Beneath the surface

The door to her new room slammed shut, the sound reverberating through the small, windowless space. Lyra stood frozen, her back pressed against the cold stone wall, her heart pounding in her chest. The heavy silence that followed was suffocating, a constant reminder that she was more trapped now than ever before.

This wasn't just a cell. It was a cage—a gilded one, perhaps, but still a cage. And now, Kael had full control over her. There was no escaping this room, no avoiding him. She was at his mercy, and the thought made her stomach twist.

Kael sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes fixed on her, watching every twitch of her body. He hadn't said a word since bringing her here, but his presence was enough. It filled the room, suffocating her with the weight of his control.

"You're quiet," Kael said finally, his voice soft, almost gentle. "I expected more resistance."

Lyra swallowed hard, her throat tight. She was resisting—every fiber of her being was screaming at her to fight, to push back, to **run**. But she couldn't. Not now. Not here.

"You've taken everything from me," she said quietly, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to steady it. "What's left to resist?"

Kael tilted his head slightly, studying her. There was a flicker of something in his eyes—something that looked almost like amusement. "You think I've taken everything?" he asked softly. "You haven't even begun to understand what I'm capable of."

A chill ran down Lyra's spine, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She wanted to scream at him, to tell him he would never break her, that no matter how much control he thought he had, she would never submit to him. But she couldn't afford to show that kind of defiance. Not now. Not after what had just happened.

Instead, she forced herself to stay quiet, her gaze locked on the floor. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear.

Kael stood slowly, his movements deliberate, calculated. He crossed the room in a few short steps, his presence looming over her as he stopped just inches away. Lyra's breath hitched in her chest, but she didn't move, didn't flinch. She couldn't afford to show weakness.

"You'll stay here," Kael said quietly, his voice low and commanding. "Where I can keep an eye on you. Where no one can touch you."

His words made her stomach churn. She knew what he meant. This wasn't about keeping her safe. This was about possession. About control.

"I don't need your protection," she muttered, her voice low.

Kael's eyes darkened, a hint of irritation flashing across his features. He reached out, grabbing her chin with enough force to make her wince, forcing her to look up at him. "You don't get to decide what you need," he growled, his voice cold and sharp. "I decide that."

Lyra's heart pounded, her pulse quickening as his grip tightened slightly. She tried to pull away, but his hold was firm, unyielding. The fear that had been simmering beneath the surface began to creep up, tightening around her throat.

Kael leaned closer, his breath hot against her skin. "You belong to me now," he whispered, his voice dangerously soft. "No one else. And the sooner you accept that, the better."

Lyra's chest tightened, her mind racing. She hated the way his words made her feel—trapped, helpless, vulnerable. She wanted to fight back, to push him away, but she knew it wouldn't make a difference. He had her, and he wasn't letting go.

"I'll never accept that," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Kael's lips twitched into a cold smile, but there was no warmth in his expression. "You will," he said simply. "It's only a matter of time."

Without another word, he released her and stepped back, his eyes lingering on her for a long moment before turning toward the door. "I have matters to attend to," he said, his voice returning to its usual commanding tone. "You'll stay here until I return."

Lyra's stomach dropped, a sinking feeling settling in her chest. She wanted to shout at him, to tell him she wasn't his to control, but the words died in her throat. She watched in silence as Kael left the room, the heavy door clicking shut behind him, leaving her alone in the suffocating quiet.

---

**The Courtyard (Marcus's POV)**

Marcus watched as the door to Kael's quarters closed behind him, his jaw clenched in frustration. The Alpha's obsession with the girl was getting worse. It was obvious to everyone. Kael's focus had shifted entirely to **her**, leaving the pack vulnerable, leaderless. And Marcus knew better than anyone how dangerous that was.

The pack was growing restless. He had heard the whispers, the doubts creeping into their minds. They didn't trust Kael's judgment anymore, not when it was so clearly clouded by his fixation on the girl. And Marcus had been quietly feeding those doubts, stoking the flames of discontent. It was only a matter of time before the pack turned on their Alpha.

But he had to be careful. Kael was still powerful, still dangerous, and if he moved too soon, everything could fall apart. He needed to bide his time, wait for the right moment to strike. And when that moment came, he would take everything from Kael—including the girl

Marcus's lips curled into a cold smile as he thought of Lyra. She was the key to all of this. Kael's weakness, his distraction. And when Kael was gone, Marcus would claim her for himself.

He turned away from the stronghold, his mind racing with plans. The pack was already starting to question Kael's leadership, and soon, they would come to Marcus for guidance, for strength. He would be ready when they did.

And Kael wouldn't see it coming.

Back in the Room (Lyra's POV)

Hours passed in silence, the oppressive weight of the small room pressing down on Lyra as she sat on the edge of the bed. Her thoughts swirled, each one more suffocating than the last. The walls seemed to close in around her, reminding her of just how trapped she was.

She couldn't stop thinking about Kael's words, the possessiveness in his voice when he had said she belonged to him. It sent a chill down her spine, but more than that, it made her feel utterly powerless. For the first time since her capture, she felt like she was losing control—not just of her situation, but of herself.

Her mind drifted back to the young wolf's offer. Escape. It had seemed impossible, a fleeting hope that had vanished the moment Kael had caught her in the corridor. But now, as she sat alone in the darkness, the idea took root in her mind once again.

She had to get out. She couldn't stay here, not under Kael's constant watch, not with Marcus lurking in the shadows, waiting for his chance to strike. She had to find a way out before it was too late.

But how?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Lyra's heart leapt into her throat as Kael stepped into the room, his expression unreadable. He closed the door behind him, the heavy **click** echoing through the space.

"I see you've been quiet," Kael said, his voice deceptively calm as he crossed the room toward her. "Good. I expected more from you."

Lyra clenched her fists, her body tense as she watched him. She didn't trust his calmness. There was something lurking beneath it, something darker.

"I don't have anything to say," she muttered.

Kael tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. "No more attempts to run, then?"

Lyra swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. She knew he was taunting her, testing her, and the thought of what would happen if she tried to escape again made her stomach twist.

"I'm not stupid," she said quietly, her voice strained.

Kael smiled, a cold, cruel smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Good."

Without another word, he turned and left the room, leaving Lyra alone once again. The door clicked shut behind him, and the suffocating silence returned, wrapping around her like a shroud.

Lyra sat on the edge of the bed, her mind spinning with thoughts of escape, of survival. She had to find a way out.

But time was running out.