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Elise could hardly take her eyes off the champion beast who emerged victor, with a fear of what’s to come.

“Brilliant, isn’t it?” Kyren broke Elise out of her thoughts. She bit hard on her lips, suppressing her cries as she looked back at the heartless alpha.

“I am no one’s property. You aren’t going to give me to a beastly brute to use my body how he pleases,” she spoke out, but Kyren only chuckled.

He stood up from his chair and moved to her, his hand harshly molding around her nape. “Your father had all the years bragging about killing my men, I’m sure he thought a mere marriage between us will join our packs and make him more powerful, but turns out you were a failure and now you’re nothing but desert for a beast to have a taste of he muttered.

“You cannot escape here. Especially When rumors of you killing your mother have spread throughout the entire realm, and the moment you leave this place, you’re a rogue with a bounty on your head,

“You can’t do that! What did I ever do to you? Is it my body you want, Kyren? Then just take it!”

“I don’t take dirty bloodlings into my bed. Besides, you did not submit yourself to me, and you are a broken wolf, so you have no choice, sweetheart. You are my property, and I can do what I want with you. Funny, you still have the words to talk back to me. One more act of defiance, and I’ll let all my fighters have you for entertainment.”

A shudder ran down her body, her spine locking up at the mere thought of strangers forcing her to engage with them. But her attention was struck by the low snarl from the muzzled alpha that remained in the field.

Silver chains were thrown on his body to stop him from fighting back. Even with all those wounds, Elise was still surprised that he could move so wildly and fight off four guards that tried to contain him.

“Your new male seems lovely, doesn’t he?” Kyren mocked. “We’d give you only one day to prepare yourself. His rut is coming pretty soon, and you’ll be the one to serve him.”

Elise’s heart thundered from his words. “You monster, let go of me!” She screamed as two deltas held her firmly from attacking Kyren.

“Take her to her cell, and make sure she never sees freedom again,” he ordered.

35-45 Sat Aug 31

Elise was led down spiral flights of stairs. As the dungeons became darker, only dimly lit candles put on the hind wall led the way to the cells.

The stench of blood and dirt filled the air. She was pushed into one of the holding cells by the delta guard, who removed her chains. Beside her cell was a large silver door and a tiny metal-framed window connecting hers to a darker cell.

No ounce of light was spared or let into that cell, and she could barely see who was inside. “Good luck, princess,” the guards snickered before they left Elise alone.

Now she focused on her surroundings. The harsh and hard breathing of her cellmate next door had Elise on alert. Her nose peaked at the smell of mint and a hint of cedarwood, but the grave smell of blood made it hard for Elise to tell.

That was when her mind flicked back to the dangerous male who had fought and killed someone earlier. Her hands flew up to her mouth in shock. There were barely ten feet between her and the beastly alpha.

His powerful scent and aura gave it away as she heard movement and the crinkle of hay leaves. “Who’s there?” The voice snarled quietly, and Elise couldn’t stop the squeak she

let out.

Her body quivered now that she had been noticed, but he made no moves to attack, and Elise didn’t know why something in her reacted to the alpha’s voice.

“I’m a prisoner here too. You don’t need to act so hostile, little wolf,” his voice echoed. “What is your name?” He asked, but she didn’t answer immediately. Elise could hear the pain in his voice from those wounds.

Her fear of letting someone die rode over her fear of survival as she stood up and peeked into the small window. She saw the blood-red eyes that shone from his cell. His aura was more powerful and dangerous than anything she had ever seen.

He was barely in clothes, only underwear, and his hand was still bleeding from the wolf’s wound. Her instincts moved before she could think, tearing off the side of her worn clothing and handing it over the fence.

“I’m Elise. Here, use this to stop the bleeding.

“And why do you care? Did he send you to me too?”

He didn’t trust her, but he took the cut cloth, and Elise crawled back to her position. “You tell me, since I was sent here to be with you.” There was a knowing silence as he finally spoke.

You are the Dark Knight pack heiress, my conquest from the fight.”

“I am no one’s property

“You won’t be saying that tomorrow when they put you in here with me,” he added.

“So you are still going to be with me? Even after I help you?”

“Either that, or they kill you right in front of me. Your choice,” he said, and Elise’s throat felt dry. “My rut is on its way, and I won’t be myself either way. But I won’t hurt you. Kyren only wants to punish me.”

“I thought you were his champion.”

“His champions have estates and skilled healers to attend to them. I am his prisoner, and his plans to torture me include you,” he said. Even though his muzzle had been taken out, the cell was far too dark for her to make a distinct image of his appearance.

“Why? And why does he need me?”

“He needs my offspring as leverage to hold on to me, and you have been chosen as the breeder. But none of them were ever successful and died with the child in them.”

Elise felt sick to her stomach, as he explained. “Stop!” urged the alpha as he leaned back against the wall of her cell.

Elise shut everything out as she placed her head on her knees, taking deep breaths to stop herself from having a panic attack. She squeezed her hands so tightly that her palms bled.

She looked to see a small iron bowl that water dripped into. Her reflection on the surface showed her white, streaked hair, a harsh reminder of what happened. Now, not only was she cursed, but she was going to become a breeder.

She wondered if death was a better option, but she recalled her mother’s desperate eyes. She didn’t tell her father there was a possibility Elise wasn’t his because she wanted her to live, and she would.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Even though she was cursed with freakish silver hair and said, “I’m Ka’al,” she heard his voice echo off the wall as her eyelids turned heavy. She closed her eyes, and her body fell into a slumber.

She felt a whirling, cool wind in her head as she heard a male’s voice that echoed in her head. “It’s going to be okay, little one. Trust me.”

Elise was too tired to fight the voice as she fell into a deep slumber. Bang!

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15.45 Sat, Aug 31 a G

The cell states were hit hard, and Elise woke up. She looked to see that same Delta guard, who looked at her lustfully, sitting down and staring at her. “Morning, beauty,” he said, but Elise turned away from him.

That p*d him off enough to throw away the porridge he was holding as her breakfast. “Fine, you b**h. Starve then. In a few hours, you’d be mounted like a mare and have little strength in your body until you fainted. Be careful; that monster will eat you right up for his rut!” He chuckled.

“Fuc-”

“Don’t say that a dark voice loomed in Elise’s head, shouting right up as she slammed her palms into her ears in panic, wondering where that voice was coming from.

But the delta wolf just looked at her like she was insane before he got up and left. “Crazy b**h,” the delta muttered as he closed the dungeon doors.

“Who said that?”

**That was me,* and this time Elise recognized the voice from the cell. He was speaking telepathically to her. They don’t know I have this power, nor do they know I can speak, and all their attempts to cut my tongue off and permanently damage me have been futile since I don’t speak when they are here.

“You were bleeding so much last night.”

Listen, I’m using the last bit of my strength and sanity to talk to you. I will soon go into a rut. Whateve

you do, do not run from me. My wolf likes a chase. Do not run, and I will not harm you,* he warned.

Elise’s heart thundered in her chest as she took in a hard gulp before nodding. The telepathic channel was immediately silent the moment she responded.

And just like he warned, a few hours later, Elise was being let out of her cell. The heavy doors of the alpha cell were barraged open as her heart spun a thousand beats.

With the last lock unbound, she was pushed into the dark cell, awaiting what was to come of the alpha’s feral rut.

And now her innocence was going to be taken.