Chapter 40: Consuming

Seraphine's POV

"This is Kaelen's decision."

Her voice softened. Just a fraction.

But the message was clear.

She can't help me. Won't help me.

"I can't change it. I won't."

She walked to the door. Keys in hand.

"Wait—" I jumped up from the bed.

She stopped. Didn't turn around.

Her back was rigid. Shoulders tight.

She's holding back. Keeping herself controlled.

"You tried to run in the middle of the night."

Her voice was quiet now. Almost sad.

"You put the entire pack at risk."

A pause.

The silence louder than words.

"Did you think there wouldn't be consequences?"

I stood there. Mouth open. No words coming out.

She's right. Fuck, she's right.

I knew what I was doing. Knew the risks.

And I did it anyway.

The guilt twisted deeper.

She believed in you. They all did.

And you spat in their faces.

---

Cordelia glanced back. One last look.

Our eyes met.

For a second—just a second—I saw the woman who'd laughed with me in town.

Who'd taught me about pack traditions.

Who'd defended me when Kaelen wanted me gone.

Then it was gone.

Back to cold. Professional. Done.

"Eat your breakfast. You need strength."

Her tone softened. Just slightly.

Still cares. Can't help caring.

That makes it worse.

Then she was gone.

The door slammed shut.

The lock clicked into place.

Footsteps fading down the hallway.

I stared at the closed door.

Alone. Again. Always alone.

But this time—this time it hurt more.

Because I'd had something.

Friends. Maybe. Or the beginning of friends.

And I'd thrown it away.

---

I walked back to the bed. Slow. Numb.

Looked at the tray on the nightstand.

Bread. Eggs. Some fruit.

Simple. Clean. Like a prisoner's meal.

My stomach growled. Loud. Embarrassing.

When did I last eat?

Yesterday at dinner. Barely touched the food.

Too busy planning my escape.

Then the disaster with Kaelen. The failed run.

A whole night of trauma.

No wonder I'm starving.

The smell hit me. Fresh bread. Warm eggs.

My mouth watered.

Eat first. Think later.

I sat down. Started thinking anyway.

How do I get out of this?

Option 1: Beg Kaelen to remove the boards.

No. Fuck no. That bastard doesn't deserve my begging.

My hand went to my shoulder. The bandage.

His bite beneath it.

He wanted it to hurt. Wanted me to remember.

Well, mission fucking accomplished.

Option 2: Promise not to run again.

Even I wouldn't believe that lie.

Option 3: ...

Nothing. There's no option three.

---

My eyes drifted to the sealed window.

Those thick wooden planks. Blocking everything.

If I could turn into wind...

I closed my eyes. Imagined it.

Just... dissolve. Slip through the cracks.

No walls. No locks. No one could hold me.

Wind. Freedom. Sky.

I could almost feel it.

Then I opened my eyes.

Still here. Still trapped.

Fuck.

Grrrrowl.

My stomach made another embarrassing noise.

Louder this time. Demanding.

Fine. Food first. Freedom never.

I reached for the bread. Tore off a piece.

Stared at it.

Kaelen did this.

Locked me up. Sealed the window. Took away my freedom.

I bit down. Hard.

This is Kaelen.

Ripped off another piece. Shoved it in my mouth.

His cold eyes. His judgment.

Chewing viciously. Barely tasting it.

His bite on my shoulder. Still throbbing.

I grabbed the eggs. Didn't even use a fork.

Just scooped them up with my fingers. Shoved them in.

This is his face. His fucking superior face.

Swallowing without chewing properly.

The way he looked at me. Like I was nothing.

More bread. More eggs.

Less than nothing.

My throat hurt. Eating too fast.

Good. Let it hurt.

I reached for the fruit. Apple.

Bit into it. Hard enough to make my jaw ache.

This is Kaelen's throat.

Another bite. Juice running down my chin.

His shoulder. Where I should have bitten harder.

I was eating like an animal now.

Tearing. Ripping. Devouring.

Make it hurt. Make him hurt.

But it wasn't him hurting.

It was just me. Alone in this room.

Pathetic.

---

I grabbed the small bundle from the table.

The supplies I'd packed for my escape.

More bread. Water bottle. Some dried fruit.

My failed plan. My stupid, fucking failed plan.

I tore into the bread. Barely chewing.

This is Kaelen's control. His orders.

Swallowing it down.

This is his power over me.

The water bottle. I drained it. Fast.

Some of it spilled. Running down my neck.

This is the bond. Choking me. Drowning me.

The dried fruit. I shoved handful after handful into my mouth.

This is his mark on my neck. His bite on my shoulder.

Chewing mechanically. Tasting nothing.

This is everything he took from me.

My hands were shaking. Sticky with fruit juice and bread crumbs.

Freedom. Choice. Dignity.

I licked the plate. Almost clean.

Then collapsed back on the bed.

My stomach was full. Too full.

Almost painful.

Better. A little better.

But the rage was still there.

Simmering. Burning.

You won, Kaelen. But I'll make you pay.

Somehow. Someday.

I'll make you fucking PAY.

---

Exhaustion crashed over me like a wave.

My body was done. Completely drained.

The adrenaline from this morning. The rage. The grief.

All of it catching up at once.

My eyelids got heavy.

Just... rest for a bit...

I pulled the blanket over myself.

Curled up on my side.

The room was dark. Those wooden planks blocking most of the light.

Like a tomb. A prison. A cage.

My bandaged shoulder throbbed. My fingers ached.

My stomach hurt from eating too much too fast.

Everything hurts.

But I was too tired to care.

Sleep. Just sleep.

I closed my eyes.

The bond pulsed. Faint. Distant.

Kaelen somewhere in the house.

Angry. Controlled. Cold.

He's done with me.

The thought should have hurt.

But I was too numb to feel anything.

Except maybe—

Hatred.

Pure. Simple. Hatred.

You locked me up.

You took away my window.

You bit me. Marked me. Chained me.

My hand curled into a fist beneath the blanket.

The bandages rough against my palm.

I'll remember this, Kaelen.

Every second. Every humiliation.

And when I get out—

IF I get out—

You'll regret it.

My breathing slowed. Body relaxed.

The darkness swallowed me whole.