INTENTIONS
1033 Words
Chapter 2
Soon enough, Penny found herself in the dungeon as the guards locked the bar gates behind her. She screamed, tears spilling down her cheeks as her voice echoed through the cold stone walls.
"Please, let me out!" she cried, pounding her small fists against the bars. But they were gone. No one would hear her. She could die here, and it seemed no one would care.
She couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. She was innocent, yet she'd been thrown into this dark place. Why did no one defend omegas? Why was the justice system so cruel and indifferent to people like her?
After several minutes of crying and shouting, her voice grew hoarse, and she finally slumped to the ground, curling up in a dark corner near the gate. She was terrified to go deeper into the shadows.
The harsh stench of blood filled her nose, making her stomach turn. How many lives had been lost in this place? How many others had sat in this darkness, falsely accused, just like her?
A shiver ran down her spine. She’d never been alone in the dark before. Her parents or friends had always been there, someone to keep the shadows at bay.
Her tears started again. Where was Kian? Couldn’t he feel that she was in danger? Why wasn’t he here, protecting her as he had so many times before?
A faint noise echoed through the dungeon, and she froze. Her heart thudded wildly, the sound of her own pulse suddenly loud in the silence.
Squinting into the darkness, she tried to see what had made the noise, but it was pointless. The shadows were impenetrable. She was alone, in a place where so many had met their end. The thought struck her that their ghosts might still linger here.
She regretted letting her mind wander in that direction. She shrank back, her whole body tense, waiting for something—anything—to emerge from the darkness and attack her.
Was this how all the other prisoners had felt? A quiet whimper escaped her lips, and soon, she was sobbing again. She rested her head against the gate, praying that someone would come to save her, that her mate would find her soon.
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She jolted awake, her body stiff and sore from sleeping on the cold ground. Movement caught her eye, and she blinked, struggling to focus as dim light flickered through the darkness, illuminating parts of the dungeon. She hadn’t even realized she’d fallen asleep.
Rats scattered, squeaking as they scampered away. She let out a shaky breath, feeling a fleeting sense of relief. At least she wasn’t dead yet.
A surge of determination rose within her, chasing away some of the fear that had held her captive. Kian wouldn’t let her die here. He would come for her. She was sure of it.
Footsteps echoed, soft but steady, growing closer. Her heart stopped for a moment, then began pounding wildly. He was here. Her mate had come.
She scrambled to her feet just as the gates swung open, and Kian stepped in, looking as handsome as ever, though there was a weary cast to his face, a heaviness in his eyes.
Without thinking, she threw herself into his arms, sobbing. "Why didn’t you come for me sooner?" she whispered, her voice raw from crying all night. She clung to him, feeling the solid warmth of his body.
But he didn’t embrace her back. Instead, he placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her away, keeping her at arm’s length.
“What did you do this time?” he asked, his voice calm and distant. She blinked, caught off guard by his tone, a chill running through her.
“What?” she whispered, confusion lacing her voice. "Kian, you know I..." Her voice trailed off, her heart sinking as she tried to process his question.
He of all people knew how she’d been treated because she was an omega, how hard life had become for her, especially now that she was his mate, chosen to be Luna. He knew all of it. Why would he ask her what she did?
He rubbed a hand over his face, looking weary, almost as if he hadn’t slept. She hesitated, taking a small step closer. Maybe he was just tired, she thought. Maybe he hadn’t rested.
“Why didn’t you come for me yesterday?” she asked, meeting his gaze. "Kian, I was so scared. I thought I might die." A single tear slipped down her cheek.
He looked at her tear, his jaw clenched tightly. He’d always hated seeing her cry, had always been the one to wipe her tears away. But now...
"I was busy. Coronation and all," he replied, his tone flat. She nodded slowly, brushing the back of her hand across her face. Something felt wrong. She could sense it in his every word and action, but she couldn’t quite understand it.
“Can I leave now?” she asked quietly. He hesitated, and her heart dropped, a sinking feeling pooling in her stomach.
“Kian?” she whispered, her voice trembling as she searched his face.
He avoided her gaze, his expression unreadable. “I’ll take care of things and have you released soon, alright?” he said softly, reaching out as if to touch her face but stopping halfway, letting his hand drop instead.
She just stared, trying to make sense of the distance in his eyes. Slowly, he turned and walked out, shutting the gate behind him, leaving her standing there, staring after him.
This wasn’t the man she’d known two days ago, the one who had held her close, who had promised to protect her. He seemed like a stranger now, cold and distant.
She told herself that it was just the stress of the coronation, the weight of the upcoming responsibilities. Maybe it was the presence of the neighboring Luna. He was tired. That had to be it.
She slowly sank back to the floor, the small spark of hope she'd felt slipping away.
But deep down, a voice whispered that things were changing, that nothing would be the same again.
- Writer
