Craving The Blue Wolf Luna

A Prison of My Mate’s Making

CHAPTER 2

LEILA'S POV

It felt like my body shut down and then was suddenly revived by an electric wire. Everything hit me at once, overwhelming in every way, and I couldn't stop the way my body reacted to this unfamiliar action.

It felt too intimate, and too short, because it ended almost as soon as it began. My mate—whatever his name was—shoved me away like I was a stinky raccoon, and because my legs had failed me when he sniffed me like the dog he was, I stumbled to the ground, landing on my knees and hands as I stared down, visibly shaken from this experience.

“Make sure she doesn't leave.” I heard my mate order, and in that moment, I realized that even if I wanted to, I couldn't. My limbs refused to move. I managed a glance at my retreating mate and wondered if I was the only one feeling the bond between us—he was just walking off like nothing had affected him, while I knelt here, a shivering mess.

By the time it clicked that this dangerous Alpha had gone to hunt my family down, the sky had already grown so dark that, if not for my wolf’s night vision, I wouldn’t be able to find my way even if I decided to escape. And then there was the guard dog that was right behind me as well.

I slowly turned my head to look at him, his eyebrow curled upwards—not at me, but at something far off in the distance. I looked forward and saw torches, ones that looked very much like mine, heading toward us from afar.

My eyes widened and I perked up, wondering if my family had somehow managed to defeat the Alpha and his men who had been hiding in the shadows all along.

My pack was a non-threatening, non-violent one, so deep down I already knew that it wouldn't really be possible for the table to have turned in our favor—but even with all that truth in my head, I still hoped.

A hope that was snuffed out like a candlelight when my father was thrown to the ground by the Alpha.

“Father,” I called out softly and crawled to him. But before I could touch him, I was yanked to my feet, coming face to face with my mate.

“This is your so-called pack, right?”

My vision blurred with tears as I saw my family huddled together, while the rest of my pack members tried to hide behind my parents.

I shook my head, unable to speak as the tears just rolled down my cheeks. “I… I told you, we aren't rogues! Please—”

I felt my body flying for a few seconds, before it suddenly hit the ground with enough force to knock my breath out of my lungs.

“Take them away.”

I wasn't even given the chance to recover before I felt someone pull me up harshly and tie my hands with a similar rope that had been used to bind my family and my people—ropes that were clearly gotten straight from my pack’s own supplies.

I looked around and caught sight of my mate standing aloof in the distance, his back turned to us while his men dragged us away.

No, there’s just no way he’s my mate—he wouldn’t treat me like this if he truly was. The goddess must have made a mistake.

***

Once we got to the dungeon, I realized with growing dread that the goddess hadn’t made a mistake after all, which somehow made everything so much harder to swallow.

On our way here, my father had taken the chance to lecture me about who this man really was.

Alpha Alaric of Red Claw Pack. A leader said to carry the moon goddess’s blessing. Strength. Power. Wealth. Respect. He was a force to reckon with—and a conqueror of packs, just like he’d done with ours.

My father had promised to protect me once we got into the dungeon, but what I hadn’t expected was that I’d be separated from them the moment we got there.

“What’s going on?” I panicked, watching as they slammed the gate shut behind my father while he walked into his cell. “Hey! My family is in there!” I yelled.

“You’re being moved into a different cell,” the prison guard said, completely unfazed.

“Leila!” my mom screamed as the guard started to drag me away, the rough rope still tightly bound around my wrist.

“Mom! Let go of me! I want to stay with them! Father, please!”

‘Its okay, my sweet flower. Calm down. Everything will be fine,’ my father said soothingly through our mindlink.

‘Father,’ I cried, watching as his hand shot out between the bars to wave me goodbye.

I cried as the guard completely led me out of the dungeon, guilt nearly choking me while the lump in my throat grew bigger and bigger.

If only I’d gone to fetch the flower earlier this morning when my mother told me to. If only I hadn't waited to pluck that one last moongrove. If only I'd fought hard to escape, even if it was at a cost of my life. If only we could shift outside of our pack!

I had no idea how we ended up where we were, because I’d been too lost in my thoughts, but here I was now, standing in front of a wooden door.

I frowned when I noticed the door standing alone at the very end of the hallway, tucked quietly into the corner.

The prison guard turned the large key, and the door opened with a small, echoing click.

I chuckled, “Is that how mighty my offense is? That I deserve a small little cell all to myself?”

“Get in,” he said, before shoving me into the room and slamming the door shut behind me.

“Hey!” I yelled, running to the door and banging on it. “Let me out! Don’t lock me in here—please let me out!” The panic in my voice grew by the second as I felt the walls start to close in on me, my chest tightening like I couldn’t breathe.

I looked around wildly, tears blurring my vision as I begged, kicked, and cried for someone—anyone—to let me out. I don’t do well in confined spaces, and this tiny cell felt even worse than any cage I’d ever imagined.

I could hear the rapid beating of my heart in my ears, and my trembling hands and legs gave out beneath me, sending me to my knees.

My hands clawed at my throat as I struggled to breathe, gasping in shallow, broken pulls of air. “Please… I… I can't breathe… please… Fa… ther… Help… Please…”

One second I was lying on the floor, struggling just to breathe, and the next I was staring into a pair of blood-red eyes—my hands gripping a small dagger lodged tightly into my mate’s chest—before everything faded and I lost consciousness completely.