Chapter 10: Chapter Eleven
Arielle’s POV
The iron door groaned as it was swung open, and rough hands shoved me forward back into my cell with enough force to send me stumbling to my knees.My arms, still bound behind my back,as my bare feet scraped against the cold stone floor, I barely caught myself before collapsing face first into the cold, unforgiving ground.
I was too weak to resist it in the first place anyway and once I had myself together, I rolled unto the filthy mattress in the corner.
The guards slammed the door shut behind them as they walked out and soon the cell was plunged into silence with only my ragged breathing remaining.
I curled into myself, my wrists were raw from being bound with rope or metal chains that had bound them for hours.
My head kept pounding and my limbs ached, as the truth of what had been decided settled in my bones like poison—I would have to fight for my freedom.
I didn’t even know how to fight, I had never had to do it before, maybe if I had known how I would be half as worried but I didn't.
My fingers dug into the thin, very definitely moth-eaten blanket beneath me. My entire life had been a series of impossible situations, but this?
This was the cruelest of all of them and I wasn't even joking. I clenched my jaw and tried to steady my breathing, but it didn’t help not when the walls still felt like they were closing in on me and suffocating me.
A creak from the door had me stiffening as the metallic click of heels followed, echoing through the small space.
I knew that sound.
Valerie.
I didn’t have to look up to confirm it, not when her presence—thick with arrogance, malice and venom reached me without stopping.
“Well, well, well,” she drawled, the sickly sweet edge to her voice making my skin crawl.
“Look at you. The girl who’s managed to turn Hell’s Pit into a circus.”
I kept my gaze fixed on the floor, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.
She clicked her tongue
“Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know what you’ve done.”
“Look at you. Still breathing. A shame, really I thought you would know to die and avoid all this" I didn’t respond to her because I knew better than to engage her in the first place.
But Valerie wasn’t the type who like to be ignored.
She took another step closer, then crouched beside me.
"You just had to ruin everything, didn’t you?” she hissed, her nails digging into my chin as she forced me to look up at her. I glared at her, refusing to cower to her even if I couldn't win the fight, I would at least not show my weakness to her of all people.
Her lips curled into a smirk.
“You think you’re special now, don’t you? Because he came for you?”
My breath hitched as I thought back to what had happened in the council room even though I didn't understand much of it myself.
Lorenzo—Alpha of the South.
He had come back for me, demanding my freedom and although he failed I still was grateful to him for trying at the very least.
Valerie laughed softly, shaking her head.
“I almost feel bad for you.”
I scoffed, yanking my chin from her grasp.
“No, you don’t.” I hissed and her smirk deepened.
“No, you don’t.”
Silence stretched between us before she sighed dramatically.
“You should’ve just died quietly, you know? But no, you had to make things complicated. And now the greatest Alpha alive is about to throw away his empire for you.”
My heart stopped in my chest
“What?” I stammered a little confused as her grin widened, turning wicked and sharp.
“Oh, you don’t know, do you?” She leaned in closer, her breath hot against my ear.
“Lorenzo was offered a deal. Your life in exchange for his West Coast territory.” I recoiled from her as if she had struck me and maybe she had.
I was not aware of Mafia politics but I knew exactly what the West Coast territory was and what it meant for a man with as much power as Lorenzo had.
No. That couldn’t be true.
Could it?
Valerie laughed at my reaction, her eyes gleaming with sadistic amusement.
“Poor little Arielle. You’re nothing but a burden everywhere you go. " She tutted and I winced when her nails dug into my skin.
" You are a weakness, you think men like him do things out of kindness?” She tsked.
“You’re a liability, and liabilities don’t last long.”
My head spun with questions, but Valerie wasn’t done speaking
“You’re ruining him,” she whispered, tilting her head as if she were pitying me.
“He’s one of the strongest Alphas in the world, but for some reason, he’s willing to burn everything down for a worthless little thing like you.” she has her words cutting through me like a blade.
Lorenzo had everything—power, respect, an empire that stretched farther than most could dream.
He wasn’t the type to risk it all for someone like me.
And yet… He had.
I swallowed hard, my hands trembling under my gown she was right.
Would Lorenzo really do that for me, give up his empire for?
It didn’t make sense.
The man didn’t even know me and so there was nothing trying us together at all.
But then why did he come back?
Why did he fight for me in the council chamber?
A bitter lump formed in my throat. I didn’t understand any of this.
But one thing was clear.
I was a problem.
A very big problem.
Valerie stood, brushing nonexistent dust off her expensive dress.
"Enjoy your last few days, little wolf. It’s going to be quite the show when you lose.”
She turned and walked toward the door, but before she stepped out, she glanced at me over her shoulder.
“Oh, and don’t cry too hard because Lorenzo will never choose his you over his empire ,” she added, her smirk cruel and then she was gone the heavy door slammed shut, rattling the walls.
And I was alone again.
I clenched my jaw, fighting against the hot sting in my eyes.
But it was useless before I could stop myself, the tears spilled over. I curled up on the filthy floor, wrapping my arms around myself as a hollow emptiness settled deep in my chest. I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.
Because deep down, I knew Valerie was right.
Lorenzo would choose his empire.
And I would be left to die.
The problem was I actually wanted him to.