Chapter 4 CHAPTER 004
Ari POV:
I pressed myself back into the pillows. "W-where am I?"
His eyes narrowed. "I ask the questions, not you. Who the hell are you?" Silence. "What's your name?"
I swallowed. "Ari."
He tilted his head, studying me like I was a riddle he hated but needed to solve. "Ari what?"
"Just Ari."
His lip curled. "You don’t smell like a pack wolf."
"I’m not."
"No wolf scent. You’re either hiding it… or you’re nothing."
That last word—nothing—stabbed deeper than I expected. I knew the taste of it. I’d been called worse.
"I didn’t ask to be brought here. You should have left me to die not save me," I whispered.
He didn’t flinch. "My wolf did. Left to me, I wouldn't care."
Then he turned around and stormed out, slamming the door shut behind him. No explanation, no introduction. Just a cloud of fury and tension that stuck to the air like smoke.
My heart wouldn’t stop racing. I didn’t know where I was, or who he was, but every bone in my body told me I was still in danger.
Maybe even more than before.
Later that night, the door creaked again, quieter this time.
Two maids entered, both with downcast eyes. One held a tray of food; the other carried a jug of water and a bowl of herbs.
They didn’t speak. Just set everything down carefully on the table by my bed. One of them untied my wrist straps without looking me in the eye.
"I promise not to run," I muttered.
They still didn’t reply.
The moment they left, I grabbed the bread and chewed like a wild animal. My hands shook as I drank the water, drenching my front in the process, but I didn’t care. It had been too long since I felt full.
Then, I heard a noise. Voices overlapping and yelling orders, then hurried footsteps and a scream.
Then a crash.
I froze, ears straining to listen. The sound of furniture breaking and a loud ear piercing scream. Something heavy slamming against walls. Growls that sounded deep, guttural, and angry.
The door was open and I barely had time to stand before two guards rushed past my room, shouting, "Restrain him! Inject him now!"
Another voice yelled, "It’s too late! His wolf’s taken over!"
Curiosity—or maybe insanity—made me move.
I followed the light from the bulb overhead down the hallway, barefoot and silent. The guards didn’t notice me trailing behind. They were too focused on the room at the far end of the corridor.
The door was wide open.
I slipped in behind them, pressing myself against the wall, hidden in shadow.
What I saw made my soul want to flee from my body. At the centre stood a beast. It was massive and towering. Muscles bulging beneath dark fur. Golden eyes glowing with a feral light. Chains hung from its wrists and ankles, but most of them had already snapped like thread. I felt my veins begin to pulse.
A Lycan. Not a werewolf. Not a rogue. I was amidst Lycans.
I’d heard stories—how they were stronger, faster, smarter and born killers. Beasts made from war. They ruled over packs like gods. And now one stood in front of me, teeth bared, rage pouring from every pore.
"Keep him back!" a guard yelled. "We need the shot—"
The wolf snarled and lunged. Metal clanged as more chains broke free. Panic erupted and the guards scattered. And in that moment, his eyes locked onto me. As if the world and the chaos suddenly stilled, he moved towards me fast. Before I could blink, the Lycan leapt toward me.
I screamed.
My legs gave way and I crumpled to the floor, shielding my face with my arms. I was about to die. This was it. My final breath.
But it never came. Instead… silence. Confused, I peeked through my fingers. The Lycan was right in front of me, breathing hard, nostrils flaring… but not attacking.
He was still. His massive head tilted slightly. His ears twitched. His breathing slowed.
And then, he whimpered. Everyone around us froze and gasped.
"What the hell—" a guard whispered.
I didn’t move. I couldn’t. The Lycan took another step toward me, lowering his head. His golden eyes softened, not completely, but enough to show a flicker of something other than hate. Recognition?
My trembling hand hovered in the air before landing gently against his snout. He didn't bite. He didn’t growl. He… leaned in?
And everyone lost their minds.
"No one touches the Alpha like that!" someone cried. "How is she not dead?"
But I didn’t care what they were saying. All I knew was that once again, my heart felt alive and connected to something.
◆◆◆◆
Stone POV:
The shift back to human form was always violent. It was like being yanked out of a battlefield with no warning, my bones snapping and fusing until I was gasping for air on cold stone. My body felt like it had been ripped apart and stitched back together with fire and thread.
I lay on the floor, naked, soaked in sweat and blood, none of it mine. My vision flickered. My chest heaved. And all around me, the room was filled with panic.
"Get the cape!" someone barked.
"Cover the Alpha!"
A blanket was draped over me as two warriors crouched, helping me up. I batted them away with a low snarl, still halfway between wolf and man.
"What happened?" I growled, the words clawing their way out of my throat.
No one answered immediately. They exchanged uneasy glances, each waiting for the other to speak.
I locked eyes with one of the senior guards. "I asked you a question."
He straightened, throat bobbing nervously. "You lost control, Alpha and broke through the chains. We were prepared to sedate you, but... she stopped you."
"She?"
"The girl. The one your wolf dragged in last week. She walked into the chamber... and you calmed."
My jaw clenched. That wasn’t possible. My wolf didn’t calm for anyone. Hell, he barely obeyed me. The last time I’d gone feral, it took five men and a double-dose injection to bring me down. And they were lucky they hadn’t died trying.
"You're telling me she walked into that room and my wolf just… rolled over?"
"Yes, Alpha."
I shot to my feet, blanket be damned. "Bring her to me. Now."