Page 50 of Knot Shattered
Riven shook her head, her expression turning more serious. “They’re keeping us waiting and wearing us down. It’s psychological warfare. But honestly? I think you’ve got them worried. Usually, one of us would have been taken to fight by now.”
Violet smiled darkly, a flash of menace in her eyes. “They should be.”
A gentle shuffle of footsteps echoed softly down the corridor. Moments later, the same beta woman appeared again. She was quiet, almost timid, her dark eyes never meeting ours as she took the trays away. The bruises on her wrists and the faint tremble of her hands didn’t escape my notice.
I hesitated briefly before softly addressing her. “What’s your name?”
She flinched slightly, clearly surprised at being spoken to, her dark eyes flicking quickly to my face before lowering again. “Lena,” she murmured, voice barely audible.
“Thank you, Lena,” I said gently, offering her the kindest smile I could manage. “We appreciate the food.”
She looked startled, as if kindness was foreign here, then quickly moved on to the next cage without a word.
Fallon sighed heavily, shaking her head. “If we’re here much longer, I’m going to forget what actual hot food tastes like.”
“At least we know one thing for sure,” Violet mused, casually inspecting her chipped black nails. “Our alphas are probably losing their minds right now. I almost feel bad for whoever stands in their way.”
Fallon grinned wickedly, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Almost.”
Riven snorted quietly from her cage, her eyes meeting mine, something warm and fierce passing silently between us. She nodded once, her smirk playful but resolute. “Alright, count me in. I’ll join your ridiculous bet. I need something to look forward to.”
I grinned broadly, feeling strangely hopeful despite our surroundings. “Welcome to the dark side.”
She rolled her eyes fondly. “Pretty sure I crossed that bridge when I laughed at your murder jokes.”
Fallon cackled gleefully, rubbing her hands together with dramatic flair. “Oh, this is going to be fantastic. First one to five hundred wins.”
Violet arched an elegant brow. “Wins what, exactly?”
Fallon paused thoughtfully. “Eternal bragging rights, obviously.”
“I’m in,” I said decisively, finding myself oddly eager for a fight for the first time in my life.
Violet lifted her chin regally, her voice dry yet amused. “Challenge accepted.”
A soft chorus of quiet laughter rippled through the cages around us, a gentle sound in the oppressive silence. Despite our jokes, the anticipation hung heavy in the air, but I felt stronger knowing I wasn’t alone. We weren’t just surviving anymore. We were planning. Ready to fight.
And if our kidnappers thought we’d break easily, they were about to get the rudest awakening of their lives.
Fallon leaned lazily against the cold metal bars, her midnight blue hair in a disarray, a playful smirk curling her lips. “Do you remember the last time we did this? We placed bets on whose alpha would come bursting through the door first.”
Violet snorted delicately, inspecting her nails with exaggerated nonchalance. “Of course I remember. And for the record, I absolutely won.”
“You did not,” Fallon protested, eyes wide in mock outrage.
“Oh, I absolutely did,” Violet shot back with a wicked gleam, eyes glittering dangerously. “Dare came through that door like the devil himself.”
Fallon narrowed her eyes playfully, huffing. “Okay, that part might be true.”
Violet’s laughter echoed brightly, filling the oppressive space with unexpected warmth. I shook my head fondly, smiling despite myself. Honestly, the fact that my best friends could argue over the particulars of our repeated kidnappings was surreal enough to be hilarious.
The metal door at the far end of the room suddenly swung open, slamming heavily against the wall. All conversation ceased instantly, tension gripping us again as a tall man in a sleek, impeccably tailored suit strode purposefully into the room. A guard followed closely behind, expression unreadable. Both men paused abruptly, clearly surprised to see us watching them so casually.
The man in the suit stared at Fallon first, his entire body tensing visibly. Fallon offered him a cheerful wave, a sunny, absolutely infuriating smile gracing her features.
“Marcus? I thought we took you down with the auctions.” Fallon tilts her head to the side, narrowing her eyes. “You’re not Marcus. Wow twins? What's your name? Bet it starts with a M?”
Not Marcus closed his eyes tightly, breathing out slowly through his nose. He opened them again, turning sharply toward the guard behind him, his voice dropping into a growl of pure frustration. “Tell me you didn’t kidnap the Rosetti omega.”
