Chapter Five: The Price of Freedom
Lara's voice stirred softly in the back of my mind.
I'm sorry, Nora.
I sat curled in the corner of the dark room, arms wrapped tightly around my knees. My wrists hurt from the fight I had with Alex, my body heavy with exhaustion.
Lara tried again, this time in a worried tone. "I wasn't trying to lose control. I just… I just wanted to protect us".
I didn't answer.
Because the truth was, I didn't know how I felt.
What she had done to Alex had been brutal. Unnecessary.
And the worst part?
I liked it.
But that terrified me.
So I said nothing.
Instead, I stared at the heavy wooden door, waiting. Waiting for one of them to come. To punish me. To break me further than they already had.
Minutes passed. Maybe hours.
Then—the lock clicked.
I tensed as the door creaked open, expecting Killian's rage. Maybe Keal's quiet disappointment.
But it was neither.
Beta Grey.
He stepped inside, his expression unreadable. "The Alphas have requested your presence for dinner."
A dry, humorless chuckle escaped me. "Dinner?"
"Yes." His gaze flicked over me, but he made no comment on my disheveled state. "They expect you to be there."
I scoffed but slowly got to my feet.
Part of me wanted to refuse—to let them starve me and see if I cared. But another part knew that denying them would only lead to worse consequences.
And I was tired.
So I followed Grey.
The packhouse was eerily quiet as we moved through the halls. The scent of roasted meat, fresh bread, and herbs filled the air, making my stomach twist painfully.
I hadn't eaten all day, or the day I came here.
When we reached the dining hall, Grey pushed the door open. "Go in."
I hesitated before stepping inside.
The room was grand, a long fancy table stretching down the center. Flickering torches lined the stone walls, light shadows across the polished floor. Keal and killian were already seated, murmuring amongst themselves.
But the moment I entered—silence.
They didn't look at me.
Didn't speak to me.
It was as if I didn't exist, as if they just called me here to be ignored.
Good.
I moved to the farthest seat and sank into it, keeping my head down. My fingers curled into my lap as I listened to silverware scraping against plates, conversations resuming—none of which included me.
That was fine.
I was used to being ignored.
One by one, the maids finished serving their meals and left.
Until only three of us remained.
Me.
Killian.
Keal.
The air felt a bit cold for a moment, just seeing myself with them alone. The only sound was our breath and the sound of the plate I kept tapping.
Then, just as Killian lifted his fork—
"I want you to reject me."
The words cut through the silence.
Both Alphas froze.
Killian's fork hovered inches from his mouth. Keal's dark eyes lifted to mine.
Killian set his fork down slowly, his silver eyes locking onto me. "What did you just say?"
I met his gaze without hesitation. "Reject me."
The room was utterly still.
Keal leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. "Why?"
I exhaled sharply, gripping the edges of my chair. "Because I don't want this. I never did. I had a life before you—before this pack—and I want it back. I want to be free."
Killian's expression darkened. "You are free."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Really? Is that why you locked me up like a prisoner?" I shook my head. "I don't belong here. I don't belong to you. So reject me. Break the bond."
Keal studied me carefully. "You think breaking the bond will set you free?"
"Yes," I said firmly.
Killian scoffed. "You're a fool if you think we'll just let you go."
"Why not?" My voice rose. "I don't love you! I don't want to be with you! I never asked for this!" I pushed my chair back, standing abruptly. My chest heaved as I glared at them, my body shaking with frustration. "You say you're not my enemies, but what else do you call people who steal someone's life?"
Keal's gaze flickered, something unreadable passing through his dark eyes.
Killian, however, didn't even flinch.
"You want to be free?" His voice was dangerously low. "You think your life was better before?" He let out a cold laugh. "You have no idea what you're asking for."
"I don't care," I spat. "I'd rather die a lone wolf than be chained to either of you."
Killian's silver eyes darkened, his hands clenching into fists.
Keal reached for his glass of wine and took a slow sip before setting it down. "Let her go, Killian."
Killian snapped his head toward him. "What?"
Keal leaned back, arms folded. "If she wants to leave, let her."
I blinked, stunned that Keal—the quieter, more calculating of the two—was actually siding with me. But why did he agree so easily.
Killian's fingers dug into the table's edge. "You think it's that simple?" His voice was low, dangerous.
Keal met his gaze evenly. "She'll never accept us if she sees us as her captors."
A muscle in Killian's jaw ticked.
Then, suddenly, he pushed back his chair and stood.
My pulse spiked.
Was he actually going to do it?
Let me go?
But before I could move, I collided with something solid.
I gasped as my balance wavered, my body tipping backward—
A strong arm caught me.
My breath hitched as I looked up into a pair of golden eyes.
The man standing before me was tall and broad, with dark blond hair and a smirk that sent a shiver down my spine.
His grip on my waist was firm but unhurried, his touch almost… possessive.
"Well, well," he murmured, tilting his head. "What do we have here?"
His voice was smooth, edged with something dangerous.
A strange energy radiated from him—powerful, unpredictable.
My stomach twisted.
Who the hell was this?
And why did every instinct in my body tell me—
This was dangerous.
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