Captured by the Alpha King

11 Rowan

11: Rowan

The darkness envelops me, suffocating in its dank embrace. I'm dragged by cold, iron grips to a place devoid of light or hope. The monsters have come for me.

Rough stone scrapes my back as they fling me against the wall. Twisted faces leer close, sharp fangs glinting in the dim torchlight. "Well, well. What do we have here?" one hisses, foul breath washing over me.

I clench my jaw, refusing to show fear. Their claws rake down my arms, razor edges slicing flesh. I bite back a scream. Blood, hot and wet, trickles down my skin.

The beast smiles, thrilled by my pain. "Such pretty screams she'll make for us." His friends cackle with wicked delight.

Another drives a red-hot poker into my shoulder. This time I can't hold back the cry. Agony explodes through my body. I thrash against their hold, every movement igniting new fires across my ravaged nerves.

They continue their twisted games, delighting in my torment. I drift in and out on waves of pain, no longer able to separate moments. Time loses meaning in the endless dark.

But still, I do not break. I cling to that last shred of defiance with everything I have left. Even as my blood stains the stones beneath me, I refuse to let them win.

Finally, the monsters grow bored and leave me lying in a broken heap. My heartbeat slows, fluttering weakly in my chest. As my eyes drift shut, I find myself wishing for the only one who can save me now.

"Onyx..." His name sighs past my lips. Darkness rises to swallow me whole.

I jolt awake, panic squeezing my heart. Where am I? This is not the cold dungeon floor. Silk sheets embrace me, soft and warm. I try to rise but gentle hands press me back down.

"Shhh, it's alright. You're safe now." Onyx. His voice washes over me, soothing away the lingering fear. I melt into his tender touch, letting him care for me.

The horrors fade back into nightmare. But the scars remain, etched forever into my mind. The monsters are still out there...waiting. For now, I take comfort in the arms of the one who rescued me from their clutches. My protector. My mate.

I drift in and out of fevered dreams. The images blur together - hot irons searing my skin, icy water choking my lungs, knives carving jagged lines of fire across my body. Always, the monsters wear twisted smiles as they try to break me.

But I do not break. Even lost in delirium, some part of me clings to defiance. I promised I would never betray the cause. No matter how they hurt me, I swallow back the screams. I will not give them the satisfaction.

At times, consciousness surfaces. I feel the soft bed beneath me, Onyx's hand stroking my hair. His voice murmurs words I cannot grasp, yet his tone soothes me. I wish I could stay here, safe with him. But the darkness keeps dragging me back down into the past.

When I finally come back to myself, days have passed. My body aches, but the wounds are healing. Onyx sits vigil at my bedside, his eyes full of quiet concern.

"The fever's broken," he says. "You're going to be alright."

I manage a weak smile. "Thanks to you."

He shakes his head. "You're the strong one. I just helped you find your way back."

No one has ever called me strong before. But when Onyx says it, I can almost believe it's true. In his eyes, I see myself transformed - a warrior who faced the monsters and survived.

With a shuddering gasp, I awake from the nightmare. But the cold stone beneath me is real. The manacles chafing my wrists are real. I am the Elden's prisoner.

Torchlight flickers off damp walls, casting writhing shadows. My cell reeks of mold, rust, and something fouler - the metallic tang of old blood. Muffled screams echo down the corridor outside. The monsters are near.

Heavy footsteps approach. Rage coils hot in my chest when I see their faces. How dare they think themselves superior. They are nothing but leeches, parasites that feed on the living.

The leader sneers, grasping my chin with sharp nails. "Not so defiant now, are you?"

I spit in his face.

He backhands me viciously, splitting my lip. But I do not cry out. I will not show weakness before these foul creatures.

"Still clinging to that pathetic human pride," the vampire hisses. "But you will beg for mercy soon enough."

They drag me from the cell down a winding staircase, the torchlight growing dimmer. I smell woodsmoke - we are nearing their unholy chapel.

The stone altar comes into view. Terror seizes me as I see the knife, the silver chalice. So this is to be my end. But I will face death with dignity. They cannot take that from me.

I am forced down onto the altar's cold slab. Shadowy figures chant in a language I do not know. Their leader lifts the blade. An icy calm settles over me. I am ready.

The knife flashes down. Pain, white-hot and searing, as it slices into my wrist. Blood, shockingly red, spills forth. I clench my jaw to keep from crying out.

The chanting swells, hungry, reverent. My life flows into the chalice. I feel myself growing weaker, my thoughts blurring. Strange how cold I am, when my blood runs so hot over my skin, dripping steadily onto the stone.

Their leader lifts my other arm, presses the knife again. More pain, more blood. The shadows around me darken.

My heartbeat slows, each pulse fainter than the last. The chanting fades, drowned by the rush of blood in my ears.

My vision dims. One last defiant thought rises before the darkness takes me: you have not won. I am not afraid.

Silence. Stillness. Floating in velvet nothingness.

Then...softness beneath me. The scent of pine and snow. Gentle fingers stroking my hair. I force my eyes open and see him.

"Onyx?" I rasp.

"Hush," he murmurs. "You're safe now, little bird."

Relief floods through me. I am alive. And I am not alone.

I try to sit up, but my body feels like lead. Even keeping my eyes open is a struggle.

"Don't move," Onyx says. His fingers trail over the bandages wrapping my wrists, his touch impossibly gentle. "You've been through a lot. You need to rest."

I swallow thickly. My throat is parched. "Water," I manage to croak out.

Onyx lifts my head and holds a cup to my lips. The cool water revives me a little. When I've had my fill, he eases me back down onto the pillows.

"Thank you," I whisper.

He brushes a strand of hair from my face. "You have nothing to thank me for. I'm the one who should be thanking you, for not giving up. For being so strong."

I shake my head weakly. "I wouldn't have survived if not for you."

Even that small motion makes my head spin. I close my eyes, willing the dizziness to pass. Onyx's hand finds mine and squeezes gently.

"I will always come for you," he says, his voice rough with emotion. "I will always bring you back to me. Nothing can break our bond."

Tears sting my eyes. I don't have the strength to speak, so I return the pressure on his hand. He understands. For the first time since this nightmare began, I feel a spark of hope. As long as Onyx is with me, I can face the darkness. Together, we will find a way.

Exhaustion drags at me, but I fight it, desperate to stay awake. I am safe here, yet I fear if I sleep, I will wake to find it was all a dream.

Onyx senses my fear. "Rest," he murmurs. "I will watch over you."

Reassured, I let my eyes drift shut. My battered body melts into the soft bed. Onyx's hand remains wrapped around mine, anchoring me. I succumb to healing sleep, no longer afraid. My mate is with me. All will be well.

My eyes flutter open, blinking against the morning light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, I am disoriented, unsure of where I is or how I got here. Slowly, awareness returns as my mind struggles to recall the last few days.

I'm in Onyx's bedroom, lying atop luxurious black satin sheets. My body aches, but the searing pain from before has dulled to a throb. Glancing down, I see my wounds have been carefully dressed.

Onyx sits in a chair beside the bed, his hand still clasping mine. His eyes are closed, but I know he isn't sleeping. His wolf senses would alert him the moment I stirred.

As if on cue, his eyes open. Relief floods his handsome face when he sees me looking back at him.

"Welcome back," he says, his voice a low rumble.

"How long was I out?" I ask

Onyx helps prop me up on pillows before handing me a glass of water. "A day and a night. Your injuries were minor, but they really messed with your mind..."

Sensing my distress, Onyx moves to lay wrapped around me. He gathers me gently into his arms. I melt against his powerful chest, drawing comfort from his strength. Here, I am safe. Here, the nightmares cannot reach me.

"It's alright, little bird," Onyx murmurs against my hair. "You're with me now. I swear on my life, I will never let them, or anyone ever hurt you again."

I cling to him, this dark knight, my savior, my everything. In his embrace, my terror fades and darkness claims me once more.