207- Back to the Cage, Back to the Beginning
POV Elowen Grimwald:
Back to the cage and back to square one.
Aldren’s bathroom had access through two doors, one from the cage and one from the outside. Obviously, the one that would allow me to reach the external area had been locked. My real curiosity was discovering why he had something like that inside his own bedroom.
Besides me, had there been other prisoners?
Luckily, water wasn’t charged in the middle of the forest, otherwise Aldren’s bill would skyrocket to astronomical values—and I would be the declared culprit. Not even my ten cold showers a day eased my fever.
Three days without any visit from him, my existence had become torment. According to the information I had, my heat should have ended in seven days, but the suffering had continued for more than ten.
And it was worse. Much worse.
Even without taking the herbs, I was free of heat and blood, as if the gods had granted me that gift out of pity. But it was enough to stand face-to-face with that alpha for my body and mind to derail like a runaway train.
Lying on the floor, cooler than the mat, I spotted the uniformed silhouette of my dear Nerin. She would hate me just as much when I killed her alpha; our friendship, which probably existed only in my head, would not survive that canonical event.
In silence, she unlocked the cage with her own fingerprint and gestured for me to come out. I could have cried with happiness if I could open one of those windows and feel the wind hit my face and body.
“Here.” She extended her palm as soon as I stepped out, revealing a large brownish pill.
“What is this?”
“Anti-heat in pill form. Aldren doesn’t know I’m giving it to you, so this stays between us.” I crossed my arms and refused, making her frown. “Do you prefer to continue in this suffering, Elowen?” She closed her palm and let her hand fall to her side.
“I’d rather not do something in secret, get fucked, and still fuck my sister by default,” I blurted out.
Her confused expression showed me she knew nothing about me having a sister. I felt relieved on one hand, but worried on the other. Had Aldren lied and made an empty threat?
That bastard played me?
“Let me see if I understand now—the young lady doesn’t do anything anymore that goes against the alpha?” She used an amused tone.
“Exactly.” Let her run and tell him.
“Interesting. Well, take it already.” She extended her hand again.
“No!”
“He knows, dear. This was a test.” I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Nerin? Are you sure?”
“Don’t make me waste time, Elowen.”
I grabbed the pill from her hand and shoved it down my throat without even grabbing a glass of my water. I couldn’t wait to be rid of that torment, of waking up soaked, and of all the erotic dreams I had about Aldren.
“Where is he…?” I asked after forcing myself to swallow.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Just curious…” I hid the fact that having him make me angry made my days less monotonous.
“Aldren is very busy, taking care of the list for the next lust party.”
Lust par-ty?
“Since you’re an angel, Nerin, you’re going to tell me what that party is like…” I dared to squeeze her thin cheek affectionately.
“The name is self-explanatory. Enjoy a few hours outside your cage.” She hurried to leave, planning to make me curious.
“Can I open the window and get some fresh air?”
“Put some clothes on first,” she countered, slamming the door in my face.
Anxious, I went to my small pile of new clothes on top of the coffee table and grabbed a knee-length dress, already hoping that the heat would pass.
Eagerly, I slid open the dark glass windows, craving fresh air.
The sensation of freedom, even if limited by the window, wrapped around me like a pleasant embrace.
The cool autumn air invaded my lungs, laden with the singular aroma of dry leaves and a subtle hint of wet earth, which blended uniquely with the distinct scent of the palm trees surrounding Aldren’s house.
An invisible blade tore through the veil of calm that had momentarily enveloped me, and a suffocating tachycardia consumed me.
The wretch, majestically beautiful in his muscles and nearly two meters tall, wearing his usual tight tunic, jeans, and boots, approached the palm trees, talking to what looked like one of the guards who took turns at my former cage.
My eyes were drawn to him with an impossible force to control. His presence dominated the landscape, even from a distance.
I was hostage to an infernally attractive male.
Could I take a little taste before killing him…?
Even from afar, I moistened my lips as I watched how his clothes fit his body, outlining every muscle. And as always, my caged she-wolf grew increasingly frantic against the barriers that confined her.
He had, in theory, killed for us; it was obvious that this would weigh more than any humiliation for her. Idiotic creatures.
The anti-heat gave me no sign of taking effect, because it was enough for me to see him for something insatiable to grow stronger inside me.
The moment he lifted his head and scented the air, until he finally found me at the window, I swallowed hard and had to deal with a tremor hitting my legs.
The little smile he gave—the damn corner-of-the-mouth smile—summoned the creature within me.
Aldren became the epicenter of an internal hurricane I barely understood. The architect of my torment. The reason I wished to live in hell and still dance among the flames.
I kept my composure, at least from the waist up, where he could see, and waved cordially at him. He looked away, but kept the smug smile.
All I had left was the certainty that I needed to end Aldren—or he would be the one to end me.