**Cross**
"Cross!" I woke to the sound of Uncle Tom's voice echoing through the dungeon.
"Wake up, Cross," he called, and I struggled to open my eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion dragging me down. With a great effort, I managed to lift my eyelids, finding him standing in front of my cell, a twisted smile on his face.
"What do you want?" I muttered, my voice dripping with disgust as I turned my gaze away from him.
He shook his head slowly. "That's no way to speak to your alpha."
"You're not my fucking alpha," I shot back, my anger seeping through my words.
"Shut your mouth, Cross," he snapped, bending down to look me in the eye. "Don't forget, I can end you at any time if I wanted to."
"Then do it," I spat, my anger flaring. "You coward."
He chuckled darkly, straightening up. "I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to make me lose my temper. You want an easy death."
