Chapter 5: Prisoner
1110 Words
Mia
When I opened my eyes, I was taken aback for a moment. What the hell...
This wasn’t what I was expecting. The ceiling above me was no longer stone; it was well-polished wood. The air no longer smelled of decay and blood. Instead, it was fresh and not suffocating.
The last thing I remembered before everything went dark was falling to the cold floor, and that was all.
I winced in pain, pushing myself off the bed. Every inch of my body ached. My muscles protested every move I made.
My eyes traveled through the room. It was small but neat. There was a small table by the window with a tray of food on it. Steam came out of the bowl of soup, bread was arranged neatly beside it, and a cup of water was placed beside it.
My stomach growled at the sight of the food.
I glared down at my stomach. “Shut up,” I muttered under my breath. There was no way I was eating anything from these people.
I still didn’t understand what was going on. One moment I was in the dungeon, the next I was... here. What exactly did this Alpha want with me?
My stomach growled again. I placed my hand on it. I was so hungry I could barely even stand. My eyes moved back to the table—
No. I stopped myself. I’d rather die from starvation.
I stood up abruptly, my legs wobbling, but I forced myself to stand. I had to figure out a way out of this place.
That was when the door opened.
Alpha Kieran walked in.
His presence instantly filled the room, and when his eyes landed on me, I instantly saw disgust. His expression was cold, and his face showed no emotion.
“So,” he said, voice smooth and deep, “you’re finally awake.”
I crossed my hands over my chest, standing firm even though my legs were about to give out. “Where am I?”
“In my pack,” he replied, his eyes scanning me before his gaze flicked to the tray of food. “Eat.”
I shook my head. “No.”
His eyebrow lifted slightly. “No?”
“I’m not hungry.”
He looked almost amused before it quickly disappeared. “I can hear you growl from where I’m standing,” annoyance dripped from his voice.
And I hated how loudly my stomach was growling right now. I looked at him, and his expression still remained unreadable.
“I said I’m not hungry,” I said, this time loud enough for someone outside the room to hear.
He took a step closer and closer until he was standing right in front of me. His scent was wild, and his closeness locked the air right out of my lungs. My pulse kicked faster despite myself.
He leaned down slightly, his voice dropping very low and dangerous. It sent shivers down my spine. “It’s funny how you think this is a request, little wolf. If you don’t eat, I’ll shove it down your throat. You choose.”
It felt like my breath got stuck.
I didn’t need anyone to tell me he wasn’t joking. His eyes didn’t even hold a flicker of warmth, it was just cold and steady authority.
I stood there like a sculpture.
“Do as you are told. I don’t like repeating myself.”
I stared at him, fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms. Every instinct told me to fight back, to throw the food in his face, but the look in his eyes told me I wouldn’t live to tell the tale.
I turned my gaze to the tray again, slowly walking towards it.
I hesitated before reaching for the cup of water and taking a sip. His eyes followed every move I made, and he kept looking at me until I picked up the spoon and took one reluctant bite of the soup.
Oh, goddess, this was delicious. And I tried my hardest not to rush everything.
As silence settled between us, my mind went back to the dungeon, to that old lady who had whispered something to him.
What exactly did she tell him?
Because this... this made no sense. First, he’d gone from keeping me in chains to a room, a bed, and food, and there were no guards watching my every movement.
At least when I was a slave, I knew he’d eventually kill me, but this was unsettling. What did he really have planned for me?
I swallowed the mouthful and finally asked, “Why am I no longer a slave?”
He didn’t answer immediately. His gaze just watched me intensely for a moment. “Reasons best known to me,” he finally said.
That was it. No explanation. Nothing. He disgusted me—the way he carried himself as if he was better than everyone. Everything about Alpha Kieran made my skin crawl, and I couldn’t wait to get out of this place. I didn’t know how yet, but I was going to leave, whatever it took.
I stared at him, waiting for something more, but he’d already turned towards the door.
Before leaving, he glanced over his shoulder. “Finish your food. You’ll need your strength.”
I frowned, setting the spoon down. “I’ll need my strength for what exactly?” My voice was sharp and suspicious.
He paused in the doorway. “You ask too many questions... and people who ask too many questions get their tongues cut off.”
My heart skipped a beat at how devilish he sounded. “But if I’m your guest, don’t you think it’s time I take my leave?” I said, my voice steady, refusing to fear.
He turned slowly, facing me now. “You might be my guest, little wolf, but don’t fool yourself. You are still a prisoner, my prisoner. Because you are not in shackles doesn’t make you any less of a prisoner.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut.
I stared at him, my stomach twisting, my hands gripping the edge of the table. Not in shackles... yet still a prisoner. Free in body, trapped in everything else.
His eyes lingered on me for a moment. I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn’t form a single word. When the doors closed behind him, that was when realization started to hit me.
I was really trapped, a captive of this monster. I told myself I wasn’t afraid of him, but deep down, I wasn’t just afraid. I was horrified.
- Writer
