Page 48 of Claimed By the Alpha

Only first, I had to know my way around here because this place was a damn maze. I lost count of the times we took a turn.

“You have to be more careful if you want to survive in this place.” Finlay’s words lured me back, and my irritation about this entire situation made me snap back.

“I’m not going to be given away to some other Alpha because my brother says so,” I spat.

His strides slowed, and he glanced back over his shoulder. “You mean your true mate,” he sighed.

“I have already found my true mate, and his name is Isaac Blackwood.”

His jaw ticked, anger stormed through his eyes, and smoke covered his skin.

“What did he ever do to you that you hate him so much!”

He remained silent and ushered me into one of the rooms, locking the door behind us. My gaze took it in, mesmerized by the beauty of it all. Gold and red painted the walls, a massive bed centered, and double doors on the other side leading to what looked like a balcony.

But the beauty didn’t hide the emptiness. No mirrors, no other furniture than the bed. It was a prison, my prison.

“Blackwoods destroyed this place, they were the first to get banished.”

“Banished?” I didn’t want to sound too eager, and I wandered around the room, feeling the walls with my fingertips, not a speck of dust to be felt.

“Every creature that lives outside this place is a descendant of a banished bloodline. Their ancestors had committed a crime that was too severe to let them stay here.”

“So, because Isaac’s great-great-great-grandfather did something bad, he isn’t allowed to come here.”

He huffed. “No, Isaac did.”

My brows knitted, and I turned. “You aren’t making any sense now.”

He leaned back against the door, contemplating what to say next. “You just have to trust me that Isaac is worse than your brother.”

“No, because Isaac never hurt me as my brother did.”

“Not yet, but he will.” His words were simple, not a trace of emotion, as if he was speaking facts.

“No, he won’t.”

“He doesn’t have a choice, it al—”

He swallowed his last words; his eyes gave it away. He almost said something he shouldn’t have.

“Finlay?” I pressed, desperate for more.

“Just stay here.” Pushing himself off the door, ready to leave me.

“Do I have a choice?”

With the doorknob in hand, he sighed. “I’m sorry.” And with that, he left, leaving me in this hollow prison, alone with my thoughts.

The sound of the lock echoed around me, and I remained rooted on the spot. I needed a plan, something to get me closer to my freedom.

I needed Conner first. I knew he was here in this Realm. And with him by my side, we would get to Isaac.

But how could I leave this room? With caution, I moved to the door and stupidly wiggled the nob. I knew it was locked, but I had to try.

Locked.

The bed wouldn’t give me anything. The bathroom was probably the same, so the balcony was left.

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