Chapter 33 Chapter 33
Anya’s POV
I tried to fight him. I steeled myself, glaring up at him, and pressed my hands against his bare chest to push him away. I opened my mouth to challenge him, to scream, to tell him no.
But the words never came.
The adrenaline that had been keeping me upright for the last twenty-four hours simply... evaporated. The exhaustion didn't creep up on me; it hit me like a physical blow. My vision blurred, turning the edges of the world gray. My knees buckled, turning to water.
I pitched forward, dead weight.
"Anya..."
He whispered my name, the lust in his voice instantly replaced by confusion and alarm.
But I was already gone. I felt his powerful arms catch me, scooping me up before I could hit the ground, pulling me against his warmth. I couldn't fight anymore. I couldn't argue. I couldn't even keep my eyes open.
My head lolled against his chest, the steady thrum of his heartbeat the last thing I heard.
Oh, damn it, I thought fuzzily as the darkness took me. I really... need... some sleep.
My eyelids fluttered open, heavy with the remnants of a deep, dreamless sleep. For a fleeting second, the warmth and softness of the bed lulled me into a sense of safety.
Then, the scent hit me. Pine, rain, and masculine musk.
My eyes snapped wide open. The ceiling was high and familiar. The crushing realization landed on my chest like a physical weight: I was back. Back in the hellhole I had tried so desperately to escape.
I took a sharp, shaky breath and slowly pushed myself into a sitting position, wincing as my muscles protested. I turned my head, expecting to be alone.
I froze.
Alpha Kai was there.
He was lying right next to me, propped up on one elbow, his golden eyes alert and watching me. He wasn't asleep. He looked like he hadn't slept at all.
My heart is beating so fast! He was here all night? Beside me? While I was unconscious?
My hands flew to my chest, checking my clothes. Did he...?
"So... all night... nothing happened... right?"
The words tumbled out of my mouth before my brain could filter them.
"No," he answered, his voice a morning rasp that sent a shiver down my spine. "Nothing happened."
I gasped, my hand flying to cover my mouth as I realized I had spoken my internal panic aloud. I swallowed hard, my face heating up. I tried to regain some composure, shifting away from him to the edge of the massive bed.
"Are you..." I hesitated, my voice small. "Are you going to keep me here for... twenty-eight more days? Until the ritual?"
He reached out, his fingers toying with a loose strand of my hair.
"Yes," he confirmed, "Since you tried to escape... I will keep you here. I intended to keep you only until the ritual, or until I grew tired of you."
He paused, letting the strand of hair slip through his fingers, his gaze dropping to my lips.
"But it seems," he murmured, a dark confusion clouding his eyes, "that I cannot get tired of you. You continue to mesmerize me... mysteriously."
What is wrong with him?
He stood up, gesturing toward a garment draped over the chaise. "Get dressed. We're going to the orphanage today. I intend to find out exactly where the hell you came from."
"The... orphanage?" I stammered, blinking in confusion.
He tilted his head to the side, a deceptively innocent gesture—like a curious puppy—that stood in terrifying contrast to the predator lurking in his eyes.
"Yes. You heard me," he said, his tone dry. "But before that, let's get you some food."
He turned on his heel and strode to the door, walking out without a backward glance.
I picked up the dress he had left. It was beautiful, yes, but the moment I slid the silk over my head, I knew it was a trap. It was scandalously tight, hugging every single curve of my body like a second skin.
The neckline was dangerously low; my breasts were practically spilling out with every breath I took.
I tugged uselessly at the fabric, my face heating up. "Did he do this on purpose?!" I scoffed angrily at the empty room. "Of course he did."
I spun around as the heavy door creaked open. Kai had returned, followed by two omega servants. They kept their heads bowed so low their chins touched their chests, trembling visibly as they set a heavy food tray on the table.
They didn't dare look at me or the Alpha; they simply placed the food and scurried out backward, terrified to even breathe the air in his chamber.
Kai ignored them completely. He walked toward me, his pace slow. His burning gaze started at my feet and traveled up, lingering heavily on my exposed chest, drinking in the sight of me in the dress he had chosen.
He stopped in front of me, a dark satisfaction in his eyes.
"Eat."