Chapter 3

 Aria's POV:

 

My eyes went wide with horror. "No, you can't be serious!"

He leaned back. "Enjoy your time here, former Alpha Aria."

He turned and walked away. I banged the bars hard, screaming for him to get back and unlock this damned door!

The Crescent Pack was a menace. A true one. Their alphas collected rogues like a little girl collects dolls. The stories I had heard of Dane Seymour were not good.

I screamed out in frustration and kicked the bars hard. How did I end up here?! Was this some kind of cruel fate in store for only me?!

The cell was small and dimly lit with candles. My entire body was starting to ache from lying on the concrete floors for so damn long.

I heard the sound of footsteps and turned, hoping for Dane. But instead, it was a guard. He unlocked the door and stood to the side. 

"Get out," he snapped.

 

He can't possibly be talking to me. 

So I remained where I stood, glaring at him. He sighed and stormed inside the cell, stalking his way up to me.

"Don't you even touch...." I didn't get to finish my sentence. He grabbed my hair and pulled me out of the cell, throwing me outside. 

"When I say get out, you get the fuck out!" "Is that clear, bitch?!"

I caught myself, whipped around, and threw a punch at him. He merely shifted his head, laughing at me as he avoided the jab. 

"Seriously," he said. "Is that all you've got?"

My chest was heaving. I had already overexerted myself. And my head was aching. I felt blood trailing down my neck.

But I wasn't going to let this damn idiot disrespect me. I wasn't going to give him satisfaction.

"Not even close," I hissed.

"Yeah, right, I wish I could indulge you right now, but..." He ducked his head, dodging my punch. I felt all the air knocked out of my lungs. 

I bit my lip hard to prevent any screams from escaping. It hurt so bad that my eyes watered, and I doubled over. 

"That's what a punch feels like." The guard hissed. He grabbed my hair and pulled me up. I groaned in pain. "Can you do that? No, I thought so."

I felt my vision going blurry. My ears were starting to ring. Still, the idiot dragged me by my hair. I tripped over my foot a couple of times, trying to keep moving. 

"If this is all you've got, you won't even see tomorrow in this place." He said. 

I can't die in this place. There was so much I hadn't even done yet. Get my revenge on Logan and Darcy, please.

The guard threw me out into the open. My eyes adjusted to the light. It was an open field. 

"You're to weed every single inch of this field." The guard replied.

 

 

"And be done before sunset."

"Go to hell," I hissed at him.

 

"Oh, you're a fun one." He said. "Get to work, bitch."

I had never done such labor in my life before. I wasn't going to start now.

****

 

The next few days that followed were pure hell.

Being a prisoner in one of the most inhumane packs wasn't something I thought was a bed of roses, but I also hadn't expected it to be so brutal. 

Every day was the same routine. To get rid of his frustration, the guard on duty would use me as a punching bag. I used to fight and hit them back, but I quickly learned the difference between a real wolf and a weak one like me. So I just stopped fighting. It was easier that way. 

After that, there would be work, which could be anything evil they had come up with that day. My hands were bruised and battered from all the tedious work I had done.

I had to keep strong. I had to endure the pain and torture. If I wanted to have my revenge, I couldn't just die out in a savage pack like this. I had to survive, get back, and make those traitors pay. They were probably lounging around right now, having fun in my pack! 

I held onto that fire to keep myself alive. 

 

Every day that went by made me feel like I was losing more and more of my life force. I used to count the days, but I gave up after I counted three weeks. 

Every night I dreamt of Darcy and Logan pushing me down a cliff and laughing while they were at it. In a way, I had to thank them for this. Without their betrayal, I would have been dead. 

Or maybe I wouldn't be here at all.

"Hey you!" A guard called, hitting the bars loudly. 

"I'm not hungry for that slop." I said, "I noticed my voice sounded weak, and it was hard to speak."

"Like, I care."Get out. You've got work." He hissed. He unlocked the door and kicked it open. Damn it. These people were so violent about everything!

I turned my head slowly, and my eyes went blurry as I did.

"Work?"

"Alpha Dane has summoned you."

****

 

"The fuck do you want?" I hissed out the moment I saw Dane.

"Oh, you look like shit, Aria. What's the matter? You're not eating well."

I glared at him. "Very funny."

This place looked like a make-up room. What exactly was Dane doing here? Why did he want me here?

He walked up to me, his eyes raking over my body. He stroked his chin as if deep in thought.

"There isn't much that's impressive about you," he commented. "Except for the alpha blood you have, of course."

His words hit a sore spot in me that hadn't healed. "And your point is?"

"I'm surprised you still have it in you to still be sassy," he said with a sigh. 

A woman came rushing inside the room. She was older and had a long braid that went past her waist.

"Prepare her." Dane spoke to the woman. "She will join them on stage."

"Yes, my Lord." The woman replied. 

 

"Join who?" I asked. "What are you preparing me for?!"

He didn't reply. I hated the look in his eyes; there's no way he had good intentions. "I'll leave her in your capable hands, Maria."

"Answer me!" I shouted. "Dane!"

He completely ignored me and walked away. I turned my antics on Maria, the woman.

"What are you preparing me for?" I asked.

"Miss. Follow me." She said simply, turned, and walked into a room.

I ran after her. The room was actually a bathroom. There was a bathtub steaming in the center of it, as well as a shelf of bath products by its side. The air smelled nice, and it had been so long since I had a proper bath.

"Get undressed and enter the water." Maria said.

I scoffed and folded my arms. "There's no way I'm doing that."

"If you refuse, I'll call in the guards." I'm sure they'll have a field day bathing you. In fact, I should call them now.

 

"Guards! Come in."