Bite of Rejection

Episode 5

~Athena’s POV

The regret was like a blade twisting in my gut. We had escaped, hoping for freedom, but instead, we had run straight into a living hell. I could see it in Relia’s eyes too, the fear, the overwhelming regret. Every second that passed, I wondered if maybe staying with the Snowwhite pack, despite everything, had been the safer option.

“I didn’t think… I didn’t know it would be like this,” I admitted, my voice breaking. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the brutality in front of us, but I wished I could. I wished I could close my eyes and block it all out.

“Do you think we’ll ever get out of here?” Relia asked, her voice so small it almost broke my heart. She was usually the strong one, the brave one, but now she looked as scared as I felt.

I squeezed her hand tighter, even though I wasn’t sure of the answer myself. “We will. We have to.”

But in reality, I had no idea how.

It all happened so fast. One moment, Relia and I were sitting together, trying to make sense of the hellhole we were trapped in, and the next, a guard came over and yanked her up by the arm.

“Relia!” I screamed, my voice breaking with panic. I scrambled to my feet, reaching out for her, but the guard shoved me back so hard I almost fell. “Let her go! Please, don’t take her!”

Relia’s wide eyes locked onto mine, filled with fear. “Athena! Help!”

But what could I do? I was powerless, watching as they dragged her away like she was nothing. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest. I tried to run after her, but another guard blocked my path, sneering down at me with that cold, lifeless expression they all seemed to wear.

“Stop it!” I screamed, tears streaming down my face. “Please! She didn’t do anything wrong! Don’t take her!”

But my cries fell on deaf ears. The guard dragging Relia didn’t even flinch. He just kept pulling her further away, disappearing into the maze of cells, leaving me standing there, shaking and terrified.

My breath came in ragged gasps, panic clawing at my throat. This was my fault. I had convinced her to leave with me, and now she was paying for it. I had gotten my best friend into this nightmare, and now I couldn’t save her.

I dropped to my knees, sobbing, my fingers clawing at the cold stone floor. “Relia…” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

Just when I thought all hope was lost, the sound of heavy footsteps filled the room.

I looked up, my vision blurred by tears, and saw him, the Alpha of Ironwood, Alpha Rufus, storming into the prison like he owned the world. His presence was suffocating, and everyone in the room froze as soon as they saw him.

I felt a chill run down my spine. His reputation was infamous, cold, calculating, and ruthless, the kind of Alpha who ruled with an iron fist and no mercy. My breath hitched as he stopped in front of the guard, dragging Relia.

“What do you think you’re doing?” His voice was low, but the authority in it sent shivers through the air.

The guard immediately stiffened, releasing Relia’s arm like she was suddenly untouchable.

“Your Majesty, I…I was just…”

“Return her to the prison,” Alpha Rufus ordered, his tone icy and final. “I have more important matters to discuss with my guards than wasting time on this nonsense.”

The guard, pale and trembling, nodded and quickly pulled Relia back towards me, dumping her beside me like a piece of trash before scurrying off.

I immediately grabbed her, pulling her into a hug, relief flooding through me. She was okay. She was back.

“Are you alright?” I asked, my voice trembling as I held her close.

Relia nodded, but her face was pale, and her hands were shaking. “I’m fine… I think.”

I looked up, ready to thank Alpha Rufus, but when our eyes met, the gratitude I felt died in my throat. His gaze was locked onto me, and it wasn’t kindness I saw there. No, it was something darker. Crueler. A wicked smile curled on his lips, a smile that made my stomach twist into knots.

He hadn’t helped us out of the goodness of his heart. No, there was something more sinister behind that smile. Something that made me regret ever feeling thankful.

I swallowed hard, gripping Relia’s hand tighter as he turned away, barking orders at his guards. My heart pounded in my chest, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we had just traded one nightmare for another.

“What did he want? Why had he intervened? And more importantly, what was he planning?”

I could feel my body giving out, the exhaustion of the day, the fear, the panic, and the running, finally catching up to me. My vision blurred, my legs buckled beneath me, and the world tilted dangerously.

The last thing I saw before everything went black was that cruel, twisted smile still playing on the Alpha’s lips like he was watching a game unfold, and we were the pawns.

As I faded into unconsciousness, a single terrifying thought echoed in my mind:

What is he going to do to us next?