CHAPTER 23 : A CRACK IN THE FACADE

Without a word, Bryan brought her down to her feet and tossed her inside. 

She hit the cold, hard ground with a thud, the strong impact almost knocking the air from her lungs.

Pain shot through her side as she landed on the stone floor, a sharp gasp escaping her lips. Kira's hands scrambled against the rough surface, trying to push herself up as tears stung her eyes.

As panic surged through her, she scrambled to her feet immediately, wanting to escape. Kira ignored the ache in her body, and bolted towards the dungeon gate before Bryan could slam it shut.

"Please…", she uttered softly.

But before she could reach the opening, the gate crashed shut with a thunderous clang.

Due to her behavior, Bryan slammed his hand against the iron bars, his voice showing how much he was frustrated.

"ENOUGH!" he bellowed, the force of his voice reverberating through the walls.

 

Kira's heart pounded in her ears, her body rigid as she stared up at him in shock. The way he yelled at her and slammed his hands on the bars of the gate, that power that came from his voice, made her stomach churn with fear.

"Do you think I enjoy doing this?", he asked her. "Do you think we enjoy doing this?"

But the question was not one that needed an answer. Even though it did, Kira was not sure if she would be able to utter a word.

"You are always making things worse, running off, being so f*cking stubborn, making us worry about you when we have more important things to deal with and fix! We are trying here, Kira", he growled, his eyes burning with anger and a glimpse of pain.

"We are really trying. We get it, you hate us. Give us a chance then to make it up to you, maybe you will see that we are more than the monsters you have created about us in your head, despite the changes you may notice in our behaviors."

Everything Bryan said came from a place of anger, pain and want. He just wished she would try for them. It won't be easy with the curse but just at least, maybe it would fuel them to be able to fight against the curse more. Making it easy for them to stay in control and not let the curse take over.

It was not just a want for them anymore. It was love. She had no idea how crazy she made them feel just from these past few days. But of course, the curse always has a way of ruining things.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself before he will disclose any information that she does not have to know.

"It would be best not to tell her about the curse. It might scare her off and leave them with no chance at all," Bryan said to himself as he tried to calm himself down, "some things are better off unheard/unknown."

Without waiting for a response, Bryan turned on his heel and stormed out, his heavy footsteps echoing in the dungeon.

Kira still stood there, dumbfounded, not knowing what to say. It was as if she had really seen him, like he had let her in to see him and how he truly felt, or rather, how they truly felt. 

Her right hand reached up to her chest and she rubbed it softly. Whatever she was feeling now was just indescribable.

She could not quite put her finger on what exactly she was feeling, but it was a mix of emotions that left her breathless.

Aiden watched her and could only sigh. His brother had broken down a wall out of frustration. He himself felt the pain from the way Bryan spoke.

He then took a step forward, his face unreadable as he stopped just outside the bars.

"You will stay here for two weeks, no food and no water," he said, his voice cold and final.

"That is enough time for you to think about your actions, why you did it, and why you will never think of doing it again."

Kira opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Aiden's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he nodded curtly and turned to leave.

"Two weeks?", Kira whispered to herself whilst falling to the ground.

"Two weeks with no food and water? How I'm I supposed to survive?"

In the end, she just came to a conclusion that she deserved it and found a place that was a little warm in the cell to stay.

While cuddled in a part of the cell, she thought about everything Bryan had said to her out of anger. She was now confused, not sure of what to do anymore.

"Should I really give them a chance?", she asked herself. "But they caused me so much pain, they…they…", she sighed, not knowing the right words to even use to explain how she felt.

Hours passed and still, she could not fall asleep. The cell was freezing and uncomfortable, making it difficult to even sleep properly.

Kira let out a breath and rubbed her hands together, seeing if she would be able to warm herself up, even if just a little.

As she did that, before she knew it, her cell gate opened, and someone threw something inside it.

Immediately, right after whatever it was landed on the ground, the gate was locked back.

"Alpha Aiden instructed to give this to you, Luna!", A male voice said, "He also mentioned you should stay warm and hydrated."

When, whoever it was, was done providing her the information, she heard footsteps of the man leaving and rushed up to the things he had thrown into her cell.

Kira found out that they were blankets. There were also snacks and water. It seemed like Aiden had put the snacks inside the blanket himself, seeing as the male, or whoever it was, did not mention anything about snacks.

Without much thinking, she took the blankets, spread it somewhere suitable and used the extra blanket to cover herself.

"I thought he said I won't get any food or water?", Kira asked herself as she examined the snacks and the bottle of water. "Hmm… sure he didn't put something in this? Maybe something to kill me?"

"Stupid", she heard someone say and chuckle, "Eat and get some sleep, I have no reason to poison you love."

"A-alpha?", she called out, but whoever it was seemed to be already gone.

Although she knew for sure who it was.

Aiden!