His Himan

CHAPTER THREE: A GLIMMER OF CONNECTION.

The damp air of the dungeon has already clung to my skin. I had spent days in the dungeon contemplating my next move. I thought of escaping but how could I escape when the heavy iron bars were so unforgiving and the huge doors were something else? This was indeed a dungeon, it's not where a human like me is meant to be. I've been trying to stay strong but no matter how I want to be strong, the silence which pressed against me reminded me that I have been isolated.

I heard footsteps down the corridor, very steady. I sat straighter and adjusted myself. I know it should and will be no other person than Leo. His presence can be felt from a distance.

I know it was his footsteps I was hearing. When he finally stepped into view, his tall frame blocked the light and his eyes were fixed on me. I refused to flinch a bit, though my heart was jumping in and out of my chest.

."Why are you so stubborn. I'll give you what you want," he said, his voice smooth and low.

"If I'm stubborn, then you're a monster. ", I shot back immediately.

This amusement crossed his face then it disappeared. He rested against the bars. "You don't know me, Empress, but you think you do".

I scoffed."I know you. You're a kidnapper, you take what does not belong to you. You think you can claim me like I'm an object right?"

I saw his jaw tighten, but he didn't respond immediately rather he studied me, and the way he was looking at me was now softer."You're more than an object ", he said, this time, his voice was very calm and too quiet to hear.

The unexpected gentility in his voice threw me off balance. I wanted to respond harshly, as usual, but his words disarmed me.

"What are you doing here"I asked, his gaze was becoming something else so I crossed my arms to shield myself a bit from his eyes.

He did not answer immediately. He glanced at me then unlocked the gate and came inside. All these while he was standing at the door. As he came inside, my heart skipped but I refused to show that I was afraid.

"The way you challenge me fascinates me. You challenge me like no one else dares . Do you know how rare that is?".

I frowned, not wanting to give in easily. "Leo, what do you want from me?"

He stopped a few feet away from me."I don't know," he said and this surprised me."But all I know is that I can't ignore you".

For a moment, the tension in the room shifted from what it was initially. I started asking myself if this was the untouchable Alpha because his confession made him seem less.

But I refused to let anything sway me."Leo if you think that I'll ever submit to you, that will be in the next world because it won't happen".

"I wouldn't expect anything less. I expected this".He said with a smile.

There was silence that followed after he said the last words. His gaze this time lingered on me and I did not like how it made me feel. It was true I was angry, but there was something about him that drew me in that I can't explain.

Immediately, he reached out, his fingers already on my cheeks. I flinched, but he didn't pull back. I did not expect a monster like I call him for his touch to be this gentle, his touch was surprisingly gentle and it sent a cold chill all over my body.

"Empress, you're stronger than you think," he murmured, his voice intimate and he was still rubbing my cheeks. He also removed the strands of hair covering my face. I could not even explain what was happening.

I swallowed hard, my resolve still strong not to be swayed"Why do you care?".

The look on his face was so intimate, I cannot even explain how I was feeling, his expression now darkened."Because I have to.

Before I could say a word, he stepped back and his walls went up again. The vulnerability was gone and was replaced by the Alpha everybody knows. The loving, quiet, and emotional being I saw has disappeared.

"I'll leave you to think about that my dear, he said and turned towards the door.

."Wait, "I blurted out, and surprised myself that I did so.

He paused and turned.

"I don't understand you", I admitted, my voice filled with frustration.

"Well, the feeling is mutual, "he said with a faint smile.

And he left me like that, leaving me alone with my thoughts racing.

Leo did not know what he did to me. His words kept replaying in my mind. Truth be told, he wasn't a monster, there was more to him but I was not able to grasp it all.

I was still thinking about the whole scene that just played when Elara, my cellmate, whispered through the bars."He's different from you".

I turned immediately to her, my eyes narrowing"What do you mean?".

She hesitated then spoke"I've seen the way he treated others, very cold and ruthless to them. But when it comes to you. He's softer

What did Elara mean by soft it was already looking like what was said was making sense.

The next day, Leo came again. This time he brought food and water and set the tray down and he was outside the bars.

"I thought Alphas don't have any business with prisoners," I said, trying to sound indifferent.

"You're not a prisoner" he replied. Not at all.

I stared at him"What do you mean?.I'm in a cell not just a cell a dungeon. and you said I'm not a prisoner".

.He looked at me, unlocked the gate, and stepped inside.

"Eat," he said.

I hesitated, hunger was dealing with my stomach yet I was too stubborn and decided not to be swayed no matter what. Finally, I sat and ate the food, refusing to look at him.

"Empress, I'm not here to hurt you," he said after a long pause.

I glanced up, "Then why do you keep me here?".

He sighed"Because I can't let you go".

"Why can't you let me go?"I asked.

His eyes locked into mine, and for the first time, I saw something that looked like fear.

"Because you're mine ", he said simply.

Those words sunk deep inside me each time he said that.

."That will be my choice, not yours", I said.

Empress, this is not just my choice. The moon chose you. Whether you believe it or not we're bound".

"I don't want to be bound with you," I said, shaking my head.

His expression softened"I know "he said quietly.

The vulnerability I saw this time threw me off balance again and I hated how it made my resolve waved. I started seeing a man behind the monster. That adage that says"Don't judge a book by its cover started making sense to me.

"I'll give you time to agree to this. But I want you to know this, Empress, you're not just anyone else. You're my Luna. And I'll do everything to protect what is mine. With that, he turned and left.

What exactly is this saying? I'm his and he kept me in the dungeon, how, why? Should I accept that I am his because I am already seeing the man behind the monster I know or should I not?