Rune’s POV My hand gripped the glass tightly, the coolness of the liquor doing little to temper the heat of my rage. I tossed back another shot, the burn sliding down my throat, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough to drown the thoughts of her—Alora. One of the maids stood trembling by the bar inside my study, her hands shaking as she hurried to refill my glass the moment I emptied it. I didn’t have to look at her to know she was terrified, her fear radiating off her in waves. But I didn’t care. Alora. She hadn’t broken down. Despite everything, despite the dungeon, the cold, the humiliation… she was still defiant, still stubborn, still that infuriating little shit. My skin itches with the need to break her, to finally see her crumble before me.I was so lost in the imagery that I didn’t hear them enter at first. My father’s deep voice cut through the haze in my mind, pulling me back to the present.My father’s deep voice cut through the haze in my mind, pulling me back
Alora’s POV I forced down a piece of stale bread. Each bite felt like sawdust in my mouth, sticking to my throat. The water I used to wash it down was lukewarm and metallic-tasting, but I swallowed it anyway, forcing myself to eat for the strength I needed to survive another day in this hellhole. Every fiber of my being was on edge, my senses heightened to every sound, every shift in the air. I need to eat this meal to survive no matter what. I must survive. If not for myself, then for Sienna. It was quiet, save for the distant echo of dripping water and the soft, shallow breaths coming from Sienna, who was still asleep beside me. The door to the dungeon had creaked open earlier this morning, but nothing had come of it. No guards, no food, just the slow, torturous reminder that we were still prisoners, still at the mercy of Rune’s whims. But this time… something felt different. I paused mid-bite, the dry bread suddenly impossible to swallow as my stomach twisted in
Alora’s POV Rune's eyes shifted from me to Sienna, his expression softening into something almost pleasant. The shift was so sudden, so jarring, that it made my stomach churn. “Sienna, isn’t it?” Rune’s voice was smooth, disarmingly gentle as he addressed her. He crouched down to her level, his movements slow and deliberate, like he was trying not to startle a frightened animal. “I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this. You must be very confused right now.” Sienna, still shaken but visibly relieved by his seemingly kind demeanor, nodded slowly. Her eyes darted between Rune and me, searching for reassurance, for some kind of explanation that could make sense of the situation we were in. “I… I don’t understand why we’re here,” she said, her voice trembling. “Alora didn’t do anything wrong. We were just… we were just…” She trailed off, unsure how to finish, and Rune took the opportunity to soothe her further. “I understand,” he said softly, his tone almost fatherly. “It must have
Rune’s POV As I spoke to Sienna, I could feel Alora's gaze burning into me from across the dungeon, her glare sharp enough to cut through the thick tension that hung in the air. Without fully turning to face her, I caught her expression in my peripheral vision, a mixture of defiance and raw anger. The sight amused me more than it should have. Even in this grim setting, with her hair limp and her once-sweet scent tainted by days of captivity, she managed to look downright adorable in her fury."Stay away from my friend! You bastard." She yelled angrily. I almost had to admire her spirit, even as I found it infuriating. But for now, I kept my focus on Sienna, who sat before me, still shaken but slowly coming around to my supposed kindness. I continued to speak to her in the most soothing tone I could muster, like I was comforting a wounded animal. She was actually a nice girl, with a softness in her that contrasted sharply with Alora's fiery defiance. Maybe that's why th
Alora’s POV After Rune left the dungeon, I felt the fury rise within me like a storm I couldn’t control. My whole body trembled, shaking from the sheer force of my anger and frustration. How could he just leave like that? He came down here, teased me with his presence, made me believe he was going to end this nightmare once and for all (even though in cruel ways) and then he just walked away. The anticipation of the moment had wound me so tight that now, with him gone, it felt like my insides were going to snap. I wanted to do so many things but I am restrained. I can’t do shit. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but all I could do was sit there, my hands balled into fists, my nails digging into my palms until they drew blood. So much dirt beneath my nails I feel dirty myself. It hurt, but the pain was nothing compared to the anguish of being trapped here, at his mercy. This was why I wanted to escape. He has no mercy. He lacks simple humanity and I hate him. This wasn’t
Rune’s POV I leaned back in my chair, the leather creaking softly beneath me, as I fixed my gaze on the CCTV screen in front of me. The monitor displayed a live feed of Sienna, who was being escorted through the halls of our pack house. Her wide eyes darted around, taking in every detail of her surroundings, and I could almost see the wheels turning in her mind as she tried to process where she had been brought. The Arctic Canines pack house was a marvel, and I took no small amount of pride in it. Situated in the heart of the second most powerful pack in the entire werewolf world, it was more than just a residence, it was a telltale to our power and our wealth. The towering stone walls, intricately carved with ancient symbols of our lineage, reflected the history and strength of our pack. The vast corridors, lined with priceless artwork and rich tapestries, spoke of generations of prosperity and dominance. My father’s influence was evident in every corner of the pack house. He
Rune’s POV I watched as Sienna continued to eat, her pace slowing as she gradually satisfied her hunger. The room was quiet except for the soft clink of silverware against plates. I let her have a few more moments of peace before I spoke, knowing full well that what I was about to say would shatter any sense of comfort she might have found in this place. "As much as I would like to see to it that you are thoroughly washed and in better condition," I began, my voice slicing through the silence, "there's something we need to discuss first." She froze mid-bite, her eyes darting up to meet mine, the last remnants of bread clutched in her hand. I could see the flicker of uncertainty in her gaze. I enjoyed that moment, the second before everything changed, when she was still hopeful, still unaware of what was to come. I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on the desk as I regarded her. "I’m going to be upfront with you, Sienna. I’m using you as bait." Her fork clattered onto
Alora’s POV Rune allowed me to rot in that wretched dungeon for two more agonising days. Each passing hour felt like an eternity, every second of which fueled the fury burning within me. I’d always known he was a monster, but this—this was something else. This was cruelty of the most calculated kind, and with each tick of the clock, my hatred for him grew like a relentless storm, threatening to consume me whole. The thought of him made my blood boil. I imagined tearing him limb from limb, savouring the image of feeding him to the rogues that he so despised. It was the only thing that brought me any solace in that dark, suffocating cell. Sienna. Was she being treated kindly? Or was she experiencing Rune’s twisted version of kindness, the kind that felt like a knife in the gut when you least expected it? But there were no answers, only more questions. Something about Sienna is off. I can feel it. I should have felt it since that day. I was lying on the floor when I h