Chapter 24 The Hunger Strike
When I woke up, pale light was spilling through the sheer curtains, soft and golden. The rhythmic sound of the ocean filled the silence , waves crashing gently against the shore, the same comforting rhythm I’d heard since arriving here. My body still felt heavy, sore in places I didn’t want to think about, the faint scent of salt and Darius still lingering on my skin even after all the scrubbing I’d done the night before.
I blinked at the ornate ceiling for a long while, letting my breathing even out, trying to push away the confusion and exhaustion that knotted my chest. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his,that strange mix of possessiveness and something darker that seemed to anchor me and unnerve me at the same time. I hated how easily my body remembered him, even when my mind screamed against it.
There was a knock on the door, gentle but firm. I shifted upright, still wrapped in the soft emerald silk robe someone had left for me earlier. My throat felt dry when I said, “Come in.”
The door opened with a quiet click, and an elderly man stepped inside, his posture elegant and exact. His gray hair was combed neatly back, and he wore a crisp black suit that contrasted with the airy, coastal brightness of the room. Behind him came two servants, one young man and a woman, pushing a gleaming silver cart that carried what looked like a breakfast straight from a luxury hotel magazine.
The scent hit me first: warm pastries, honey, fresh berries, something buttery and golden that made my empty stomach twist painfully. I hadn’t eaten since… I didn’t even know when. The last thing I remembered before passing falling asleep last night was crying under the covers until I had no tears left.
The elderly man stopped near the foot of the bed and gave a polite, almost reverent bow. “Good morning, Luna,” he said, his voice low, smooth, practiced. “Breakfast has been prepared. The Alpha asked that you eat as soon as you wake.”
The title hit me like a slap. Luna.
The word hung in the air, heavy and wrong.
For a moment I didn’t say anything, just stared at him, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. Then I shook my head sharply. “Don’t call me that.”
He blinked, startled but composed. “Forgive me, miss, but the Alpha—”
“I said don’t call me that!” My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. The sudden surge of emotion took me by surprise, anger, humiliation, disbelief, all of it tangled inside me. “I’m not your Luna. I’m not his anything.”
The servants exchanged quick, uneasy glances. The young woman lowered her gaze immediately, while the man shifted the tray onto a table near the window. The older man’s expression softened for a fleeting second, though his words remained careful.
“Of course,” he said quietly. “My apologies, miss. I meant no disrespect.”
“Just… leave,” I whispered, pulling the robe tighter around myself as if I could hide from the entire world. “Please, just leave me alone and take your food with you”
He bowed again, lower this time. “As you wish.”
He gestured for the servants to follow him, and they did so silently, their eyes downcast. The door closed softly behind them, leaving me in the stillness once more, except now, the room didn’t feel serene. It felt suffocating.
The scent of the food filled the air, mocking me with its warmth and sweetness. I could almost imagine Darius ordering it all, assuming I’d eat because he told me to, assuming I’d play the part of something I wasn’t ready to be. My stomach growled, but I ignored it, pulling my knees up to my chest as I sat there, staring at the waves beyond the glass doors.
The ocean looked endless. Blue and silver and wild. For a heartbeat, I wished I could just run into it, feel the cold water numb everything that burned inside me.
I buried my face in my hands, my breath coming unevenly.
I didn’t want this. Any of it.
I didn’t want the fancy clothes folded neatly in the wardrobe, or the golden tub, or the endless luxury that felt more like a gilded cage than comfort. I wanted my old life, even if it was simple. I wanted Fred, I didn’t even know if he was alright.
My chest tightened painfully. I hadn’t heard a word about him since that night. I didn’t even know if Darius had gone back for him, or if he’d just left him there.
Hot tears slipped down my face before I could stop them. I hated how easily they came now. Every time I thought I was empty, I wasn’t.
There was another soft knock at the door, hesitant this time. I froze, wiping at my face quickly.
“Miss?” It was the same elderly man’s voice, quieter than before. “Forgive me, but the Alpha insisted you eat something. May I leave the tray closer?”
I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell him no. But I didn’t have the strength. My voice came out faint. “Do whatever you want.”
The door opened just enough for him to step in, rolling the tray nearer to the bedside table. He didn’t look directly at me, as if he understood that I was holding myself together by a fragile thread.
“I’ll make sure no one disturbs you,” he said softly before bowing again and leaving.
The door clicked shut once more.
I sat there for a long time, staring at the untouched breakfast. The croissants gleamed with melted butter; there was fresh orange juice, slices of fruit glistening in the sunlight. Just then the door opened and Darius walked in.
“Tell me why you refuse to eat.” He asked his face a mask of calm but I could see the concern in his eyes.
I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. The sight of the food made my mouth water, but I refused to give in. I had to stay strong.
He walked over to the cart, picking up the tray of food. “You need to eat,” he said, his voice steady but laced with concern. “You’re only hurting yourself by refusing.”
I glared at him, my resolve hardening. “I’d rather starve than stay here with you,” I spat.
He sighed, setting the tray back down. “This isn’t the way, little hybrid . You’re not going to break me by hurting yourself.”
I clenched my fists, anger boiling inside me. “Just kill me,” I said, my voice trembling. “Like you killed my father. At least then I’ll be free.”
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I saw a flash of pain in them. But he quickly masked it, taking a step closer to me. “I will never hurt you,” he said softly. “No matter how much you try to push me away.”
I slapped the tray out of his hands, the food scattering across the floor. “I don’t want your pity,” I hissed. “I want you to let me go!”
He knelt down, picking up the scattered food with a calm that only infuriated me more. “You need to understand that you place is by my side,” he said, not looking at me. “I won’t let you hurt yourself like this.”
He walked over to me, his hand gentle as he cupped my face. I tried to pull away, but he held me firmly. “You will eat,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “I will not let you hurt yourself by starving yourself.”
I felt tears welling up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Why do you care?” I whispered. “You took everything from me.”
His grip on my face tightened slightly, but his eyes softened. “Because you are my mate,” he said quietly. “And I care about you, whether you believe it or not.”
I jerked away from his touch, my tears finally spilling over. “I hate you,” I said, my voice breaking. “I will never be your mate.”
He sighed, stepping back and letting me go. “You can hate me all you want,” he said softly. “But you will eat. You will take care of yourself. Because I won’t let you die.”
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me with the mess of food on the floor. I curled up on the bed.
I would find a way to escape. I had to. But for now, I needed to stay strong, even if it meant facing him and his relentless determination to keep me here.
The door opened and I head two sets of footsteps they cleaned up the mess and left , I didn’t bother to look up, I just lay there, my mind racing. I couldn’t let him break me. I couldn’t let him win. No matter what it took, I would find a way to be free. Even if it meant enduring this hell for a little while longer.
Days passed, and I continued my hunger strike, my body growing weaker but my resolve unwavering. Each time he brought me food, I refused, pushing it away or letting it sit untouched. He grew more frustrated, but he never lost his calm, always trying to coax me into eating with gentle words and firm commands.
The elderly man whom I learnt was Bernard and the butler would visit often, begging me to eat, telling me stories about the Alpha’s kindness and how much he cared for the pack. I listened but remained silent, my hatred for him burning too brightly to be dimmed by his words.
One day, after another failed attempt to get me to eat, he sat beside me on the bed, his expression weary but determined. “You’re only hurting yourself,” he said quietly. “Please, eat something. If not for me, then for yourself.”
I turned my head away, refusing to look at him. “I told you,” I said, my voice weak but steady. “I’d rather starve than stay here with you.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re stubborn,” he said, almost to himself. “But I won’t let you die.”
He stood up, leaving the room and returning a few moments later with a different tray of food. “Bernard said you would like this” he said, setting it down in front of me. “Please, just take a bite.”
I looked at the food, my stomach growling loudly, but I refused to give in. I shook my head, pushing the tray away. “I don’t want anything from you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He knelt in front of me, his eyes searching mine. “You’re stronger than this,” he said softly. “Don’t let your hatred for me destroy you. How will you take your revenge on me if you don’t eat.”
Tears filled my eyes, and I shook my head again. “I hate you,” I whispered. “I will always hate you.”
He reached out, gently brushing a tear from my cheek. “I know,” he said quietly. “But I will never stop trying to make things right.”
With that, he stood up and left the room, leaving me alone with my conflicting emotions. I lay back on the bed, tears streaming down my face as I struggled with the bond that tied me to him and the overwhelming need to escape.
I didn’t know how long I could keep this up, but I knew one thing for certain: I would never stop fighting. I would never let him win. And one day, I would find a way to be free.