Claimed By The Alpha’s Rival

Episode 05

ADIRA

It was all an illusion and by the time I snapped out of it, Kael was laying on the floor with blood sprawled all over.

I couldn't move, I couldn't speak. I was just numb hoping that the illusion comes back because it's way better than this reality.

"You've made me stain my hands with an Alpha's blood." Kai's voice was void of emotion as he waved his hand dismissively. "Take her back to the dungeon."

Is that his problem?

He had killed my second chance mate. What did it matter anyway?

His guards seized me immediately, dragging me back into the darkness that had become my prison. I didn't fight. What was the point? If fate had any mercy, it had long abandoned me.

Back in my cell, the heavy door clanged shut, sealing me in once again. The damp air pressed against my skin, and the sharp scent of mildew burned my nostrils. My body ached, my mind was numb.

Days? Weeks? Time had lost meaning in this endless void.

I curled up in the corner, my chains clinking as I shifted. The weight of rejection, betrayal, and despair settled over me like an unrelenting fog.

Was this truly my fate? To waste away, forgotten, buried alive beneath the castle of the one who despised me?

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips. "I should've died with him."

The creak of the dungeon door cut through my self-loathing thoughts. The blinding light from outside sent stabbing pain through my eyes. I squeezed them shut, shielding myself from the sudden invasion of brightness.

"You're quite the lucky one." A deep voice broke through the silence.

I blinked rapidly, trying to make out the silhouette standing in the doorway. As my vision adjusted, I recognized one of Kai's guards. He stepped closer, his smirk unwavering.

"Dead yet?" he sneered. "Tch, what a shame."

Anger flared in my chest, but my exhaustion kept it from boiling over. "Get to the point, or leave."

He knelt before me, his gaze sharp. "Your time rotting in here is over. Alpha’s orders."

I stiffened. "Why?"

The guard merely chuckled, unlocking my restraints with a flick of his wrist. The metal clattered to the ground, leaving my wrists raw and aching.

"Let’s go, princess."

I stood slowly, my body protesting every movement. Each step out of that cell felt surreal, as if I were trapped in a dream.

When we emerged into the grand hall, all eyes were on me. The council, the elders, my uncle, even my so-called family—Bailey and my stepmother—sat among them. Their expressions varied from disgust to indifference.

Kai stood at the head of the room, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "This is your last day in this pack."

A chill ran down my spine. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." His voice was cold, firm. "Enjoy it."

I glanced at my uncle, searching for any sign of remorse, but his face remained emotionless. Of course. I was nothing but a burden to him.

Bailey scoffed loudly, breaking the silence. "I can’t believe you’re still breathing."

I ignored her. It wasn’t worth the energy to respond.

Kai’s gaze darkened. "Guards, escort her out. Let her bathe. She reeks."

A ripple of laughter swept through the room as I was shoved forward. I kept my head high, refusing to let them see the cracks in my resolve.

Once I reached my former home, I stepped inside cautiously, half-expecting another cruel trick. The familiar scent of burning herbs filled the air. My stepmother stood in the hallway, nose wrinkled.

"Hurry up and wash. I can’t stand the stench."

I moved past her wordlessly, stripping away the filth of the dungeon, letting the water cleanse away my humiliation. Yet, no matter how much I scrubbed, I still felt dirty—like a stain that could never be erased.

When I re-emerged, Bailey was already waiting in my room, sitting on my bed as if she owned it. "You should’ve just died in there."

I sighed, running a comb through my damp hair. "You’re still obsessed with me? That’s cute."

Her eyes blazed with fury. "You think you're better than me?"

I smirked. "I don’t have to think."

Bailey let out an enraged scream and threw my mirror to the floor, shattering it into a hundred pieces. She stormed out before I could even taunt her further.

Shaking my head, I tied my hair into a high ponytail, glancing out the window. The sky was dark, the moon casting silver light over the silent village.

I needed to clear my head.

Slipping out of the house, I wandered through the quiet pack grounds. The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. It was peaceful, in a way that felt almost unnatural.

Then, a snarl pierced the silence.

I froze.

From the shadows, glowing red eyes stared back at me. A low growl rumbled through the air, sending a shiver down my spine.

Rogues.

My heart pounded. No, not tonight. Not when I’d finally escaped that damned dungeon.

A sudden flash of light erupted behind me, illuminating the darkness. I turned sharply, squinting against the brightness.

And then I saw him.

A figure stood in the distance, his presence commanding, his aura suffocating. His silver eyes gleamed under the moonlight.

He stepped forward, and my breath caught in my throat.

He was alive.

“Were you about to leave with Kai? Were you going to accept being his s*x slave?” His deep growl came and I stood, staring at him blankly.

“What the hell? I hadn't even heard those words since i came out. What makes you think I even know I'm about to be a s*x slave?”

“Besides, were missing the most important question here, and it is, how the hell are you alive? "I'm pretty sure I saw you dead.” I said hitting my head slightly.

I don't want this to be one of my numerous hallucinations.

“Stop hitting yourself so hard, this is reality. And technically, you didn't see me dead. You only saw me bleeding.”