The Alpha's Prisoner

Chapter Four: Mate.

(Present day)

Nyla's POV

The faint smell of seasoned roasted vegetables fills my nose as sunlight pours through the window, warming my face.

“Nyla… wake up!” Mira’s voice echoes through my mind.

“Wake up, or you’ll get punished again,” she continues, spiraling aggressively through my thoughts.

“Wake up…”

“I’m awake,” I mutter, trying to calm her down.

I stay still for a few minutes, forcing myself to pull together the fragments of strength left in me.

“We need to get dressed now.”

“I know, Mira. I know,” I reply, pain and exhaustion screaming through my bones.

The Alpha’s meeting is being held today—something Alpha Rowan has been talking about endlessly.

“The Alpha’s meeting will be in a few days’ time. Different Alphas from various packs will be in attendance. That means we’ll be having a lot of guests, so you all need to prepare properly and be on your best behavior,” he admonishes us almost every morning.

Everyone has been assigned their duties. I’m in the kitchen, of course—and as it stands, I'm already late, which means punishment if I’m caught.

I stagger to my feet, my legs too weak to carry me. Reaching for the bedrail to steady myself, I force my body toward the bathroom.

The bruises on my skin ache as I wash. My lips press tightly together as the pain sends sharp shocks through my body.

I slip on an oversized gown and quietly make my way to the kitchen. Entering through the back door, I pray not to be caught by either Elena or her mother. Thankfully, they aren’t there.

A warm, inviting aroma has already begun to fill the kitchen. My mouth waters as I eye the platter of roasted chicken resting on the cabinet, wondering what would happen if I took just one piece.

But I crush the urge almost immediately. Luna Elizabeth has probably counted every last piece down to the ounce.

Stealing even one would make me a thief, and she would gladly skin me alive if she ever found out. That is how much she despises me.

“Are you all not done yet?” Luna Elizabeth barks as she storms into the kitchen.

“We’re almost done, Luna,” the chef replies quickly, his hands never stopping as he stirs the sauce in the pan.

A few minutes later, the maids stand in a line, each holding a tray and waiting to enter the dining room. I hurry to fall in line with them, picking up the last tray from the cabinet. We wait silently for Luna Elizabeth to inspect the trays before we are allowed to move.

She nods in satisfaction, signaling for us to enter while she walks behind. We lay the food on the table and immediately return to the kitchen to tidy up.

By midday, the sound of engines rattles outside. Some of the omegas quickly hide in corners, eager to catch a glimpse of the arriving Alphas, excitement written all over their faces.

Limousines pour in endlessly, one after another, with elegantly dressed men and women stepping out like royalty. If Dad and Mom were alive, we would probably be here today, I think, swallowing the lump in my throat as tears fill my eyes.

The tears trickle down in thin strokes—soft, yet unrelenting. I reach for the hem of my gown and press it against my face to wipe them away.

Then I catch it—an unusual scent of amber and hazelnut.

Electricity shoots through my veins. My wolf stirs restlessly. My mouth waters, and Mira rises within me, arching and roaring in my mind, desperate to shift.

“Mate…” she calls out.

What? Our mate is here? I mutter under my breath.

“Yes, let’s go find him. He is close,” Mira jerks in excitement, making my head spin.

“Mira, we should be looking out for Alpha Derick and Alpha Darius, not hunting a mate.”

“Doesn’t this revenge matter to you?” I ask, anger lacing my voice.

“If he’s an Alpha, you could tell him about it. I’m sure he would help us with our revenge,” she murmurs, trying not to upset me.

“Really? And what if he’s one of the people who betrayed my family?” I snap.

“Let’s find him first, Nyla. Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Mira says, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Since all the Alphas from every pack are arriving today, it is the perfect day to begin my revenge—but first, I have to make sure my targets are here.

I hurry toward the omegas, who are excitedly watching the visitors step out of their cars.

As I draw closer, the scent grows stronger, thick and intoxicating, lingering heavily in the air. I try to restrain the pull, but Mira is restless, pacing endlessly in my mind.

My gaze falls on the man standing beside Alpha Rowan, and my breath catches in my chest.

He stands there, smiling easily at Alpha Rowan and his Luna as they exchange pleasantries, his presence commanding yet effortlessly calm.

He is tall, his skin dark and smooth, with neatly trimmed chocolate-brown hair that catches the sunlight and mesmerizing greenish-blue eyes—the kind that hold your gaze.

His lips are full and luscious, softening the sharpness of his jaw, which looks as though it has been carved with quiet strength.

The fabric of his shirt clings to his chest, outlining the firm muscles beneath, and his long legs carry an effortless authority that makes it hard to look away.

He is breathtakingly beautiful.

I feel a magnetic pull, a swirl deep in my stomach. He is nothing like I imagined. His presence screams power and authority. Yet his smile… it is comforting—the kind of comfort I have always longed for.

Something in me wants to go to him—to let him claim me, to have me unapologetically.

Then someone calls his name. The name that has lived in my mind for the past nine years.

“That’s Alpha Darius,” an omega by my side giggles.

I stumble back, almost losing my balance. “Darius?” I whisper, confusion, anger, and betrayal crashing through me at once.

My mate—Darius. The man who betrayed my parents.

No. That can’t be true. The Moon Goddess cannot be this cruel. My heart races in confusion.

I push through the crowd, my heart pounding with every step, and head straight for my room. Tears blur my vision as I move faster—reckless, trembling.

The Moon Goddess hates me. She does.

I shove the door open and stumble inside. My legs buckle, forcing me to my knees. I cover my face with my hands and break down, sobbing uncontrollably.

The sound of my sobs echoes through my room, raw and hollow. Every memory, every scream, every drop of blood replays in my mind, twisting my stomach until the pain bleeds into something darker and stronger.

Tired of it all, I lie on my back, staring blankly at the ceiling. Then a thought crosses my mind.

I sit up at once, leaning against my bedrail. I press the back of my hand against my face and straighten my dress.

The idea is perfect— but it will require careful execution.