THE DON'S CAPTIVE MISTRESS

A Lesson

HAZEL

Oh, my God! I thought. The rifle in my face made me regret what I just did.

“Stand up.”

I looked at him, unsure if I’d heard right.

“I said,” he barked, his voice sharp as the crack of a whip, “stand the f**k up!”

So I did. My legs were shaking so badly I could barely stand, but I did it. I stood there, trembling, my heart pounding against my ribs like it wanted out. He watched me for a long, awful moment. I didn’t know what he was going to do next.

Was he going to kill me?

Was he going to r**e me?

A thousand thoughts clawed through my mind, each one worse than the last.

Then he said, flatly, “Walk.”

My throat tightened. “Please don’t....”

“Shh.” He cut me off, raising the gun again. “I said walk.”

When I hesitated, he fired a shot into the ground near my feet. Dirt sprayed up against my legs.

I screamed and then I ran.

I didn’t think. I just turned and started moving in the direction he motioned, half-walking, half-running, with his gun aimed at my back the whole time.

I walked.

And walked.

Until my body couldn’t anymore. My legs gave out beneath me, and I fell to the ground, gasping for air. My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the ground, tears welling in my eyes.

“I… I can’t… I can’t walk,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He was still behind me, still watching, still holding that gun. I could feel his silence like a weight pressing on my chest.

“Just kill me,” I whispered. My voice broke, but I didn’t care anymore. “I can’t walk anymore. I’m tired. I’m angry. Whatever you’re going to do....just do it.”

He crouched down just enough to look me in the eye, a dark curiosity in his expression. “Really?” he said, almost marvelling. “You think crying will save you?”

I shook my head, sobbing now, my body trembling. “I… I just… please… I don’t want....”

“Shhh,” he said mockingly. “No one asked what you want.”

Before I could protest, he reached for a rope hanging from his belt. My heart lurched as he knelt beside me, tying my hands tightly, the coarse fibres biting into my skin. I tried to pull away, to struggle, but it was useless.

“Good girl,” he murmured, almost approvingly, as he tightened the last knot.

Then, with deliberate calm, he looped the other end over his shoulder and began dragging me through the underbrush. The rope cut into my wrists with every jolt. I cried out, stumbling against roots and rocks, my body scraped and bruised.

“Luca, please… stop… please…”

He didn’t answer, just dragged me further, relishing every second, his sneer never leaving his face. My sobs filled the air, mixing with the rustle of the trees and the distant calls of birds.

And all the while, I knew: this was only the beginning. He was showing me who was in control. And I had no choice but to follow, helpless, broken, and utterly at his mercy.

I didn’t know how long Luca dragged me for It felt like forever. Like the end of time itself and every inch of my body screamed to stop.

The rope burned my wrists. My knees scraped against the ground, and every breath came out in a whimper. My throat was dry, my voice gone. All I could hear was the sound of the rope sliding against the dirt, the crunch of boots in front of me.

The horror felt endless. I thought maybe this was it, that he was dragging me to my grave. I didn’t even have the strength to beg anymore.

And then, suddenly, I saw a light. Through the blur of tears, I saw an opening in the trees. Lucas's grip tightened on the rope, pulling me up roughly. My body jolted upright, pain shooting through every limb.

“Move,” he said coldly.

But I couldn’t.

I didn’t want to.

My eyes moved past him, to the figures ahead, a group of men standing just outside the tree line. They seemed to be watching. Waiting.

And through the blur, I searched for Axel. And then I saw him.

He stood still, tall, composed, his eyes fixed straight ahead toward us. For one second, I thought he would move. That he’d run toward me. That maybe he’d save me. Grab me. Hold me.

But he didn’t move. And that’s when I knew. It was real.

He had sent Luca into the forest to come for me.

He had sent Luca to do everything he had done to me.

It had all been under his command.

Of course, why wouldn't he?

Luca walked forward slowly, dragging me behind him. I stumbled, barely keeping up, but I had no choice but to follow. He stopped a few feet away from Axel.

I could see their faces clearly now. Axel’s expression was calm, unreadable, like the violence of what had happened was something ordinary, something expected.

“Luca,” I heard Axel say, his voice measured, cool.

“Yes, boss,” Luca replied simply.

“You went hunting?” Axel asked.

“Yes. I sure did.”

“Any luck?”

Luca nodded once. “Yes. Got us a whole meal.”

Axel’s gaze flicked toward me before Luca tugged slightly on the rope, pulling me forward.

My body hit the ground hard, knees scraping against the dirt as Luca’s pull loosened. I didn’t even try to catch myself. I just lay there, staring at the earth, breathing in the taste of dust and blood.

The world went quiet. No one spoke. No one moved.

Axel’s boots came into my line of sight — polished, deliberate, unmoving. He stood right there, inches from me, close enough that I could see the reflection glinting off the leather.

My heart was pounding so loud I thought everyone could hear it.

Axel crouched slowly, his shadow stretching over me. His fingers brushed a strand of hair from my face — soft, gentle, almost tender.

He tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were calm. Not angry, not cruel. Just… calculating. Detached. Like I was a piece on his board that had simply landed in the wrong square.

“Hazel,” he said, quietly. “Did you learn your lesson?”