Chapter 9

Amber's POV

I struck the demon across the face, and in return, he turned the dungeon into my personal torture chamber. It had barely been a day since I was forced into his pack, and I already regretted every second of it.

My back was still on fire from when Damon had slammed me onto the freezing ground over ten hours ago. No one had come near this place since then. The space was suffocating—barely enough for a dog, let alone a person. I shifted uncomfortably, trying to stretch, my eyes sore and swollen from crying.

But crying had done me no favors. My arms throbbed with bruises, and the stench of this cell wrapped around me like a curse, suffocating me. I had no more tears left to shed. I wasn’t even sure I had the strength to speak anymore.

I felt discarded, like something worthless. The weight in my chest crushed me, clawing at my insides. The dungeon reeked worse than I could have imagined. Every inch of my skin felt dry and irritated, and the lump in my throat refused to go away.

This was worse than Uncle Francis’s dungeon. If I stayed here much longer, I was convinced I would die.

Maybe Damon was right—I was already in hell. This was my own personal nightmare, one where time dragged on, stretching my suffering endlessly.

Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I carefully rose to my feet, my legs weak and shaky against the damp stone floor. My once-beautiful dress was now unrecognizable, stinking of filth and decay. I smelled like the worst parts of humanity.

On my toes, I reached for the tiny crack in the wall where a sliver of sunlight seeped through. Too high. Impossible to reach, no matter how long I tried.

"You're an idiot, Amber," I whispered, my voice hoarse and trembling. "S-so stupid. Why did you do it? What made you think you could escape him?"

What made me think hitting him was a good idea? Not that surrendering would have made a difference. I’d been treated like an object my whole life, and nothing had changed.

I should have known better.

Pain rippled through me as I shifted, every limb aching. Then I heard footsteps. My heart pounded as I shrank against the cold stone wall. Not him. Please, not him! I squeezed my eyes shut and silently begged the universe for mercy.

The gods must have heard me, because instead of him, two women appeared. I exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Their gazes scanned me, sharp and probing. Their curiosity unsettled me. I felt the same way about them, but I stayed pressed against the wall, keeping my distance from the rusted gate.

"Luna Amber," the older one—probably in her fifties—spoke evenly. Only when they stepped closer did I notice the guard behind them, his cold expression unreadable.

Everything about this moment felt wrong.

Luna. That word sounded foreign to me. Still, I nodded hesitantly, and their faces softened into smiles. The younger woman, likely around my age or a little older, studied me like I was something precious.

It made my stomach twist. I didn’t trust this. Every member of this pack seemed to have their own unique brand of insanity.

"I'm Orion," she said, motioning to the other woman. "And this is Zena. We’re your personal maids. The Alpha wants you to be…" She trailed off, giving my filthy appearance a once-over. "...presentable for the announcement this morning."

Just open the gate and let me out! I screamed internally. Instead, I forced a tight smile, my face stiff from dirt and dried tears. "Oh…?"

May your Alpha trip over a rock and break his neck. But I bit my tongue and muttered, "Thank you." I didn’t give a damn about their announcement.

The guard unlocked the door, and I bolted out, startling Orion and Zena. Zena kept staring at me like I was some kind of myth brought to life.

"Come with us, Luna Amber…"

"Just Amber," I corrected quickly. The two women exchanged puzzled looks but said nothing.

They dipped their heads slightly, and out of sheer confusion, I mirrored them. Zena giggled, her youthful energy unsettling in a place like this.

They led me back to the chamber Damon had taken me to the day before. My pulse hammered in my ears with each step, my vision blurring at the edges. What was waiting for me today?

I had no intention of being humiliated again, and if Damon tried, I’d hit him—consequences be damned.

Just thinking about him made my stomach churn.

I tucked my trembling hands behind me, fear gnawing at my insides. Breathing felt like a struggle. The more time passed, the more I realized escape might not be an option.

"I’ve prepared your bath," Zena said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Please, go in…"

She led me to an extravagant bathroom, the massive tub filled with warm water and floating rose petals. The scent was intoxicating.

Finally, something pleasant. I slipped out of my ruined dress and sank into the water, the warmth soothing my aching body. If they left me alone, I might never willingly get out.

Once I finished, I dressed and sat in front of the mirror while Orion brushed out my tangled hair. Her earlier words echoed in my mind.

An announcement?

I met her eyes in the reflection. "You mentioned an announcement this morning…" My voice wavered with unease. "What’s it about?"

I didn’t bother hiding my fear. Anything involving their Alpha terrified me.

"You’re to be introduced as the new Luna," Zena chirped from the other side of the room, busy sorting through the extravagant dresses Damon had stuffed into the massive wardrobe.

The title barely registered. I had bigger concerns.

New Luna? That meant there had been others.

Orion shot Zena a warning glare, clearly annoyed that she had said too much. They knew something. Of course, they did.

I stiffened. "There were others?"

Orion hesitated, then spoke softly. "You’ll be introduced as the new Luna." She deliberately emphasized new before looking away.