Chapter 17 Chapter 17
ADRIANA'S POV
"Aiden!" I called out in a shaky voice, tears streaming down my face.
The guards that were locking him in turned around and looked at me in shock, but I didn't care about them. I was looking at the locked
door in front of me, I couldn't really see the inside and it made my anxiety skyrocket but I saw him.
I had no idea what they were doing to him there and i didnt want to think about it.
"What are you doing here?" one of the two buff guards asks harshly..
"Please, Miss," the other said, his voice shaking. "You have to leave. It's not safe here. The Alpha will not be happy to find you here."
I hesitated, my heart racing with fear. I knew that I should leave, that I should get as far away from there as soon a possible before Xander gets notified. But I couldn't leave without making sure Aiden is fine.
"I can't leave," I said, my voice firm. "I won't leave Aiden here. He needs my help." The guard looked at me with desperation in his eyes.
The other stayed, silently glaring at me.
"Miss, please," one of them begged. "You can't help him. Donavan will kill you both if you stay. You have to leave while you still can." I bit my lip, torn between my sense of duty and my survival instincts. "The order is from Alpha Xander. Please do not interfere." "Please, let me see him," I pleaded with the guards, my heart racing with fear and desperation. "I just want to make sure he's okay." The guard looked at me sympathetically while the other looked annoyed, I did myself a favor of not looking at him. Neither of them moved or showed any indication that they would help me.
"I'm sorry, miss," he said, his voice gentle. "The alpha's order was for him to be secluded, so we can't let you see him."
"But I demand that I see him!" I cried out, tears streaming down my face.
The guards looked at each other, uncertain. I could see the conflict on their faces, and I knew that they wanted to help me but no one
wanted to cross Alpha Xander, for a stranger no less.
"Please," I begged, my voice shaking with exaggerated emotion. "You have to let me see him." The guards looked at each other again,
and then one of them nodded.
The mean one shot him a glare which he ignored, thankfully.
"Okay," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You can see him, but you have be quick. And you can't tell anyone that we let you
in."
I nodded and quickly walked into the cell when they moved away, giving me room.
The sight that greeted me was horrific, almost immediately bile rose up to my throat. I pushed the feeling down and tried to run to
Aiden, but my feet refused to move.
He was lying on a table, his body writhing in pain as the torturer worked on him.
The torturer was using a variety of instruments, each one more cruel and twisted than the last. I watched as blood dripped from Aiden's
wounds, and I could hear his pained moans echoing off the walls.
I couldn't stand to see him suffering like this. I had to do something.
I rushed forward and grabbed the torturer's arm, pulling him away from Aiden.
"Stop!" I yelled, my voice shaking. "Leave him alone!"
He looked at me with a sneer, his eyes filled with hatred.
"You have no right to interfere," he spat, trying to pull away from me. I held on tight, determined to protect Aiden.
"I won't let you hurt him anymore," I said, my voice strong. I didn't know where I got the courage from but I was happy about it.
The torturer laughed in jest and sneered at me again, but he finally relented and stepped away from Aiden.
I breathed a sigh of relief, my heart racing with emotion.
Aiden collapsed to the ground. Only then did I notice the man had set him free. I rushed to his side, cradling his head in my lap.
"Aiden," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "What have they done to you?"
He looked up at me, his eyes filled with pain. "Adriana?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You shouldn't be here. It's not safe. Leave immediately." he stuttered in a weak
voice.
I shook my head, trying to find my voice.
"I don't care," I said, brushing back the tears.
I was startled from behind by a sudden, dark aura that sent shivers down my spine. I froze, my heart racing with fear as I turned to see
who was behind me.
Donavan stood there, his face twisted with anger and hatred. His eyes were dark and cold, malevolence radiated off of him in waves,
filling every corner of the small room. He was talking to the guards, his voice low and menacing. Fear was evident in their eyes as they
cowered before him.
"Adriana?" I heard Aiden's weak voice from behind. "Run!"
It registered but I could do nothing as the evil aura emanating from him made me freeze in fright.
"What have you done?" Donovan growled, his eyes narrowed into slits. "How could you let her in here?"
He growled, his voice filled with menace.
"And why the hell is he still alive?" He snapped, shooting Aiden a scornful glare. The guards looked at him nervously, their faces pale
with fear.
"We-we were ready to carry out your orders," one of them stammered, his voice shaking with fear. "B-but she stopped us." Donavan's face twisted into a snarl, and he took a step towards the guards, his fists clenched at his sides.
"And what were you supposed to do?" he asks, his voice soft but deadly. "She was in the way of a direct order, you should have fucking
killed her too. She wants to be with her lover, you kill them both and keep their bodies together."
"We're sorry, sir," one of them said, his head bowed. "We didn't know what to do. She insisted on seeing him, and we couldn't say no."
Donavan stared at the man that spoke, his lip curling in disgust.
"Right." Donovan said with a nod, like he understood them.
One second he was standing and nodding, the next he was lunging at the man. His fingers suddenly transformed into claws.
The sharp, deadly points glinting in the dim light. They sliced the man's face, making him cry out.
The only thing I heard after that was a series of cries and swift movement.
It ended almost as soon as it started and when he appeared in the doorway again, he was bloody.
The guards lay dead at his feet, their bodies mutilated and bloodied and beyond recognition.
Bile rose up to my throat.
"Go, run." Aiden still whispered, his voice weaker than it was before.
This time, I heeded to his warning and got up, leaving him on the floor though it pained me to do so.
There was no way for me to run with Donovan standing right outside the door, I found myself moving back.
"You see what happens to those who defy me?" he hissed, his voice dripping with venom.
I swallowed when he took a step forward and entered the cell, without waiting to think, I ducked and ran out through his side.
He wasn't expecting me to move so I had that.
My heart raced with fear and adrenaline as I fled down the corridor. Again with no direction in mind except the survival instinct that
was pushing me.
The sound of Donavan's footsteps behind me grew louder and louder as he approached. I had to get away from him before it was too
late, I forced my legs to start moving faster, beyond their limit.
I could hear him so close, almost like he was right behind me.
Something urged me to turn and look back, I knew I shouldn't but I could not stop myself.
I made a sound at the back of my throat when I noticed how close he actually was, if he wanted he could reach out and grab me.
I faced forward, more determined to get out of there but it was too late.
Donavan reached out and grabbed me, pulling me to him in an instant.
His hands wrapped around my throat as he squeezed with intent.
I gasped for air, my vision going black as I struggled to break free.
Donavan was too strong and I had no hope.
This is it, I'm going to die. I thought, my eyes welling with tears.
Black dots danced in my vision, my lungs feeling tight.
I could feel my body giving up and losing weight in his hold.
Just as I was about to lose consciousness, Donavan's grip on me loosened and I collapsed to the ground. My chest heaved as I tried to
catch my breath.
When I looked up, I saw Donavan standing over another guard, his face twisted with anger and hatred.
"How is nobody in this fucking place competent?!" he roared at the guard who looked as fear stricken as I felt.
"You-"he lifted the guard off the ground and threw him across the room, his body crashing into the wall with a sickening thud.
Donavan killed the guard mercilessly, the others that were standing met the same fate.
He was like a monster, unhinged and seeking blood.
I tried to back away, but my feet seemed rooted to the spot. I couldn't move, couldn't even scream. I was frozen with terror, my heart
racing in my chest. And then Donavan turned to me, his eyes blazing with hatred and a promise. Telling me I was next without even uttering the words.
He watched me, like a predator hunting his prey. Then he lunged at me, his claws extended and ready to strike. And I was trapped, with
nowhere to run. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the worst. I opened my eyes, expecting to see the cold, empty void of death. But instead, I saw Donavan's face hovering over me, his eyes blazing with loathe.
"You thought you could escape me, didn't you?" he sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "Well, you were wrong. I'm going to kill
you, just like I killed those guards." I tried to back away, but I was trapped, my body pinned to the ground.
I tried to force my lips apart and even plead for my life, no words made it out. Only a small whimper as my body racked with sobs.
Donavan released a dark chuckle, a cold and cruel sound that sent shivers down my spine.
"I knew you were trouble when i first saw you, too fucking stupid for your own good." he taunted. "Leaving with the bad alpha, what
did you think? He was going to fall for you?"
I wanted to shake my head but my body had already given up on following my commands so I just sat there.
"You're even more stupid than your father who thought to hand you over to Xander."
I thought of my father and brothers, wondering what they would say if they heard of my death.
They'll probably laugh and call me stupid, useless girl that couldn't keep herself alive for even three days. They will also be happy that
they didn't have to live with the knowledge of such a failure being related to them.
"I should teach you a lesson, but I won't kill you," he said, his voice taunting. "Not yet, at least. I have a better idea." He bent down and whispered in my ear, his voice low and menacing. "I'll tell Xander that I caught you with your lover," he said, his
voice dripping with malice. "And then, I'll let him decide your fate. I'm sure he'll be delighted to know that his precious mate is nothing more than a traitorous whore."
I gasped, shaking my head, my heart raced with fear at the thought of Alpha Xander. He scared me more than Donovan does for some
reason.
Maybe because I've seen how calculated he is in his torture or because he won't hesitate being an end to me. No one would question
him.
I looked up at Donovan who had a small smile on his face, realizing more and more how powerless I was.
I was at his mercy, and there was nothing I could do to escape his grasp.
He played me, I'm only just realizing now. He orchestrated all of this because he knew I would fall for it. And I didn't even think twice
before falling into his trap