.” The guards moved. Nessa remained where she was. “What’s underneath the house?” Her father looked at her. Nothing. Then the floor cracked. A thin line split the wooden boards directly beneath Nessa’s feet. She stumbled backward. Riven grabbed her arm. “Move.” The floor collapsed. Nessa screamed. Riven pulled her against him as the boards broke apart. A deep growl rose from below. Not a normal wolf. Something larger. Something old. The entire house shook. Her father whispered, “No.” Nessa looked down into the darkness. Two pale eyes opened beneath the broken floor. Her wrist began burning. The silver mark appeared. Riven stared at it. His face changed completely. “What?” Nessa whispered. He didn’t answer. The creature beneath the house lifted its head. A massive wolf emerged from the darkness. Its fur was almost white. Its eyes were silver. And when it looked at Nessa, it lowered its head. As though recognizing her. Nessa couldn’t breathe. A voice entered her mind. Not loud. Not threatening. Almost gentle. You finally came back. She grabbed Riven’s arm. “Did you hear that?” He stared at the creature. Then at her. “Yes.” The wolf raised its head. Her father backed away. “Don’t let it speak to her.” Nessa turned. “What is it?” Her father whispered, “The reason we had to hide you.” The wolf growled. The windows shattered. Riven pulled Nessa behind him. And somewhere far beyond the house, hundreds of wolves began howling. Nessa looked toward the broken windows. Her skin went cold. They weren’t howling at the creature. They were howling at her. Then the wolf beneath the house spoke again. Wake up, little one. Nessa’s silver mark flashed. And for the first time in five years, something inside her answered. A growl. Her own.