Chapter 5
1004 Words
The moment I pushed the bloodstained door open, my feet froze.
The room was darker than the hallway. A few candles burned in the corners, their flames dancing against the stone walls.
Then I saw him.
My breath caught.
He wasn't inside a cage.
He was chained to a massive iron bed.
Heavy silver chains wrapped tightly around his wrists and ankles. They dug so deep into his skin that fresh blood trickled down the side of the bed.
Old wounds covered his body.
Some had healed. Others had been torn open again.
His breathing was rough, each breath sounding like it carried years of pain.
Then he lifted his head.
Two crimson eyes met mine.
Who are you and what are you doing here?
I didn't reply.
For a second, my heart forgot how to beat.
So this was Alpha Ryker.
The cursed Alpha.
The monster everyone feared.
Yet as I stood there looking at him, I couldn't see a monster, I saw pain, I saw grieve.
I saw someone suffering.
Someone carrying a pain no one else knew.
A low growl escaped his throat.
It echoed through the room.
My body trembled, but my feet refused to move.
Slowly, I took a step toward him.
The chains rattled.
His eyes darkened.
"Don't come any closer."
His voice was rough, almost broken.
"If you come close..."
"...you're gone."
I looked at the fresh blood running down his wrists.
No one had even cleaned his wounds.
No one had cared enough to wipe away the blood.
Something tightened inside my chest.
I picked up a clean cloth lying on a nearby table.
Another step.
His breathing became uneven.
"I said leave……. am tired of killing innocent people, leave… before it gets worse…..
I didn't answer.
I kept walking.
I know I'll be gone, I said quietly.
I'm not scared.
A bitter smile touched my lips.
"At least... it'll be over on my first night."
His crimson eyes searched my face.
Confusion flickered across them.
"Why?"
His voice dropped.
"Why aren't you scared?"
I looked at him.
"Because..."
"...I think you're hurting more than anyone knows." you need help.
Silence filled the room.
Even the growling stopped for a heartbeat.
I moved closer.
Only a few steps separated us now.
His entire body tensed.
No…….
He shook his head.
"Don't come any closer."
I continued walking.
His breathing became heavier.
His muscles tightened against the chains.
"Don't touch me!"
The roar shook the room.
The chains slammed against the iron bed.
The candles flickered wildly.
Still...
I didn't stop.
I reached out.
My fingers gently touched the back of his hand.
For one heartbeat...
Everything became still.
Then he screamed.
The sound exploded through the room.
It wasn't anger.
It was agony.
The chains pulled so hard that the iron bed scraped across the floor.
Another scream followed.
The chains stretched to their limit.
Then—
CRACK!
One chain snapped.
Another broke.
Then another.
The sound echoed through the room.
My eyes widened.
His body twisted violently.
His bones cracked beneath his skin.
Dark fur spread across his arms.
His fingers stretched into long, deadly claws.
Within seconds, the man before me disappeared.
A terrifying beast stood in his place.
Fear crashed into me.
I wanted to run.
Every part of me screamed to run.
But there was nowhere to go.
The only door was behind him.
I could only watch as the beast slowly turned toward me.
One heavy step.
Then another.
Each step echoed against the stone floor.
The distance between us grew smaller.
My breathing became shallow.
My back hit the cold wall.
I was trapped.
The beast stopped right in front of me.
Its glowing eyes stared into mine.
Hot breath brushed across my face.
I slowly closed my eyes.
"So this is how it ends," I whispered.
I waited for death.
A terrifying roar burst from the beast, shaking the entire mansion.
The sound echoed through every room and corner.
His claws shot toward me.
A sharp pain ripped across my chest.
I gasped.
Warm blood soaked through my dress.
I still didn't open my eyes.
Then...
Everything became quiet.
The moment my blood touched his hand...
The roaring stopped.
The beast froze.
His breathing slowed.
The claws disappeared.
The thick fur faded.
The terrifying growls turned into painful breaths.
I remained still, afraid to open my eyes.
The wound on my chest burned, but I couldn't feel anything except the silence.
Then...
I heard someone crying.
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
The beast was gone.
A handsome young man knelt before me.
His silver hair fell across his face.
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he stared at his trembling hands.
Then he looked at me.
His voice shook.
"Who are you?"
"Why am I feeling this way?"
"What... did you do to me?"
Before I could answer, the prison door flew open.
"Alpha!"
Beta Liam rushed inside with several guards.
His eyes landed on me.
"Lady Kate!"
He hurried over, grabbed my arm, and quickly pulled me away from the Alpha as if rescuing me from a burning house.
His face turned pale when he saw the blood on my dress.
"Call the doctor!"
The doctor arrived within moments and carefully treated the wound on my chest.
After wrapping the bandage, Beta Liam looked at me and let out a long breath.
I told you not to leave your room.
If you needed anything, all you had to do was call one of the maids.
You were supposed to wait until the Alpha sent for you.
He shook his head.
Thank your stars you survived tonight.
I didn't answer.
My mind stayed inside that room.
The tears in the Alpha's eyes...were melting my heart. I wish I could help him .
The way he returned to himself the moment my blood touched him...was something I couldn't place.
And the question he asked.
Who are you?
I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Most importantly, I had survived the night.
- Writer
