Page 15 of Cruel Alpha: Season One

It feelsas though time is in a vacuum. With no windows, no way of telling whether it’s day or night—or let alone howmanydays or nights—the hours just seem to run into each other.

One after another after another.

Until I begin to feel the chilled hands of insanity creeping up onto my shoulders.

The only time anyone comes down here is to bring meals or to usher me to the restroom blindfolded, with my hands and feet bound the entire way there and back. This was done for theexpress purpose of making it impossible for me to know where I am and how to escape. But what Idoknow is that I’m at the end of my rope, questioning whether I’m willing to cave to the alpha’s demands.

I want out of this cell more than I want my next breath.

The door creaks in the distance, and I’m on my feet, devising a plan as footsteps click and clack their way closer. My fingers encircle the bars, and I’m breathing like a caged animal, desperate to be set free.

First, I see a silhouette, but it looks nothing like the masked guards who occasionally visit for feedings. Then, the spread of a long, flowing dress has me backing away from the bars mere seconds before an all too familiar scent surrounds me.

Aunt Geneva.

She steps closer and strikes a match, lighting a lantern she holds into the air, using the dim, orange light it emits to get a better look at me. It’s been several days since I’ve looked into a mirror, but I’m certain I look about as bad as I feel. She confirms this with the gasp that leaves her a moment later.

“Dear gods!” she whispers. “What have they done to you? My dear, sweet girl.”

She reaches to touch me through the bars, but I recoil. “What havetheydone to me? This isyourdoing!”

Her eyes narrow and the softness in them fades. “You cannot possibly believe this is my fault. What did youthinkwould happen when you disobeyed? And am I to understand that you ran away?”

She clicks her tongue at me like I’m some wayward child in need of correction.

“Are we really pretending your greed and affinity for titles and social status aren’t the cause of me being here?”

Huffing in frustration, her eyes soften, and she somehow manages to make them water a bit. She swipes the single tearthat threatens to spill over her lashes, dabbing at her eye with her finger before her flawless makeup is ruined.

Of course.

“Annalise, we’ve discussed this, and I explained that I had nothing to do with the agreement your uncle made with the alpha. If I’d been there, if I’dknown,I would have insisted that they consider your feelings.”

I can’t resist the eyeroll when she lies straight through her perfect teeth.

“How convenient,” I scoff. “It’s so easy to say what youwould’vedone now that the matter has passed, but I think we bothknow where your loyalty lies, Aunt Geneva. It isn’t with family. Itcertainlyisn’t with me. Which leaves the one thing you care about more than keeping up appearances. Money.”

She gasps like a damsel in distress again, seemingly offended by my words, but they’re so true even hereyesgive her away.

“You can’t possibly believe that.”

A laugh slips and my head tilts. “You can’t possibly expect me not to.” My hands gesture toward the bars, and I glance around my new home. “Maybe it’d be clearerifyouspent some time here.”

Her lip quivers like I’ve wounded her, but I’m not moved.

“You’re upset,” she says. “And I can’t blame you for that. We had no idea you’d be treated this way. Look where he’s keeping you for heaven’s sake.”

I’m not buying her act. I’ve come to learn she’s a master of deceit, and I’m convinced this is merely another display of that.

“Alpha Caspian reached out this morning. In fact, he sent an official messenger of the High Chamber to our front door, if you can believe that,” she says.

There’s a twinge of excitement in her voice. I imagine the gleam that must’ve been in her eye when she answered the door to receive the alpha’s messenger, salivating over how jealous herneighbors must be at the sight of someone of such importance paying her a visit.

“The letter stated that you’ve had a tough time adjusting to your new accommodations, and he urged me to have this discussion. His hope is that I’m able to… sway you.”

My brow furrows. “Sway me?”

She steps closer, and I’m still leery of her.

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