Chapter 3

EIRENE

“You’re awake.”

The deep, commanding voice sent a shiver through me. My eyelids felt like they were made of lead, my body aching as if I’d been trampled by a stampede. Blinking, I forced my eyes open, my vision swimming before it slowly cleared.

A stranger stood at the foot of the bed.

Tall. Broad. Power radiated from him like a force field, his presence so imposing that my instincts screamed at me to be cautious. His sharp, storm-gray eyes assessed me with an unreadable expression. He was handsome in a severe way—harsh angles, a strong jaw, lips pressed into a firm line.

And then the scent hit me.

Alpha.

Panic flared in my chest. I bolted upright, ignoring the throbbing in my skull as I scanned my surroundings. The room was unfamiliar—large, yet cold, with stone walls and minimal furniture. No windows. Only a single door. A cage without bars.

“Where am I?” My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

The Alpha crossed his arms. “My pack.”

I swallowed hard. “And you are?”

“Aldar Storm.”

His name sent a jolt through me. Storm. The realization settled over me like ice water. Rane’s half-brother. The outcast. The one who was never meant to lead, yet carved his own path.

I forced my breathing to stay even. “Why am I here?”

“I found you in the woods. Unconscious. Alone.” His eyes darkened slightly. “With a rogue standing over you.”

A flash of memory returned—the red eyes, the feeling of helplessness, my phone shattering against the ground. My stomach twisted.

I clenched my fists. “You should have left me there.”

His gaze flickered with something—curiosity, maybe amusement. “You’re welcome.”

I hated the way my skin prickled under his scrutiny, like he was peeling back my layers, seeing too much.

He moved closer, his presence suffocating. “Why was the Alpha of the GreenWich Pack alone in rogue-infested territory?”

I flinched at the title. “I’m not their Alpha anymore.”

His expression remained unreadable. “Banishment?”

I didn’t answer.

Aldar tilted his head. “Interesting.”

There was something in his voice, something calculating. I didn’t trust it. Didn’t trust him.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the wave of dizziness that hit me. “I should go.”

Aldar let out a low, humorless chuckle. “Go where?”

I hesitated.

I had no home. No allies. No plan.

But I’d rather die in the wilderness than stay in another Alpha’s territory, under another Alpha’s control.

I squared my shoulders. “That’s none of your concern.”

He studied me, then took a slow step forward, closing the space between us. “You were half-dead when I found you. Weak. Vulnerable.” His gaze flickered to my trembling hands. “You wouldn’t make it past the border.”

I gritted my teeth. “That’s my problem.”

He sighed, shaking his head like I was a fool. “I could use you.”

I stiffened. “Excuse me?”

Aldar’s voice was calm, matter-of-fact. “A female with your skills. Your strength. You could be of use to my pack.”

I barked out a laugh, raw and bitter. “You think I’d pledge myself to another Alpha? After what I’ve been through?”

His jaw ticked. “I don’t need your loyalty. Just your cooperation.”

“No.”

A muscle in his cheek twitched. “You don’t have a choice.”

My stomach dropped.

“I saved your life,” he said, stepping even closer. “That means, for now, you belong to me.”

My heart slammed against my ribs. “I don’t belong to anyone.”

His lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smirk. “You will. Eventually.”

Rage burned in my veins. “I’d rather die.”

He didn’t flinch. “Try, then. See how far you get.”

I glared at him, my nails digging into my palms. Every instinct told me to fight, to lash out. But I was weak. Outnumbered. And he knew it.

Aldar watched me, his expression impassive. “Rest. You’ll need your strength.”

“For what?” I snapped.

He didn’t answer. He simply turned and walked toward the door.

I forced myself to my feet, my legs shaking, but before I could take a step, he spoke without turning around.

“If you try to leave, I won’t stop you.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“But the rogues outside will.”

The door shut behind him with a heavy thud.

I was trapped.

I clenched my fists, my breath ragged.

I had already lost everything.

I refused to lose my freedom, too.

I had to get out of here.

Before it was too late.

—-

BACK AT ADLAR’S QUARTER

“She’s reckless.” Elias said.

Aldar glanced at his Beta, Elias, who leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “And she will be desperate very soon.”

Elias let out a dry chuckle. “Same thing.”

Aldar turned back to the window, watching the darkened treeline in the distance. “She’ll fight.”

“Of course she will,” Elias said. “You brought a wounded wolf into your pack. A banished one. She’s not going to play nice.”

Aldar smirked. “I don’t need her to play nice.”

Elias arched a brow. “Then what do you need from her?”

Aldar didn’t answer right away. He thought of the fire in her eyes. The defiance in her stance, despite her weakened state. The way she had tried to hide the fear beneath all that rage.

He needed her for many things.

But he wasn’t about to tell Elias that.

Instead, he simply said, “Time will tell.”

Elias shook his head. “You know what they say about keeping a wild animal caged, Aldar.”

Aldar’s lips curled. “Yes.”

He turned away from the window.

“They bite.”

—-

I waited until the hall outside was silent.

Until I was sure no one was standing guard.

Then, heart pounding, I moved toward the door.

Aldar thought he had control over me.

He thought I was weak.

He had no idea who he was dealing with.

I pressed my ear against the door, listening. Nothing.

Slowly, carefully, I turned the handle.

It wasn’t locked.

My breath hitched.

I slipped into the hallway, my bare feet silent against the cool stone floor.

Freedom was within reach.

And then—

A shadow moved at the end of the hall.

I froze.

Eyes met mine.

A smirk. A whisper of amusement.

“I was wondering when you’d try.”

Aldar.

I spun on my heel, bolting in the opposite direction, my pulse hammering.

I barely made it two steps before a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against a solid chest.

His voice was low, rough against my ear.

“I told you, little wolf.”

His grip tightened.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“I am pregnant” I shot back at him.

He paused for a while, his eyes were on me and then he scoffed.

“You lost the baby when I found you last night,”  he said.

For a moment I couldn’t breathe. My body went rigid in Aldar’s grip, my mind blank except for the echoes of his words.

“No, that’s impossible.” I shoved against his chest with everything I had, breaking free from his grip just to face him. “You are lying.” My voice was barely above a whisper.

Aldar’s expression didn’t change. Cold, unyielding, his storm-gray eyes locked onto mind, unreadable. “Why would I lie?” 

My breath hitched, rage burned through my veins, white-hot and blinding. I took a step forward, my fists clenched so tightly my nails bit into my palms. “I didn’t lose my baby, you are lying to me.”

Aldar sighed and straightened his cloth which I had roughed and then gestured for one of the maids to come.

“Yes Alpha” Alora said, her head down.

“Talk,” Aldar said, his voice commanding.

“When Alpha brought you back to the pack, we found out that you were given something which made you lose your child” Alora said.

I took a step back, tears streaming down my face. “So they want me dead” I said my voice barely above a whisper, But Aldar didn’t feel for me, instead he walked back in.

Rage built inside me, hot and suffocating. “Who?” My voice was hoarse, shaking. “Who did this to me?”

Aldar didn’t answer.

I turned to Alora. “Tell me,” I demanded, my voice raw. “Who gave me the poison?”

The maid flinched, but before she could speak, Aldar cut in smoothly. “Enough.”

My head snapped toward him. “Enough?” My blood boiled at his indifference. “That was my child! And you’re telling me to stop asking questions?”

His gaze didn’t waver. “What’s done is done.”

My stomach turned.

“Watch her, if she escapes again, you will pay for it” he said, his voice cold and firm and then he walked away.. 

ALDAR’S OFFICE

The door shut behind him with a quiet thud. 

Elias, his right-hand man, leaned against the desk, arms crossed. His sharp, knowing eyes flicked to Aldar as soon as he entered.

“She’s awake?” Elias asked.

Aldar poured himself a drink, swirling the dark liquid in his glass before taking a slow sip. “Yeah.”

Elias studied him, his gaze calculating. “And she believes someone tried to kill her?”

Aldar’s lips curved slightly. “Of course she does.”

Elias sighed “How about her baby?”

Aldar set his glass down with a soft clink. He met Elias’s gaze, his voice as calm as ever.

“I was the one who made her lose the child.”

Silence.

Elias stilled, his smirk fading. “You?”

Aldar leaned back against his chair, completely unbothered. “Another Apha's child should have no place in my pack, not with the woman I want”