CHAPTER NINE

Once the Alpha signs off and my dress is finished, I am taken back to my cell. I am relieved to find Ajax is still there.

"How was it?" he asks.

"Dreadful," I say, sitting down on the edge of the cot, my hands folded in my lap.

"I'm not surprised," he says. "Brian is the worst."

"Brian?" I ask.

"The Alpha," Ajax clarifies. "His name is Brian."

"Oh," I say. "I hate him already."

"Me too," he says.

For a moment, there is a silence between us. I wonder what he is thinking.

"But you're still going to go through with the wedding?" he asks, finally.

"I have to," I say. "I don't have a choice."

Again, there is silence. I find myself wondering about Ajax and Brian-- wondering if Ajax being down here has anything to do with his hatred of the alpha.

I decide to ask. After all, he asked me about how I got here. It seems only fair for me to be allowed to ask too.

"Is Brian why you're down here?" I ask.

"Yes," he says.

He is quiet again, and for a moment, I think that's all he's going to tell me, but then, he continues.

"My father was the alpha before Brian. Brian wanted to be the alpha, he wanted control, so he killed him."

I don't know what to say to that. I could tell Brian was evil, but to kill Ajax's father...

"I'm so sorry," I say finally.

"Thanks," he says. "He couldn't risk me challenging him, so he accused me of treason and threw me in here-- as a reminder to the rest of the pack of his power. Of what he would do to anyone he saw as a threat."

"That's terrible," I say.

"It is," he says. "I've been down here for over a year now."

There is a silence between us. I wish there was something I could do to help him. I cannot even imagine being down here for a year.

I also cannot imagine being married to the alpha. Especially know that I know he's a murderer. I have to do something-- something to get us both out of here.

Just then, the guard appears at the door again.

"Come," he says. "It's time for your final fitting. Once that's done, you will stay the night in the bridal suite."

I glance at Ajax, and he nods at me.

"You can do this," he says.

"Thank you," I say.

I stand up, and follow the guard.

The dress is beautiful.

 I am absolutely stunned.  It's white, but not too white.  It's made of silk, and is more beautiful than I could have imagined a dress being.

It has lace, which I love, and a long veil.

I look like an actual princess.

"Do you like it?" the Alpha asks.

I don't answer. I can see that he is standing there, waiting for my reply.  I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of an answer.

"You may speak," he says.

I cross the room and stand before the mirror. I look at the reflection of the beautiful wedding dress.

"You may speak," he says again, and his tone makes it clear that if I don't, there will be consequences.

"It's beautiful," I say, curtly.

My tone takes him aback. I can tell by the expression on his face. I know he's expecting me to be more appreciative than I am.

"Good," he says, with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Because you will be wearing it tomorrow."

The Alpha leaves, and the guard guides me to a room where they are holding the wedding dress. They will be locking it in the room until the actual wedding, when I will have to wear it.  I'm to leave it in there until the wedding begins.

"I'll take you to the bridal suite, so you can get some rest," the guard says after I've taken off the dress.

"Thank you," I say, following him to the bridal suite.

As soon as we get there, the guard goes to leave, and that's when I see my opportunity.

I reach out and swipe the keys from his back pocket.  I keep waiting for him to notice, but he doesn't. I hear his footsteps fading down the hallway, and I decide to seize my moment.

Sneaking out of the room, I close the door behind me.

I slip out of the room, and tiptoe down the hallway, making my way quickly to Ajax's cell. As quietly as possible, I slip the key into his cell door, and unlock it.

Ajax comes out of the cell, and I touch his hand, letting him know it's okay to speak.

"I'm alone," I say.

"What are you doing here?" he asks.

"Getting you out of here," I say.

"How did you get the keys?" he asks.

"I took them from the guard," I say.

Ajax looks at me, and I can see the disbelief in his eyes.

"We have to hurry," he says.  "He'll notice they're missing soon."

I follow him down to the mouth of the cave and prepare to escape.

"We're really doing this?" he asks.

"We are," I say.

There's a note of something, a tone in his voice that I can't quite put my finger on, but I realize it's relief. I don't think he ever even let himself believe this was possible until just now.

Ajax steps outside and into the sunlight. I'm about to follow him when it hits me. I can't go.

"What are you doing?" Ajax asks. "C'mon! We don't have much time."

"I- I can't," I say, the reality of my situation still dawning. "If I go, I will humiliate the alpha. He'll never let that stand. He'll send the whole pack after me. They'll never stop coming for me-- not until I'm dead.

"I don't have a choice. I have to stay. I have to marry the alpha. Otherwise, I'm dead."