Chapter 2 In the cell

Total darkness,

A dirty cell and the smell of blood struck me the moment I opened my eyes.

I didn’t want to imagine where I was or who had taken me but there was an idea in my head. Finally I was captured.

In the territory of the most ruthless Alpha.

The reality of my situation hit me like a wave. My body ached, and my mind raced, trying to make sense of how I ended up here. Alpha Kael’s warriors merciless and ruthless chased me and brought me to the Alpha who I didn't meet!

The last thing I recalled doing was cursing the  shameless Alpha who was fucking someone and now I was in the pack’s cell with my hands tied together.

The ropes dug into my wrists the moment I tried to break free. My hands were tied behind my back therefore every time I stood up, I fell back on the ground without any hope.

Shit!

I shifted slightly, trying once more to test the strength of the ropes binding my wrists. They didn’t give. They were tight, expertly knotted, the fibers biting into my skin with every movement. Whoever tied me up knew exactly what they were doing.

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to breathe. Panic would not help me. Panic was a luxury I couldn't afford, not here, not now.

Think, Hazel. Think.

I strained against the ropes again, feeling them bite deeper into my flesh. A warm trickle ran down my wrist, blood. Of course.

It began to drop down and worsened my situation. I twisted again, this time trying to feel for anything sharp, anything I could use to cut through the ropes that were digging in my wound.  But the cell was smooth. Whoever built this place knew exactly how to keep prisoners helpless.

I let out a frustrated breath, slumping against the cold stone wall. My fingers were numb now but that still didn't stop the blood. It dripped steadily onto the floor, each drop echoing in the silence like a countdown. I could feel it pooling beneath me, warm and sticky, and I knew if I kept this up, I'd bleed out before anyone even bothered to come check on me.

The minutes dragged on, stretching into what felt like hours. Exhaustion began to press down on me, threatening to pull me under. But just as I felt myself slipping, the faint sound of approaching footsteps snapped me back to attention.

My senses sharpened, adrenaline coursing through my veins when the heavy boots echoed against the stone floor.  My pulse quickened as the sound grew louder and closer. Then the heavy iron door creaked open, flooding the cell with the morning light.

The Alpha’s beta stepped inside.

He had a scar on his face as I remembered, tall, broad-shouldered, and radiating an air of dominance that made the air feel heavier. His dark eyes locked onto mine, a cruel smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Well,” he drawled, his deep voice echoing in the confined space.

"Look who's finally awake." He added and I forced myself to meet his gaze, even as my wolf cowered somewhere deep inside me.

"I'm awake," I said, my voice raspy. "What do you want?", I asked. "What I want is to watch you rot in here." He chuckled, stepping closer. "We both know that your wish won't happen. You’re also nothing but the Alpha’s lapdog,” I spat, my voice hoarse but sharp.

His eyes darkened, the cruel smirk fading into something colder. For a second, silence hung between us but before I knew, his hand shot out and clamped down hard on my shoulder blade, the exact spot where a deep gash from the chase had split open earlier. The ropes kept my arms twisted painfully behind my back, pulling the wound taut as his fingers dug in mercilessly, grinding into the torn flesh. Fresh blood welled up hot and fast under his grip. I couldn’t stop the sharp cry that tore from my throat as  pain exploded through my shoulder.

“I don’t want disrespect,” he growled low, leaning in so close I could feel his breath against my face. His fingers tightened even more, twisting slightly, forcing another wave of agony through me. “And if it wasn’t because of the Alpha’s orders to keep you breathing… I’d rip this shoulder out of its socket right now and make you scream until your voice gave out. Then I’d leave you here to choke on your own blood.”

I gritted my teeth, after listening to him. Tears of pain pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Fuck you,” I hissed through the pain. “You and your Alpha can both go to hell.” My wolf snarled weakly inside me, trapped and furious.

A low, cruel laugh rumbled from his chest.

“You’ve got quite the mouth on you for a little captured bitch,” he growled, his fingers pressing deeper into the bleeding wound, sending sharp agony through my body again. I bit back a scream, but a whimper still escaped my lips.  “But be careful little wolf. The Alpha may want you breathing… but he didn’t say anything about being unbroken.” He added then suddenly  his thumb full of my blood brushed over my  lower lip almost mockingly.

I sucked in a shaky breath, chest heaving. “Then why don’t you just break my shoulder and get it over with?” I rasped, still defiant even as my body trembled from the blood loss and the crushing grip on my wound. “Or are you too scared of what your precious Alpha will do to you if you damage his new toy?”

“Toy?” The beta’s laugh was dark and humorless. He leaned even closer, his scar pulling tight across his face as his lips curved into a vicious smile.

“You not worthy that", He released my shoulder abruptly, and I slumped forward, gasping as the sudden absence of pressure left a throbbing ache in its wake. "You going to get killed now", He added.

I blinked, certain I'd misheard. "Now?", I asked. He ignored me and walked out. "You're coming with us." Two guards stepped forward and grabbed me before I could think, hauling me to my feet. I cried out as the movement jostled my wounded wrists, fresh blood seeping through the ropes.

"Please," I gasped. "At least untie me. I can't...."

"You can't what?" Beta Steven asked, tilting his head. "Can't walk? Can't speak?" He laughed, the sound harsh and grating. "That's not my problem."

He turned and walked away, and the guards dragged me after him.