Chapter 3

Maria

“Please…” I wheezed, tapping harder and he immediately tossed me to the floor. 

My fingers flew to my sore neck as I tried to drag air into my lungs over and over again. Alpha Jordan towered over me, refusing to move an inch to at least make sure I wasn’t passing out. 

“Get up.” He ordered, his voice raspy and commanding. I grabbed the edge of the vanity and pulled myself up from the floor, avoiding his gaze. 

“You won’t be of good use to me if you die..” 

Like that wasn’t what he intended to do to me moments ago. 

I swallowed hard and inhaled sharply. I wasn’t going to keep quiet and have him bind my hands and legs with those chains that look like they were made for the wildest of beasts. 

But I knew better than to raise my voice. 

“Fredrick will arrange for your meals. If you’re going to give me heirs you can’t be carrying this….” His eyes ran up and down my body and I shuddered under his scrutiny. 

“This frail body of yours.” 

The door slammed shut after he walked away and just before I could make it to the door, the lock clicked. 

“You can’t keep treating me like this!” I cried, ramming my fists on the door. There was no response whatsoever, only footsteps scuffling outside and people murmuring in low voices. 

“What was that thing in his eyes?” I muttered to myself as I tried to classify his wolf. That’s nothing like I’ve ever seen before and being a wolfless girl has given me the opportunity to explore through every possible breed of wolves under the moon. 

But that thing dwelling inside Alpha Jordan is far from a mere wolf. There’s something far dangerous that’s in his soul. 

The mere thought of the way he looked at me made my skin crawl and I shuddered. I was headed to an early grave. 

“I know a wolf when I see one..” the voice in my head continued, “that thing in his eyes can’t be..” 

The weight it carried. The force behind it when I looked at them. They way his body listened to the rhythm in those beady crimson eyes..

Something is fishy about this alpha king. 

“I need to get out of here as soon as possible..” I muttered as I paced back and forth in the room. Hunger gnawed at my belly like sharp claws but the determination to escape this hell was far greater than the twisting ache in my stomach. 

I rushed to the window and grabbed the barricade, trying to see if I could at least fit through it. But frail as my body was, it could barely fit into the largest space.

“Ugh!” I grunted in frustration, running my hands through the vanity and everything on it crashed to the floor. 

“My lady!” The door swung open and Frederick stepped in, eyes wide with curiosity. 

I looked at his face and then the mess I made on the floor, and slowly my eyes made it past his shoulder to the open door behind him. 

If I could just bolt out that door right now and not look back at all…

“Are you alright, my lady?” He asked, snapping his fingers over my face. 

I swallowed hard, my voice already too weak from screaming before and the hunger that weighed me down.

“I’m fine Frederick!” I snapped, running my fingers through my hair as beads of sweat trickled down my face. 

“My apologies, my lady. Your meal will be brought in a few minutes. If there’s anything you’d like the cook to add or exclude from your meal then just let me know.” 

“Anything is fine” I replied dryly, my eyes still staring out the open door. 

“Good then. I’ll be back.” He said and turned to leave. I watched the door slam shut and the locks clicked again. 

My breath hitched and my palms were soaked with sweat. Fear had wrapped around my entire body like a cloak, but one thing was certain. 

I’m escaping this place now or never. 

I sat on the edge of the bed, my foot tapping impatiently on the floorboard. The moment the door creaked open, I barely even lifted my eyes from the floor. 

A lady walked in, her steps were light and her scent wasn’t like the ones around here. Jasmine filled the air as she placed the food down on the stool before me. 

“My lady..” she muttered softly, cutting her eyes in my direction. I didn’t pay much attention to her face, but I knew her presence here might delay my plan and I refused to let that happen. 

Frederick walked into the room, holding the keys to the door. I slowly stood from the bed and picked up the bowl of steaming soup. 

“Frederick…” I called,

“My lady..” 

“Taste this.” I ordered and his eyes flickered. He glanced at the maid who brought in the meal and his eyes rolled back to me. 

“As you wish, my lady..” 

He took just one step closer to me and that was my cue. The soup bowl left my hand and crashed to the floor, spilling the hot soup on my hand. 

“Quick! Bring a towel and ointments!” Frederick ordered, sending the maid out of the room. 

“Sit down my lady..” 

The words had barely left his mouth when I shoved him with every strength in me and sprinted through the open door. 

“Halt in the name of the king!” I heard him cry behind me but the wind pushed me even further away. 

My legs felt like they were touching the back of my head as I rushed through the high walls and the sharp corners. 

I had no idea where I was headed, or where I would come out to. But I knew very well that the entirety of the soldiers in the castle were after me and stopping for even a breath, would mean my demise. 

My mind moved faster than my body and I found a slight open door. That was my light. 

I ran through it and slammed it shut, clicking the lock from the inside. My chest rose and fell as my heart rammed inside, fear surging through my bloodstream. 

Heavy footsteps ran past the door and every other hallway in the castle. 

“Find her! She couldn’t have gone far” Frederick cried. Poor man, now he’d have to answer to his king. 

“This isn’t the time to pity anyone!” I scolded myself as I rushed to the window to see if it was possible to jump. Unfortunately, there were barricades too. 

As the noise died down, I slowly crept out of the room and walked stealthily through the halls, hiding behind every pillar I came across. 

Slowly, I was getting a hang of the passages and the corridors. I maintained the shadows and only stepped into the light when I had no other choice. 

I didn’t walk into anyone, nor did I see anyone the whole time. I finally made it to a familiar hallway and my eyes lit up with excitement. 

“Finally..” I exhaled softly, tears stinging my eyes. I walked slowly on my toes dragging my tired body through. 

Then I walked into a much familiar room. The doors were high and the walls were thick, drapes stretched from the roof to the floor and my eyes fell on the end of the room, I was in the living room. 

Immediately the doors to the exit slammed shut and darkness returned. 

“How silly of you, my lady to think you could escape....” Frederick’s voice rang, his tone dripping with pity rather than anger.

In an instant, I was surrounded by guards.