Lyra's heart hammered in her chest as the young wolf's warning echoed in her mind: Be careful!
She sat on the edge of her cot in the dim cell, the untouched food tray beside her. Her nerves were raw, every sound in the stronghold heightened in her ears. The cold walls of the cell felt closer tonight, suffocating her with the knowledge that she had no idea what Kael's next move would be.
Just as her mind began to settle, the door to her cell creaked open. Kael stood there, his tall figure outlined in the dim light from the corridor behind him. His green eyes flickered with something unreadable, but the slight upward curve of his lips sent a chill through her.
"Come with me," he said, his voice calm but commanding.
Lyra's stomach twisted. There was no question in his tone—this wasn't a request. It was an order.
Still, she stood, trying to maintain the same strength and defiance that had kept her going this far. But there was a shift in the air tonight, a darker undercurrent that made her skin prickle. She swallowed hard and followed him, each step heavy as they walked down the long corridor, deeper into the heart of the stronghold.
He led her past the main chambers, past the familiar cold stone halls and into an area she hadn't seen before. Lyra's pulse quickened as the space grew more secluded, the walls narrowing and the air feeling heavier with each step.
Finally, Kael stopped outside a large wooden door, turning to look at her. His eyes were sharp, calculating. Without a word, he pushed the door open, revealing a dimly lit room inside—his bedroom.
The space was large, far more luxurious than the rest of the fortress. A dark canopy bed sat in the center of the room, draped in rich, deep fabrics, with heavy curtains covering the windows. The air smelled of cedarwood and something distinctly Kael, a scent that made Lyra's heart pound in her chest.
"Why am I here?" she asked, her voice steady despite the unease swirling in her stomach.
Kael didn't answer right away. Instead, he closed the door behind her, the sound of it clicking shut sending a jolt of panic through her. He moved closer, his gaze never leaving hers, the air between them thick with tension.
"You've been defiant," he said finally, his voice low. "Strong-willed. I can admire that."
Lyra held her ground, refusing to back away as he approached her. "I don't need your admiration."
Kael's lips twitched, but it wasn't a smile. His eyes darkened as he took another step closer, his presence filling the room, crowding her. "I don't give admiration lightly, Lyra. But strength only goes so far."
Before she could react, his hand shot out, gripping her wrist tightly and pulling her closer. The suddenness of his movement made her stumble, and she instinctively tried to pull away, but his hold was firm—unyielding.
He was close now, his breath warm against her skin as he leaned in. "You've made it clear you won't submit. But there are other ways to break someone."
Her heart slammed against her ribs as she realized what he was implying. The room felt smaller, his presence overwhelming, suffocating. For the first time since her capture, genuine fear clawed at her insides. She had always known Kael was dangerous, but this… this was different.
Lyra's breath hitched as he pushed her back against the wall, pinning her there with his body. The cold stone pressed into her back, a stark contrast to the heat of his chest against hers. His hand moved from her wrist to her throat, not squeezing, but holding her there—reminding her of his control.
"Don't," she whispered, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to keep it steady.
Kael tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with something dark, predatory. "Don't what?"
Lyra's throat tightened, and for the first time, she felt truly helpless. She had fought him at every turn, resisted his control, but now… now she was afraid. And he could see it. He could feel it.
She hadn't been with anyone before. She had never let anyone this close, never allowed herself to be vulnerable like this. And now, here she was, at the mercy of a man who took pleasure in her suffering.
"Kael," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear she had never wanted him to hear. "Please."
His eyes darkened, a glint of cruel amusement flashing in them as he leaned closer, his breath hot against her neck. She could feel the tension in his body, the raw, dark energy radiating from him as he pinned her against the wall. He didn't need chains or ropes this time. His sheer presence was enough to make her feel trapped.
"You're begging now?" he murmured, his voice low and mocking. His lips brushed the skin just below her ear, sending a cold shiver down her spine. "Is this the same girl who swore she'd never submit to me?"
Lyra's heart pounded in her chest, her pulse quickening with every second. Her breath came in shallow, panicked bursts as she tried to think of a way out, but Kael's body blocked any chance of escape. His hand tightened slightly around her throat, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her of his power.
"I-I'm not submitting," she stammered, though the fear in her voice betrayed her. She hated that he could hear it, hated the way her body betrayed her as it trembled beneath his touch. "Just let go."
Kael chuckled, a dark, humorless sound that made her stomach twist. "You're scared," he whispered, his lips brushing dangerously close to hers. "I can feel it."
Lyra bit down on the inside of her cheek, refusing to let herself cry. She had fought so hard to maintain control, but here, in this room, with him pressing her against the wall, that control was slipping through her fingers. He could see it in her eyes. He could feel it in the way she trembled beneath him.
And he was enjoying every second of it.
Kael's thumb stroked the side of her throat, his other hand resting against the wall beside her head, caging her in. "For someone so strong," he mused, "you're awfully fragile when it counts."
Lyra squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could disappear into the stone behind her. This was what he wanted—to see her vulnerable, to see her break. She could feel the humiliation crawling over her skin, seeping into her bones. She had never been this exposed, this terrified.
Kael's grip on her throat loosened slightly, but he didn't step back. He stayed close, too close, his presence suffocating her. "I wonder," he whispered, his lips brushing against hers, "how long you'll last before you completely shatter."
Lyra turned her head to the side, desperate to escape his touch, his breath, the overwhelming heat of his body. "Stop," she begged softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Kael's hand dropped from her throat, but before she could even think of moving, he pressed his body harder against hers, pinning her wrists against the wall. His lips curled into a cruel smile as he watched her, taking in every flicker of fear that crossed her face.
"You should have thought about this sooner," he said coldly, his voice laced with mockery. "You want to fight, you want to resist me, but now that it's real, now that you're scared, you're begging. Pathetic."
Lyra swallowed hard, her throat tightening. She hated how small she felt in that moment. Hated that he was right—that she was begging. But the truth was, she wasn't ready for this. She wasn't ready to face the kind of cruelty he was capable of.
"I—" her voice cracked, the words stuck in her throat.
Kael's smirk widened as he pressed his lips against her ear, his voice a low, dangerous whisper. "You think I care about your fear? I warned you, Lyra. I told you what would happen if you didn't submit."
Her breath hitched, her chest rising and falling rapidly as panic set in. Her mind screamed at her to push him away, to fight back, but her body wouldn't move. She was frozen, helpless under his control, and he was savoring every second of it.
He pulled back slightly, his gaze traveling over her face, watching her reactions like a predator watching its prey. "Tell me," he said softly, his voice dripping with amusement. "What are you so afraid of?"
Lyra's lips parted, but no sound came out. Her thoughts were tangled, fear clouding everything, making it hard to breathe, hard to think. She had fought for so long to stay strong, but now… now she was unraveling, and Kael was there, waiting to pull at every loose thread.
When she didn't answer, Kael tilted his head, his smirk fading into something more serious—more predatory. "Is it because you're still untouched?" he asked, his voice dark and low, sending another wave of terror crashing through her. "Is that why you're so scared?"
Lyra's chest tightened. She had never been with anyone, had never let anyone close enough to even think about it. Her body was hers. It had always been hers. Until now.
She tried to turn her head again, but Kael grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. His eyes bore into hers, cold and unrelenting.
"You thought you could fight me forever, didn't you?" he whispered. "But here you are, trembling in my arms, begging me to stop."
Her body shook with fear, her skin burning where his fingers gripped her. She had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable. The walls she had built, the strength she had clung to—they were crumbling.
Kael's grip on her wrists tightened, pressing her harder against the wall. "Say it," he commanded, his voice a harsh whisper. "Beg me to stop again."
Tears stung at the corners of Lyra's eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. Her throat was dry, her chest heaving with shallow breaths as the weight of his demand pressed down on her.
"Please," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please… stop."
Kael's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. He had won this round. He had gotten what he wanted—her fear, her submission, her vulnerability laid bare before him.
But just as suddenly as the intensity had flared, he stepped back, releasing her wrists and letting her slump against the wall. Lyra's legs shook beneath her, barely able to hold her up as she struggled to catch her breath. The room seemed to spin, the overwhelming sense of dread and panic still clinging to her like a second skin.
Kael watched her for a long moment, his expression unreadable now. The mocking amusement had faded, replaced by something else—something colder, more calculated.
"You're not ready," he said quietly, almost to himself.
Lyra didn't respond. She couldn't. Her body was still trembling, her mind reeling from the intense rush of fear and helplessness that had consumed her.
Kael turned away from her, his back tense. "We'll continue this another time."
Without another word, he walked toward the door, leaving Lyra standing there, shaking, barely able to breathe. The door clicked shut behind him, the sound echoing in the heavy silence that followed.
Lyra collapsed against the wall, her knees buckling beneath her as she slid to the floor. The weight of what had just happened crashed over her in waves, leaving her breathless, terrified, and more vulnerable than she had ever been.
Kael had seen her fear.
And now, he knew exactly how to break her.