Captive

Luciano's POV

I bit my lips as I felt my eyes fill up with water for the umpteenth time that day–or night.

Whichever it was.

I had no idea what day it was nor had my lost memories returned to me.

It felt as if Alpha Luciano had forgotten all about me, because the guards were yet to tell me about my fate.

My gruesome fate.

The terrifying aura of the dark dungeon I had been forgotten in made me shiver in trepidation as my teeth clattered, with tears cascading my face.

The dungeon was a massive structure that radiated fear. Skeletons littered the floor, their bones scattered aimlessly.

The metallic odor of blood also hung in the air; thick and cloying.

I knew in my heart that there was no doubt I'd end up like those skeletons.

"Luciano may eventually let us go. There's no need to cry, Freya. We didn't do it, right? So let's hold our head up and remain brave, okay?" Ana's voice glided into my thoughts and I just scoffed, gazing down at my chained legs.

I was currently sitting on a chair with my hands chained behind my back and my legs chained together, with the heaviest metal chains–the kind that was used for captured rogue wolves.

“Have you forgotten what he did to us? He almost killed us that day. I still have bruises on my neck if you need a jog down memory lane. Let's be realistic here, Ana. Luciano will most likely order a public execution for us." I muttered, tears clogging my throat as I thought about my unfortunate destiny.

There was no way in hell that I could escape my inevitable, impending torture, and the thought both frustrated and horrified me.

Many rumors about how merciless and heartless the alpha was in delivering punishments to rogues always flowed throughout the servants' quarters, and thinking about them at that moment made me gulp shakily.

Some of the rumors claimed the alpha had skinned a rogue wolf alive with the rogue's mate watching while another claimed he had used a guillotine on a spy from a rival pack, who had infiltrated the pack, years back when he had just ascended the throne.

To think he was just a mere eighteen year old, ordering and performing such a gruesome and inhumane act made me sick to my stomach.

The thought of being guillotined made my spirit leave my body for a moment.

Only the moon goddess knew what sort of death I would get.

"The beta will knock some sense into his head. He doesn't listen to anyone but he definitely listens to his mother and beta. I know his beta won't let this case go unsolved, even if Luciano wishes to kill us. Plus, the beta thinks we didn't do it." Ana reassured me.

"How are you so optimistic about our situation?" I asked my wolf.

"One of us has to be hopeful about this. We both can't be negative, can we?" She retorted, before adding. "Let's hope the alpha agrees to investigate the dowager luna's death thoroughly, once that happens, we can gather evidence on our own to identify the killer and bring them to book." 

"You're so positive. I wish I could be idealistic like you, Ana. It'd definitely make this dire predicament I've found myself in slightly better." I sighed.

The door creaked slightly and my heart sank to the tip of my toes in fear.

"It's not Luciano," My wolf assured me. "The footsteps are light."

"Freya. Oh, my Freya." I heard the comforting voice of my best friend, that I had missed so much.

"Ivy?" I whispered as she finally came into sight.

Her face was contorted in dismay as tears freely flowed down her cheeks.

"Yes, Freya. It's me. I'm finally here, I'm sorry I didn't come earlier. Madam Svetlana and Cristina have had their whole focus on me for the past three days. I only managed to sneak in by lacing the guards' foods with a small amount of sedatives." She rambled out, crouching in front of me as she gently stroked my hand.

Just like me, Ivy was also a palace maid.

"So we have been here for three days." My wolf voiced out.

My eyes doubled in shock. "Sedatives? What were you thinking, Ivy? Do you want to get info trouble? I don't want you to be in danger because of me. So don't ever jeopardize yourself like that, okay?" 

She just scoffed and patted my legs. "I'll be okay. You, on the other hand, look like a mess in this hellhole." She shuddered, glancing around the imposing dungeon.

"Did you think I would look like a luna?" I joked lightly, expecting her to smile.

But she didn't, instead she gazed at me as if horns had suddenly sprouted out of my forehead.

"Right. We heard about that. The alpha was your fated mate. I can't even imagine what you must be going through right now, Freya. First, you were framed for the dowager luna's death. Then, her son turned out to be your mate who coldly rejected you." She said, her expression morphing into sympathy.

"It would have been strange if he had accepted me after seeing a knife with his mother's blood in my hand, wouldn't it?" I tried to make light out of my situation again, which failed woefully once more as my voice cracked at the last statement.

"What do we do, Freya? You poor thing. What do we do? How do we get out of this? Do you remember anything at all? First of all, how did you find yourself in her bedchamber?" Ivy babbled.

"One question at a time, Ivy. Please." I muttered.

She nodded. "Sorry."

"I have no idea what to do, so I'm just here awaiting my punishment. I don't think we can get out of this except we find the real murderer and expose them. I can't remember anything from that night. All I remember is that we were in the kitchen doing dishes after the dowager luna's birthday celebrations." I calmly answered.

"How can that possibly happen?" Ivy mumbled.

"I've been asking myself the same question since I was brought here. And I have no logical response for myself either."

Silence ensued briefly before Ivy shrieked.

"Oh great heavens! I knew this place was a hellhole but I never dreamed of seeing literal skeletons!" She yelped, fearfully eying the said skeletons.

"Welcome to my humble abode." I laughed, and this time, she managed a smirk.

"Right. I brought you something to eat. I had to sneak it out of the fresh batch we made this morning." Ivy divulged, fishing into the space between her breasts.

With an infectious grin, she presented a foil-wrapped bread to me.

"What would I do without you honestly?" I whispered as tears stung my eyes.

"Don't cry. Just eat. Here, I'll feed you." She said, unwrapping the bread and bringing it to my mouth, which I eagerly opened.

The moment my teeth dug into the blissful softness of the baked dough, and I savored its delectable taste, an involuntary moan escaped me.

Soon, I was done eating and afterward, I downed some water from a sachet Ivy gave me.

Glancing down at her wristwatch, Ivy sighed. "I have to leave now. The drugs are probably starting to wear out in their systems."

I felt my heart cut, but I managed a smile and nodded. "Very well then." 

Ivy also nodded before stooping to hug me. "Remain steadfast, Freya. I know you'll get through this, okay? I'll try to come see you again as soon as I get the chance."

"Okay." I smiled again as she withdrew from the hug.

One last glance after, she was gone.

And once again, I was left alone in the cold, dark hellhole of a dungeon.