Chapter 17 Heather's POV

The air in the room felt suffocating as I tightened the robe around my waist. My hands trembled, and I fought hard to remain calm. The wooden stairs creaked beneath my bare feet, each step bringing me closer to Darren and the heavy weight of his arrogant gaze. I hated how his eyes pierced through me, like he was searching for any truth buried where I was hiding. 

I shouldn’t have drunk that much last night. Maybe, just maybe, I let something slip. Something I shouldn’t have. But who orders someone to finish an entire bottle of whiskey? Darren was losing his mind, and now I was caught in the fallout.

Why was he so desperate in finding the truth?

He sat there, poised, his elbows resting on his knees as he watched me. I felt uncomfortable as his eyes scanned me.  It wasn’t the first time his gaze made my skin crawl, but this... this was different. He was too calm, too calculated, like he already knew how this would end.

I swallowed hard and lowered myself onto the chair opposite him. My voice wavered as I asked, 

“You called for me?”

Darren didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he gestured for Kyle, his beta, to fetch a glass of water. Kyle hesitated—something I didn’t miss—but eventually placed the glass into Darren’s outstretched hand. Darren didn’t offer it to me; he just held it, his fingers tracing the rim as if contemplating something.

Kyle leaned closer to me, his voice low. 

“Are you thirsty?”

I shook my head.

“No, thank you.” My voice came out strained, barely audible. Maybe because I was afraid of how things would turn out. 

Darren’s eyes remained locked on mine, he wasn't blinking and it was…unnerving. He took a deep breath, the sound of his deep masculine hoarse voice echoing in the silent room. 

“Heather, we need to talk. And this time, I need you to be honest with me.”

Honest? My stomach twisted at the word. What did he think I wasn’t telling him?

I shifted in my seat, trying to mask my growing fear.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

His lips curled into a faint smirk. 

“You’re good at playing dumb, Heather. But not today. Today, I’m laying my cards on the table, and I expect you to do the same.”

My heart pounded against my ribcage, threatening to break it. 

What was he getting at? If this was about my background, then certainly I wasn't going to tell him a thing. 

Why couldn't he just look at me like a normal business partner? 

“I don’t understand,” I said calmly,

Darren stood abruptly, the sudden movement making me flinch. He began pacing the room, running a hand through his thick, dark hair. 

“Let’s stop pretending, shall we? You’re smarter than you let on. You know there’s something about me—something about us—that doesn’t add up.”

I stiffened my posture in my chair. He couldn’t mean—no, he wouldn’t dare.

He turned to face me, a flicker of an emotion I couldn't quite place evident in his eyes. 

“I’m the Alpha of a pack, Heather.”

The words hung in the air and he stared at me, his lips pressing into a firm line. 

I blinked, my mind racing. Of course, I knew he was the Alpha—the ruthless leader who wanted me dead for being wolfless and, unfortunately, his mate. But admitting that now would be a mistake. A grave one.

Feigning ignorance, I tilted my head.  Well, that was my best shot. 

“Alpha? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Darren’s jaw tightened. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of doubt cross his face, but it vanished as quickly as it came. 

“The Alpha is the leader of a werewolf pack,” he explained, his voice calm.

A nervous laugh bubbled out of me before I could stop it. “Werewolves? Seriously? That has to be the dumbest joke I’ve ever heard. They only exist in movies!”

His expression darkened. The air in the room grew heavier, the atmosphere charged with tension. 

 Darren leaned back on the pillar, his arms crossed, his gaze never leaving mine.

“You think I’m joking?” he asked, his tone cold. 

I was glad I didn't expose who I was last night. 

“Obviously,” I shot back, though my voice betrayed the turmoil in me. 

“Werewolves don’t exist. They’re just stories people tell to scare kids. You expect me to believe you’re some... supernatural creature? Give me a break.”

Darren smirked, but there was no warmth in it. It was the kind of smile that sent chills down your spine. He straightened and walked toward the door, locking it. My pulse quickened, my heart hammering against my rib cage. 

“Darren, what are you doing?” I demanded, my voice rising, panic surging through my veins. 

“You don’t believe me?” he asked, turning to face me.

“No,” I said firmly, though my confidence breaking under his gaze.

He took a step closer, his movements slow and calculated. 

“Then let me show you.”

Before I could respond, he walked backwards and bolted in my direction. 

“Darren?” I called, my voice trembling a bit. 

Before he got close to me, his clothes tore and he transformed into a huge grey wolf, his pupils red…just like my nightmare. Something wasn't right. 

When it was over, a massive wolf stood before me, its red eyes locked onto mine.

I froze, unable to breathe, unable to think.  Sweat trickled down my forehead, the walls felt like they were closing in. 

The wolf took a step closer, its massive paws silent against the wooden floor. Its size was terrifying, its presence suffocating.

“D-Darren?” I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.

The wolf’s lips curled back, revealing sharp, white teeth. A low growl rumbled from its throat, sending a shiver down my spine.

Watching him triggered the memories I thought I'd forgotten. The way I was chased into the woods, the way they growled and snapped their jaw. 

“Stay back,” I said, my voice barely audible. My chest heaved and I stood abruptly, stumbling against the wall.

“Please.”

The wolf stepped closer, its hot breath brushing against  my face. I couldn’t move, couldn’t run. All I could do was stare into those piercing eyes.

And then, everything went black.

My eyes fluttered open and I realized that , I was lying on the cold floor, my head pounding. Darren—human again—was crouched beside me, his expression unreadable.

“You passed out,” he said simply.

I pushed myself up, my body trembling. “What the hell was that?”

“The truth,” he replied. “The truth you didn’t want to believe.”

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. “This is insane. Werewolves don’t exist. They can’t exist.”

“But they do,” Darren said, his voice calm but firm. “You’ve known it all along, haven’t you? You’ve seen them before.”

My stomach churned with irritation. He was right, but admitting it felt like signing my own death warrant. He'd kill me without a second thought. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I ask again, who the hell are you?” he said, raising his brow.

I swallowed the lump in my throat,

“I’m just your sex doll, you aren't getting any answers from me,” I replied, my voice harsher than I intended. 

His breathing quickened, and he rose from the floor, just as he was about to react to my outburst, Kyle walked in. 

“Alpha, we need to speak,” he said calmly. 

I took a deep breath, rising from the cold marble floor, my face drawn as I walked into the shower. I didn't care how long he tortured me, all I knew was that I wasn't going to let the truth slip out. 

After I was done, I wore my panties, walking to his room to satisfy him tonight. I didn't need to be reminded. 

My knuckles rasped against the wooden frame and the door yanked open. He sat on the bed, the dim moon light casting a faint glow on his toned skin and abs, highlighting his features. 

He stared at me, his eyes piercing into my skin, his expression unreadable. Then he spoke,

“Get out!”

I flinched back, clearly taken aback by his outburst.

“You know how much I hate repeating myself, don't you?“ He said with a low growl. 

“Leave, Heather,” Kyle spoke. 

I hadn't noticed him when I walked in, all I saw was Darren's frame. I nodded slowly, retreating from the room and resting on the bed. I tried hard to fall asleep, but Darren's frame was etched in my mind. I tossed and turned on the bed till I welcomed the cold arms of sleep. 

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the heaviness in my chest, as if the weight of last night’s events had settled there permanently. 

My eyes fluttered open, the soft rays of sunlight illuminating my room, casting long shadows across the wall. I stretched and turned on the bed, before throwing my feet off the bed. 

A soft knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts. Before I could answer, the door creaked open, and Kyle stepped in, followed by Darren. The sight of him made my breath hitch.

“You’re awake,” Darren said, his tone neutral.

I steadied my breathing, my hands clutching the blanket like it could shield me from whatever was coming. 

“I won’t tell anyone,” I blurted out, desperate to reassure them. “I swear, no one will hear about this from me.”

Darren’s gaze was cold, calculating. He exchanged a glance with Kyle, whose expression was unreadable. Their glances said unspoken words and my heart sank. 

“You don’t get it, do you?” Darren said, his voice low and almost mocking. “This isn’t about whether or not you tell someone. You’re bound to us now, Heather. Forever.”

“Bound?” I asked rethorically, shifting on the bed uncomfortably. 

Kyle folded his arms, stepping closer. “Until we find out who you really are,” he added, his voice soft and threatening  “Even if it takes a lifetime.”

The room spun as their words sank in. So, there it was. My freedom—what little I had left—was gone. I clenched my fists under the blanket, my nails digging into my palms as tears stung my eyes. 

Carol. That bloody bitch. She introduced me into this life, now I was their prisoner. 

“We just came to check if you were awake,” Kyle added, walking out of the room.  Darren glared at me before walking out of the room with a confident smirk, shutting the door, the loud echo amplifying my thoughts. 

An hour later, I dragged myself downstairs, my feet heavy like lead as I descended. Darren and Kyle were sitting in the living room, the low hum of the TV settling in the atmosphere. Darren barely glanced at me as I entered, but Kyle’s eyes rested on my body,  a flicker of something resembling concern crossing his face.

“I’d like to ask for a favor,” I said, my voice trembling.

Darren’s head snapped toward me, his expression hardening.

“Speak.”

I swallowed, my throat dry.

“I want to visit my friend. She’s in the hospital… She’s—” My voice cracked, but I forced myself to continue. “She’s dying of cancer.”

For a moment, there was silence. Darren’s gaze narrowed, his eyes cold, clearly showing his lack of interest. 

“And why would I care about that?” he asked, his tone laced disdain.“Get the fuck out of my face.”

The words hit me like a slap, but I stood my ground, tears racing down my face. “Please,” I whispered.

Darren turned back to the TV, not interested in what I said. 

But then Kyle spoke up

“Darren,” he said, his tone calm. “It’s just a visit. She’s not asking for the world.”

Darren sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“Fine,” he said finally, his voice cold. “But on one condition. Kyle goes with you. I’m not leaving you unsupervised.”

Relief washed over me, but it was temporarily. I nodded quickly and turned on my heel, rushing upstairs to change.

I chose the nicest outfit I could find, something that didn’t scream “prisoner” or “broken.” By the time I made it back downstairs, Kyle was waiting by the door, keys in hand. Darren didn’t even glance in my direction as we left.

The ride to the hospital was quiet. Kyle didn’t say much, and I didn’t have the strength to fill the silence. My mind was consumed with thoughts of Lillian—my best friend. The one person who had always been there for me, and now, she was slipping away.

When we arrived, the sterile scent of the hospital hit my nostrils.The fluorescent lights brushed against my skin as Kyle and I walked down the corridor to her room.

My breath caught when I saw her. Lillian looked so small, so fragile. Her once vibrant skin was pale, her cheeks drawn She gave me a weak smile as I approached, and I forced myself to return it, though my heart was breaking.

Watching her made my heart bleed. 

“Heather,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I sat beside her, taking her cold hand in mine. “I’m here,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Lillian chuckled weakly, a sound that was far from comforting. 

“I really did it this time, didn’t I?”

“Don’t say that,” I replied quickly. “You’re going to be fine. We’ll get the money for the surgery—”

“Heather,” she interrupted, her tone gentle but firm. “I have four days, maybe less. Let’s not pretend.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I shook my head. “Don’t say that. You can’t give up.”

She smiled faintly. “I’m not giving up. I’m just accepting reality. And honestly? I don’t regret it. I made my choices, and I’ve made peace with them.”

Her words shattered me. We sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, our hands held together as I tried to memorize every detail of her face.

When I couldn’t hold back the sobs any longer, I bolted from the room, tears streaming down my face as I ran back to the car, Kyle joined later.

The ride home was more quiet than before. I stared out the window, watching the city blur past as silent tears rolled down my cheeks. Kyle didn’t say a word, but I could feel his eyes on me every now and then.

When we pulled into the parking lot, I opened the door, eager to escape from everyone and bury myself with sob. But just as I stepped out, Kyle’s voice stopped me.

“Heather,” he said, and I turned to face him.

“What?” I asked, my voice breaking. 

He hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I’ll pay for the surgery. But you can’t tell Darren.”

My breath caught. “You’d… you’d do that?”

He nodded. “Lillian doesn’t deserve to die because of this.”

Before I could respond, the sound of the mansion’s door slamming made us both turn. Darren was walking toward us, his expression unreadable as always.

“What the hell are you two discussing?” he demanded.